Yes I know, another thread on this theme, but since I've owned my car (1st Sept delivery) I,ve never come across so many motorists who appear to not want to be seen following me. My mate's wife wont go in my car so she drives us, which is fair enough BUT she drives her Merc at 40 mph on the motorway and even uses the steering wheel as a novice does on their test. My uncle has questioned my sanity at such a purchase too. How the hell do we get the message across? This is ****ing me off. Any thoughts guys?

blagh

The snobbery is there. Here, people wonder what they are and just buy them

I'm in a paradox - people don't like following me as they knows its a Skoda, but there's something about the new mouth on it that makes people move over - must be meaner or something.... :confused: Never known so much outside lane politeness, that is except on my way home tonight. Now I know why I usually go cross country at rush hour. :grumpy:

I have encountered this and yes its bloody annoying i just ignore them if they are old or clearly ignorant of quality cars that are not german badged,

but if that person is slagging my car cause they drive v6 vectras or corsas ect i ask them if they would like to try and race my **** car, they usually back down cause they know they have just lost the battle for supremacy.

SKODA WINS THE END

I have to be honest here chaps, I was once a Skoda snob:( , I wouldn't be seen dead in one and It shames me to say it now. I drove a Nissan Primera (the new one), a car with a good reputation for reliability, mechanically speaking it was a pile of $hit to say the least and it was embarrassing in the end.

Then I was told to take the spare Octy that was in the office car park and I was (am) chuffed to bits with it. It doesnt have the novelty gadgets like my old wagon (sat nav, reversing camera etc) but It's still a superior car despite the age of the design.

Unfortunately there are still alot of people who behave like I used to towards the Skoda brand.

I have chosen an Octavia for my next car despite having a fairly big choice and SWMBO is after Furby vRS next year after sampling the potency of the PD. Both my out-laws drive furbies and love them too.

It will take a good few years to shake off the pi$$ taking that the Skoda name receives but it's getting there slowly but surely

I get people joking about it- 'Quick! get in before anyone sees' lol. Never had anyone seriously saying sorry its a Skoda, dont like it. I can tell that people love coming for rides in it, even if they do joke about it!!

My mum didn't take it well when I said I was going to buy a Skoda but once she saw it sat on the driveway she thought I'd made a good choice.

A few years ago I used my first Fabia in an art lesson and got a few positive comments from the 10 year olds - so it's probably a generaltional thing - the majority of people over 20 remember the jokes (and some still crack them), while the minority are people who know what they're talking about

if people dont like the car coz of the badge i tend to explain the reliability record, customer service, value for money etc. if that doesnt convince them then i resort to asking them what car they have, believe me i can find fault in everything!

e.g 'you have a vectra? ah, you're one of those people who doesnt do any research before you buy a car, such a shame you made a bad decision, still, there is one good thing about a vectra. the thought that one day someone is gonna weigh it in for scrap............'

works for me!

I received a barrage of abuse when I told some of my mates I was considering a Skoda. That said, most of them were just getting cheap laughs and once I'd told them all about the car thought it was a great buy.

One said "hmm, what about getting a Seat?" :confused:

To be honest, badge snobbery means one good thing - it keeps my new vRS (4 days til I go and get it!) relatively exclusive.

I'd just ignore them personally. YOU know its a good car, WE know it's a good car, why let anyone else in on the secret?

I've had some comments, get a few digs at work now and again, but the vast majority realise it's a decent car. And I've not had one person who's not been impressed once they've been a passenger, and that's most of the office now (must have spent more time driving than working the first couple of weeks I had it!)

Steve

must admit I've not met with that much snobbery - I must be lucky that everyone I speak to recognises the value for money that a Skoda represents.... and loads of people have said 'it's a VW with a different badge!'

Strangest thing is, one of the guys at work thought mine was a company car, and asked me if I'd swap it with his Golf GTi, which is HIS company car.... he was rather miffed when I said no and explained it's my own!

im 22, single, living with parents and own a octavia estate. i know exactly wot your getting at, being a member of a few cruise clubs and the age i am i get the **** ripped out of me summat chronic, even though most of them only have corsas or novas.

i get great satisfaction when a boy racer in thier nova or corsa comes along side of you at traffic lights looks at you and laughs and then thier faces just drop as you leave them standing at the lights.

my first car at 17 was a 1.3 favorit LXI plus, i found g max lowering springs for it (30SK04 if your wondering what the part no is), KYB twin tube gas shockers, it handled a dream, AND with a little dremmle work, i had 125mph outta it much to the supprise of the merc following me

i have no probs with skoda's and if i could find a favorit blackline, i would snap the sellers wrist off!

I find that my friends are very positive about the car, passengered or not, but then most of my friends are petrol heads and know about cars. I get a bit of ribbing in good humour from a couple of people, but generally folks seem to be catching on.

Of course you always get the badge snobs. I find that out on the road, or on the petrol station forecourt, the car seems to attract attention of the good kind. I have had a couple of comments along the lines of "are they as good as top gear say they are?" and "they have come a long way since the old days". Even had a few of the local boy racers checking it out while I was doing the tyre pressures and bunging it through the wash the other night. Generally a tone of approval.

The real issue seems to be with those who know nothing about cars.

Chris

I agree Chris, I find its the same with me, on the whole.

My favourite with random people/neighbours/passers by: 'ooh yes, Skoda, they make good cars these days'. Yeah, cheers, I had noticed!

Steve

I got the 'oh no not a skoda' from a colleague at work.

Fair play, until VAG got involved, Skoda were a bit of an a-n-a-c-h-o-n-i-s-m (spelled the long word slowly as it's late ).

Then again, I keep my ear to the ground re. cars and was quite happy to buy one after a test drive.

J.

So a bit like the "badge snobs" on here who slate other manufacturer's cars because they're a Ford, Vauxhall, Fiat, Renault, etc, etc

Chris

So a bit like the "badge snobs" on here who slate other manufacturer's cars because they're a Ford, Vauxhall, Fiat, Renault, etc, etc

Indeed. Everyone seems to be busy congratulating themselves on how clever they are to have chosen a Skoda, and quite rightly too. However, things have changed in the last 12 months. I don't think Skoda are offering quite the same value that they used to.

I've never come across so many motorists who appear to not want to be seen following me.

The driver of the Evo on the way into work this morning was absolutely desperate not to be behind me by the time we got onto the motorway this morning!

Although I'm under no illusions that my Fabia is anything like as fast as his car, I was able to accelerate away from the lights fast enough that he aborted his overtaking attempt before the two lanes of the sliproad merged into one...

Having said this:

1. I don't think that's really what you meant in this thread, and I can't possibly condone driving any more quickly than necessary (although seeing how much some Evo and Scooby drivers bully other road users, it's nice to even things up a little now and then! )

2. Amongst my mates, they were very 'anti' when they heard I bought a Skoda, but of those that are interested in cars, they changed their tune when they found out it was a vRS - coming out with stories along the lines of "I've got a mate at work who knows someone with a vRS, and they've..."

For all those for whom a car is just a mode of transport, I think the message about Skoda making good cars was put across years ago. I think the vRS brand is doing a lot of good for Skoda's credibility amongst 'car snobs', although there will always be some who think a Merc or Beemer is the best car you can buy. (Having driven an A Class and a C Class, I personally beg to differ... )

i often feel many skoda owners are snobs to other brands and badges. if it isnt a skoda its an over priced peice of junk wether it be a ford, vw, bmw, merc etc

too many think skoda is the be all and end all of good cars.

im not picking on anyone in particular but look at what some of you say over the peice about other brands and its exactly what other people say about skodas(not everyone i may add)

most people prefer and stick by there current car and few will slag it off. my admission is im always drawn to VAG cars, i just feel im getting a better product but in saying that i would consider others

Yeah, he be right...

I mean, half of you actually snob beemers. BEEMERS!

Yeah' date=' he be right...

I mean, half of you actually snob beemers. BEEMERS! [/quote']

I think in the case of BMW it's not the badge, it's the person it's been pinned to ..

There is a distinct difference between being a snob ("person whose conduct or opinions are influenced by considerations of social position or wealth" or "pillock") and saying another car make/brand is rubbish if it is, be it dealer or actual car.A City Rover is rubbish but I am not a snob.

The real issue seems to be with those who know nothing about cars.

Chris

I'd agree. One of our clients was in the office last week. He's a bit of a petrolhead (has a Bentley Continental, a Caterham and his mobile office is a Land Cruiser) and we got talking about cars. He asked what I had and I said "a Skoda". He perked up and asked what. When I said "an Octavia vRS" the first thing he asked was "have you had it tuned yet!". The answer was of course I had. The conversation then turned to track days - we both agreed that Duffus Dip is the most frightening corner at Knockhill :eek: :eek: