Comments on: 2009 Skoda Octavia facelift revealed

By: PJ

PJ — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 04:30:40 +0000

I have just purchased a new scout today and searched the East coast for the previous style and have been lucky to find one with the new interior but previous front end style which I much prefer.
I traded a VW bora v5 125kw version which I have owned for nearly eight years and loved the car, had no faults in the 160,000 kms I drove it and still looked new.
I went Skoda because I preferred the style against the Golf type competition and was blown away with equipment levels in comparison. If it is half as good as the Bora it is based on I will be very happy indeed.
As the only negative comment I have heard against Skoda is the resale value I am wondering if anyone out there has traded any brand of car lately as resale value means the profit the dealer makes from the trade in not the poor car owner.

By: yang bo@China

yang bo@China — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 03:33:09 +0000

Now i have a old octavia
I like this new one, esp the new foglamp cornering function and the new headlamp, before it is a little boring, to be honest.
Since lots of people not like it, plz, bring it to China early…

By: Rob

Rob — Sun, 10 May 2009 22:54:39 +0000

Its a HUGE improvement.
Its lost a lot of the staid, ultra conservative, totally unimaginative, looks that the older model had.
A BIG “Well done” to the designers.

By: JohnT

JohnT — Sun, 15 Feb 2009 11:27:19 +0000

Previous model was bland and inoffensive. Current model reminicent of the old (ugly) Camry. Most of the VW (and family)range are if not stunning at least moderately attractive. Surprising that ugly cars are still produced. Shame that the facade doesn’t match the beauty underneath…

By: Chris

Chris — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 23:41:24 +0000

I sell Volkswagens for a living and have just recently purchased a Skoda RS EX Factory wagon and ihave to say that i am blown away. I drove it for the comical factor of saying i drive a bright yellow Skoda and ended up becoming a huge fan of what the product has to offer. I felt after a few minutes in the cabin the Skoda was a better made car in relation to plastic quality and ergonomics. I normally drive the GTi DSG and for the better part FLAT OUT, it is a front wheel drive car and has ………..wait for it………torque steer and so does the RS. It didn’t have more or less it actually seemed the sam. As for the handling i was taking corners as hard as i did in the GTi pushing to almost understeer and yet i id’nt notice a massive difference.
I think people have to stop bagging very good value for money cars, 7 years ago when i started with Volkswagen no one really wanted the car and it was an overpriced, underwhelming piece of metal now it;s the ‘second coming’. 7 years ago Volkswagen didn’t have anything close to what Skoda are offering in value for money and take it from someone who knows better than the average punter Skoda is a Volkswagen full stop in fact this new so called ‘hedious’ Skoda shares the same dash set up and engineering (shell wiring system, suspension etc) as the Mark 6 which you would pay more for because of the badge. Great for me as a salesman in VW but it wreaks of the arrogance i deal with daily when i have Merc and BMW owners turn the nose up at our product becuase of the BADGE!!!!!

By: Adel

Adel — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 19:56:44 +0000

I am waiting for 2009 model for more than 2 years. I thing this is a midsized car and very suitable to my needs, inside city driving and a lot of high way driving. The running cost of the car is reasonable, important nowdays. This car is very popular now in Egypt, as it is durable, its re selling value is good. The look of the car not so impressive but it is ok, the inside is more important.

By: Pedro

Pedro — Mon, 20 Oct 2008 11:19:03 +0000

I have just ordered an Octavia Ambiente wagon auto (DSG) after test driving Mazda6 wagon, Liberty 2.5i wagon and a Forester X. The Liberty went because of price, the Forester because of fuel consumption (and little discount because of good sales) plus the interior design was a bit funny to me, and the 6 because it was just that bit too large for my needs and I could not wait for the diesel. All of the above were good cars and seemed well screwed together but the daily costs of driving are now very important to me (retired) so a diesel seems the way to go. Interesting reading all the comments above, I agree with Alex regarding the position of the Octavia in the market, it is in the Focus/Astra area, not Mondeo or Mazda6. Not too sure about the slight redesign – as a few have commented, looks a bit like an Epica around the lights.

By: Zhuo

Zhuo — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 07:07:49 +0000

I agree that it is a disappointing update. Now more look like an Epica. They will not sale well unless drop the price more than A$5,000 lower than their competitors(eg. Honda Euro, Mazda-6. Other options are source their cars from Shanhai, PR China, and drop the price heavily.
If they insist to sale an unsalable car in Australian market, Skoda may need to withdraw from Australian Market.

By: Iz

Iz — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 02:08:23 +0000

Well, the Octavia facelift works with the rest of the Skoda family; but we only have two models locally here in Aus. And since the facelift has made it look completely anonymous (looks like an Epica; how’s that for an insult) probably gonna have even less sales than they do now.

Which is a shame, because the Octavia is a decent car.

By: ScottB

ScottB — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 01:17:37 +0000

A disappointing update. The original was simple and clean, if boring, but this just doesn’t work. Doesn’t do justice to what is a fine car.