After 3 years of pleasurable Skoda ownership, and associated Briskoda patronage, the time has come to move on.

In December 2008 I bought an Octavia vRS PD on an 07 plate with 6000 miles on it from Progress Skoda in Bedford. It was a former Skoda fleet car and had satnav and 18" wheels. Collecting it was - without doubt - the most exciting car ownership moment I'd ever had.

3 years and 70,000 miles later and the time came to move on. The walrus pup is getting bigger, and Mrs Walrus is making noises about another pup for the ice-cave, so more space was wanted. Being realistic about my driving, what I really needed in a car for the next few years was space, cruising speed, comfort, equipment, economy and a little bit of individuality and character.

The obvious solution would have been a Superb estate in elegance or SE trim, and in an ideal world I'd have one on the drive now. But this isn't an ideal world, and the re-shuffling of the family Walrus fleet did not have sufficient budget allowance for the big Skoda (Mrs Walrus' Qashqai has gone too). I considered buying another Octavia in wagon form, but it's not really my style to have the same thing twice. Every car I've ever owned has been from a different manufacturer, and ultimately if you buy a bad one (if there's such a thing these days) then you can always chop in and move on if it just isn't meant to be.

So 2 weeks ago I welcomed a Citroen C5 VTR+NAV tourer on a very similar deal to the Octavia (ex-Citroen fleet, 10k miles, one owner (Citroen UK) and half the price of a new one) and so far I'm loving it, albeit in a completely different way to the way I loved the Octavia.

But the new car isn't the reason to post. My reflections on 3 years of Octavia vRS ownership - in no particular order - are as follows...

Pulling out of the dealership and pointing it up the A1 on the night of collection, I will never forget the massive stamp on the back of the head I got when I shoved my right foot into the mat. I cackled out loud, and even Mrs Walrus murmered something that might have been 'blimey'. I spanked it all the way up to York and grinned every mile.

Why does a car with a satnav system not also have bluetooth? Always baffled about the fact that the satnav had a "tele" button on it, but didn't come with the phone kit. Why on earth were they not packaged together??

Had the ABS fault. Glad it was under warranty.

The air conditioning compressor went pop. Glad that was under warranty too.

Developed a nasty hesitation under acceleration just before it departed. Think the turbo might have been getting a little thin on life. Glad that I didn't have to deal with that one. Warranty wouldn't have saved me there.

Motor never lacked for power, shoved so perfectly out of bends and roundabouts but always longed for a bit more top end - people said the CR was a bit more revvy...but then maybe I should have bought the petrol.

Bottle-holders in the door pockets held my massive litre size SIG bottle which meant I always carried water everywhere and suffered far fewer headaches - my Skoda improved my health!

4-up from Cheshire to Bristol for a colleague's wedding, one of the girls commented that it was "like being in a grown-up's car". I work with a bunch of children.

I always wished for a little less weight over the front end - turn-in was always a little more based on faith than feel...

...but settled into the bend and onto a positive throttle it was always easy to forgive and forget that brief moment of clumsiness on the way in. Round the country lanes near where I live I had some memorable moments chasing between the hedges with BMWs, Porsches, motorbikes...

The paint on the spoiler started to delaminate. That was not really acceptable given how careful I am with my cars.

Always used oil. The dealers always said it was to an acceptable level. I never thought so myself.

Awesome GTi in Irlam are better than any main dealer. And half the price.

My god it was noisy inside.

Why one earth are the sidelight bulbs so ridiculously fiddly to get to???

And this place has been a brilliant source of information, friendship, banter and help.

Keep it Brisky, kids.

Soapy.

Bad move...sorry. I'd have bought another VAG car, but not a $ hitroen

Oh dear what have you done. First rule of fight club is never buy a citroen lol.

Thanks for your thoughts Walrus, nice to see your comments re your skoda, sorry to see you move on hope you keep in touch with briskoda , Good luck with the citroen , not to my personal taste but if we all liked the same stuff life would be really boring. Take care n good luck to you, Mrs W, young W and the possible (probable if SWMBO says so ) new pup.

Bad move...sorry. I'd have bought another VAG car, but not a $ hitroen

Dont knock Citroens, my family have owned 9 between us and they have all been exceptionaly reliable and superb value , they definately dont have the sporty image or handling of the Octys but in my case the reliabilty of the 2 Xantias and 1 BX diesel make my SKoda and supposed VAG quality look silly

BX Diesel Bought with 90,000miles sold at 160000 miles, no breakdowns new clutch at 91000

Xantia 1900 diesel bought with 28.000miles sold at 135000 miles no breakdowns

Xantia HDI diesel bought with 33.000miles sold at 148000 miles No breakdowns , this car is still going at 170+k with same clutch

Skoda Octy VRS bought with 19,000 miles currently 350000 -

1 injector failed

1 loom replaced

1 exhaust sensor failed

4 injector and loom replaced under VOSA action

To be honest i would have had another Citroen but the only large hatch in my price range was the old model CX which was a dog to look at , designed by some kid on an etch a sketch

I think Soapy has made a good choice and hope his Citroen gives him the same service mine did .

Edited 19 November, 201114 yr by deecee

Maybe you got a bad one...they all make them. Still wouldn't have the French rubbish though.

Good luck with your purchase.

Before my VRS I had 5 Pugs from new, 305TD, 305TD, 805, 405Estate and 307SW, all diesels.

A mixed bag, some were lemons from day 1, others no trouble at all.

The 307SW was terrible.

I think Pugs are over priced, Citroens usually lower.

I hope your electrics will be OK

My VRS is (touch wood) the best car I've had so far.

Amazing - some of the comment on here about Citroen sound just like the kind of comments people used to make about Skoda's

Shame on you guys - poor attitude.

Good luck with the car Walrus - my boss has one of those wagons for his sprogs and it's gorgeous.

That are one big car, guys at work used to have c5's and they were like barges, big and comfortable.

As long as the electronics and suspension (if it's hydraulic) last then should be a nice place to be.

I was put off French cars by a Scenic diesel I had that ate breaks, front pads at 18k and pads and discs all round at 36k. To be honest though I've not found my Octy as good as my previous Hyundai which was rock solid throughout its 99k miles and still under warranty when I got rid.

Citroen... ? Really wish you best of luck, I am pretty sure you will need it....one Renault Megane for me sufficed to make me never ever buy anything french again....

Good luck Soapy thanks for the write up hope the C5 lives up to your aspirations. I owned the original C5 HDi loved it but had 63 or 64 million recall faults done sold on with a mystery limp mode fault but I would still have another. New C5 looks nice I have never driven one but would consider one for right deal. Only bad thing is you will not find a better owners forum/community for any other vehicle type so just stay in here don't be disappearing let us know how she runs.(ps dont be "chasing" bikers gurrrrrrr C5 wing mirrors can be kicked off and doors caved in just as easily as a C5

PS to all the haters out there for the most part you are all SKODA drivers Skoda has come a long way in quality and reliability but only because of the VAG involvement! The joke which is the name and badge to just about every non owner is a stigma we all know still exists so no need to be such snobs :'( ive had 8 French cars and not been put off with any problems I can't be that lucky! in 406's alone my father has clocked up over 1.5million miles so far! and my old 406 is at 230K now and on original parts only things changed are consumables. Octavias have so many common mega expensive failures now there is NO way I will be keeping mine for big miles as good as it is im not forking up the kind of dough out of warranty for one of the issues we are all aware of (Diesel specifically)

Guy at work has a new citroen every 3 years or so,never said a bad word about them but i guess its what you want out of a car.Had a renault clio 172 and a renault megane 2.0ltr coupe,megane never gave me any trouble but somehow never quite did it for me in the excitement part,last French car i had,clio too small for me but was a little pocket rocket.

let us know how you get on with the citroen...

Had 3 citroens myself and never any trouble, bar the first, an AX, which had trouble because the owner before me bodged it! The new C5 is actually a really nice car, good health to drive!

My comments relate from direct experience. The PSA EGC gearbox is not something I want to encounter ever again...

yeah a bit like our injectors, coil packs, early DSG mechatronics, tailgate that dumps water into the boot in the wet, DPF issues.................

Good luck Soapy thanks for the write up hope the C5 lives up to your aspirations. I owned the original C5 HDi loved it but had 63 or 64 million recall faults done sold on with a mystery limp mode fault but I would still have another. New C5 looks nice I have never driven one but would consider one for right deal. Only bad thing is you will not find a better owners forum/community for any other vehicle type so just stay in here don't be disappearing let us know how she runs.(ps dont be "chasing" bikers gurrrrrrr C5 wing mirrors can be kicked off and doors caved in just as easily as a C5

PS to all the haters out there for the most part you are all SKODA drivers Skoda has come a long way in quality and reliability but only because of the VAG involvement! The joke which is the name and badge to just about every non owner is a stigma we all know still exists so no need to be such snobs :'( ive had 8 French cars and not been put off with any problems I can't be that lucky! in 406's alone my father has clocked up over 1.5million miles so far! and my old 406 is at 230K now and on original parts only things changed are consumables. Octavias have so many common mega expensive failures now there is NO way I will be keeping mine for big miles as good as it is im not forking up the kind of dough out of warranty for one of the issues we are all aware of (Diesel specifically)

Read the posts! Most of us slating French cars have good reason! I also slate my Skoda since the last bill I got! From my experience you can't beat Hyundai! Unfortunately Skoda's are still a joke as r the rest of the VAG group! I won't have another French car, but likewise I won't have another VAG one either.

we had a Hyundai once, it went from everthing working to the complete failure of pretty much all electrical systems by the time we got rid, less than 2 years later, central locking, windows etc all failed!

Read the posts! Most of us slating French cars have good reason! I also slate my Skoda since the last bill I got! From my experience you can't beat Hyundai! Unfortunately Skoda's are still a joke as r the rest of the VAG group! I won't have another French car, but likewise I won't have another VAG one either.

No you read mine what did I say about my old C5 ...... and back in your box anddenton

No you read mine what did I say about my old C5 ...... and back in your box anddenton

All I am saying is that the French give us plenty of leverage to slate their cars (well Renault do these days anyway), but my experience is not so rosy with the Skoda either, mind you I have never had two cars from the same manufacturer.

Anyway, you pays your money and takes your chance.

Wish I had as much space and comfort as a C5.

Having had a French car I'm not sure I'd go there again.

Being positive I really do like the designs of some of the current Citroens. the DS3, C5 and C6 are all very good looking cars.

Great honest post - thanks for that. For anyone that comments on Citroens or Peugeots, they will undoubtably have much better paint than VAG cars. VAG cars are not the pinnacle of reliability, you only have to scan the JD Power surveys for that. Skoda are better than the others though.

My wife has a DS3. Lovely car.

I've owned quite a few VAG cars and quite a few PSA cars. They all break eventually, just in subtly different ways....

Citroen forums are full of people slagging off VWs, Skodas etc. VAG forums are full of people slagging off Citroens.

But which is better? There's only one way to find out.......FIGHT!!

I've owned quite a few VAG cars and quite a few PSA cars. They all break eventually, just in subtly different ways....

Citroen forums are full of people slagging off VWs, Skodas etc. VAG forums are full of people slagging off Citroens.

But which is better? There's only one way to find out.......FIGHT!!

OK your on

yeah a bit like our injectors, coil packs, early DSG mechatronics, tailgate that dumps water into the boot in the wet, DPF issues.................

Not suffered any injector problems

Not suffered any dsg problems...although I will admit it's not great some of the time

Not suffered too much from water ingress from the tailgate - depends how you grease/polish the runners

DPF... but a mechanic I was talking to today says it's inherent in most new emission crazy diesels. His parting shot "the old ones are the best - it's this search for new cleaner emissions which is the problem."

Edited 21 November, 201114 yr by Paul007