Well when I say we, I mean my mum and dad. Forgive how long this post is, but it does raise some good points other potential buyer would benefit from.

 

My mum has been in need of a new car for a little while, as her Civic is now starting to really show it's age (but after nearly 18 years and 115000 miles, what car wouldn't be?).

 

I pointed the scala out a good few months ago to my dad, but didn't think it was a suitable replacement. He was looking at the Focus and the Golf. In recent weeks, we've been having a look around the showrooms and we'd come to the following findings;

 

For the Focus Zetec

 

• The reviews say the focus is comfortable to drive in, but I was sat in the back when my dad test drove it (the dealer's insurance said the salesman had to sit in the front) and I felt the ride to be terrible.
• The electric handbrake..........no, just no. I'm a fan of a proper handbrake and so is my dad.
• My dad did ask to have a go in a 100hp car, but the dealer said they didn't have one to hand. So we had go a 125hp engined car......... which felt god awful. It felt laboured when accelerating, even with only 3 people in the car.
• The biggest problem with the focus is tiny in the back seats. I'm 6 foot 3, but I can normally manage in the back of most cars. The Focus, however, is oddly shaped at the back (bit of a slanty roof, accompanied with high seats) and even my dad (6ft1) couldn't sit comfortably in the back seats. Whilst my mum would usually be on her own in the car, if she did need to carry passengers, it would be a struggle.

 

The Golf Match

 

• Comfortable to be in, especially in the back, as the headroom was sufficient.
• More refined than the focus (and my Octavia to be honest )
• The lowest engine which is available on the Match spec is the 1.5TFSI 130ps. Whilst it's not a top speed record breaking engine, my mum doesn't need that much power. To used to be able to get the 1.0 115ps engine in the Match trim, but they've stopped. The S trim does have that engine, but it's similarly priced to the Match and you lose a shed lot of accessories to opt for that trim.
• The dealer didn't seem too willing to talk numbers on a new car. He was more interested in flogging a prereg stock car.

 

and thus, after much persuasion, we wondered into the Skoda garage just up the road....... and my dad was instantly impressed with the scala.

 

Skoda Scala SE 1.0 115ps

 

• The rear space is not that much different to my Octavia. Can only be a few inches narrower and again, a few inches shorter. But the headroom is plentiful thanks to the lower down seats. Only gripe is there is a bit of an intrusive transmission tunnel. A third rear passenger might be a bit cramped. Can't think what cars on the A0 platform are 4wd.
• The rear screen is a little narrow. You do have to rely on your side mirrors a bit more when gauging things from behind. Parking isn't an issue as it's got the sensors.
• The boot space is very generous (80 litres more than the Golf and Focus) and the variable floor option ticks some boxes with mum (she can throw shopping bags and bit under there)
• The standard trim is very generous. We've only added the airbags, front sensors and a couple of other minor bits onto the car. Mum doesn't need a satnav or flashy alloys.
• Reviews say the car does benefit from the sports chassis control, but on the test drive we went over a few first generation tank trap speedbumps and yes, I knew we had gone over them, but I didn't need a spine transplant. The ride felt fine.
• The 115ps is very peppy. 4 up on the test drive and it didn't sound in trouble. Handled what was asked from it. We've opted for this because it's a 6 speed 'box.

 

So after a bit of toing and froing, a handshake on just under 19k. The only downside is there is a bit of a wait, an estimated 15 weeks.

 

I appreciate the above is a load to take in, but they're my open and honest findings of the car.

£4,000 saving if you're willing to sacrifice a few of the factory options. Instant availability too...

 

On 11/10/2019 at 20:39, silver1011 said:

£4,000 saving if you're willing to sacrifice a few of the factory options. Instant availability too...

 

 

We'd seen a few pre reg ones at the time of ordering, but they've not got the airbags or the front parking sensors. 

35 minutes ago, tunedude said:

 

We'd seen a few pre reg ones at the time of ordering, but they've not got the airbags or the front parking sensors. 

 

why would it not have airbags

They will have the Standard Airbags,

just not the Optional Ones / extra cost unless you order and pay for these. 

Edited 21 October, 20196 yr by Roottootemoot

2 hours ago, skoda1982 said:

 

why would it not have airbags

 

2 hours ago, Roottootemoot said:

They will have the Standard Airbags,

just not the Optional Ones / extra cost unless you order and pay for these. 

 

As @Roottootemoot says, the car comes as standard with front and curtain airbags, but we've had added the rear airbags and the crew protect. In this day and age, it's a bit of a p155 take to have you pay extra for safety features. You have to on Audis as well.

Meant to post up the other week but I forgot to 

 

My mum's new car came considerably quicker than anticipated and we're over the moon with it. As previously mentioned, it is all which is needed and more.

 

The main thing which is evident is how fuel efficient it is. It came with a full tank and after 300 commuter miles, an indicated 48mpg is shown. An approx third of a tank left.

 

We're still trying to get mum used to some of the 'modern' features on the car; she jumps when the doors auto lock, panics when the stop start kicks in and she's not impressed with the lane assist.

 

The infotainment system isn't causing her an issue and she understands the safety aspect of the steering wheel controls. 

 

So currently the car is getting a big thumbs up.

Luckily the ant-hijack, stop/start and lane assist can all be turned off / disabled if she isn't able to get used to them.

11 hours ago, silver1011 said:

Luckily the ant-hijack, stop/start and lane assist can all be turned off / disabled if she isn't able to get used to them.

 

It was more the fear of the unknown. She's more or less used to the car now.

 

The safety features are being observed now and understood better now as well. The lane assist is being appreciated with the dodgy weather and the front assist monitor (not the actual autonomous braking) has pinged up on her when herberts have cut her up on the motorway when mum's left a safe gap from the car she was following.

 

I'm yet to be allowed to have a 'test drive' of it out on the road, but I've done a bit of jiggery pokery helping to arrange the cars and the only thing I've noticed is the clutch feels very light, as does the steering. Though that's comparing my VRS with a 4 cylinder diesel and the steering on heavy mode.

 

A couple of 'styling' bits have been purchased for the car. We got a set of mats and flaps. Official skoda flaps front and rear and a set of tailored mats with blue trim to match the car's colour; both bought from ebay.

 

I'll try and get some photos when I'm off next (and it's light), just to show the car off.

 

One big point to mention. I've tried and tested the android auto on the car, just to make sure it was all working and google maps works brilliantly on the Bolero 8 inch screen. If we had got the 9 inch Amundsen, it would have been well over a grand extra. If it was going to have been used everyday, then ok, but having it used one a blue moon would have been a massive waste of money. Just my tuppence there, but a something to take note of if your phone can do android auto or the apple equivalent.