2nd August issue out today.

Great two page review review of the new octavia (Their long termers 14,000 report).

Can't praise it highly enough.Quality solid interior,unscathed"indicative of real,deep down quality".References to skoda being the "Irn -Bru brand of the Volkswagen group "(not happy with some golfs he had tried) .

Engine (236lb ft torque :eek: ), performance and economy excellent.Load space (as if we didn't know) even better.

All in all,a good review.Faults? Dust caps came off

Got Autocar today. Glowing report of 2.0TDi Elegance (the very model I just ordered) or what?

It's the long term tests that count. They are unforgiving. I'm tired of reading car journalist's test drive reports on the Octavia they carried out and compiled some wet Tuesday morning where they say the Octy II is quite good but it doesn't have damped grab handles or a VW badge incinuating it's never really going to be better than a MkV Golf.

When was the last time you heard someone complain 'It was a nice drive but the grab handles just were not up to standard, even the kids noticed it'.

My boss has been giving me stick over going for an Octy II. I think he was genuinely disappointed when I told him. He had hoped i'd follow the heard and go for the Golf or possibly a base spec A3. I surprised him by going for a better car than either of those as he will discover after reading the Autocar article which will be left conveniently open in the vicinity of his desk. I'll give him a couple of days though to enjoy the new A6 2.7 TDi S-Line he picked up today. Fantastic car but not really suited to such a clumsy person..

I'll give him a couple of days though to enjoy the new A6 2.7 TDi S-Line he picked up today. Fantastic car but not really suited to such a clumsy person..

I'll give him a couple of days though to enjoy the new A6 2.7 TDi S-Line he picked up today. Fantastic car but not really suited to such a clumsy person..

Nice car, and a gorgeous engine. Doesn't even sound like a diesel. I wish him well in paying the tax bill!

Phil