I've not had any comment's from the people at work but got a few ones when I left the other car forum I was on, I used to own a fiat punto JTD .

But my other half is expecting twins in the next 48 hours so I needed to upgrade and the octavia fit the bill. Even though I've only had it a few weeks the few people that's been in it think it's great and even said they fancy one.

I think that people who have bad comment's to make have never even been near a skoda never mind drove one.

But I was out in the garden the other day and a young lad probably 8 or 9 came up with a bucket of water and a sponge and asked if I wanted my "TAXI" cleaning for 2 quid he then asked if I drove taxi's for a living! little scamp

I got that from a lot of people.

Most now ask, so what is it like is it good. Oh and one of the managers who took the **** now drives a new octy :P

I get it about my TVR. People laugh and say how unreliable they are. I say " which one do you own then?" "Er, I don't" they say sheepishly. Same rule applies to Skoda. I bought one because it's a great car. And don't say "for the money" because that is making excuses. They are great cars in their own right. I don't care what others think. If they want to pay more for a superior (in their eyes) VW, then let them. I'm an inverted snob at heart.

When people take the p*** out of my Fabia 1.2 I can usually shut them up by telling them I also own a BMW 528i which will cane their Mondeo/Vectra/Avensis etc but even so I will be replacing it with an Octavia at some point soon because I reckon it's a better car for the purposes I need it for.

As Stumpy1 points out, most people making the comments have no idea what the car's are actually like. When it comes down to it, a lot of people buy cars because of what their mates might think hence the Skoda jokes and comments like "it's a good car but I can't get in one because of the badge etc".

Face it. If everyone drove the same cars it would be boring!

Having something different than the average joe is great! i like having my RS...... it attracts far more attention than my 2.8 Z3 used to.

Funny thing is no-one can say they are cheap anymore either! never thought a skoda would cost me 18K plus

When I bought my first Octy (in 2001), one of the first comments I got in work was an excited phone call urging me to "go out to the car park, quick. Some dirt bag is after sticking Skoda badges on your new car"

I used to get that all the time - from a guy who owned a Toyota Avensis

Well, I own Toyota Avensis 1.8 VVTi Saloon from 2005 with 18.000 km on the clock and let me tell you, I'm gonna sell it and order Octy 2.0 TDi Elegance. I'll place the order the way new Octy arrives in the beginning of 2007.

Avensis? Have never had worse car in my life, worse mechanical assistance, worse dealer etc. etc. Car has so many problems. Right now it's waiting for the principal steering shaft to be replaced as warranty work. My steering rack is badly damaged due bad manufactoring (admitted by Toyota). Can't wait till the end of the year to get rid of this piece of s*** and get the Octy. Trust me, all other Avensis (last model) owners have so many problems that they prefer not to talk much about their cars.

So long Avensis (hope I never see you again)

Welcome Octavia

Well' date=' I own Toyota Avensis 1.8 VVTi Saloon from 2005 with 18.000 km on the clock and let me tell you, I'm gonna sell it and order Octy 2.0 TDi Elegance. I'll place the order the way new Octy arrives in the beginning of 2007.

Avensis? Have never had worse car in my life, worse mechanical assistance, worse dealer etc. etc. Car has so many problems. Right now it's waiting for the principal steering shaft to be replaced as warranty work. My steering rack is badly damaged due bad manufactoring (admitted by Toyota). Can't wait till the end of the year to get rid of this piece of s*** and get the Octy. Trust me, all other Avensis (last model) owners have so many problems that they prefer not to talk much about their cars.

So long Avensis (hope I never see you again)

Welcome Octavia[/quote']

Funny you should say this - my dad had three new steering racks on his Avensis to cure his squeaky steering.

The ammount of money he has spent on the R5 over the years is frightening probably enough to by him an Octy vRS and his wife a Fabia vRS.

It will still catch fire...

Well' date=' I own Toyota Avensis 1.8 VVTi Saloon from 2005 with 18.000 km on the clock and let me tell you, I'm gonna sell it and order Octy 2.0 TDi Elegance. I'll place the order the way new Octy arrives in the beginning of 2007.

Avensis? Have never had worse car in my life, worse mechanical assistance, worse dealer etc. etc. Car has so many problems. Right now it's waiting for the principal steering shaft to be replaced as warranty work. My steering rack is badly damaged due bad manufactoring (admitted by Toyota). Can't wait till the end of the year to get rid of this piece of s*** and get the Octy. Trust me, all other Avensis (last model) owners have so many problems that they prefer not to talk much about their cars.

So long Avensis (hope I never see you again)

Welcome Octavia[/quote']

Strange, we rarely have any trouble with any of the Avensis' on our cab fleet.

We also get a fantastic service from the dealer which was the main reason I started buying Toyotas and stopped buying Skodas (dealers were a joke).

The MK1 Octavias were very reliable in general, weak spot was the gearbox, which was totally sh*te and not up to the job, but the MK2's were trouble right from the start, they dont run smoothly and keep falling apart, DSG's keep going into limp mode for no reason, and so hence another reason, and the final nail in the coffin as far as Skodas are concerned on the cab fleet.

The Superbs interestingly have been very reliable though (except for my personal car).

Cant really fault the Avensis'

......... Cant really fault the Avensis'

But is it practical and exciting? Probably not so no Avensis for me

Well, the Avensis is infinately more exciting than the Octavia, that much is gauranteed! especially when the Octavia wont go over 30mph due to the DSG box playing up.

And yes, it's much more practical (if you get the hatchback) having more rear legroom and a bigger more practically shaped boot, not to mention lasting longer due to better quality materials and better build quality.

The 180odd BHP Avensis D4D sport is also genuinely fast and a much better engine (lighter, smoother, quieter) than VAG's 170bhp offering.

Only thing I dont like about the Avensis is the latest styling update, makes it look too bulbous and lardy.