Ok, let's be honest...Skoda wasn't always regarded as the most flash and reliable car ever... but surely all that has changed, many many many years ago (ever since the Octavia I and Fabia I went on sale in the 90s..in my opinion).

So it came as a BIG surprise yesterday when I was out with two of my mates and we chatted about cars. He got a new Mini, I said I had a 'new' (used) Octavia VRS, but he immediately snubbed of all 'Skodas'. Ridiculous! Minis are nice cars, don't get me wrong, but owning a Mini doesn't give you bragging rights...especially considering his was an entry level Mini One 1.6 and cost a hefty 17K and is definitely not like a BMW 760i, he associated it with ...now that is a lot for a tiny 1.6 with not much torque or horsepower. For 13000 Euros i got my 2008 VRS (I know, maybe a litle pricey, but it is LHD and foreign registered as I live abroad)...and I definitely think that its better value for money!

But anyway, the point of my post is...do many people still automatically associate 'Skoda' with 'rubbish'?

I wouldn't change my Octy for anything else (maybe a Ferrari ) and I prefer driving it to any other car I've driven (and I've been fortunate enough to drive around 40 different cars...not own them btw )

I find people that are into brand snobbery will often "big up" what they drive and if isn't as good, they'll convince themselves it is. Like linking it to a 7 series BMW as you say.

A Mini One for 17k is a joke. Particularly on the person that bought it.

And in answer to your question, there are still an amount of people out there that know nothing about cars or have any interest in Skoda, they only remember the jokes and so don't have a clue. But your average car person does know they are rather good now for the price.

Is your mate -

a ) A hairdresser?

b ) An estate agent?

c ) A homosexual?

Nothing wrong in being a) or c) btw.

It's a ridiculously fussy girl's car.

Edited 26 November, 201114 yr by Wee Bri

Is your mate -

a ) A hairdresser?

b ) An estate agent?

c ) A homosexual?

Nothing wrong in being a) or c) btw.

It's a ridiculously fussy girl's car.

Haha.. none of the above...data analyst/cabin crew for BA

Haha.. none of the above...data analyst/cabin crew for BA

Possible c) then. Explains the Mini.

Shows how easy it is to make a stereotype on a car brand.

Like Skoda used to have.

Haha.. none of the above...data analyst/cabin crew for BA

Male cabin crew = gay!

Not that i am generalising in any way shape or form.

But anyway, the point of my post is...do many people still automatically associate 'Skoda' with 'rubbish'?

Anyone who does clearly knows nothing about cars and should just keep their mouth shut.

Is your mate -

a ) A hairdresser?

b ) An estate agent?

c ) A homosexual?

Nothing wrong in being a) or c) btw.

It's a ridiculously fussy girl's car.

I really wouldn't worry what people think. If he's happy with his girls car, then be glad for him. If he paid a ridiculous amount of money for looking like a girl then again, be happy for him. I don't mind people thinking I drive a crappy Skoda, because I'm also guilty of making assumptions about people because of what they drive.

Your friend may be really nice bloke who gives a lot of his free time to the local orphan's home and helps out at church jumble sales. If however, I see him in a Mini, I assume he's a fan of the film Mama Mia and plucks his eyebrows. Horses for courses.

In 197 I worked at a Skoda dealer in Derby and they sold the old rear engined models like the Estelle..

A batch of new cars came in with the sill trims weded on the wrong way round so they had to airchisel off the spot welds and re-weld the trims on the correct side ( right hand - left hand situation ).

Since VW took a place in the Skoda world , things are vastly changed but its amazing how long prejudices and old memories still effect modern perceptions.

Skoda has a brilliant engineering reputation historically in heavy engineering and machine tools. They even made armaments for picky folks like Hitler at one time !!

In 197 I worked at a Skoda dealer in Derby and they sold the old rear engined models like the Estelle..

A batch of new cars came in with the sill trims weded on the wrong way round so they had to airchisel off the spot welds and re-weld the trims on the correct side ( right hand - left hand situation ).

Since VW took a place in the Skoda world , things are vastly changed but its amazing how long prejudices and old memories still effect modern perceptions.

Skoda has a brilliant engineering reputation historically in heavy engineering and machine tools. They even made armaments for picky folks like Hitler at one time !!

You're absolutely right, Skoda has a long heritage of engineering and manufacture and is one of the oldest car manufacturers on the planet having started over 100 years ago by Laurin & Klement. They have had their good times and bad times, poor cars and fantastic cars. Though the old Estelle may have been mocked in the UK...it and it's predecessors from the Fabias and Octavias of the 1960s, the 110, 120 and 125...the 1603 (Van) from the 70s and 80s and many others did put the people of Czechoslovakia (Czech and Slovak Republics now) as well as many others into affordable cars. I'm from Slovakia and I remember my grandfather and father having Skodas. They were very basic but did the job. My dad still has 'fond' memories of the air-cooled engines over-heating constantly in the summer and having to pull over for a while...or often giving the car a push start...but so what, was part of the experience

This heritage gives Skoda a kind of charm, a soul...you get more than just a car in my opinion. Take KIA for example, damn good in terms of relibaility...but at the end of the day I don't think it gives you the kind of joy some other cars will.

Anyway, Skoda for me please!

My local dealer has these books in their waiting area, a great read, I was amazed at Skoda's history, if people knew what they'd achieved over the years then I reckon there would be a lot less prejudice.

, if people knew what they'd achieved over the years then I reckon there would be a lot less prejudice.

quite true. they made some rather excellent tanks and heavy guns for the nazi war machine.. interestingly they still have one of the biggest steelworks/foundry in the world (not the car division) they make all sorts of heavy steel work for civil engineering projects.. they even made the centre hub of the london eye in the skoda steel works...

anywho, brand snobbery aside, i think even skoda owners are keen on bigging up thier own chosen brand, at the end of the day even skoda's arent all that much cop nowadays.. in my opinion the vag group hit its peak somewhere around year 2000 in terms of build quality and they've descended into cheapo airfix style plastic rubbish since then, and moreover they've gotten far too expensive now as well which is not what skodas whole philosophy was/is

Imo its mostly ignorance these days, the majority of people cant see past the badge. Unless they are a reasonably clued up on cars Skoda has a terrible image and is unlikely to shake it. I was quite dubious about them before buying my mine. I knew they had improved since my grandad had his old Skoda's and Ladas but still dubious. However thats all changed and will seriously consider a new one if I ever have the chance.

I love my Skoda but at the end of the day its only a badge. Dare I say it but the craftmanship/heritage died when Skoda became part of VAG and its now just another mainstream car manufacturer with some emphasis on creating good value cars.

If I'm being totally honest I probably wouldn't own a Skoda if it wasn't part of the VAG arena, I would have stayed with Peugeot/Citroen. Why pay VW money when you can buy a Skoda for the same underlying components.

My Neighbour owns a Toureg and constantly talked down about my car until he saw me sound-deadening my doors and asked why all the components in the door had VW branding on them he isn't as smug now

The Skoda stigma will always be there, we big our Skoda's up as Cheap VW/Audi's to justify being tight/sensible with money, people buying Mini's will big up their cars to justify spending more than they needed to, to own a BMW

Matthew

I sat in a Mini and just.. hated it.

Obviously that says nothing about the quality of the car itself, but I didn't like it personally.

I love my Skoda's to the point that I probably wouldn't buy a VW/Audi - OK they probably are built just that little bit better, but for the many more thousands it would cost me - is it really worth it just so I could have an Audi?

Anyway, we all know Audi is the car for the proverbial male chickens (I JEST!)

Though to be honest, I couldn't give a rat's ass what other people think about my choice in car, I mean one guy ribs me and he owns a Jag... Whatever

Very few beleive Skoda is a cheap/crap brand these days.

Most who do either havent driven one, listen to their parents without making their own mind up, or secretly want one but it's no cool looking enough to fit in with their stylish mates.

A friend of mine who was, at the time, driving a Saab, thought it quite amusing when I said I was buying my Octavia. Once he had seen it, sat in it, and been for a spirited drive in it, he was completely won over.

I think there is still a little residual badge-snobbery among people who know little about cars, but those who are a little clued up know that Skoda's are now excellent cars. 3 out of the top 4 cars in the Driver Power survey is good testament to this.

I had a R56 MINI Cooper and that cost £14k (base petrol model with Pepper pack in 2006) and it went extremely well and was a fun car to drive. The build quality was a bit dubious and it had to go in and have the bonnet realigned and the wings repainted where the bonnet rubbed. It just was not practical with its small boot and only being able to sit 4 people. (and no room for the dog acquired after I'd bought the car!)

I think the biggest problem with the Mini is that option list is far to long and adds a lot to the cost. £17k for a Mini one is frankly silly (that's more that my Octavia Greenline Estate!)

Minis are expensive for what they are.

Your mate has spent a lot on his new motor and he want to talk it up, it'd be the same if he's bought a GTI or an Evo.

This being a Skoda forum we're going to think our cars are better.

I quite like the Mini Cooper but I wouldn't pay what they ask for them. I think the other minis are pretty hideous.

quite true. they made some rather excellent tanks and heavy guns for the nazi war machine.. interestingly they still have one of the biggest steelworks/foundry in the world (not the car division) they make all sorts of heavy steel work for civil engineering projects.. they even made the centre hub of the london eye in the skoda steel works...

anywho, brand snobbery aside, i think even skoda owners are keen on bigging up thier own chosen brand, at the end of the day even skoda's arent all that much cop nowadays.. in my opinion the vag group hit its peak somewhere around year 2000 in terms of build quality and they've descended into cheapo airfix style plastic rubbish since then, and moreover they've gotten far too expensive now as well which is not what skodas whole philosophy was/is

+1.

Far too much and the quality isn't rock solid in the VAG group now. Certainly doesn't seem to be over-engineered in all areas any more.

I was incredibly surprised the other day.... I went over to a mates and my other mate pulled up in a newish Toe-rag at the same time. I got out, looked at the motor and said (in a nice way) "bit posh, aint it".. To which he replies.. "Mine posh? But yours is a vRS"...

Then, later on, my Mates brother has been out for something or other and as he comes back in says "Is that Your vRS?" I nod.. and he gives an approving nod back.

It was just parked up amongst 5ish other cars.. I've never had compliments on it before that haven't been whilst actually talking about cars, lol.

Everyone I've mentiond the fact that my last two cars have been Skodas to has turned around and said something along the lines of "Oh, they're really good cars now aren't they?".

The last time I heard people taking the p*ss out of Skodas was probably in the school playground in the eighties!

Can't stand the new minis, they're a fashion statement not a car.

I think Skoda is going downhill in terms of price though, VAG group has obviously realised it's onto a winner with the brand in the UK and so prices have gone up in the last few years. And Skoda have never made very distinctive cars, they're always a bit mundane which is a shame.

You're absolutely right, Skoda has a long heritage of engineering and manufacture and is one of the oldest car manufacturers on the planet having started over 100 years ago by Laurin & Klement. They have had their good times and bad times, poor cars and fantastic cars. Though the old Estelle may have been mocked in the UK...it and it's predecessors from the Fabias and Octavias of the 1960s, the 110, 120 and 125...the 1603 (Van) from the 70s and 80s and many others did put the people of Czechoslovakia (Czech and Slovak Republics now) as well as many others into affordable cars. I'm from Slovakia and I remember my grandfather and father having Skodas. They were very basic but did the job. My dad still has 'fond' memories of the air-cooled engines over-heating constantly in the summer and having to pull over for a while...or often giving the car a push start...but so what, was part of the experience

This heritage gives Skoda a kind of charm, a soul...you get more than just a car in my opinion. Take KIA for example, damn good in terms of relibaility...but at the end of the day I don't think it gives you the kind of joy some other cars will.

Anyway, Skoda for me please!

The van was the 1203 They were never air cooled. They've always been water cooled, with the radiator mounted in the back in the S-series and then moved up forward for the Estelle. The reason for this was because they had developed the Estelle to be front engined but the powers that be refused the funding for final development.

Skoda have always been a pioneering Engineering firm. As has been mentioned they've built buses, tanks, lorries, trams and alot besides as well as cars. Unfortunately in the post-war period they didn't have the funding available to further develop their ideas. Think of the possibilities that might have arisen had the 200RS been built - 2000cc twin cam in the back of a Rapid anyone?

Badge snobbery will always exist, and like others, I am as bad as any for judging someone by their choice of car, that's just the way of the World. I'm just pleased I know the truth about Skoda!

For someone who has liked Skodas for as long as I can remember I find the brand perception today quite overwhelming and see it is as phenomenal achievement in marketing. Skoda are no longer the individual company they once were, but that wasn't sustainable in the modern world and so they've evolved. Here's to the next 116 years!

All of this is why China is such an amazing market at the moment. Until recently there was no market for foreign cars and thus the new car buyers there have no brand awareness. So car companies can invent themselves at will to a certain extent. For example Porsche launched the Cayenne first and then the 911. So the Chinese were not impressed when the SUV maker Porsche launched something as hideous as a sportscar with an SUV nose! Bless.

In South Africa Volkswagen tried to launch the SEAT brand in 2006. Stupidly they tried to launch it as an upmarket brand ABOVE Volkswagen with prices to match. Did the people fall for it? Not one bit and it was a huge flop with SEAT being withdrawn from that market completely only 2 years later. Any fool who sits in a SEAT for five seconds can see (let alone feel) that it is a car quite a few rungs below a VW and a Å koda.

Can a MINI owner be a snob towards a Å koda owner? If they like. I really don't care as one and all I laugh at them for being such planks for falling that hard for MARKETING over substance. Especially the laughably ugly I'M-THE-WORLD'S-BIGGEST-PLANK car that is the MINI Coupe.

But on the whole very few people say bad things about my car. Especially once inside and after a spin. Most say the "they are good cars now aren't they, these Å kodas" thing so in this case marketing and word-of-mouth has worked its magic.

When I bought my first Skoda a couple of years back - a 2nd-hand 2.0 TDi Octavia - I have to admit to being genuinely concerned about image as I was swapping from an Alfa 156, a car which for all its faults (there were many & they were why I was finally parting with it) was a pretty car with plenty of badge cachet.

I'm now on my second Octavia - a vRS - and any lingering doubts as to brand snobbery are long consigned to my 'what was I thinking?' bin.

Between them, my Dad & brother had owned 4 or 5 Skodas over the years & raved about them & I knew they were great cars in terms of build & value for money, I just couldn't quite make the leap of faith & have one myself.

Then the Alfa detonated its transmission at only 70k miles & that was the end of the affair.. :'(

I would never go back now & can only put the ingrained & arbitrary snobbery such as that demonstrated by the OP's Mini-owning friend down to sheer ignorance & a herd-mentality tendency to buy what's fashionable, regardless of cost.

Personally, I wouldn't want to be associated with a brand that's responsible for inflicting the Countryman (did I spell that correctly..? ) on the world & would much rather be seen as pottering round in a VW bitsa than something which normally contains Burtons-clad estate agents (cough - F*xt*ns - cough).