Comments on: 2009 Skoda Octavia – First Steer

By: Will

Will — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 07:11:00 +0000

Steve, like a lot of classic design, it is understated. The design is desirable in plenty of enlightened locations, for example Prague. Like the Bauerhouse movement, it will be considered good design for decades to come. As per usual, it takes time for the less educated Australians to catch up.

By: Steve

Steve — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 05:30:52 +0000

Will, we already know that you are smitten by the brand, as well as having a financial interest in actively promoting them – that’s fine, but just don’t pretend that they their styling isnt at least 10 years out of date.

Skoda styling IS out of date, it’s not the brands strong point, probably never will be. It doesn’t dampen any driving experience, but you do have to look at it and explain the older styling to your friends.

By: Will

Will — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 05:25:34 +0000

The Skoda looks fine, a lot like a mini Audi. Steve, stop being a troll.

By: Steve

Steve — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 04:36:48 +0000

Sorry to hear about your eyesight problems. It would not be fair for all of your friends to laugh at you for buying something that already looks 10 years out of date.

By: JL

JL — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 04:31:01 +0000

Just ordered my upgrade 09 Octavia Wagon 1.8 with 7 sp DSG for my wife. Lots of other test drives but mind quickly made up after driving the Skoda. Lots of tech and value for $$$. Real fun drive with great performance teamed with the 7 sp DSG. Drive one and I’m sure you will agree. Wife loved it from 1st drive.

By: hapi skodite

hapi skodite — Sat, 29 Aug 2009 03:22:13 +0000

OK so it’s had a facelift. Now’s the time to hunt down a Skoda Octavia prefacelift bargain.
Bingo!
I’ve purchased a 2008 1.8TSI with 150ks only. A fantastic 6 speed manual with most of the fruit you need. Price? $24,000.

Going for an APR ecu remap soon…..

By: Tom

Tom — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 14:49:11 +0000

Simonsez Says: “This is hard to follow when you can see that VW are perfectly capable of ultra competitive pricing; with the Passat R36 being some $30,000 cheaper in Australia than the Mercedes and BMW models which are its direct competitors in Europe.”

What are you on about, VW isn’t in the same league as BMW or Mercedes Benz in Europe. They Have Audi for that, and even with audi it’s debatable whether or not it is in the same league!!

By: jansjetta

jansjetta — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 14:20:52 +0000

RE THE 98 RON ISSUE
Had you all ever thought that there is a reason WHY all those petrol engines should use 98RON? I dont think it is because they have shares in the oil companies. Maybe, just maybe they run better on 98 RON.
Case in point – I had an AUDI and it cost me about $5 more to fill up with 98 RON, but I saved $12 per tank over STD unleaded because I got 100km further – a saving of about 10 litres. So there you go. It’s more economical to run on 98 RON so I wish everyone would stop complaining about the VAG/AUDI/SKODA/SEAT and all the other euros running on 98 RON.

By: Daz

Daz — Mon, 25 May 2009 02:06:03 +0000

The wife & I had been looking at buying a new Mazda 6 Turbo diesel wagon, and was told by an “open minded” friend to have a look at the Skoda as a comparison. After Test driving the older 1.8TDI (auto), the new 1.8TFSI (auto), the 2.0 TDI ( 108kw Auto), the RS 2.0 TDI ( 125kw manual ) & the RS 2.0 TFSI (147kw manual), as well as the Mazda 6 2.5 petrol Auto (Wagon) & 2.2Turbo diesel (Wagon & Sports Luxury Hatch).
I’d never really checked out Skoda before or knew much about them, but now a couple of weeks down the track I’ve been very surprised.
So much so I’m actually favouring Skoda over the Mazda. I mean I’d be happy with either car being parked in my shed, but I feel the RS engines put a bigger smile on my face compared to the mazda, even though the 2.2 turbo diesel mazda has more kw & torque, the 2.0TDI RS skoda motor seems to deliver more punch.
The front of the RS models also look a little better then the standard Octavia too.
All comes down to personal choice I guess, but if I end up buying a Skoda, trust me I’ll still be a happy person I’m sure!

By: Millatime

Millatime — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 23:28:18 +0000

This is more an advertisement than a review.

By: Jas

Jas — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 20:51:18 +0000

Take one for a test drive !
The 1.8 TSI with DSG is brilliant.
I currently have a Aurion zr6 & I found the Octavia to be a much nicer more involving drive – the engine & gearbox work brilliantly together.
We will be ordering one next week.
Jas

By: renaldo

renaldo — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 10:40:36 +0000

Looks like a mid 90’s Lancia Lybria wagon, especially from the side, back and rear quarters.

Whats good for the Europeans doesn’t mean it will be accepted locally.

RESALE VALUES will always be in the minds of disconcerning Aussie buyers and with a backdrop of a shaky new car market people will stay away from new players to the market with NO BRAND EQUITY.

Nothing wrong with the cars themselves just a matter of launching at the wrong time.

Look what happened to SEAT they pulled out of Oz after just a few years.

How long can SKODA survive in OZ, only time will tell?

By: Simonsez

Simonsez — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 08:07:34 +0000

Seems that it is quite ok to call people idiots on this site after all.So, Jake02,Will, Ritchie
you really are a pack of Skoda drivers.Does that make you all feel better.Rest assured ,now that I realise that personal abuse is fine I’ll be responding in kind (but more effectively you’ll find).Still watching a site where someone has 61 used Skodas to sell dating back to 2007. I’ll pick one up when the price is low enough.Boys, they’re just cars, not too flash but well enough made; it’s just that the vast majority of Aussie punters know nothing about them. Probably better not to make too many assumptions about someone you’ll (hopefully) never meet btw.

By: Richie

Richie — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 07:34:01 +0000

if you really really think about it, all cars that come into the country are alot cheaper, its just that the taxes etc that are added to them make them so much more expensive.

Skodas don’t need to be made $4000 cheaper, as $33,690 for my Octavia RS sedan seems very nice, but unrealistic. $27,000 for an Octavia 1.8TSI sedan seems even more unrealistic.

People like Simonsez and ChineseDriver are personally attacking Skoda owners (like Will, Jake02 and I) because we apparently bought our Skodas because we made the mistake of paying too much for something. I couldn’t disagree more. If we thought they were too expensive, we wouldn’t have bought them.

The equivalent VW’s are much more expensive for the same levels of equipment. And as far as I can see, the Skoda badge represents the same level of prestige etc as VW in Europe (as people in Europe have started to realise that the VW quality hasn’t been as good as it once was in 2002-ish – Golf IV).

Stick to driving Toyotas, it really seems that anything European made (not applying to you ChineseDriver as you drive a VW) is too exciting, and that a massive fuss is made over them. Skoda in Australia is meant to be a brand that represents fantastic value for money, great build quality, resonable-to-good levels of performance/handling and fantastic practicality on every model. End of story.

By: sp

sp — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 10:07:26 +0000

Simonsez you are correct about the $4000 over price .

When negotiating with the VW/SKODA dealer it was pretty obvious there was big discounts are on offer for the skoda , not so the golf ,even without a trade car .

Having previously owned a golf gti , i was keen to replace the liberty 30r wagon with another golf , but the head kept telling me i needed a wagon .

Then i took the plunge on the rs wagon , the difference in trade in valuation , up $4000 higher for the skoda , no movement on the golf gti .

So do you list the rs wagon at $40,000 or $36000 , i dont know , all tis did not deter me from buying as the drive in the rs is 95% of the gti and its top build inside and out .

By: PROJET - L

PROJET - L — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 02:31:23 +0000

No BS mate,
go back to the story and check.
Didn’t say anything against the Golf. 05 TDI comfortline with all options.
I think I mentioned, but if I didn’t I will say it now, that I got out of the Golf due to
the lack of space due to new baby.
It was a good car. Go check the same spec Golf between 05 and 06
and you will see what I mean.
Volkswagen publicly announced back then that they were
gonna start cost cutting, as the MkV was too expensive to build.
I got another VW as it got a better trade as I was early in the contract.
Your sense of smell is off mate.

By: Benjie

Benjie — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 23:53:38 +0000

Projet-l, you mentioned in a previous thread that you had owned a Golf and it was a bad experience.

If VWs are so bad, why on earth would you buy four of them??

I smell a BS story.

By: PROJET - L

PROJET - L — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 23:07:58 +0000

From my experience the VW product is a little cheaper for good reason.
It is cheapened up rubbish.
I have a current Passat TDI and it is by far the worst VW I have owned.
And I have owned 4.
Around 2003 VW’s accountants began to hold sway on fitting the cars out
and they just became cheap. Promised a lot but delivered little in the way of quality.
From what I have seen of Skoda you are getting a fit and finish that harks back to VW
from 6 or so years ago. Whilst the price is similar you get better fit and finish and usually
more tech and fruit for your dollar. Also they are made in Europe.
As for those comparing these cars to Mazda et al there is no contest.
The NVH of a Mazda 3 is based on a 75 Trabant.
And for those dissing the Epica style front, it is ok in my book, anyway the Epica was styled by an Aussie.

By: Simonsez

Simonsez — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 09:42:38 +0000

We’ve all made the mistake of paying too much for something and regretting it later , so there is no need for the Skoda owners on this forum to feel quite so defensive . The level of sales for Skoda in Australia to date is extremely poor and this fact alone is all I need to support my belief that they came into our market some $4000 per vehicle too high.
This is hard to follow when you can see that VW are perfectly capable of ultra competitive pricing; with the Passat R36 being some $30,000 cheaper in Australia than the Mercedes and BMW models which are its direct competitors in Europe.
I’d love to know the thought processes of those execs who made the decision on the Octavia’s initial pricing in Australia. It’s still not too late for them to change their minds.

By: Devil666

Devil666 — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 06:35:49 +0000

Excellent! Thanks for the followup Paul, good work. Sounds a bit like Holden V8’s, with 270kw on 98 octane only. Being able to run on lower grade fuel where 98 isn’t available is an ideal setup.

Can’t wait to see the Scout!