Getting mistaken for a Rover- No its not that bad. Extremely underrated cars, just like Skodas were, and still are to an extent.

I had a Rover 200, and apart from the expected head gaskett proplem, it was no worse than my Ford for reliability.

Think Starter Motor was the only other thing i ever had a problem with.

Internally they are smart, if not a little dull in places, and very well put together. Better put together than the vauxhalls I often drove as hire cars at the time.

Id take that as an insult

 

My mates missus thought it was a Vauxhall too from the side!!! I couldn't believe it... It looks absolutely nothing like a Cavalier

The Rapid was often mistaken for a Vauxhall due to the new style badge.

Thats very sad...!!  

Did make me laugh tho, the mkii isnt great looking to be fair and it looks practically medieval next to the mkiii

The Rapid was often mistaken for a Vauxhall due to the new style badge.

Anyone mistake my Octy for a vauxhall, and i never speak to them again!!!

Octavia III estate 18inch wheels, sports suspension and sunset glass.

 

Mistaken for an Audi twice now....lol

Skodas do look extremely smart nowadays. I really think the Mk111 Octy is a definite step up from the Mk11.

One of the best looking cars out there, second only to something like the Jaguar XF (drooling uncontrollably)

Would you believe I was having my cold weather tyres fitted and another customer at the tyre depot thought it was a Jaguar!

Octavia III estate 18inch wheels, sports suspension and sunset glass.

 

Mistaken for an Audi twice now....lol

Yup, me too. Audi twice, Merc C-class once. A friend of mine thought it was a new Alfa when he looked at it from a distance (!)

Colleague thought mine was an Audi....

Anyone mistake my Octy for a vauxhall, and i never speak to them again!!!

One of the lads at work thought mine was a Vauxhall, Grrrrr!

I would say most that mistake it know little about cars lol

I think he thought the flying arrow looked a bit like the griffin!

The colour of the old badge made it easy to see the car was a Skoda, now Skoda have gone for the black silver look people see the colour of the badge and think it is a Vauxhall.

 

 

I actually could do with hiding the badge and name when i eventually get mine. Know someone who is thinking of a new car next year, and keeps hinting at Skodas, but his wife refuses point blank to even consider one. All because of the name, and what the cars used to be like. There is still a stigma attached to the name and this is stopping her even contemplating a Skoda.

However i reckon if you got her inside an Octy without her knowing, you could change her mindset. Just knowing its a Skoda would possibly be enough to make her dislike it, hence the need to disguise.

It doesn't look like a Skoda any more...

and I'm glad they change the look of the badge.. never liked that big green badge

In my case, with certain people it doesnt matter what it is like, and what it looks like. The name Skoda stops them liking it, and the thought of riding around in a 'Skoda' is too much. It seems daft, but that stigma is still attached to the name.

Put a Ford badge on the same car, and it isnt a problem. Put a Skoda badge on a Merc, and there is no chance.

 

The only chance you have with some people, is to initially show them the car without them knowing what it is. It then allows them to like the car for what it is (a dam good car), and may help get rid of the fear of 'Skoda's'. That is my only hope. Get my mates wife into the car without her knowing what it is. Hopefully then, when she does eventually realise its a Skoda, the car itself will kill off the stigma. But even that may not work. Theres still a chance that the car wont be able to kill off the stigma, and despite it being a good car, the name 'Skoda' will still be too much.

 

Amazing as it may seem, this does still exist.

In my case, with certain people it doesnt matter what it is like, and what it looks like. The name Skoda stops them liking it, and the thought of riding around in a 'Skoda' is too much. It seems daft, but that stigma is still attached to the name.

Put a Ford badge on the same car, and it isnt a problem. Put a Skoda badge on a Merc, and there is no chance.

 

The only chance you have with some people, is to initially show them the car without them knowing what it is. It then allows them to like the car for what it is (a dam good car), and may help get rid of the fear of 'Skoda's'. That is my only hope. Get my mates wife into the car without her knowing what it is. Hopefully then, when she does eventually realise its a Skoda, the car itself will kill off the stigma. But even that may not work. Theres still a chance that the car wont be able to kill off the stigma, and despite it being a good car, the name 'Skoda' will still be too much.

 

Amazing as it may seem, this does still exist.

Its strange, although I sort of understand it, I dont associate skoda with poor quality, perhaps because of my age, i dont remember a time when skodas were bad? I do hold my hands up to having a prejudice against Korean cars, dont think i could ever own a kia or hyundai!

Anything pre Octavia is basically what caused the stigma. Think of the stigma attached to Ladas. Skoda and Lada were the laughing stock. Thankfully Skoda have improved. The Octy 1 seems quite good, but certainly Octy 2 onwards. The Octy 2 seemingly being the car that got rid of virtually all the stigma attached to the brand.

and im the same with Korean cars.

Yes they are apparently very good cars, but not for me.

Im not a badge snob (well actually i am, because i wont touch a Ferrari), but i am a country snob. Even if they arent built in Korea anymore, thats where they are designed (i think).

Anything pre Octavia is basically what caused the stigma. Think of the stigma attached to Ladas. Skoda and Lada were the laughing stock. Thankfully Skoda have improved. The Octy 1 seems quite good, but certainly Octy 2 onwards. The Octy 2 seemingly being the car that got rid of virtually all the stigma attached to the brand.

 

I think the Fabia Mk1 was actually the car that made the most inroads into dispelling most of the general prejudice.  The Oct Mk2 then finished the job off.

Seen a few mk3 octavia's driving toward me and my first thought was that it was a Kia. Guess it's the shape of the front grille.