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.

Drive both regularly and the mini is a much better drivers car on every level. It's not that people fell for marketing over substance, it's that their priorities were different to yours.

You wanted you're 4x4 (or psudo 4x4) with a fair few toys.

The mini driver likes the go cart handling, not too unreasonable starting prices and built in servicing deal with the new cars.

They don't need a boot, they don't need lots of space, they want a small fun car.

So you like what you like, they what they like.

As much as I love my vRS, and SDI for that matter

I'm getting really hooked on the MX5.

Had a great time out in it on Saturday night

and it would have just been an ordinary drive

in either of the others.

Roof down, late at night heated seats and heater on full... Brilliant!

Very surprised to see how fast I was going when I redlined it

in 4th gear with 2 gears still to go.

Now it's properly aligned it's an amazing little car

to drive, couldn't believe the pace at which I was able

to negotiate empty roundabouts at 1am with no oversteer.

That was with the traction control off as well...

Still needs bigger louder exhausts and a turbo though

Going to have to do something to the Fabia

to make it interest me again... Hmmm...

I came to Skoda from a couple of BMW e39 tourings. They were both great cars, but cost me dearly to keep them on the road. They were quiet, and comfortable, and I still love the shape of the touring, I think it is one of the prettiest looking estates out there. But my last one, a 530d cost me a fortune to keep on the road, so I sold it and replaced it with an Octavia 2.0 PD TDI L&K DSG Estate, which I hunted high and low for. After lots of research, I only looked at the Octavia because I remember seeing something about them being reliable, and thought that they would be cheap to run compare to my BMW's. That BMW diesel 3 litre lump was amazing, specially with a remap it was just awesome, and it returned 40mpg at 130ish kph down to the south of France. Unfortunately something broke on the way back and we had no air con. unbearable with 2 young teenagers in the summer.

The Octavia was a revelation. It had every gizmo I wanted except xenons. It was a very good car, but I had to replace the DMF & the condenser at vast expense. Luckily Warranty Direct heaped a little. I missed the quiet inside of the BMW's, but apart from that and having to relearn to drive a FWD car I was happy with the Octavia.

I then decided to change and this time only looked at Skoda's. I went for the Superb, CR170DSG Elegance. Loved the ride comfort and the quiet in the cabin. I couldn't afford the spec I wanted. But my job changed from driving all over the south east to driving and parking around London. I wanted 4 wheel drive so I could carry on working whatever the weather, but dismissed all the Skoda's as there was not a 4x4 automatic in the range anywhere. Then I realised the Yeti had just become available in that form, with the CR140 engine, so a quick test and I placed an order. Now you can buy an Scout and a Superb with that same engine combination.

The Octavia sold within a week of putting it on sale so I have to buy a run around for 5 months whilst the Yeti order was being fulfilled. a 1.4CL VW Polo did the job, but it reminded me why I drive an automatic.

I have been very impressed with the Yeti.

So I have gone from loving my BMW's, (I did seriously consider the brand new 5 series, but it has just grown far too large to drive around and park in London. I didn't like the 3 series, I found them claustrophobic as also the 1 series and the X1 & X3, and I don't like the look of those models either) to going down a brand to Skoda. I have got so much more for my money than any other car that I have looked at. Yes paying £20k+ for a Skoda sounds a lot to some, and it is, but compared to the competition, it is still good value.

Will I stay with Skoda? Probably, but I will re-evaluate the market when the time comes. I have it for at least another 2 years.

I too have head the "Skoda make good cars now because they are a VW' many times. The Yeti still generates interest whenever I take it out of London. Clarkson has a lot to do with this.... and the fact that it has won so many awards.

Drive both regularly and the mini is a much better drivers car on every level. It's not that people fell for marketing over substance, it's that their priorities were different to yours.

You wanted you're 4x4 (or psudo 4x4) with a fair few toys.

The mini driver likes the go cart handling, not too unreasonable starting prices and built in servicing deal with the new cars.

They don't need a boot, they don't need lots of space, they want a small fun car.

So you like what you like, they what they like.

Very true. Each to their own. Planks and estate agents will go for MINIs and the rest of us for something proper!

The mini driver likes the go cart handling, not too unreasonable starting prices and built in servicing deal with the new cars.

They don't need a boot, they don't need lots of space, they want a small fun car.

Agree with the above. I've got a Cooper S and a Yeti so I am not sure what all the above posts make me! Both cars are brilliant in their in own ways. Of friends and family I've spoken to, those who aren't interested in cars think the MINI is girly and the Skoda is cheap, those who are a bit more informed know differently, MINI is fairly inexpensive exciting drive and Yeti is great value and a great drive.