Has any one seen the report on the 1.9 Octy II 4x4 in the September issue of 'Diesel Car' magazine?

1.5 Stars! Is the reviewer mad or just stupid!

Dave Perry describes the car as a 'labouring slug' when in 4 wheel drive and jokingly describes it as a Faux x 4. Haha. He says it isn't robust enough for a 4x4 too.

He describes to 112mph top speed as 'Lethargic'

He adds 'The Octavia suffers badly from a noisy, old style 'clattering' diesel when idle'

He then goes on to say 'It's impossible to feel good about anything connected to the car.' 'The dash looks like it was bought in a 2 for 1 sale in Poundland!'

May I retort?

It's not designed to wade through rivers, negotiate rediculous gradients or bunny hop over boulders Dave and of course it labours. It's geared to be a useable economic road car 90% of the time. You'd also be complaining if the car was as slow as a landrover freelander in 1st gear because it was set up primarily for 4x4 use. Wise up you praat!`

Ok, you don't like the slightly noisy tickover. It didn't stop you praising the 'superb driveability' of the car. However you obviously didn't drive over 50mph or you'd be praising the excellent torque available for 5th and 6th gear overtaking. Oh, I forgot, it's a Skoda and it's a diesel, can't be too praiseworthy then.

I know what you mean Dave about the Dashboard though. I thought the dash in the new almost identical Mk V Golf was a pile of crap too. I know it has been described by 'reputable' motoring jounalists as being 'solid', 'well laid out' and looking like it's been 'carved from a coal face', but they are all wrong and of course you're right . Plonkker!

I test drove one a few weeks back and was really impressed. Ok, it wasn't a rocketship at take off but the urgent acceleration at speed in 5th and 6th was really impressive. The car was comfortable and pleasant to be in, not to mention having a really good spec. Trim quality was also on a par with VW and I liked the well laid out dash too.

well dave, at least you can share your experience with your lanky plonker Top gear mate at the weekend.

Wasn't Dave Perry the villain in Phoenix nights? What does that tub of lard know about cars!

not like a rocet ship at take off compared to a FWD model?? you weren't driving it right mate

my 4x4 certainly 'takes off like a rocket' when drivin right

still hasn't put me off potentially buying one when you look at the other alternatives I was looking at and the fact we shall be possible swapping a rav4 for one

Yeah, I drove a TDI (2.0 140bhp) 4-Mo MK5 Golf last month and I have NEVER made a launch from the traffic lights as fast, in ANY car.

It just needed a remap to keep it going, but jebus, it took off like it was on an aircraft carrier catapult!!

Dude sounds like a plumb

i'll admit they aren't exactly an off road monster but they are very good value for money.

but most of us on here with octavia 4x4's have turned them more towards the fast road car rather than the off road car with lower stiffer suspension, different brakes, different wheels and more power

Oh, yeah Dave and another thing,

112mph - Lethargic?

'What's that officer, I was doing 120mph.'

'Sorry bout' that it's just 112mph is so lethargic'

Balls! I could count the number of times i've hit 112mph

in the last 5 years on one hand!

Feels sluggish in 4wd?

What is he doing selecting a mystical manual lever? Chances are if he grannied around in it the haldex didnt actually engage the rear diff anyhow.

I stand corrected about the 4x4. I didn't really fleece it on the test drive so probably saw little or no action from the haldex. I'm sure it's something you have to get used to anyway.

No doubt it's a bit quicker than I gave it credit for although the 0-60 did feel down a bit on the 1.9 TDi FWD model and noticeably slower than the 2.0 TDi although that's not really a fair comparison

Yeah' date=' I drove a TDI (2.0 140bhp) 4-Mo MK5 Golf last month and I have NEVER made a launch from the traffic lights as fast, in ANY car.

It just needed a remap to keep it going, but jebus, it took off like it was on an aircraft carrier catapult!!

Dude sounds like a plumb[/quote']

For the uneducated in re-mapping, what did you mean about a re-map to keep it going. Are you referring to the peaky torque curve and flattening it out a bit!

its easy to get quick launch off the line in the 4x4 and it goes like this:-

-depress clutch

-engage 1st

-rev tits out of engine

-drop clutch

-change gear at end of power band

-repeat until big smile on face or licence is revoked

HTH

what power is the 4x4 tho? is it the 105bhp?

yeah, its the PD105. but with the 4x4 its still going to kick away from the line.

PS has anybody else looked at the 4x4 microsite on skoda.co.uk bit tripy

Considering I just got knicked at 105 mph with a friendly yet sturn warning & got imho extremely, extremely lucky with 3 points 60 quid fine, 112 suddenly doesnt seem lethargic...

From the Octy II I saw in the showroom, I personally dont like the chrome stuff inside but that's just a matter of taste, dash seemed typical VW-style so clear, not cluttered. As for how fast/slow it is - I've not driven it myself but I cannot imagine it being dog slow or a racer, more like a (very) capable motorway cruiser with plenty of oomph to make it go if you want/need to use it

:iagree:

yeah' date=' its the PD105. but with the 4x4 its still going to kick away from the line.

PS has anybody else looked at the 4x4 microsite on skoda.co.uk bit tripy [/quote']

Trippy indeed Bengie. Very Kia Picanto

Simply puta lot of people cant believe that skoda make good quality cars.... And when they do they wont admit it..... Anyone every seen a skoda on top gear ( except the vrs) and when ever there is a group its rare to see a skoda.... vw yes, seat maybe, skoda errrr whats that!!!!

I'm gonna get grief here but I can honestly say that the current Seat range doesn't even compete with Skoda from a quality point of view. I'm also informed that the car to have at the minute as far a the under 18 future/new driver group are concerned is the Fabia vrs. Apparently 'Skodas Rule'. The top gear mini vs fabia test sparked it off i'm told. Wouldn't have anticipated that a few years back.

It's just a pity the Octy isn't getting the respect it deserves especially in the Co. car world although the fleet company i'm with says things are changing. They are finding it harder to keep up with orders and Skoda are rewarding them with huge discounts.

The quality on the Octy II is right there with VW, if not better - not quite with Audi, but they're a different class of car, you pay for the difference!

I could understand mild criticism of the Mk1's interior quality (assuming you ignored the price and compared to something much more expensive) but anyone who slates the new one is a muppet, simple as that.

The quality on the Octy II is right there with VW' date=' if not better - not quite with Audi, but they're a different class of car, you pay for the difference!

I could understand mild criticism of the Mk1's interior quality (assuming you ignored the price and compared to something much more expensive) but anyone who slates the new one is a muppet, simple as that.[/quote']

:iagree:

99.9% of all motoring press give skoda a big thumbs up.

I wouldn't worry about it.

Just makes you wonder how such people justify their opinions. Performance wise I have no idea about 4x4 Octy's, but even if it is slower than a pair of Nike Air the quality is very good internally.

What was this guy expecting for that sort of money? It seems that new Kias etc are praised all over the place despite being inferior, yet Skodas are still slated in some quarters, the motoring press should know better.

I would imagine the only people reading 'Diesel Car' magazine are Skoda owners and farmers anyway

You know what the great thing is about opinions ? They are just that

Personally I think it's great that there are different opinions out there, unfortunately not all are based on facts, but that's life