After many years of loyal Skoda ownership I can't help but feel the forthcoming Rapid and Octavia 3 will be too much of a disappointment and I'm already starting to look at alternative manufacturers.

The new Skoda models are likely to have conservative styling, which I don't mind, and the price of ownership going ever skyward, perhaps disproportionately to the product. The thing that really grates on me is the engine line up, that really is weak.

Having recently looked at the likes of the Ford Focus 1.6 EcoBoost Zetec S(180 bhp) and the new Mazda 6, and no doubt the new Mazda 3 to follow, all I can say is "WOW!".

These cars have good styling, particularly with the Mazda, the Skyactive and Ecoboost technology means you get performance AND economy and the host of useable bells and whistles is phenomenal.

Yes the Mazda's are expensive at the moment but at least you'd feel as though you're getting a quality updated machine. The Focus can be bought relatively cheaply and has a good solid background.

What will Skoda do - another weak Greenline offering or a 1.2TSI thing? Don't get me wrong these are good stand alone motors but the lack of a true class machine is lacking. Please Skoda build a true hatch to rival the Focus sized cars and one with a decent motor!

Will be booking a test drive soon with the Focus.

Yes the other manufactures are certainly raising their game, my wife has a Ds3 and I may get aDS5 in the future , they have many surprise and delight features

I think they're pricing themselves out of the market tbh. I like the Mazda too. Not so keen on the 3.

Hyundai and Kia have some nice cars too at the moment but not sure about how well the fit and finish really is. Still 5-7yr warranty.

Like the style of the DS3/4 but wary of going French again. Not a happy 4yr the last time.

Don't know what way I'll jump next time. Quite tempted to leap and get an old Jimny for winter and a motorbike for the summer.

Even Renault offer a 4 year warranty.

Skoda do 5 years, you just have to pay a few pounds more for it.

I'm hoping for a Skoda version of the Up! GT and the Fabia mk3 having a 1.8tsi. Fancy downsizing for the next car.

I won't be looking for a new car for at least 4-5 years. I'll probably change brand simply to broaden my tastes a bit or keep a Skoda as a daily and a second fun/track car. Really want a good RWD or 4WD eventually. Skoda are limited by the same things that VW/Seat/Audi are. If one uses an engine they all tend to. and I can't see Skoda, or VW letting them design a whole new engine exclusively for their use.

Fully agree with OP and must admit to having recently looked at the DS5 but, like Aspman I'm wary of going French again after some unhappy times with Renault. A friend has just got a new Focus for relatively little money and it's blooming nice. I can't dismiss Japanes either after many years of happy Subaru ownership the only trouble with Japanese is the approach to engine line up, there's the new diesels that are nowhere near as frugal as the VAG engines, the new petrol engines that are pretty weak or, there's the older fantastic petrol engines that are costly to run.

My Father in law has just taken delivery of a new Focus 1.0 litre ecoboost thing in Titanium spec with about 120 bhp IIRC. In their nice metallic red, looking forward to having an inspection tomorrow.

I have 1 major problem with Fords & Vauxhauls - The interior centre console is a complete mess of butttons in the V shape, along with the very cheap sliver plastic surround.

My son has a Fiesta & every time i get in, it looks just like someone has looked at the clay model of the dash when it was being designed, picked up a few facsimiles of the buttons to be used, had a really bad day & just before going home has thrown them at the clay model before exiting & saying f*** it thats where they stay :) .

I have 1 major problem with Fords & Vauxhauls - The interior centre console is a complete mess of butttons in the V shape, along with the very cheap sliver plastic surround.

+1 My Dad has a 1.6d new style Focus. Actually very nice to drive, but the interior is very busy and trying too hard to look up market which makes it look rather cheap. Like Chinese rip offs, more buttons = more quality.

The VAG quality isn't there any more though.

It might seem high quality on the surface, but scratch the surface and a whole pile of poor build quality/customer care issues come out.

Personally I'd rather have a car that might break a bit, but had a 7 year warranty that will fix it all, than one that might not break down once in 3 years (which isn't true anyway) then will break in interesting and expensive ways from the day after the warranty expires.

At least option one means I can run it, then trade in for a new car at 5 years old and have not paid a lot for the car in repairs.

Maintaining a VAG IMHO is expensive and cancels out any lower depreciation.

After many years of loyal Skoda ownership I can't help but feel the forthcoming Rapid and Octavia 3 will be too much of a disappointment and I'm already starting to look at alternative manufacturers.

The new Skoda models are likely to have conservative styling, which I don't mind, and the price of ownership going ever skyward, perhaps disproportionately to the product. The thing that really grates on me is the engine line up, that really is weak.

Having recently looked at the likes of the Ford Focus 1.6 EcoBoost Zetec S(180 bhp) and the new Mazda 6, and no doubt the new Mazda 3 to follow, all I can say is "WOW!".

These cars have good styling, particularly with the Mazda, the Skyactive and Ecoboost technology means you get performance AND economy and the host of useable bells and whistles is phenomenal.

Yes the Mazda's are expensive at the moment but at least you'd feel as though you're getting a quality updated machine. The Focus can be bought relatively cheaply and has a good solid background.

What will Skoda do - another weak Greenline offering or a 1.2TSI thing? Don't get me wrong these are good stand alone motors but the lack of a true class machine is lacking. Please Skoda build a true hatch to rival the Focus sized cars and one with a decent motor!

Will be booking a test drive soon with the Focus.

The new VAG engines are streets ahead of the competition. Look at the new diesel engines, the emmisions are better than the equivilient BMW engines which "were" widly regarded as the best diesels around. Look at the new VAG petrols, the 1.4 tsi with cylinder deactivation. More powerful and better MPG than the ecoboost engines. They also have a 280bhp 2.0 tsi on the cards and a 220bhp TSI probably for the new VRS.

The 138bhp 1.4 tsi engine with cylinder deactivation beats the 1.0 ecoboost in every regard and absolutely destroys the 1.6 ecoboost in terms of economy and yet doeant trail it by much in terms of performance.

Mazda have good new diesels but certainly no better than the VAG new range of diesels, Plus the mazda petrol is N/A, DOH. So last generation.

I think you actually need to wait untill the new octy is actually released before you can slate them but based on already confirmed VAG engines i think Skoda have a very strong engine line up to draw from. Pricing also has yet to be confirmed for the next gen of skoda cars so again its too early to criticise them on this front also.

All current skodas have the last generation of VAG engines. When the new ones are out ford etc wont have a leg to stand on.

The new focus looks nice but I really can't believe that a 1 litre turbo petrol engine will have any sort of longevity.

My focus with 27 thousand miles on it had the front shocks replaced as they were leaking. There was an engine rattle under load which couldn't be diagnosed ( I still think the cat had started breaking down) airbag cover had cracked open and the steering rack was squeezing when moved. All jut outside warranty and for weren't interested.

Mrs has a 60 plate fiesta and the front shocks are squeaking already. We shall see if ford are interested in this.

Don't think I'll go blue oval again.

I moved to Mazda last time round, the lease deal on offer was £30 a month less. It's a decent car but doesn't really stand out in any area. Has never missed a beat or required any warranty work but to be honest I would like to be back in a VAG motor. Will be seriously looking at octy, rapid or possibly an A 3

I did a quick price comparison for the 122ps engine on the ford site for the focus & used the rapid pdf brochure, removing the fact that the engine cc used is different i looked a power output & spec.

The ford was close to £1500 more expensive than the skoda so I am having difficulty comprehending the comments that skoda is pricing itself out of the market, compared to its major rivals.

I didnt look at Kia or Hyundia, that will be next

Well have to agree about the focus console...looks too much and vents look to aim in weird ways. And by the time it was spec'd to what it was the price was pushing £20K...

Won't be going blue oval at those kind of prices. Very happy to stick with my Golf Plus Dune Edition.

I spent quite a bit of time looking around for a replacement company car earlier in the year because my company car budget changed which ment I couldnt have another Octavia 1.8 TSi.

I drive around 50k a year and I just could not find anything that took my fancy.

Most cars in the same class ( small family car ) just couldnt touch the Skoda on space and std kit.

I wound up going for a greenline Superb for tax reasons.

I didnt like the feel of the trim on the Fords or Citroen as I dont think they will be as hard wearing as the Skoda.

I had 3 Octavias in a row and did 240,000 miles in them in just under 5 years and then decided to have a change.

I ran a BMW 118D which was a great car to drive but thats about as far as it went.

Very little kit as standard and No boot space to speak off and forget it in any sort of snow.

It went on to another member of staff at 98,000 miles and at 104,000 miles the engine self destructed.

But there is nothing stopping you trying something else but you may regret it.

Edited 2 November, 201213 yr by ruffday