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

:confused: They were built by Czechs' date=' and were the main reason Germany invaded Czech!

Skodas were the biggest joke of the 80's/early 90's.

I thought that was Essex girls? :p

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???

Well, for VW to be there, you'd have to assume the Nazis never rose to power. In which case there wouldn't have been any WW2, in which case Czech probably wouldn't have become communist. As communism was what originally crippled Skoda Auto, if it wasn't for this they'd still be producing luxury cars.

I imagine, considering the size of Skoda Holdings, that Skoda Auto would've survived without VW.

Rob.

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' date=' Skodas are one of the best cars around.

Where would Skoda be without VW? answer me that???[/quote']

I think you hit a nail on a head there Sir. It's the image! In our society the skoda's were rubbish, in Czech they are still the most popular...there definitions are of course vastly different and I could not see an armarge blending in to well; I hope that is logical.

Skoda without VAG, most like Lada today?

Image is everything in the *modern western world* or so it is belived. A colleague has the 2.84 Motion, very nice, paid a good price for it and it feels different inside, I'm sorry but it does.

However is it worth more in terms of it's job of transporting people from A to B?

I think not, but then no car is over a Kia Ria really is it?

i dont agree the octy is a rival for the passat' date=' the passat is huge in comparison! the octy is definately bora/golf.

[/quote']

Sure the Octavia is in bewteen the Bora and Passat in size and therfore could be compared with either, however just park your Octavia beside a Golf and compare the two, then do the same with the Passat. The difference in lengh between the Golf and the Octavia is very very obvious, while that bewteen the Octavia and Passat is tape measure stuff. There is similar room in front between Octavia and Passat, more leg room in back in the Passat, but the Octy has twice the boot space compared with the Passat (or for that matter the Superb).

Also the Octavia is classed as a family size car in all reviews etc not as a small family sized car as is the Golf.

Sure the Octavia is in bewteen the Bora and Passat in size and therfore could be compared with either

Apart from, being a hatch rather than a saloon, the boot space has much easier access...

Rob.

:confused: They were built by Czechs' date=' and were the main reason Germany invaded Czech!

I thought that was Essex girls? :p

Well, for VW to be there, you'd have to assume the Nazis never rose to power. In which case there wouldn't have been any WW2, in which case Czech probably wouldn't have become communist. As communism was what originally crippled Skoda Auto, if it wasn't for this they'd still be producing luxury cars.

I imagine, considering the size of Skoda Holdings, that Skoda Auto would've survived without VW.

Rob.[/quote']

Indeed Rob, Reading the history forum we see Czech had alot of skill and frequently led the world, perhaps easily forgotten now. The wars and period between then and the 80's starved the country, thus good cars were made, just not by today's standards. I think I am right in saying the Czech's have the highest build quaility within VAG, acknowledged by VAG...might dig that news article up anyway.

If the world was different...big IF, so if we discount that line for now as it could take a long time to iterate through the options.

Indeed Kenny, I think it has changed, even more so from Andre's opening...`almost due to move to the lounge, perhapsa split is due.

Audi owners look down on VW owners who look down on Skoda owners who wouldn't but SEATs because of their poor build quality... I've owned 2 Audis, the second of which - a top of the range 1980 100CD5E - depreciated by 75% in 4 years! I've owned 3 VWs - a VW1300 Beetle, a VW411 (VW's Edsel) and a Passat TS - the latter 2 lacking in reliability. I now have a 1997 Felicia 1.6GLX and a 2002 Octavia 4X4 - individually the most reliable cars I have owned. IMHO Audis are overpriced, VWs and their UK dealer network don't live up to their (marketing) image, and Skodas offer real value for money. QED.

If the world was different...big IF' date=' so if we discount that line for now as it could take a long time to iterate through the options.

[/quote']

But "heritage" is something which sells VAG. When what this really means is Golf GTi Mk1. Whose engine you'll see sitting in my car, and which some nice Skoda mechanic chap was having a look at this lunchtime.

VAG reliability, eh?

Rob.

The Bora & Octavia share the same Golf chassis so i would say that makes them comparable. The Octy's huge boot makes the difference and pushes the Octavia into the family class. Inside there's not much of a difference with the Bora but the Passat or a Mondeo is a fair bit bigger. Not so noticeable in the front but obvious in the back.

the octy is not the same size as the golf, we all know that! try the bora!

my dad has an a4 quattro and no offence DGW i would take his over an octy 4x4. yes the cost is drastically different but i like the A4 better(not the badge!)

and his audi will worth around

the octy is not the same size as the golf, we all know that! try the bora!

my dad has an a4 quattro and no offence DGW i would take his over an octy 4x4. yes the cost is drastically different but i like the A4 better(not the badge!)

and his audi will worth around

The Octy is bigger than the Bora as well!

But, being built on the same platform, it should be compared with them. The fact it's bigger and cheaper is just gravy...

Rob.

Do you buy a car because it is built on a certain platform or because it is of a size that suits you? Skoda seem to revel in in betweens in size. The Fabia is based on the Polo but is more comparable with a Golf in size, the Octy is bigger than Bora/Golf, the Superb bigger than a Passat but smaller than the A6 and even the old Felicia was in between the super mini and small family sizes.

I buy cars cos they are pretty colours?

me too

Well' date=' for VW to be there, you'd have to assume the Nazis never rose to power. In which case there wouldn't have been any WW2, in which case Czech probably wouldn't have become communist. As communism was what originally crippled Skoda Auto, if it wasn't for this they'd still be producing luxury cars.

I imagine, considering the size of Skoda Holdings, that Skoda Auto would've survived without VW.[/quote']

I love this argument. It's like watching an episode of Dr.Who.

(Hides behind sofa).

im glad i started my side of it! :p

I bought my Fabia TDI because it looks great, flys like the wind and offers real value for money. My girl friend has a mk4 golf gti - very nice, solid and reasonably fast (she also payed alot more for it) but i prefer mine to drive any day of the week!

I dont think i'd buy a VW Golf any more (and i use to swear by them) they are to big, slow and expensive. If we are talking history well the Golf mk1 was the size of todays polo's and a right little racer - the new Golfs are almost the size of a tank and about as fast! I think skoda are in the right tracks with all their range - size wise and speed wise.

however this is just my opinion

mas

Golf slow? 180bhp (0-60 in 7.4)

Very interesting debate,,,, I have owned 4 examples of 'Modern VAG group cars'

VW Passat TDI 110 V plate, 02 and 52Reg Seat Leon Cupra's and my current Octavia vRS.. The Passat was purchased instead of a Audi A4, which in its

MK1 form was smaller and had less features than the Passat.

My Passat was an excellent car, very reliable, the dealers were poor. fantastic

engine, styling, poor handling and steering. I wanted something smaller and faster,

The Golf was considered but rejected as too expensive, too bland and far to common! The Test drive in the Leon showed the car was up there with the Passat in terms of refinement and quality, same with the Skoda only the Skoda

was bigger and handled better.

After 2 unreliable Seat's I've moved to Skoda, and apart from a few niggly problems it has proved totally reliable, the paintwork and the fit and finish

of the interior shame the Seat and are an equal to the VW.

Going of the list prices alone then a Octavia vRS at

Golf slow? 180bhp (0-60 in 7.4)

How much do you have to pay for the pleasure of doing 0 - 60 in VW's lardy hatchback? (

The way I see it' date=' 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.

Regarding Skodas history, well I seriously doubt many people on here would be driving Skodas, if VW hadnt got involved. Infact, whos to say that Skoda would even exist?[/quote']

I was determined not to rise to this but alas I am weak. It would appear that Rob is one of those people who is motivated by the "keeping up with the Jones" theory. Somehow, without substance Rob can deduce that the badge on the front of your car speaks volumes for your financial status. What a complete and utter load of ******.

I'm no expert on Skoda history and I aint no anorak but Skoda have been doing fine for many years without the help of VW. Admittedly their cars were a bit pants (sorry but they were) but when it comes to back to basics engineering Skoda's up there with the best of them...

The Golf is plagued by bad design, crap headlights, that you cost you

everyone is missing the points if the original argument! but who am i to point that out!!!!!

ps there is no point comparing standard with none standard cars!

Jimmy an old rear engined Skoda was pants compared with todays cars, but they did not lag that far behind their 1980s contempories. They also had amazing handling for a car with no power steering etc, and in comparison with their main competitor, Lada they were well built, reliable and quite modern. Also great for teenagers as you could make a flat matress out of the seats making it the most practical normal sized car for shagging in.

I havent had time to read the whole thread yet, so apologies if this has been said..

To our VW owning friend i ask this...

Why did VW buy Skoda? Could it be the fact that "German Quality" has gone down the sh1tter recently, and given the right tools, the Czechs (& other Eastern Europeans) will consistently turn out a better product at a lower cost?

Ask many Mercedes owners how many dealer visits they make these days compared to just a few years ago..

The "highly efficient" German manufacturing machine has got fat & lazy. If they dont pull their socks up soon they'll find themselves in trouble.