if owning the mk2 i have makes you a ricer, im a pround member!!! :thumb:

I see holes

Kenny I would not class thee as such, what I would class and not commenting for anybody else, but example:

Localto me is a; well it's somthing peugeout made...it has a huge mesh grill, deep front and tail top spoiler extending to about a foot...on stock heigh and wheels.

Now I see this and thing why? It's half finished maybe, but it's been like this for a year now. It just looks stupid and that is my definition, lowering, wheels all helps.

Saw a lovely MKIV golf this morning, lowered, wheels etc, and as it sliped dwn the inside it was a tdi. Looked good, care and thought about work done, not a ricer.

If same golf was sporting large appendages that did not suit the type of car (i.e. not a out and out track car or performance monster*) thenit might look stupid.

Okay Evo's and STi's look fine with adjustable wings etc, a pug oil burner on 14's does not.

A well sorted Nova on one hand might bea ricer, the other not, all depends on the persons viewpoint I guess.

As to the MKIV and Octy... :brokenhea Yes same./similiar parts list/concepts, both different cars, yet similar enough to appear the same.

Octy is performance on a good price. Okay I could getan Audi A4 1.8T and maek it as fast as the Octy, handle similar. The difference? Well initial price and finish, the Audi door shuts with a solid sound, Octy does not...I brought the car to drive, comfort and trimming second, if it were the other way around it would of been an A4 possibly.

Both good cars, both I would own, both I would enjoy driving.

I'd love a mk2, borrowed a jetta the other week and it was fun. Okay not as smooth, warm etc...but it was good old fashioned fun. A car is afterall a car.

there are worse than octy, golf, leon and there are better. Personally I would say a westy is better than an octy in some respects. these debates always get heated, hopefully in good spirits.

As to the why do they try, I think most are not aware of the Rs to be fair, so :shhh:

After many years of VW ownership I'll be honest when I say that before I finally bought the Octavia my first choice was a Golf. After testing the vRS then the V5, GTI (150 & 180) Golf's I can honestly say that I wasn't that impressed with the Mk4 Golf. I'll admit the Golf is nicer inside so if damped grab handles and blue instrument lighting etc is your thing then by all means buy a Golf. To me it wasn't so I didn't.

By far the biggest put offs for me personally were the over inflated prices and the arrogant bl00dy VW dealers. At least with Skoda dealers they seem to value customers walking throught he door.

I can't comment too much on the state of recent VW quality from a personal perspective as my experience is limited to a few hire cars and the like although from what I gather from friends, colleagues etc I think the way has been lost somewhat. Just refer to the JD power survey and the final ranking of all the Golf based cars.

I think Rob commented that the "Golf IS a superior model to the Octavia". I would like to hear the criteria that this statement is based on? If we analyze both models closely I'm sure the final decision would more likely be "my badge is better than yours".

Oh and BTW I totally agree with Kenny's stance on the Mk2 Golf. I deeply regret selling my mint Oak Green one a couple of years back. Believe me If i could find a nice, clean, original one I would buy it tomorrow and sell the wifes Audi. Nothing falls off a Mk2 and even with big miles the cabins are as tight as a tight thing and for the record I'd have an 8v instead of the valver......

Rob.gti, while not intending to wind you up, i do take issue with this:

the Golf has pedigre. Thats something not on the options list, its something that has been built up over years of motoring

Now, i do hope you're not suggesting that a Skoda does not have pedigree? Granted the Mk1 had a massive impact, the Mk2 built on this, but, as someone who comes from a long line of VW Gold Owners and GTI fan friends, we all felt that the Mk3 and Mk4 where a bit stodgy looking with just a faint whiff of commercial laziness about them. And we're not sold on the new look thats coming either. But's that's down to personal tastes.

No one else has had the temerity to do this, but i will.

Has a VW Golf won any Rally's recently? the last one i know of was the 1999 Australian F2 Rally in a GTI (bet the engine was 2.0 with turbo's and 4wd.)......now let's take a step back...

1994 F2 World Rally Winner - A Skoda Favorit, 2wd, 1.6 engine.

And numerous wins and strong shows before and after this (skoda are in the WRC championship after all..... :goodvibes .)

The simple fact is that Skoda have a long illustrious motorsport history, often against the odds with older technology and under-class engine size, but they pull out consistently good performances - consequently, the Trophy cabinet at Mlada BoleSlav is crammed with a heck of a lot of silverware.....

Again, it comes back to marketing and as a case in point, BMW have long traded on their power and handling. Bet they wouldn't like to be reminded of a certain motorsport incident where they lost to a Skoda.........

maybe Skoda should stop trading on the jokes of the past and start blowing the motorsport trumpet a bit more......

cheers jimmy, unfortunately im selling my mk2 soon due to financial reasons, but i totally agree what you said. my mk2 isnt standard as it came out the factory but, i have uprgraded it with other golf stuff, ie golf rallye int, G60 BBS etc. if i could afford it i would keep it!oneof the best cars ive ever driven

I wasnt dishing the Skoda badge mate, far from it. I respect everything Skoda has achieved in recent years especially in Motorsport.

The Pedigree is simply the Badge and the VW history.

The partnership between VW and Skoda has done a fantastic job to turn round the Skoda image. They are now dependable cars. The JD Power survey proves that.

But looking at the JD survey, yeah the Golf was way down the list, but ask yourself why? Agreed the VW Dealers are prize ******s, which is why I got my car off the net! The Skoda Dealers have a different opinion and approach to selling cars. Volkswagen themselves are way off the mark when it comes to looking after their customers and this is where the Golf falls down against the Skoda. The other reason the Golf is way down the list, is because the owners expect more from their cars. They pay a lot of money, so complain at the slightest thing. Th eSkoda brand is VAG's Budget brand and sells to a completely different customer base.

I dont think there is much in the reliability issues between Skoda and Golfs because they are fundamentally the same. The Coil Pack recall affected all VAG cars, including 1.8t Skodas.

Like I said, I love all the VAG cars and each has its problems and issues, but collectively, we all own great cars that do exactly what they say on the can

The partnership between VW and Skoda has done a fantastic job to turn round the Skoda image. They are now dependable cars. The JD Power survey proves that.

So the marketing would have you believe. The truth is, VAG have taken a company which produced basic primitive reliable cars made in an under-funded environment, and turned it into a cheap VW.

Which has made them less dependable.

Rob.

I as perhaps others are bemused by the VAG policy of motorsport.

One would perhaps expect Audi to be in the WRC and not Skoda, since Skoda have few real performance models, the RS really is only so they could compete, certianly noot the target market.

Seat had there championship last year and ETCC, but looking at motorsport over the past decades, Skoda have done pretty dam well in the real world, that is not WRC.

Afterall rallying is not headline grabbing to the masses which Skoda perhaps are been targeted with.

The VW platform I guess sells itself, as does Audi, but why would you buy a skoda, pretty much the question I guess on many lips...Own line manager went for a Bora over a Octavia, still not sure why.

I choose it for drive and the price, paying a little over 11k fora 6mth old car that with

I guess 11k on a MKII I could chaser porschers all weekend.

For the record the remapped Octy will match and hold off a 330d But oh how much more "comfort" does the 330d have, nicer by far for different reasons. I don't think anybody is dissing anything, this is an emotive discussion, least it's inhouse and not on Evo ...Now where's Huck.

Th eSkoda brand is VAG's Budget brand and sells to a completely different customer base.

Have to disagree with you there Rob. A number of people on this forum have moved over to Skoda for the first time (me included) and made the jump from other quality marques incl VW, Audi etc... If you're paying

A number of people on this forum have moved over to Skoda for the first time (me included) and made the jump from other quality marques incl VW, Audi etc...

One of the other cars in our household is a MY02 A4 Avant, and whenever I'm driving it I think "Where has the money been spent?". For a car that cost around

One of the other cars in our household is a MY02 A4 Avant, and whenever I'm driving it I think "Where has the money been spent?". For a car that cost around

I know its not perfect, but thats my preference. This doesnt mean I dont like Skodas, I do, but I just dont think I would own one. The way I see it, I can afford to pay VW prices, so I am happy to do so. If I hit a bad patch, then yes I would definately concider buying a Skoda cause its basically a cheaper priced VW.

I may be inferring too much but... :p

lol

And debate is good

Honestly' date=' I dont think I would ever buy a Skoda over a VW. I doubt, after a visit to the local Seat Dealers, I would ever buy a Seat either. Maybe I am a badge snob. But for me, I think what I pay for my VW, gives me a better return in the end and I like the whole image VW protray.

If I hit a bad patch, then yes I would definately concider buying a Skoda cause its basically a cheaper priced VW.

[/quote']

This is the British disease, many people actually feel proud to be ripped off. Why pay 1000s

William, for one I actually agree with you

...and the argument comes full circle...

Yea I particularly like the bit were he said he could afford the VW prices so he pays them!

I had a neighbour who had a company car. She had an Audi A4, then this was changed for a VW Passat. She was horrified and was moaning about it to me, until I pointed out that the Passat was bigger, and that her company had spent the money getting her a car with a better engine and higher spec rather than on the badge.

Yea I particularly like the bit were he said he could afford the VW prices so he pays them!

And I pay them cause I want the badge and the residual value. End of chat.

No matter where you are in the world, all VW's cost more than Skodas, so it aint a Britsh Disease! The materials are better and the interior is better.

I am sat opposite a guy who drives a Skoda Octavia and he agrees that his car is not up to the high quality feel of the Golf.

I feel some people are trying kid themselves.

The Octavia has the same mechanical parts, the same electronic parts, the same paints etc. The only difference is that the dash board plastic and fabric on the doors is supposedly better in the VW. Considering the Octavia is significantly bigger than the Bora/Golf (in reality more a rival to the Passat) and yet is significantly cheaper, you have got to ask yourself how much better that VW fabric and plastic is?

As for the British disease, I am not just talking about Skoda v VW. British people will often buy exactly the same product from the same manufacturer from the more expensive shop, just because they feel that this proves they are richer (despite the fact that in doing so it makes them poorer).

I do not know what your car budget is, but if you compare the VW you can afford with a Skoda model of the same price, which car do you think will be better?

Skoda didnt do my car

No Skoda offered what I wanted....

150bhp TDI PD Engine, 18" alloys, Recaro Seats, Aluminium trim, Body kit and a car that marks a special anniversary in the Golf History

Plus I think the Skodas have only just been given the 130bhp TDI engines. So a 110bhp one would not have been suitable.

I think over time the price difference between the brands will shorten. The Seat Leon Curpa R is currently

At the end of the day VW does have a remarkable history and pedigree built up over many years

Ah, yes...let me see, founded by the Nazis to produce cheap cars for carrying families around in a boring, homogenous way... Meanwhile, Skoda were producing cars for carrying dignitaries and royalty. :tongue2:

You might well be able to pay VW prices, but if I had decided to do the same, I would probably be driving a black Golf with a smaller engine, a smaller body, and less features. At least I could take comfort in the fact that, having paid extra for the badge, I would be driving something elite and unique...

Rob.

Ah, yes...let me see, founded by the Nazis to produce cheap cars for carrying families around in a boring, homogenous way... Meanwhile, Skoda were producing cars for carrying dignitaries and royalty. :tongue2:

Very true. Germans built them and thats what made them good.

Skodas were the biggest joke of the 80's/early 90's. Now that the very successful Germans have put cash into the company and spent thousands reversing the image, Skodas are one of the best cars around.

Where would Skoda be without VW? answer me that???

And I pay them cause I want the badge and the residual value. End of chat.

No matter where you are in the world' date=' all VW's cost more than Skodas, so it aint a Britsh Disease! The materials are better and the interior is better.

I am sat opposite a guy who drives a Skoda Octavia and he agrees that his car is not up to the high quality feel of the Golf.

I feel some people are trying kid themselves.[/quote']

there is some in the badge, some in the finish, the Audi feels better inside. There in lies a difference, prone to the same mechancial failures etc.

Truth be known and many know this I was looking at running a scooby or VR4 :drool: both interior worse IMHO. but drive, well wow. but I could not do much to them, so I have brought a Skoda, have cash left to rip this and that off turn it into somthing else knowing it's residuals are crap, but not actually caring as I only paid 11k for it

True re the would you be driving a Skoda if VAG had not helped out? Possibly not, in fact I know not, but that to me in the point (one of many it seems today; sorry) We are getting the same thing *essentially* but we each value our trimmings differently.

Human nature will pay somthing for what you think it is worth.

I would sepnd as much on some RAM for my computer as you could buy a *similar speed on paper* machine in PC world. Now it's the same stuff, but 1ns faster? WTF, why do I do that? For the record I have no bloody idea but I did. Don't now, but I did...gulp :Yikes:

Same for Skoda, WRX/STi/VR4/R32 decided each gave me about the same, each would reward me differently, each would cost me more...so for a change I'm working up the cost ladder...

as to that last one Rob, for as much as the war cost us in pure technical terms we gained alot, although sadly I reckon the guy who could cancer, mayell of died and therefore we lost more than we will ever begin to understand...hey it's all stardust

I'd also drive the RX-8 if it were not for the boot. And thats alot of money for a 1.3

this agruement seems to have lost a wee bit of direction, but the points i was unhappy about earlier seems to have modified slightly!

but in all honesty, i would buy an octy over a golf due to it being better value, but very few people are like that! put it this way who whould by a 320i BMW for nearly

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