Having driven several high spec Volvo's for a 10 year period I was seduced by the Octavia due to its reviews, basic cost price and accessories/add on's available within my company budget.

I opted for a 2.0TDI Elegance with 19" Golus Alloys, full leather, winter pack, Columbus, canton and park assist.

I took delivery in October 2014 and I have to admit its a very good car. Fast, full of toys and the build quality is perhaps 10% lower than a Volvo.

My only gripe is the Sat Nav system on the Columbus, compared to a TomTom Live it is very poor, particularly in picking up traffic jams and POI near your destination. It is lacking in a Google or Trip Adviser search engine.

My only other dig at the Octy is the steering on a motorway / duel carriage way, it seems to have play in the wheel that needs constant small corrections left or right all the time. This may be the 19" alloy options fault but it is annoying.

Plus side, the acceleration, ride quality, sound system, driving position, other gadgets and over all build quality have won me over.

Fellow people at work have taken the Pish out of my choice of company car, I have had the "does the touch screen come with a taxi meter" and the old Trabant" joke. As my post title says, Get Over The Badge, it's a great car.

Turn off lane assist, should fix the steering.

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Arent those 18" Golus?

I cant wait to get mine!

But you can tell your coworkers that at least here in Norway, Volvos and Mercs are just as common as Skoda as taxies. So they should get of Their high horse

I cant wait to get mine!

But you can tell your coworkers that at least here in Norway, Volvos and Mercs are just as common as Skoda as taxies. So they should get of Their high horse

Unfortunately here in the UK a Skoda Octy is the preferred taxi. To me that says 2 things, reliability and resale value........so I don't care

Turn off lane assist, should fix the steering.

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Do I have Lane Assist on an Ellegance? Not sure I do, but i will check tomorrow.

Unfortunately here in the UK a Skoda Octy is the preferred taxi. To me that says 2 things, reliability and resale value........so I don't care

True. One should think a taxidriver would choose a reliable and somewhat comfy car.

Unfortunately here in the UK a Skoda Octy is the preferred taxi. To me that says 2 things, reliability and resale value........so I don't care

 

Good point. Round here, taxi drivers also look for magic horns which get louder after midnight... noisy devils.

Do I have Lane Assist on an Ellegance? Not sure I do, but i will check tomorrow.

It's standard on the Scout/L&K/vRS so unless you ticked the option no you don't have it. Odd though as the wandering issue you report is so often down to that!

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It's standard on the Scout/L&K/vRS so unless you ticked the option no you don't have it. Odd though as the wandering issue you report is so often down to that!

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Put the steering into sport mode and it feels much better on the motorway.

Put the steering into sport mode and it feels much better on the motorway.

+1 Mine has steering set in sport mode since day one, I determined on the demo first test drive the standard steering setting was too light for my tastes

Edited 7 February, 201511 yr by Mr Grump

Get your work colleagues to read this http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/car-manufacturers/skoda/10018605/Skoda-from-laughing-stock-to-top-dog.html

 

My wife's company Octavia 1.6 TDI DSG which was new last year had to go back last week as her new company car was ready to be picked up, a BMW 320d with 8 speed auto gearbox. The only thing we've found that impresses on the BMW over the Octavia is the performance, in every other respect the Octavia is the better car.

 

I really don't know where BMW gets so much praise from, not that there's anything wrong with it, the Octavia is simply the better car.

As my post title says, Get Over The Badge, it's a great car.

I think there are quite a few differences in attitude towards Skoda throughout Europe. In every country there are the badge snobs that will never buy a Skoda even if they get it for free. As for the rest in Luxembourg the Octavia and often the VRS is (at least amongst my friends) the typical "young family car". There are of course also many BMW, VW and Audis around but still. And you also see well-off people (directors, etc) driving Skodas. Cabs are mostly BMW and Mercs.

In Belgium (again based on my friends) most people will prefer a less powerful but equally priced Audis (this has  alot to do with their ridiculously high taxes on anything that has a bigger engine than a sowing machine.)

Not sure about France, but since they have a rather large automotive industry of their own, they understandably seem to prefer to support their national economy. And if they want cheap they can buy Dacia.

After having driven different cars (Audi, VW, Nissan, Renault, Citroen :-() I will give Skoda a try, but considering the feedback I have from my dad and friends I'm sure I'll be fine.

These two pretty much sum it up:

 

 

The second advert looks like Cambridge Vindis

The second advert looks like Cambridge Vindis

Agree