Following on from comments on another thread, how do people feel when they show off their new Octy (like I've done with the neighbours, workmates etc) and all they say is "yeah, really nice, but it is a VW underneath" or suchlike.

At first I didn't mind, but now I'm getting a tad annoyed. Any ideas as to what my comeback to them should be?

"But mine cost

I think people say it as a good thing, it does make me cringe a little though when I hear it. To an extent though it is true.

just let them get on with it mate.

All i ever say is yea your right but then again most cars these days are part of a big group ie GM

Just say, "true but skoda perfected vw's work for the octavia" ;-)

Theres nothing wrong with VW's, im happy when people say that

But the VW group also own Bentley (i believe) so just say, theoretically my Skoda is a little bit Bentley!

"So is a Lambo"

... and a Bugatti Veyron (that even has a DGS g'box as well)!

I suppose I'm a bit defensive, working in NW London where the ownership of VW and Audis is almost endemic and loads of people are 'fashion conscious'.

So I get the comment in first by telling them "its a VW underneath, its cheaper than a Golf and I don't care WHAT you think I like it!!"

Personally I like the fact its understated, but it does get annoying.

I had someone ask me what car I had, when I said Skoda...she said aww. Like she meant oh well, what a shame. Couldn't be bothered to justify it. So said, I could have afforded an Audi, but I chose the Skoda as it was better to drive and value for money.

Someone was telling me yesterday (and I have no reason to doubt them, but I don't know if it's true) that the Aston Martin shares some dash switchgear with a Volvo....

I'd rather my Skoda was compared to a VW than owning an Aston and it being compared to a Volvo

TBH I'm actually amazed that you even care what they think/say. I'm sure you didn't consider their thoughts when you got the car so why be concerned what they say/think of it?

I'm confused at why you need to justify it, with 'cheaper than a Golf' etc.........their spite is a sad reflection of their personality, not yours.

Someone was telling me yesterday (and I have no reason to doubt them, but I don't know if it's true) that the Aston Martin shares some dash switchgear with a Volvo....

It's true - recently they moved to Volvo switches etc - a bit of a step up (still Ford mind) - they used to be littered with actual Mondeo buttons, switchgear, dials and those cheap keys Ford do - not to mention two mondeo engines bolted together to make the V12.

They still use the enormously tacky remote fobs on brand new AM and Jags - puts you off before you even open the door!

The first generation DB9 had Mazda MX-5 interior door handles just to throw you off the Mondeo scent - but of course Mazda is owned by Ford.

At least with Skoda or Seat you are getting a cut price VW/Audi - which is sensible, paying up for a premium Ford-Aston is certifiable :eek: .

Actually you should be smug that you aren't as narrow minded as them and saw past the badge.

The irony being that Skoda and Laurin&Klement were not only a powerhouse engineering firm - it was the largest industrial enterprise in Austri-Hungary and later Czechoslovakia (producing everything from tanks and millitary weaponry to buses, trains and planes - the Czech version of Mercedes-Benz AND BMW)

They also made some of the worlds most expensive, technologically advanced, beautiful and fast motor cars in the 1920s and '30s until Russian occupation destroyed the Czech industry and brought it back into the dark ages for 50 years :(

TBH I'm actually amazed that you even care what they think/say. I'm sure you didn't consider their thoughts when you got the car so why be concerned what they say/think of it?

I'm confused at why you need to justify it, with 'cheaper than a Golf' etc.........their spite is a sad reflection of their personality, not yours.

Funny you should say that, it was the line I used to convince my badge-snob misses!

I'm not loosing sleep over it.

But the VW group also own Bentley (i believe) so just say, theoretically my Skoda is a little bit Bentley!

A point that gets mentioned on here from time to time is that Skoda supposedly did a lot of the development for the Continental GT in their 'Tudor' concept car:

Bentley:

Skoda:

As for the "it's a VW underneath" thing, the salesman who sold us SWMBO's car tried that on her until I pointed out the history of the MPi engine that it's got under the bonnet!

I was among the ones who used to laugh at anyone who bought a Skoda. After I bought my first one I realised the laugh was on me. Tomorrow I am going to buy my EIGHTH Skoda, a L&K 2.0tdi DSG Estate Octavia, And once more cannot wait.Anyone who smiles at the car, I say that they dont know whats behind the badge.

..... Anyone who smiles at the car, I say that they dont know whats behind the badge.

Smiles as in s******/smirk etc I presume; 'cos it is YOU (and me) who are smiling at knowing what you have

Skoda is for Happy Drivers !

Personally I like the fact its understated, but it does get annoying.

I had someone ask me what car I had, when I said Skoda...she said aww. Like she meant oh well, what a shame. Couldn't be bothered to justify it. So said, I could have afforded an Audi, but I chose the Skoda as it was better to drive and value for money.

This is the reaction I get the most....sympathy...I do not even bother rising to it any more. I find the sympathy thing (with regards to the car!) comes from women and the "it's a VW underneath" comes from men.

For me the best part about the brand/car is that look on peoples faces (especially 3 series/Audi A4/VW Passat) as you you pull away from them.

There is no one word to describe this expression but it is a mixture of anger/horror/rage/disbelief/fury/indignation and general pi**ed offness that to me makes owning a vRS such a great experience.

I think it was Quentin Wilson (for it is he!) who said Skodas are driven by free thinking non conformists.

Dan

PS as an aside my mum got a Skoda Fabia in 2000 or 2001 (can't quite remember) and she says she can clearly remember people openly giggling and snorting at the car!...at least that doesn't happen any more.

For me the best part about the brand/car is that look on peoples faces (especially 3 series/Audi A4/VW Passat) as you you pull away from them.

There is no one word to describe this expression but it is a mixture of anger/horror/rage/disbelief/fury/indignation and general pi**ed offness that to me makes owning a vRS such a great experience.

Same for me but replace 3 series/Audi A4/VW Passat with 911/RS6/Ferrari.

For me the best part about the brand/car is that look on peoples faces (especially 3 series/Audi A4/VW Passat) as you you pull away from them. .

LOL if the above cars only have the base petrol/diesel engines in, you find most cars car can pull away from them.

To be honest just own a VAG car makes me feel could. I've even got two... one from each end of the everyday brand list. Mainly because they do different things. I wanted two fastish cars, but with one for the dog and one for day to day stuff. Let others think or say what they want ...

If someone does say something stupid about the octy, I can just laugh and say my other car is an Audi.

When I bought my first Skoda the people I work with thought that I was mad.

Now 6 of us have got them and more want one.

I think Skoda make quite a few parts for VW AUDI etc including engines...so in theory you should open the bonnet on a VW and say AHhhh good old Skoda enineering

I always find this whole topic somewhat annoying.

I work for a large IT company, and me and most of my colleagues all get quite a generous allowance for our company cars.

Almost without fail, they will plump for VWs or Audis, simply because of the badge. When I ordered my vRS recently, another colleague came for a test drive with me in the vRS TDi. He was also about to choose a new company motor.

When we finished, he was very impressed, and not a little surprised.

He then went and ordered a Passat TDi 170, which is costing him about

It annoys be because people say 'it's just a VW/Audi underneath' because they think that they need to make me feel better about owning a Skoda as I assume they think I couldn't quite stretch to the so called premium brand.

Oops - I think it may have been the thread that I posted on Saturday that started all of this . I owned two Estelles in the mid/late '80s and still remember the jokes and it didn't bother me one little bit. I've just driven my first 200 miles in my first Skoda for 15 years and remain very impressed with it - it bears no resemblence to the Estelles and Favorits that I think most people still associate with the brand. I really don't mind people taking an interest in what I drive - at the end of the day it's my money and my choice!

Severla years ago a good friend of mine was very dismissive when my wife bought a Mini Cooper - to which I replied "you are hardly in a position to comment, given the fact you drive a Corsa!".

It was the comment of Quentin Willson (double LL note) that has made me make my maiden speech to you (as it were). "Skodas are driven by free thinking non conformists". This equally applies to Citroen drivers which is where I am at the moment. However I have seen the light and have on order an Elegance estate 140 DSG. The DSG sold it to me as I must have been an anorak at the moment of conception! Give me a gadget!!

I was doubtful about moving from Citroen as they have an excellent community at Frenchcarforum.co.uk :: View Forum - Citroen. The wonderful thing is that, from studious lurking, that Briskoda is as good, if not better than the French forum. What is strange though is that both forums (fora?) have similar posters living in similar parts of the UK. VRStu is most similar to Jeremy and both live in Hampshire as indeed I do. There are many other similarities too.

Keep posting and I'll keep lurking and learning. Keep working as it my OAPension that's funding the car!

Keep smiling - without that you are lost.

Derek and Exhausted!