Nah, not embaressed. Why should I be? OK it's only an SDI but hey, gotta start somewhere.....

I think if it looked like a 120 Estelle, then I'd be self conscious, even if it was a brilliant drive and utterly reliable. The stigma of the past and/or remembering making "Skip" jokes etc.

The Octavia and Fabia are so much of a clean break though, that it doesn't matter to me. I wanted something to replace my dead AX GT and wanted something other than a fragile (potential) coffin this time around.

Though if Skoda released something styled like the Rapide Coupe, I might be tempted.

J.

Not sure about the choices on the poll - opted for "look the business" in the end, as I'm not fussed either way. Most of my friends are petrol heads like me, so they knew that Skodas aren't a joke anymore. Those that scoffed have been out in it, and have changed their opinions immediately.

There are a couple who know it's a good car, like the look of it and performance but are still put off because of the badge - weird, if you ask me!

But the best reaction I've had so far is with a mate who drives a classic Mini, and strives for a new version. I took him out for a blast in the vRS Fabia, and he hasn't shut up about it since. Loves the look, the performance, the running costs and admitted if he had the cash, the Mini would be sidelined for a vRS!

As for me, I love the humour side of it. It gets more of a reaction to say I drive a Skoda these days, than it does with the Impreza.

That was part of the reason I bought my first Skoda, a kind of inverse snobbery

Loved going to scoob meets and track days init and playing with them, especially badged as a 1.4 16V

i would be embarrased if it was a skoda badge

Not embarrassed at all but I'm already getting fed up of explaining to people why I'm not! Someone said today that he thought it was a Jag when he saw the front from a distance - now that's just a rebadged Ford!!

I am not ashamed at all. No, really, where I'm from owning a Skoda is like owning a BMW.

Whats to be embarrassed about? quality cars, does exactly what it says it should on the tin. I love the fact that I get performance or economy whatever I feel like

I buy cars that give me what I need.

I used to buy Nissan Primeras (pre Renault ownership) one of the best handling cars I ever owned, many a sports car been shown the way home by my 1.6 Si on a twisty road.

Badge snobs IMHO are brain dead idiots

I love it, folks don't really clock it when you're behind 'em, but overtake 'em and my-oh-my.

They do a double -take on the badge then suddenly feel the need to put the boot down and re-overtake you. I had a twerp in a Rover, he'd been plodding along at 65, so I passes him and then look in my mirror, he's swerved into the outside lane and his face when he went past.

I swear he was gonna cry at the indignation of being passed by a Skoda.

What was even better was, as he smugly pulled back in front of me, an Octavia went flying past. hehe.

I know one thing, when I got my Felly, it was rare to see one, now, they are all over the place. Same with Octavias and Fabias, I think the stigma is pretty much ignored by folks these daya. Wll, the folks with half a brain anways. :P

On a truthful note, I took a lotta C**p from other kids at school.

My Dad had an Estelle 120LSE in lovely ice blue with a vinyl roof twin headlamps - twin webber carbs and it went easily over a ton.

I loved the little car but I took a hell of a lotta s##te from other kids who's dads had company cars or were were well off etc.....

I even made my Dad drop me off down the road so no-one would see me at school. It must have made my Dad a little p'd off but he didnt understand the c*ap I went through. After all, it was a great car, quite big inside and NEVER let us down.

Many years later:

My Dad couldnt believe it when I bought my Octavia and now I realise now what a load of brainstarved idiots there were out there. It's that same stupid mentality that exists in this country,

Designer labels at 200 quid for a pair of jeans, BMW's bought only for their badge and the final straw - That Top gear cool wall dissing the Fabia VRs and the two idiots they spoke to- the last thing it needed.:eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek::eek:

I hope to god your kids never go through what I did......it sucked.

I use dto get SKoda jokes all the time. Simple reply (most of the time) is "it may be a skoda but its still a darn sight faster than your car"

Worst "offender" drove an Avensis estate and another drove a MK1 Mondeo 1.8

I bought one because the passat just looked naff inside all shiny and plasticky, and it gives me everything i need and a little more, I think Skodas have a class of their own now and they are not just classed as the VAG little brother.

I bought mine because after reading literally hundreds of reviews on various sites (Parkers, etc.) the Octavia vRS was the one car that stood out above the rest.

What I mean is, most models (V6 Mondeos, Vecrtas, etc.) had an equal mix of "This is the bbest car I have ever owned" as well as "The worst car, will never buy another" but the Octavia had very few bad reviews!

Coupled with the fact that both plod and taxi drivers use and like them - can only be a good recommendation! These guys do many miles and know their onions generally.

So I thought, buy a Skoda, be different (around these parts anyway) and I also decided to get a yellow one - I have never owned a yellow car before, owned most other colours so thought i'd try and complete the set :lol:

I really like the mk1 vRS yellow, not too in your face compared to other shades of yellow (mk2?! imo).

Not really a badge snob kind of person anyway, apart from trainers - I always go for Adidas, personal preference.

wouldn't have a problem with the badge, have considered an octavia as a next car (but i'm not sure i like the way it looks).

but i don't know if i could handle being associated with the self satisfied, smug "i'm better than you because i didn't waste my money on a vw/audi" owners tht exist

wouldn't have a problem with the badge, have considered an octavia as a next car (but i'm not sure i like the way it looks).

but i don't know if i could handle being associated with the self satisfied, smug "i'm better than you because i didn't waste my money on a vw/audi" owners tht exist

and whats the problem with that? thats a very sensible approach to buying a car is it not?

I love having a skoda to show that I am level headed and down to earth with my extraordinary wage!

I love having a skoda to show that I am level headed and down to earth with my extraordinary wage!

Really, cos you come across as a self satisfied, smug "i'm better than you because i didn't waste my money on a >insert make here<" owner :P:rofl:

Chris

Me and Hubby both have Skodas, me a Fabia VRS and him an Octy Vrs, we get a lot of mickey-taking about the Skoda badge (flying ****), mainly from my brother who has a Golf TDI s reg (remapped and wayyyy faster than mine, of course it is:D ) I think hes just a teeny bit jealous

As has been stated previously in this thread , what is there to be embarrassed about? Its only a badge for gods sake! If history were different and Munich and Stuttgart were in the Russian zone after WWII , then people would be cracking Porsche and BMW jokes in the 80's , not Skoda ones. The company had no investment whatsoever for decades . that is why the cars were stuck in the 60s for 20 odd years. If VW had not brought out its watercooled range in the 1970s , but had gone on selling the Beetle/T2/T3/T4 air cooled line up , then its rep would be similar to Skodas was in the 80s...I remember our Metalwork teacher at school used to get dogs abuse for turning up in an orange VW T3 Fastback , boy did that car get spammed with snowballs in wintertime!...Having said that ,now , I think that T3s are cool as fcuck!!!!

Really, cos you come across as a self satisfied, smug "i'm better than you because i didn't waste my money on a >insert make here<" owner :P:rofl:

Chris

Many a true word said in jest

I'd agree with ScoobyChris 100%

Sorry guys I must be the odd one out being embarressed about the Skoda badge and I do get some stick about it.......................

The embarrising thing is not the name or the Car everyone I've met raves about it, but the Badge it's....... it's....... it's G G G G Green and White and being from the Blue half of Glasgow a big Rangers fan enough said.

Now if it was Blue & White

I'm proud to have the skoda badges on my car and tell everyone i drive a skoda and i don't mind taking some stick for it from my mates because i know what is really behind the badge and eventually everyone else will see it too.

also alot of people round here are scared of octavias because they police have a couple of unmarked vrs'!

Really, cos you come across as a self satisfied, smug "i'm better than you because i didn't waste my money on a >insert make here<" owner :P:rofl:

Chris

you read me wrong luv.

How can somone be better than somone else for not spending money? If someone wanted a vw \ audi and could afford one they would get one??

it's very subjective and your wrong as always

some people

I could have bought a Porsche (used) but I bought a Nissan - does that make me an inverse badge snob too ?

Chris_newell.... I believe you had a renault before - a brand that is often associated with unreliability. WHen you had that, how did you view Skodas ?

When I first bought my present car , SEAT Leon, I got some stick off a lad at work. He said it was "a poor man's Golf" - what's he going to be like when I get a Fabia??

This is he who drives an MG ZS 180 - a poorman's Scooby!

I've got cheaper insurance, better fuel economy, same BHP, loads more torque, probably similar performance....etc...etc...etc...

I have a skoda pillow. It's very comfy :gay: