Just read the "first drive" review by What Car of the Scala. Sounds like the knives are out for it to some extent just like they always have been for the Rapid although they concede that it is an improvement. I reproduce What Car's verdict on it below...................................

Has Skoda succeeded in taking the fight to the big boys? Yes and no. You see, despite the Scala having the measurements to rival cars such as the Focus and Ceed, it’s hard to escape the fact that it's based on a smaller, cheaper platform and therefore goes, rides and handles with less polish than those rivals.

However, with prices starting at £16,595 for the base S model and rising to just £20,380 for the fully loaded SE L, the Scala represents truly fantastic value for money for families looking for a stylish, well-equipped hatchback with acres of space. Indeed, it’s a far stronger proposition in the market than the now-discontinued Skoda Rapid ever was, and that might just make all the difference.

What Car? rating 4/5

Autocar didn't like the ride, handling or interior quality so they didn't really lavish it with praise. Neither unsurprisingly, did EVO.

 

Auto Express, media lackey of the manufacturers, loved it of course.

Edited 4 April, 20197 yr by camelspyyder

Surprised that What Car do not have it as Car of the Year 2019 before they or anyone has one delivered.

 

KIA must be spending more on advertising and so the e-Niro gets What Car car of the year before it was eve known what the UK price would be.

You can now Reserve one...

 

The Kamiq might get What Car SUV of the year 2020 before any customers get one or What Car even drive a right hand drive car.

Same platform but that means nothing to What Car / Autocar / Haymarket Media Group or any of their Editors.

 

What will the Roadtester / Reviewers say about the Audi Q2 or VW T-Cross & T-Roc platforms? 

Superdooperfandabbydozzy.

Edited 4 April, 20197 yr by Skoffski

Advertising budgets and bungs.

 

None of the mainstream auto media can be trusted to tell the truth.

4 minutes ago, camelspyyder said:

Advertising budgets and bungs.

 

None of the mainstream auto media can be trusted to tell the truth.

Particularly if a manufacturer offers you a Mclaren, Merc AMG or Audi RS3 to run for 6 months (all been in the Auto Express car park in the last 12 months).

Edited 4 April, 20197 yr by shyVRS245
missing letter

When will What Car, Autocar, Auto Express, VW Driver, Car, EVO run articles.

 

'Good news for new Buyers of new uocoming VW Group 1.5TSI's cars.'

'VW Group now have a fix for some 1.5 TSI Manuals & DSG's with issues, faults and problems that VW Dealerships were in denial over,

and which people have rejected or been given loan cars because theirs were dangerous,

but up to now we have failed to report such issues.

We are aware there were issues but at least Honest John was covering them and not bending over and assuming the position VW Board like us to take.

Edited 4 April, 20197 yr by Skoffski

 

 

On 04/04/2019 at 17:45, camelspyyder said:

Advertising budgets and bungs.

 

None of the mainstream auto media can be trusted to tell the truth.

 

Just saw this thread and this post.

 

I used to work in the media industry and you're exactly right.  A hypothetical example; if, say, Dell commit to an advertising budget of £10m a year with, say, pcmag.com does anyone with a working braincell actually believe that pcmag.com will publish a negative review about the newest Dell to be released?

 

Of course not.

 

It's a bit like this site, actually; criticise the site sponsors and you'll find you're very quickly banned (been there, done it).

 

Money talks, unfortunately.

Edited 22 June, 20196 yr by SkodaVRS1963
grammar

After a few so-so reviews by Autocar ( mostly of models you can't get in the UK) auto express now make it family car of the year and it wins a group test against the current Golf. They contradict all of the negatives found by Autocar and even lavish praise on the awful 1.0 & 6 speed combination that I have suffered for nearly 2 years now. How much do Skoda pay auto express for these works of fiction?

Edited 26 July, 20196 yr by camelspyyder

Just now, camelspyyder said:

How much do Skoda pay auto express for these lies?

 

How much are expenses paid trips to the Algarve?

?

Any discussions yet on the 1.5TSI EVO engines or do they just have journalists asking for people to get in touch so they can somehow make out nothing to see here move along.

 

Any comment on there being no more Citigo other than the yet to come EV.

They never bothered mentioning when the 2 pedal car was discontinued.

Then now the Mk3 Fabia only has 95ps manuals, as the N/A engines and 110PS TSI are discontinued as are DSG's.

 

Autocar have repeatedly reviewed the 

Scala 1.5 (even in UK spec) but it's not on the configurator and doesn't seem to be coming here.

On 26/07/2019 at 14:52, camelspyyder said:

but it's not on the configurator and doesn't seem to be coming here.

This is in the Scarla uk pricing and specifications

 

1.5 TSI 150PS* TBC TBC TBC £17,458.33 £3,491.67 £20,950.00 TBC TBC £21,560.00                                                                                                                                                                            1.5 TSI 150PS DSG* TBC TBC TBC £18,516.67 £3,703.33 £22,220.00 TBC TBC £22,830.00

 

* Please note – 1.5 TSI 150PS engines will be available to order from September.

Broadspeed show the RRP for a 1.5 TSI DSG SE @ £21,255 & a SE L at £23,055 then a discount off that.

 

Maybe by September Skoda can assure those 'Ordering' a car with that engine that all is well, and say when they will start fitting those engines.

Strange that they know orders can be from September but not just take the orders now so that Build Dates can be given.

Edited 27 July, 20196 yr by Roottootemoot

During the last year the big brokers were showing prices for UK orders of 1.5 Ibiza's, but SEAT never restarted building RHD ones.

I saw my first Scala in the flesh today in a showroom.

 

I was quite underwhelmed.

 

It looked bigger and frumpier than I expected after reading a few reports, clips, etc. The dark grey paintwork didn't help.

 

A blue one in the car park looked better, but was only basic trim with the glass tailgate.

 

I asked a salesman how much an SEL with extras would cost to replace our Octavia. £25K!  Ouch!

 

No 0% finance either.

 

At least he suggested our Octavia is worth £1,000 more than the GFV.

 

I wish the Kamiq would hurry up so we can have a look at it.

 

On ‎26‎/‎07‎/‎2019 at 14:12, xman said:

 

How much are expenses paid trips to the Algarve?

We were staying in a 5 star hotel in Croatia recently where the Scala presentation brigade turned up. Food and the bar was very expensive!

The Scala is no more than Rapid Spaceback mk 2

 

Uk pricing is plain ludicrous, it will be a best seller, not, just like the Rapid was (dealer sales target was 1 (one) per quarter.

 

In fact Skoda pricing, generally, is getting really stupid.

 

Its all about the PCP/PCH I suppose, snowflakes aren't good at arithmetic or future financial planning and are desperate to be seen with the right colour, to match their iphone upgrades.

Saw my first Scala in the flesh yesterday at the local Skoda stealer and it was very unremarkable even in Race Blue. It must be a salespersons nightmare trying to explain how drab the interior is and how little equipment you get for the high prices. The only thing that is better than the Spaceback we owned for three years are the headlights and tail lights. They will soon have to offer at least £2,500 deposit contributions to even shift one per dealer per month.

I blame Paloma and that rock band I've never heard of. Simon Cowell probably gets a cut for every one sold.

4 hours ago, shyVRS245 said:

Saw my first Scala in the flesh yesterday at the local Skoda stealer and it was very unremarkable even in Race Blue. It must be a salespersons nightmare trying to explain how drab the interior is and how little equipment you get for the high prices. The only thing that is better than the Spaceback we owned for three years are the headlights and tail lights. They will soon have to offer at least £2,500 deposit contributions to even shift one per dealer per month.

 

Bonkers pricing, quite easy to be £22-25k with a few options

 

Or if you want something of a similar size from VW Group, why not choose a Seat Leon.  Get £3000 deposit contribution and £500 for a test drive and servicing contribution and probably a discount.

 

If you don’t mind bigger, then Octavia is better equipped, and after the offers, cheaper for decent spec.

 

What are Skoda trying to achieve by pricing it so uncompetitively ?

13 minutes ago, SurreyJohn said:

What are Skoda trying to achieve by pricing it so uncompetitively ?

 

Early adopters.  Those few people who will like the size or shape or the fact that they have a local dealer or something.  After they've creamed off that small section of the market, pricing will get more competitive. Well, it will if they want to shift any.....

Vauxhall need to look at their pricing for the new Corsa to as the top 1.2 turbo petrol model is over £25,000.

I've been waiting for the Scala to arrive as on paper it suits my needs. I've had a test drive of the 1.0 SE and it's fine (for my needs), but people are right that once you start adding extras it gets so near Octavia territory it's silly! Octavia is now too big for me (I've had 2), so the smaller Scala would have been the right size. 

 

One broker said that you can get 10% off with Skoda's blessing (i.e. without too much hassle).

 

What has puzzled me is that none of the 3 dealers I've visited seem particularly bothered about selling one to me - so I'm now on the verge of getting a Ford Focus (to get in before 30th October and possible 10% tariff). Perhaps selling 1 per month (as per Rapid) doesn't challenge them!

 

Also - none of them had heard of any problems with the VAG 1.5 TSi engine....... Really????