Hello all! New Skoda driver

I bought my first Skoda on Saturday: a 2005 Octavia Elegance estate. I've been a VW Passat driver for most of this century. (Putting it that way makes it sound like a long time!) Prior to that, I've owned a Polo (back when it was a good shape, like a miniature estate - I loved that car), a Montego (the most comfortable car to drive!) and two Morris Minors (well, I was young and stupid, and they were fun).

I've jumped ship from VW for a few reasons:
* My old Passat was a B5, and had reached the end of its days. The more I looked into the B6 and above, the more I read about design problems (e.g. electric handbrake, problems even changing headlight bulbs).
* I'd heard that the Octavia was basically the Passat with different trim, so it should seem familiar to drive and maintain (boy, was I wrong on that score!).
* Lots of people have recommended (from experience) Skodas in general and Octavias in particular.

I ended up with this particular car because it was quite inexpensive, much lower mileage than my old one (despite being about the same age), was being sold due to bereavement (so a genuine reason for sale) by someone who I got on with, and - and this was a huge plus point - it had ULEZ compliance, being petrol-engined. I need to drive into Birmingham most weeks, and that city's Clean Air Zone is about to come into force early next year. My old car (a diesel) was obviously not compliant!
Finally, the car has a nasty scrape on one door-sill. This is cosmetic only - it's apparently passed two MOTs with it - and it means that I won't be so worried when it inevitably gains more scratches and dings as I drive it. My last car was immaculate when I bought it, and it was painful when it got its first key- and hedge-sctratches *not to mention when I opened the door too wide and a nearby skip hook went into it. . .).

I was initially disappointed that the simplicity and roominess of the Passat's cabin was not reproduced in the Octavia. The windows were smaller too. So I nearly didn't buy it. I'd heard that the Octavia's  luggage bay was one of the largest around, but to me it looked smaller. I also noted that  - unlike in the Passat - there was no gap between the tops of the wheel arches and the compartment's cover, which is where I normally stow my bass's flight case (secure, stable and out of sight).
But it was a cheap car, and I reckoned that I could put up with it for a while until I sorted out something better. However, after spending the weekend cleaning it out and working out how the luggage bay components work (that removable false floor looks useful), I've started to appreciate the layout. We've had a couple of very pleasant drives in it too. I can't quite get the hang of the petrol engine and different gear ratios, but I'm sure that will come in time. The other members of the family warmed to it even sooner, so I think I'll be keeping it for as long as it runs.

I joined Briskoda after a few Internet searches led me here, and also because the previous owner had left post-it notes about fuses in the glove compartment (I hope that's not a bad sign. . .) which mentioned the site.

I'm sure to be popping up asking lots of stupid questions over the next few weeks!