When the Fabia was released as significantly higher price than the Felicia had sold for I wondered if Skoda had perhaps made a mistake as the traditional and loyal Skoda customer had bought Skodas mainly because they were cheap.

I admit that the Octavia is successful, mainly with mini cab drivers and the Fabia in part due to the press hype sells ok. However yesterday when I left my Octavia into RK Olivers to get some work done they had a number of Peruda cars for sale brand new at

for me skoda score big on the second hand market,my octy is a late T plate with all the glxi toys and it is a combi all for

Skodas too expensive? Sheesh, some people want the moon on a stick! Personally, I think Skoda occupy the ideal middle ground between price and quality. I wouldn't be happy to sacrafice the build quality on my Octavia for a few thousand pound discount.

Yes but the Felicia was cheap and had good build quality. They were extremely reliable and had very good rust protection etc. Were they fell down when compared with other cars was basic specification and a relatively low powered engine. But then you did not buy a Felicia if you wanted loads of toys or a high performance car. They were great if you wanted a cheap but reliable and practical family car.

Before buying my Octavia I test drove the "sporty" version of the Kia Shuma 2, which I believe costs about

Basically Skoda have changed their target market. They are now building good value, good quality and dynamically up to date cars - as a result they are getting many people to buy Skodas who would never have touched them before. There are plenty of manufacturers who are targeting the cheap as chips end of the market (i.e. Kia, Perodua, Daewoo and Hyundai) - but to get that cheap you have the trade-off with many of their cars being either bland, dated or poor handling (or all of the above in some cases).

I recognise that some old Skodas were good cars but they also made some dogs and many of them were not good all round cars. I don't know the figures but there are a hell of a lot more Skodas out there now (and they are not all taxis) so I can't see that losing some of the people that basically bought the cheapest car available is a bad thing.

But then you did not buy a Felicia if you wanted loads of toys or a high performance car. They were great if you wanted a cheap but reliable and practical family car.

I'm sure a lot of Fabia/Octavia owners aren't buying for the toys or performance though! A 1.9 SDI Classic Octavia is a whole lot of reliable practical car for the money...

I think the majority of car buyers *do* like things like air-conditioning, air bags, etc. though, so the chances of finding a reliable basic car will be constantly reducing.

Rob.

The Felicia did have air bags. Yes I am sure every one would like air con but if all you can afford is 5 or 6K some people would prefer a basic new car than a 4 year old Octavia. Yes the 1.9 SDI Octavia Classic is great value but it is still 10K. That is a lot of money to many people. The Felicia range started at 5K.

5 or 6K some people would prefer a basic new car than a 4 year old Octavia.

Some would - I'd imagine the majority wouldn't.

A car which costs

"I'm sure a lot of Fabia/Octavia owners aren't buying for the toys or performance though! A 1.9 SDI Classic Octavia is a whole lot of reliable practical car for the money..."

Rob:-I did

William i couldnt stomach the depreciation of buying a cheap car new that would sell for peanuts after 3 year much better to buy the spec you want second hand and pay a little more from a franchised dealer so you get the warranties and customer support etc

The bottom-of-the range Fabia is around the

I would think just the sheer number of Skodas on the roads will tell you that people must like them, regardless of how "not so cheap they are".

Personally I prefer value for money rather than dear or cheap, but then that might just be me. I have to say I would never have had a Favorit or Felicia until I had owned the Octy, Skoda for me pre Octy just made cheap rust heaps in my eyes, that were bought by querky people or pensioners with no funds.

I like the spread of there car costs these days, and I think they are good prices when you compare them to their VAG cousins.

I would think just the sheer number of Skodas on the roads will tell you that people must like them' date=' regardless of how "not so cheap they are".

Personally I prefer value for money rather than dear or cheap, but then that might just be me. I have to say I would never have had a Favorit or Felicia until I had owned the Octy, Skoda for me pre Octy just made cheap rust heaps in my eyes, that were bought by querky people or pensioners with no funds.

I like the spread of there car costs these days, and I think they are good prices when you compare them to their VAG cousins.[/quote']

I agree. A friend of mile has just bought a 2001 Golf TDi with 50k on the clock. He paid more for this than he could have bought a brand new Octy Ambiente TDi for - and if he really wanted too, he could have ot an Elegance TDi ex-demo with 2.5k on it for the same money. But he didn't - because his wife "wouldn't be seen dead in a Skoda." With some people, VFM doesn't come into it and despite your protestations William, the Felicia really wasn't in the same league in terms of build quality as the current product - notwithstanding a "lack" of cubbyholes and cupholders - no offence, but I've never used a cupholder in my life!!

But he didn't - because his wife "wouldn't be seen dead in a Skoda."

Though if he'd gone for the Skoda, she would've fitted in the boot, then no one would have had to see her... :p

Rob.

I agree. A friend of mile has just bought a 2001 Golf TDi with 50k on the clock. He paid more for this than he could have bought a brand new Octy Ambiente TDi for - and if he really wanted too, he could have ot an Elegance TDi ex-demo with 2.5k on it for the same money. But he didn't - because his wife "wouldn't be seen dead in a Skoda."

If you're saying this is mad, I'd agree. I'd never buy a VW if I could have a better Skoda for the same money.

Ignoring badges though, are the Golf and Octavia really in the same sector of the market? I know they share a platform and have many components in common but the Octavia is a Mondeo competitor whereas the Golf is more in the Focus class.

(Wondering if I'll get drummed out of this site for comparing VAG cars with Fords.)

Hmm, why would you want to save 2 grand, for a Perodua over a Skoda? (although saying this some Diahatsu's are quite good value for the money). A Skoda looks, feel and handles well and build quality is second to none. Perudua will give you a 2 year warrenty and a car for 5 grand that in 3 years time would be in the low thousand pounds. On the Skoda stand at the Scottish Motorshow, the people who I talked to seemed to think that the cars were a steal, even the

Yes but the Felicia was cheap and had good build quality. They were extremely reliable and had very good rust protection etc.

My impressions of Felicias have, admitedly, only been formed after spending 3 or 4 days with them. In that time I found them to be shoddily built, difficult to start, uncomfortable, unstable and ugly. Bear in mind, these cars were only 3 years old, and had lots of trim and switches simply dropping off. The suspension was soggy and uneven.

The Felicia was a godawful car and had no place in a modern car manufacturer's lineup. Even third world manufacturers make better cars.

......are the Golf and Octavia really in the same sector of the market? I know they share a platform and have many components in common but the Octavia is a Mondeo competitor whereas the Golf is more in the Focus class.

Well, that's not really true. The Mondeo is really in the Passat sector - and the Octy really is in the Focus/Megane/Astra sector. After all, the Octy cabin is the same size as the Golf / Bora - albeit with a Mondeo sized boot!

Well, that's not really true. The Mondeo is really in the Passat sector - and the Octy really is in the Focus/Megane/Astra sector. After all, the Octy cabin is the same size as the Golf / Bora - albeit with a Mondeo sized boot!

I have parked my Octavia besides both Ford Focus cars and Passats. The difference in size between the Octavia and the Focus is very obvious, however the difference in size to the passat would require a tape measure. The Octavia is a family car and therefore in the size class of the Passat, Mondeo, Vectra etc.

The Mondeo is bigger, but that is because the Mondeo is on the big side of the range of size classed as family sized.

I have parked my Octavia besides both Ford Focus cars and Passats.

I've parked my Octavia next to Transits, and it's been about the same length but that doesn't make it a van!

The Octavia is classed as a small family car, hence is in the same group as Focus, Astra, etc. Basically, if it was a company car it's driven by junior reps.

Passats and Mondeos are the territory of senior reps and management.

And since the demise of the Scorpio, the Mondeo has had to cater for the executive range too...

Rob.

Basically Skoda have changed their target market. They are now building good value' date=' good quality and dynamically up to date cars - as a result they are getting many people to buy Skodas who would never have touched them before. There are plenty of manufacturers who are targeting the cheap as chips end of the market (i.e. Kia, Perodua, Daewoo and Hyundai) - but to get that cheap you have the trade-off with many of their cars being either bland, dated or poor handling (or all of the above in some cases).

[/quote']

Stu sums it up pretty well, I think. In Holland, Skoda is now equally priced against Renault, Nissan and Ford. A Fabia is no longer the cheapest option for those who want to steer clear of the Koreans - you can get a similar Clio, Micra or Fiesta for the same price. Also, there's nothing in between a Seat or a Skoda these days. An Octavia 1.8T (FWD) and the new Toledo 1.8T are priced the same right down to the penny!

In fact the Fab RS is the first overpriced Skoda in Skoda's Dutch pricing history... They are slowly moving towards other value brands such as Renault, Ford, Peugeot and Vauxhall, which have always been somewhat cheaper than say VW, Honda, Toyota or Citro

When the Fabia was released as significantly higher price than the Felicia had sold for I wondered if Skoda had perhaps made a mistake as the traditional and loyal Skoda customer had bought Skodas mainly because they were cheap.

I admit that the Octavia is successful, mainly with mini cab drivers and the Fabia in part due to the press hype sells ok. However yesterday when I left my Octavia into RK Olivers to get some work done they had a number of Peruda cars for sale brand new at

You pays you money, but if you want a vehicle which is "cheaply" built with old mechanics, dull plasticy interiors and poor performace, then got for a far eastern vehicle - after all, who could really say "no" to a Hyundai Sonata or a Daewoo Laganza... mmmmm.... lovely!!!

Seem to recall Jeremy Clarkson relating a story of someone enquiring with a Hyundai dealer why their cars were more expensive than Kia, when they were really exactly the same car:

"Ah sir, you're paying the extra money for the name"...

Rob.

"Ah sir' date=' you're paying the extra money for the name"...

[/quote']

"Prepare to want one"

Ok, braced myself, drum roll, what ya got in my sector, ready for it, give me your best, what ya got, c'mon c'mon, here it is, ta-daaaa......

The Hyundai Elantra!!

As our American collegues are prone to say - "I'm not feeling it"

Look out http://www.peroduacars.com/kancil.htm - it's the Perodua Kancil!!!!

Kancil the whole project