I thought long and hard before choosing the Octavia over a Golf or Audi A3. Would I regret not buying a badge and would I spend the next 3 years justifying my car? Could I stand the inevitable ridicule from the BMW, Audi and Merc drivers in my office (all Self-employed Financial Advisors?

2 months and 2,000 miles later, I can declare the Octavia purchase a huge success.

One negative, my own fault, was not choosing the DSG on cost grounds, as I do crawl in traffic a lot, but I have got over it.

Right, the badge thing. Yes I have been ridiculed, but it is a handsome car and the quality is clear from the first glance. A number of the office cynics have now been in the Octy and are stunned by the ride, quality, equipment and performance. Even better, they tell everyone else.

A couple of recent experiences:

I gave a lift from Croydon to Oxford to a chatterbox colleague who climbed in and chatted away. On the M40 after 60 miles he declared "these Audis are marvellous!" He was even more stunned at journey's end when the Maxidot displayed 55 mpg. His sister has just ordered an Octavia.......

Yesterday I drove with four passengers to Dover at between 60 and 90 mph. More cooing and marvel and 51 mpg.

I cannot fault this car and would say to anyone caught in this badge or value conundrum to just go for it. It is a stunningly competent, comfortable and high quality piece of machinery without a doubt.

15 months and 25,000 miles and I still smile when I get behind the wheel.

I gave a lift from Croydon to Oxford to a chatterbox colleague who climbed in and chatted away. On the M40 after 60 miles he declared "these Audis are marvellous!"

:rofl:

Glad your still enjoying it

4 months, 4000km, fault-free. I have long experience with VW and now I feel even better driving Skoda. If it stays like that, and if Skoda keeps this relation between quality/equipement and price, I'll stick with it forever.

Yesterday I drove with four passengers to Dover at between 60 and 90 mph. More cooing and marvel and 51 mpg.

I agree about the quality of the Octy, a fine car and very enjoyable to drive, only thing is am getting nowhere near the mpg you quote. Admittedly only 3K miles so far, but mpg is in the low 40s on a mixture of local roads and long distance.

Should I be concerened, or will it get better?

I gave a lift from Croydon to Oxford to a chatterbox colleague who climbed in and chatted away. On the M40 after 60 miles he declared "these Audis are marvellous!"

You should have pulled over and thrown him out, right there.

Leigh B,

My economy has improved all the time.

Using cruise control on motorways and out of town makes quite a difference as well.

I must add that I got the model wrong on my origional posting, I bought the Elegance!