What Car and Warranty Direct recently released details of their latest take on reliable brands and models. Given the information is based on claims that pass through Warranty Direct, it's clear that any statement made regarding the Octavia relates to the Octavia II which is now out of Warranty and not the Octavia III which i still in warranty.

 

I've been reading the (Octavia III) forums and get the impression the Octavia III has a number of niggles and a attracts a mixed perception of build quality and reliability. I'm curious to hear from folks that have owned and have good experience of the Octavia II and have since moved on to the Octavia III, on how they would compare the two cars in terms of build quality and reliability. 

 

What do people think the reliability results will look like for the Octavia III when it eventually goes out of manufacturer warranty? Will they be better or worse than the Octavia II?

 

I've also read on the forums that owners feel like the Octavia III is a bit of a prototype, unfinished product, work in progress. I can appreciate that may be the sentiment from those that bought the very early production models or bought in the first year of release due to lack of comprehensive Quality Assurance on Skoda's part. Is the feeling/observation that Skoda is quite good at identifying design/production faults and rectifying them in later builds of the car? Or can one expect that even the MY15/MY16 might feel quite "buggy" and "work in progress"?

 

As some of you probably know, I'm new to the brand and have an Octavia on order which should arrive some time end of June/early July and could well end up being MY16. Reason for buying was based on rave reviews across the the motoring media and a good impression from sitting in the car (space, level of kit & interior refinement) and going for a test drive. While I wait anxiously for delivery I'm curious to know what to expect from the car down the line as I'm planning to keep it for quite some time.

I've only test drove a mk2 not owned one so can't comment on reliability but my perception of the mk3 is that its better in almost every way other than it didn't feel quite as solid... But even that is a trade off with it being lighter and more nimble as opposed to a bit of a tank

Oh and I've had over a year from my VRS TSI combi and think its one of the best cars I've ever had

Edited 17 April, 201511 yr by V6Jules

My next door neighbour had a Mk2 Octavia, and it had a fair few faults over the years. Air con pump, radiator, cruise control stalk, rear suspension bushes. I've only owned a Mk3 VRS for 6 weeks but it feels excellent regarding build quality and get up and go.

 

Only time will give the full picture, but one thing I can say, the MK3 is over priced for the market it is aimed at, hence the brick like depreciation. But that is only due to the badge snobbery that still exists. For what you get, the MK3 is worth every penny and then some IMHO

 

Any make of car can be a total nightmare, in my last job we had Audi's for top management, and they spent most of their life in a garage being fixed. Same for the Rovers we had. Fleet Astras just kept on going. 

@V6Jules its funny how people like to feel that the car is built like a tank... I'm one of those people. But what is it about a car that gives that feeling/impression. Perhaps the Mk3 doesn't feel solid because the steering is so light?

My outgoing car was a 2005 Corolla hatchback (the last version before Corolla was replaced by Auris). Although the car was mostly quite reliable until very recently, was quite well screwed together with little in terms of creaks and rattles inside, it never quite felt as solidly built (tank like), while my mother's Golf Mk3 which although is quite old and looks very worn inside and out, to this day feels quite solid (has a much heavier steering and strangely the old Golf's 1.4 engine feels more capable and solid than the Corolla's 1.6).

@MoggyTech, the base Octavia petrol is a little over £16k which isn't bad. You still get a reasonable level of kit and safety for your money and a car that is still cheaper, bigger and more practical (for a family) than the cheapest Golf, and way cheaper than the entry level Mondeo. I suspect when you take possibility of good discounts into account the Octavia is even better value for money compared to the Golf. It's when you up the trim levels and engine sizes that the price of the Octavia gets a bit silly.I just downloaded a Mondeo price list and the price doesn't go up as much from the Zetec 1.0 Manual to the Titanium 1.5 Auto £20k to £24k jump, vs £16k to £22k jump for Octavia 1.2 S Manual to Octavia 1.4 Elegance DSG. In summary I think it's the higher spec Octavia trims that are over priced, but you do get a lot of driving comforts for your money at that point!

 

Also. am starting to see *a lot* of Skodas on the road now so I do wonder if that and the rave media reviews (Car of the year 2014, 2015 etc etc) are rapidly eroding the badge snobbery and if depreciation will start to improve. I'm concerned though that as the popularity of the brand grows, that the dealers/franchise service garages (a lot of which are VW dealers at heart) will become as undesirable as their VW/Audi counterparts! :-(

Edited 17 April, 201511 yr by RB79

I owned a mk2 for 3 years from new traded it in for my mk3, in the 3 years I owned the it I had no problems. I think the mk3 is better car except for the ride quality of the suspension very hard.

Have had a MkII and now a MkIII.

 

I have some years of experience in the vehicle industry, which has left me with a critical eye for shortfalls between model generations.

 

So far, after a few thousand kms, no real issues to report.

I owned a MKII petrol VRS for 7 years. It was solid and feisty. The facia / heater vent area creaked slightly in cold weather and it had some of the known faults occur, ABS, AIr Con. In summary it was a cheap (in comparison for the performance) fast economical car. The MKIIII petrol VRS is much different. Mine is MY15. It is much larger inside, bigger seats, better quality feel on most materials. Many more gadgets, and obviously comparatively more expensive, in line with competition. The MKII set a really high personal benchmark and I was reluctant to trade it in. However the more miles I drive the MKIII, the more I like it. The economy is improving with the rising temperatures and the performance is excellent. Road holding and cornering is improved . I think it's comfortable and soaks up most of the bumps that the UK's roads throw at it.

@V6Jules its funny how people like to feel that the car is built like a tank... I'm one of those people. But what is it about a car that gives that feeling/impression. Perhaps the Mk3 doesn't feel solid because the steering is so light?

 

 

I had a B6 passat estate before and it felt heavy because it was. The mk2 octy i test drove felt heavy to me where as the mk3 feels lighter (which it is, so should do) not really much through the steering but in the way it changes direction and picks up, I think the ride quality is pretty good but it does get pitched around a little more than the heavier older car did... this is possibly the only drawback from being lighter that affects me as the advantages like better handling, better performance, better fuel economy far outweigh this in my mind

By the way its highly amusing that Skoda's better heeled siblings (Bentley & Porsche) are considered the least reliable brands [emoji23]

Edited 17 April, 201511 yr by RB79

A strange question to ask as you can't compare what essentially is still quite a new car compared to a car that was first seen over 10 years ago.

 

Over the years issues would have been sorted on the mk2, likewise improvements will be made to the mk3 over the lifespan of the model

I like others have never owned a Mk2 so all I can say is that so far (15 months and 13000 miles), my Mk3 has been very good and exceeded my expectations.

My Mk2 was v good but then it was a 2013 car and I only had it a year 11k miles.

I did double that year 1 in my relatively early (Feb 14) Mk3....its a bit rattly granted but nothings fallen off or broke yet and in fairness to it is coping admirably.