What do you guys think of the New Octavia ? I have a lot of respect for your opinions you're the ones that really know.

There was a time when every other taxi was an octi but it seems to me the new octy isnt replacing the old one on the taxi ranks ?

It might just be that you can still buy the MKI

Nope, the mk2 is too expensive and too unreliable, add in the absolutely shocking dealership network and just as shocking Skoda uk support and thats why we've stopped buying them.

The MK1 was cheap, reliable and had a decent warranty (3 years unlimited mileage), which frankly is what you should be paying for when buying a Skoda, not some jumped up overpriced VW wannabe, the sooner Skoda realise they'll never be seen as a premium brand the better.

Nope, the mk2 is too expensive and too unreliable, add in the absolutely shocking dealership network and just as shocking Skoda uk support and thats why we've stopped buying them.

The MK1 was cheap, reliable and had a decent warranty (3 years unlimited mileage), which frankly is what you should be paying for when buying a Skoda, not some jumped up overpriced VW wannabe, the sooner Skoda realise they'll never be seen as a premium brand the better.

I don't think Skoda want to be seen as a premium brand, just not as a budget brand, as that would suggest 'low quality' (although it doesn't have to be).

Not wishing to seem flippent but as for Skoda being a VW wannabe, they are VW just in the same way as Audi, Seat and Buggatti are.

Worth a mention that the Mk1 did not have a 3 year unlimited mileage warranty. The warranty was/is the same as it is now, 2 years unlimited/3 years 60,000ml. If the vehicle was bought as a taxi then the 2 year warranty was offered as the 3rd year is not a manfacturer offer, but run byt he dealer network. According to JD Power survey the Mk11 is MORE reliable than the Mk1, however there may be more breakdowns noticed since there are more being sold.

The majority of taxis in this area are now Mk11 2.0Tdi, genrally Ambiente models, the Mk1 non-turbo 1.9d was the most popular, but on speaking to a driver a few weeks ago he gets the same consumption round the doors form his 2.0Tdi as he did form the old 1.9 non-turbo. My local dealer reckoned on having to replace around 50% of the gearboxes on the Mk1s he sold as taxis, he hasn't done any yet on Mk11s.

Worth a mention that the Mk1 did not have a 3 year unlimited mileage warranty.

Wrong - all Octavias up to a certain date (end of 2001? Start of 2002?) had an unlimited-mileage, 36 month warranty.

Yep, the Warranty was a manufacturers 3 years unlimited mileage.

we had problems with the SDi's gearboxes yes, generaly requiring a rebuild/replacement at around 70k, but the TDi's were fine. I can assure you that the MK1 was infinately more reliable than the mk2's are, no survey can ever replace real world experience.

And I'm sorry, but you really cant compare a Skoda to an Audi, let alone a bugatti.

According to JD Power survey the Mk11 is MORE reliable than the Mk1, however there may be more breakdowns noticed since there are more being sold.

For reliability, I'd be looking at something which is based more on fact than owner's opinions as what is a fault/breakdown to one person may not be to another

Chris

And I'm sorry, but you really cant compare a Skoda to an Audi, let alone a bugatti.

Don't be sorry because no one was comparing a Skoda to an Audi.

You said Skoda was a VW 'wannabe' and my point is that it is a VW anyway, just as much as an Audi or Bugatti are..

As for comparing Skoda to Audi or even VW, having owned all of them I feel qualified to comment. As an overall experience, there is very little to choose between them in my opinion, so why can't you compare them?

around my way all the taxi drivers have traded in for superb's because of the space inside car and boot. ideal for the airport run, luxury feel from the space in side without having to fork out a fortune for a merc or similar car for the size inside.

around my way all the taxi drivers have traded in for superb's because of the space inside car and boot. ideal for the airport run, luxury feel from the space in side without having to fork out a fortune for a merc or similar car for the size inside.

I'd noticed that round my way too.

The Superb represents good value for money, - it's just a long wheel base Passat at the end of the day.

Undoubtedly this thread was just an attempt at wind-up. Anyone with experience of similar Audi, VW, Seat and Skoda vehicles will know that they are truly comparable. Apart from price which is where the snob value exceeds real value.

The Mk1 Taxi is available until 2010 IIRC.

Not wishing to seem flippent but as for Skoda being a VW wannabe, they are VW just in the same way as Audi, Seat and Buggatti are.

Might have got the wrong-end of the stick, but I took John's comments to mean that they're trying to "upmarket" the brand...that is, Skoda have put pressures on dealers to build large trendy showrooms at considerable cost, causing many of the smaller family-run Skoda dealers to lose franchise and leave only the "corporate" dealers to provide a service - which is generally less "intimate" and more expensive to cover the costs of the s****y showrooms and coffee machines.

So while the products within the VAG group may well be comparable, if you're after a cheap reliable car which you get serviced once-a-month or more, you don't want to be paying extra for acquiring said car in a "VW-brand" glass showroom where a different disinterested trainee mechanic attacks it with a spanner at each visit.

Taxi drivers seem to favour the Carina and Avensis round here...

Rob.

Undoubtedly this thread was just an attempt at wind-up. Anyone with experience of similar Audi, VW, Seat and Skoda vehicles will know that they are truly comparable. Apart from price which is where the snob value exceeds real value.

No attempt at wind up - I merely wanted to ask if taxi drivers consider the Octy 2 as g ood as the Octy1.

Unfortunately it appears I only got one reply from an actual taxi driver.

I'm not a taxi driver but have owned both a MK I and a MK II and put a reasonable annual mileage on them.

The MK II handles much better, the MK I is much more reliable IMHO.

I am a taxi driver and having owned three, mk 1s and currently on my third mk2, having treated myself to a 1.9tdi elegance in March of this year, and averaging around 65-70000 miles a year I feel I can provide a view as a taxi driver. I have found the reliability about the same for both in terms of actual days off road due to problems. Those problems were always regarding the gearbox, as two of the mk1s and my last two mk2s have all had the boxes replaced under warranty. there have been other minor probs with the mk2s, but not needing any time off road, just having to live with problem until next service due.

Yes, the warranties were originally 3 years unlimited.

A lot of my fellow taxis around here have also changed to the Superb, as you can get a far better deal than the mk2, as unfortunately the cost of the Skodas have gradually gone up over the years, not to mention the steep increase in servicing costs. I now take my mk2 to an independent service agent, for servicing as they are far more flexible with regards to fitting me in, compared to my local Skoda dealer, not to mention half the cost, just make sure you buy your service parts direct from Skoda.

Overall the mk2 imo drives and looks much better, and has a far more upmarket interior compared to mk1s.

Also, Skoda were doing additional discounts to taxi drivers, as it was seen as cheap advertising, but have now reduced the discount, so the deals are not as good as before, hence the defection away to other brands. Think about it, you can get a six month old Vectra Diesel for about £11-12000, so why spend the additional £4-5000 on a skoda.

I think that it is a case of VW having

Think about it, you can get a six month old Vectra Diesel for about £11-12000, so why spend the additional £4-5000 on a skoda.

Because the Skoda is a generally good car and the Vecra..................isn't.

Besides, you can get a well specced 6 month old Octavia TDI for £11-12,000, I know what I would rather have.

And the list price for a boggo spec Vectra diesel Life 120BHP is £17,775.

A near top spec Octavia Elegance 2.0TDI 140BHP is £17,090

Not that bad VFM if you ask me.

Might have got the wrong-end of the stick, but I took John's comments to mean that they're trying to "upmarket" the brand...that is, Skoda have put pressures on dealers to build large trendy showrooms at considerable cost, causing many of the smaller family-run Skoda dealers to lose franchise and leave only the "corporate" dealers to provide a service - which is generally less "intimate" and more expensive to cover the costs of the s****y showrooms and coffee machines.

So while the products within the VAG group may well be comparable, if you're after a cheap reliable car which you get serviced once-a-month or more, you don't want to be paying extra for acquiring said car in a "VW-brand" glass showroom where a different disinterested trainee mechanic attacks it with a spanner at each visit.

Taxi drivers seem to favour the Carina and Avensis round here...

Rob.

Yep, the service used to be OK when Skoda's were sold out of sheds, but since all the proper dealers closed or relocated to 'glass palaces' they've gone downhill massively.

But in relation to the cars themselves, the Audi A6 2.0tdi i've been driving recently (and the A4 before it), drives, is put together, handles and feels much better than anything Skoda produce, so no I wouldn't say they are the same, anyone who thinks they've got VW/Audi quality in a Skoda is, in my opinion, misguided.

And whilst the Superb is currently the only real contender from Skoda for taxi use presently, and yes it is very roomy inside, it's massively impractical due to the shape of the boot, making shopping/airport/wheelchair/zimmer frame or any job with luggage very awkward.

I had a MK 1 Octavia as a taxi, covered 170,000 miles, had a new automatic gearbox at 90,000 costing 2,500. Spent a lot on repairs, sold it and now have a Mk2. Much better car, roomier, quieter and more economical. Both have been 1.9 tdi.

My present car has done 40,000 trouble free miles. I average 60,000 miles a year.

The Superb is unsuitable due to restricted boot space. Skoda are bringing out a hatch back soon, then it will be a taxi dream, spacious etc.