why do people generally have this 'thing' about skodas - apparently they are good cars but a lot of people seem to overlook them -why is this?
(blondiebombshell, heading a thread: "Why??????" is not acceptable in this forum. You are required to head a thread with some hint of what it is about. H.J.)
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Hello.
I presume it is that once upon a time Skoda was a joke.
For example.
What do you do if a skoda overtakes you...... Turn your engine on.
Please excuse me for my poor sense of humour.
But now i actually like what i see/
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(iam not a mechanic)
Martin Winters
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People do have a 'thing' about Skodas and there isn't much wrong with them. They are cheaper 'Volswagens' and additionally most people seem to be much happier with the service they get from Skoda agents than from VW agents. Plenty of history on this in the Backroom Archive
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They used to be poor quality rust bucket death traps but are now owned by vw and are vw in another badge.
the badge snobbery exists and people will tell you that the equiv vw/seat/audi is a much better car. IMO they just have a better level of finish and a more expensive badge (or club)
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In the 1970s and 1980s they were cheap and not very good. They improved greatly after being taken over by VW in the 1990s. In the past 10 years they have achieved an excellent reputation.
However, some people are rather behind the times and don't realise that Skodas are now well made cars.
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When Skodas were Skodas people were ignorant and stupid about them. Didn't understand them or maintain them, so got bad service from them.
Now that they are VWs, people are snobbish about them. That's more harmless but even stupider.
Very few people on this forum are informative or reliable on this subject. Best take what they say with a grain of salt.
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People forget that Skoda had an excellent reputation long before the communist buckets took over as well. Even in the 70s and 80s the cars were a long way above the Fiat-based garbage that was coming out of other East-European factories.
I don't know why people still pick on Skoda so much anyway -- plenty of other manufacturers known for quality now had less than stellar reputations 20 years ago. Seat were just as bad as Skoda -- in effect they were the Spanish Lada or Yugo, building poorly-made Fiat knock-offs for the downtrodden Spanish people. So where is the Seat stigma?
And I bet no-one will be laughing too much at the Dacias if they ever come to these shores -- despite the Renault-based Dacias of old being woefully low-grade vehicles.
It's traditional British snobbery -- the joke is on them though. Modern Skoda cars are a damn sight better made than a lot of cars these same people drive around themselves. I'd take a Skoda over any of the run-of-the-mill French, American or Italian offerings.
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Well jase1, you are sensible about Skodas so I will forgive you for dissing the Twingo....
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"So where is the Seat stigma?"
A Seat Stigma! Please may we have more info or a link to a picture? What are the engine and trim options, will it be available in UK?
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Very few people on this forum are informative or reliable on this subject. Best take what they say with a grain of salt.
Not quite sure who this is aimed at or what its supposed to mean.
Most of the info on this thread appears to be about right.
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'They used to be poor quality rust bucket death traps but...'
That's the sort of thing it was aimed at, Jasper Carrott-style car experting rather than real knowledge.
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Nothing.
madf
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Not one for being much of a badge snob (I'm 28 and drive a 10-yr old Primera with wood trim....) but I don't think giving your cars names of Superb or Roomster help. It's a bit naf......
The majority of taxi drivers round these parts (Eastbourne) seem to drive Octavias or Superbs.
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'They used to be poor quality rust bucket death traps but...' That's the sort of thing it was aimed at Jasper Carrott-style car experting rather than real knowledge.
Well, the old jokes about Skodas had some basis in fact; the engines were a bit prone to overheating if they weren't maintained rigorously, and the fit and finish was a bit rough (well OK a lot rough) in places.
In reality though the old Skodas really had nowt to be ashamed of except the age of the design. But even there, they were hardly the only cars on the roads in the 80s with old-fashioned underpinnings.
As for "rust-bucket", that bit is complete fabrication. IIRC Skodas were among the first run-of-the-mill cars to have galvanised body parts, and as such were much less rust-prone than a lot of other cars of the time.
Has to be said as well that the old Skoda engine wasn't that bad a design -- it was noisy and coarse, but for a 60s design it was pretty tough, and capable of reasonable mileages if looked after.
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Nine out of ten jase1. But:
Engine wasn't 'noisy and coarse' but had in different configurations crankshaft vibration periods that made it necessary to drive at certain speeds. These speeds were always economical.
The 1300 cc engine was less prone to these vibration periods than a 1200 I had. But that car if driven at its chosen, fairly leisurely gait, was extremely economical, and it could go fast too if required.
Driven properly, especially around town, an Estelle 1200 or 1300 had a mellow growl rather like a late-30s Austin 18 station taxi. I loved it, but I don't suppose many here have ever heard one of those.
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That's the sort of thing it was aimed at, Jasper Carrott-style car experting rather than real knowledge.
Tut tut Lud, I thought better of you. If you were not aware of the poor quality of the 70's skodas that were EXACTLY as described then you have missed out on some knowledge of skoda's.
They are not like that now. Ask any mot man from the 70's about rust buckets ? They featured heavy.
Good cars now; they werent then !
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Well yorkie, I know you mean well and think you're right, so let's leave it at that hmmmm? Put it down to differences of perception.
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They used to be poor quality rust bucket death traps but are now owned by vw and are vw in another badge.
No change there then ;o)
The old skodas used to be very basic, noisy and parts were not easily obtainable and very expensive (mostly dealer only).
I had an Estelle, with the alloys & body kit on, for 7 months and it had 2 flexi brake pipes(new), another 2 gearboxes, another engine, another starter motor and 2 more carburretors in that time. Admittedly all second hand parts from scrappy's but it makes you think twice about getting another one. If you don't count my labour, I did make a bit of profit on it though, bought it for £80 with no 4th gear and no MOT on it, spent £300 on bits and sold it for £390
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In the 1960s and 1970s I used to share transport with a friend (we both worked in the same town about 17 miles away); he always bought Skodas or Ladas brand new and kept them for two or three years.
He also did a lot of holiday touring in them in the course of the year, but never had a major problem with either marque and was certainly never left at the side of the road.
The Skodas certainly had character - far more than the Lada Riva...:-)
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It's just about people's perception.
At one time, people used to look down Hyundia, Kia and even Suzuki. But now they are some of the best cars around.
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Having lived in Spain when SEAT's were SEAT's I can tell you they were renown for two reasons:
1. built like tanks as they needed to be to survive in the brutal every man for himself traffic that exists in any Spanish town
2. so basic that they could be easily maintained by the self employed blacksmiths sorry mechanics that operate out of tiny garages everywhere and I mean everywhere in Spain
I kind of miss them...
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Having lived in Spain when SEAT's were SEAT's I can tell you they were renown for two reasons: 1. built like tanks as they needed to be to survive in the brutal every man for himself traffic that exists in any Spanish town 2. so basic that they could be easily maintained by the self employed blacksmiths sorry mechanics that operate out of tiny garages everywhere and I mean everywhere in Spain
So very much like a Lada or Polski then really! Lada = built like tank, and very simple.
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Lada = built like tank and very simple.
Too simple. And genuinely horrid, in the way routinely ascribed to Skodas by the ignorant.
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genuinely horrid in the way routinely ascribed to Skodas by the ignorant.
Hmmm. Only ever driven a Lada once, briefly. It was a 1500 Riva Estate, in yellow, E Reg IIRC. Interesting, I think is the word I'd use :) It has to be said though that it was a useful workhorse, the owner had bought it at 7 years old for £250. Good-sized boot.
On the other hand a work colleague about 15 years ago or so was part of a family who swore by (old-model) Skodas, they certainly had a loyal following. Years ago as well we had a neighbour who bought a succession of Skodas, and they all gave much less trouble than the BLs, Fords and Talbots my dad would insist on buying. That gave me a certain respect for the cars.
My dad has always been one for buying carp (that &%$@* Fiat 128, grrrr), and that probably explains my disdain for Renaults -- they're his latest thing.
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Sorry to be shallow, but skodas are pig ugly (the front ends/grille), and who would want to stare at a bright green wierd logo on their steering wheel?
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it's the usual thing that small minded people do, which is pick up on a small part of something and despite any real knowledge of the subject matter, presume that they do........ and perpetuate something that in reality moved on yonks ago
Skoda's weren't that desirable 20 years ago plus, because the design was old fashioned and they had very limited street cred, being quite basic utilitarian vehicles
since VW took over...........that is absolutely not the case...........they are good value modern products and it's just the badge that causes some people problems, but those in the know ignore that stigma because they know better
there are other examples........one more dear to me is the X Type Jag being a Mondeo one....if i could have a pound each time i've heard that one...........how many manufacturers don't share platforms?.........The S Type shares a Lincoln one, but you never hear that ....furtrhermore the Mondeo is quite a good car, so who should care if one product is cheaper with cheaper bits and bobs in it for that part of the market, whilst the other one has more goodies and more quality equipment for those willing to pay for it........seems sensible to me?
I actually think Skoda's nowadays are picking up a reverse bias.......i.e. it's cool to have one sort of attitude, because it shows you know what you're doing and are unaffected by false badge snobbery
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"I actually think Skoda's nowadays are picking up a reverse bias.......i.e. it's cool to have one sort of attitude, because it shows you know what you're doing and are unaffected by false badge snobbery"
Spot on! When I had my Superb (which was a GREAT car) it was in a really nice light blue and people kept saying "Ooh that's nice". A lot of them couldn't cope when I said it was a Skoda. "But you like cars..." Yes, I like cars, not the image they portray....
Said the A3 driver. : ) But in my defence, I think the A3 is a restrained, pretty car, not a "look at my wad" vehicle.
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Oh and another thing... anyone know what the name of the old SEAT was that was based (as I recall) on the 128 3P? I remember LJKS testing it in the mid-70s and quite liking it. Had a Renault 15/17 style wraparound bumper.
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Remember those smartalecs who knew all the Skoda jokes in the book and then went out and bought a Metro or a Maestro themselves?
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The Superb Elegance I owned was the best VAG product I've bought up to now. I don't quite know
how Skoda did it but, the car had real charcter, it was well, likeable. It had no faults, unlike a few Audis
I had before & the dealers weren't the smug upstart types either.
Well remember the Estelle - rather thought it had a touch of the exotic about, rear engined & a bit like a Beetle
re-worked to my mind - my old boss in the early 80's swore by (not at) them, about £3995 otr IIRC.
I'm looking forward to 2 new cars becoming available: the new Mondeo with the 2.2 bi(?) turbo
& the new Supberb, due mid-2008 I believe.
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I have a Superb with the 130PS PD diesel engine - bought unashamedly as a workhorse and tow car. I can't fault it and the build standard is better than VWs I have looked at of the same year ('05).
Half price second hand as a 2 year old, Fiesta economy when not towing and pulls my 2 axle trailer like a train.
No resale value though - It's a long term bangernomic - galvanised chassis and plenty of pattern spares/knowhow as it's a LWB VW Passat. I really like the legroom it offers too.
659.
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most cars are worthless eventually, with a Skoda you just lose less on the way.
It was the crap idiots who tightened the back bearings up ( instead of the proper pretension) that led to image problem, most cars in those days had a poor finish and rotted, my mini did!.
I have seem more other cars down on one knee with broken front wishbones over the years, no 'killer' jokes for Ford though?
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The pre-VW Skodas were dreadful. We used to service and repair the Estelles. Very poor quality. The rack gaiters would perish after a few years and literally crumble in your hands. The engine had wet liners sitting on copper rings. These would anneal and the liner would drop, losing the protrusion above the block and so the head gasket would blow. I rebuilt a few of these engines for this reason. The parts weren't that cheap from the dealer, so we used to get parts from a third-party supplier based in Bradford (S4 Skoda parts I think ??). Starter motor armatures used to fly apart and gear selection could be absolutely dreadful, even on newish cars. They were worse than anything Ford or BL produced at the time. There was a fairly loyal pensioner following - we had one old chap who had a new one every year, for year after year.
The Lada Riva's were also a pretty hopeless car.
The importers and dealers made a killing, the Communists were so desperate for hard currency that the cars were imported at very low prices - about 1/4 the retail price! Parts were also pretty pricey for the class of car.
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Way back in the 70's I was a mechanic at a Skoda main dealer. The Estelle had just replaced the old 'S' series and sales were booming.
According to Skoda UK (Based in Kings Lynn in those days), Skoda's were bought mainly by 'working class folk' who wanted a new car, not a used one. So, in a weird sort of way, snobbery came into it. Many buyers paid cash, and usually not much was left over for extras or servicing.
The Estelle was slated by the motoring organisations for poor build quality and their reports resulted in a PDI that took about 6hrs. Part of the PDI included re-routing wiring and freeing off tight steering. Thanks to English market demands, the original steel wheels and Barum tyres were replaced by the importers with alloy wheels and 'known' tyres. Eventually, the Estelle became not a bad car - cheap and tacky in places, but reliable and easy to repair.
I think that Volkswagen learnt a lot when they bought a Skoda.
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The importers and dealers made a killing the Communists were so desperate for hard currency that the cars were imported at very low prices - about 1/4 the retail price!
That I can certainly believe -- even today a small bunch of nutters buy in Ladas direct from Latvia and Lithuania. African-spec models (ie RHD) can be picked up for less than 2 grand.
To be fair, at that sort of money they're possibly not too stupid -- a brand-new car for the price of a 10 year old 306....
Nah, I'd take the 306 :)
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why do people generally have this 'thing' about skodas
sadly they don't any more. When I bought my car I looked for cars that had suffered the worst depreciation.
I found that the Skoda Superb had better residuals than some competing cars such as the Mondeo, and hence I didn't buy.
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And here are Skoda mixing it with the Japanese at the top of the J. D. Power table:
www.whatcar.com/NonCar/1057740480.jpg
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Still don't get this,if the Skodas do so well according to the magazines, why does VW, Seat, Audi not finish in the top 10 too?? Still according to link above my A3 is doing pretty well.
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I think expectations play a part.
If you buy a VW or Audi, you expect service to match the sticker prices. My limited experience, and much anecdotal evidence suggests that far too many VW and Audi dealers are incapable of delivering this. Certainly my limited experience with VW dealers confirmed every negative comment I'd ever read.
Skoda dealers are probably no better, but the cars are cheaper, and therefore expectations are lower. It might also be that Skoda sell far fewer cars than VW or Audi, so their dealers try a little harder.
That's my theory anyway.
Cheers
DP
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Quite a lot of Skoda dealers are small old family firms which simply do behave better towards customers than huge organisations.
But the JDP survey measures subjective, perceived value and satisfaction, not so? Modern Skodas actually are rather good, so people perceive them as such.
I suppose it may be worth looking at the rankings if you are considering buying one of the models covered, either new or used. But I wouldn't rely on it any more than I would rely on BR people to give a proper description of a 'real' Skoda without letting their idiot prejudices show (and perhaps some less idiot I must admit).
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I've had 3 pre VW skodas a Dreg Estelle a G reg Favorit (which I wrote off!) and anH reg Favorit. They they were all properly maintained and never gave a moments trouble. The Estelle was a handfull in the wind, but the steering was very direct. The last Favorit I had was worked hard. I did 40000 miles in almost exactly 2 year. These miles went on quickly ;-) and she wasn't any trouble.
My parent have been running Skodas since 1980. 110s, 120 LS, 120 LE, 130L, 136 LX Favorit, 136LS Favorit, Favorite Foreman Pick Up, 1.6 Felicia they now have a 2000 1.6 Felica with 115,000+ miles and a 1995 Felica pickup.
They get good service from the dealer. The two they have now are the oldest they've had. I'm not conviced these two VW Skoda's are any more reliable than the real McCoy were. The Felica has suffered from overheating due to themostat and water pump issues. They don't get maintained or driven as well as they might do.
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nb857, you are one of us and to be congratulated.
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Time for a bump to this thread after reading a trashy article in this morning's Metro with the results of a survey on whether women would date a man based on what car he drove. I can't remember what was top. Skoda came lowest with just 4%. So that's me written off, maybe salvaged by the cliche - true in my case - that my other car is a Porsche. On googling I can't find a link to the survey (so probably made up), only finding something from 2004 with Skoda third from bottom.
In general, men seem to be coming round to what modern Skodas are, but women still seem to be behind the times. On this board, you very often see posts along the lines of "I quite like the Octavia but SWMBO says no". Why the gender difference?
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Because women in general have no idea when it comes to cars -- they go for the pretty one in the lurid colour.
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Men are ignorant. Women are ignorant.
Both sexes are liars and tend to say anything that occurs to them however moronic.
Don't pay any attention.
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Was just going to say that survey doesn't make the distinction between women who know about cars and women who have no idea.
Me, I'm just wondering what part of the Fabia was created from the angel cake that you see them making. It's my favourite cake and it's been a long day!
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At the end of the day it's the usual bonehead snobbery thing. Quite honestly if these are the same people I see going into Netto with M&S carrier bags, then good luck to them.
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I think it might also have something to do with the fact that the Skoda factories are the most modern in the Volkswagen-AG group.
The only reason I've never bought a Skoda is that they don't make one that's quick enough/hand;es well enough- at least until the recent 2.0VRS. I'd consider one as a replacement to our Golf GTi without hesitation.
It's odd but when I've talked about potential 'new' cars with friends of mine and mentioned Skoda as a possibility they dismiss them out of hand and say 'yeah but it's a Skoda'. They still view them as mickey mouse cars for poverty stricken pensioners. Their loss IMO.
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the first car that i "bought" was a skoda favorit. I say bought, my mum paid for it and i paid her back over the first year. i got it when i got my first job. As she was paying, she chose! I really didnt want it, but grew to love it. It never broke, was roomy and quite comfortable in comparison to any other car i had driven.
When i got a company car my dad took it back and it replaced his doggy transporter after he blew the gearbox towing a harrow round a riding school.
And the logo - please delete this if you think it inappropriate, but i always thought it looked like a todger with wings.........
But i think they are good cars now and they really seem to have moved on. The new fabia looks really good.
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The Skoda Octavia I had on test was a revelation.
The fit and finish *shamed* my current VW. Consdiering it uses mostly VW bits thats a hard trick to do, but it did.
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TourVanMan TM < Ex RF >
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The Skoda name has not recovered from it's earlier reputation and bad jokes and with Vw trying to upgrade the image and price folks are a little confused. The local Skoda dealers have gone after only a short while trading so this is not a good sign.
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I MOTd a Skoda Superb last week and it was a revelation, Superb indeed!!
When my Seat Leon Cupra comes up for change I will almost certainly be changing it for a Octavia VRS, every bit as well made as a Audi IMO but with a much better main dealer in my neck of the woods.
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It was nice to be in praque last weekend and see that 9/10 cars were skodas from the 50"s to todays models, it was spot the foreign car, yes there were lots of rusty ones about but excellant to see they buy their own products first.
Badge snobbery just makes me laugh .
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>>What's wrong with Skodas?>>
Very little.
The taxi drivers certainly love them and they don't buy something that doesn't stand up to hard day in, day out use without falling apart or breaking down.
At least 60 per cent of the taxis in my neck of the wood are Octavias along with the odd Superb and all still look neat and tidy, even with mainly 03 and 04 registrations.
Taxi fares here are very competitive (two or more of you and it's the same price or even cheaper than using the excellent bus services for most journeys) - what's more a taxi is door to door.
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I would have an Octavia VRs now, but SWMBO will not let me have a Skoda.
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"I would have an Octavia VRs now, but SWMBO will not let me have a Skoda."
Espada, that's you, me and Ian Johnson (Honda diesel thread) - probably others too. I wonder how many ladies buy Skodas - maybe not too many, although PoloGirl, who knows about cars, told us she nearly did.
In my case, if a Skoda enmds at the top of the shortlist, she won't stop me - she has a Mini One whixch she loves and in any case she doesn't llike my B-class. We test drove an Octavia vRS and she had to admit she liked driving it.
The original Octavia and the (nice-looking) Felicia convertible of the 1950s and early 60s weren't bad - I knew a few people who had them and had no trouble. The rear-engined 1000 and Estelle were the ones that ruined Skoda's reputation, as Aprilia's experience testifies.
I think the image for most people, except for small-c conservatives like SWMBO, is of a car that you've thought carefully about before buying - maybe needing a workhorse and finding that it drives much better than that.
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I ran a Favorit a while back that I picked up out of the blue for £500, and it was a little gem.. hard work at speed, definitely, but solid and dependable. I sold it on and the new owner covered the length and breadth of the country in it over the next three years without a hitch. Then she sold it and it blew its head gasket within 3 hours, but I suppose we've all got to go sometime ;)
You just have to remember Skoda's history when you're judging the marque. Given the frequently turbulent political and economic conditions in that part of the world, they still managed to make some utterly gorgeous cars because they wanted to rather than because financial sense dictated it - look up the Supersport, the original pre-WWII Superb, the 1100GT and the first Felicia for examples. I still think the 110R coupe is a fantastic shape, like a Karmann with more attitude, and I imagine that the cal-look custom brigade would go nuts over them if they even knew they existed :)
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It was no contest for MrP, she wanted an A3 initially and found that they were very expensive, Skoda Octavia is cheaper than either the Golf or Audi but she actually liked the look over the Golf over the equivalent Skoda, she said it looked to big. Her car her money.
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Well my wife and I spent a long time discussing her current lease car, and despite looking at Alfa 159, Audi A4, Passat, she ended up with an Octy estate which she is delighted with. It doesn't seem to attract any of the 'wrong' sort of attention, and it is a genuinely good workhorse, which, as Avant says, surprises you by being better than you expect it to be.
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Re on subject of Octavia Taxis. Up here in Glasgow this is the choice of the private hire, however they are mostly all the old style Octavias (I think it changed about 05 reg) I have even seen some of the old style ones on 07 plates. Do Skoda still make them or is there a field somewhere of 2-3 year old Octavias still waiting to be registered?
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If someone magically wiped the Skoda reputation from our memories skoda would make some of the best and most affordable cars available.
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Can you all stop talking up Skodas? I didn't buy my vRS estate expecting you all (well most of you) to end up praising the marque and potentially further increasing it's popularity amongst the well informed. I demand at least some degree of exclusivity for my hard earned! Everybody, all together, after me .."how do you double the value of a Skoda?" ....
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To look at though Skodas are very boring... Fabia is ok like but the octavia is dreadful!! Comapring the octavia and a nice A4 Avant, there is no contest..... I'm no badge snob, but I do like to pay a lot more for exclusivity. And looks do count too, especially it you're thinking of keeping the car for at least 3 years. 3 years is still a fair while in anyone's life. So why buy a golf when you can buy an A3 for 1 grand more etc etc...
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Nothing wrong with Skodas at all. The company built a significant number of Panzers during WW2, one of the best and most reliable battle tanks ever.
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Neil - is your vRS petrol or diesel? And if petrol does it have to run on super-unleaded?
I do a highish mileage so probably need to stay with diesel, but I've seen a few road tests suggesting that the petrol (Golf GTI engine) is nicer to drive.
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Neil - is your vRS petrol or diesel? And if petrol does it have to run on super-unleaded? I do a highish mileage so probably need to stay with diesel but I've seen a few road tests suggesting that the petrol (Golf GTI engine) is nicer to drive.
Avant, get yourself a nice Skoda Octavia Lauren and Klement 140bhp DSG then. I have heard the 170bhp can be a bit on/off with the power and the 140bhp has plenty of shove (same torque as a R32 Golf so overtaking is effortless). The L&K model has leather, xenon, electric heated seats etc.
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>>Up here in Glasgow this is the choice of the private hire, >>
Most of the taxi drivers here who use Octavias travel the 200 miles to Glasgow to buy them and bring them back - seems there's a firm specialising in them for such a purpose. There's also a Glasgow based Peugeot taxis supplier who advertises in the national press.
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Avant - mine is petrol and although it will run on 95 RON normal unleaded it expects and definitely performs better with 98RON super unleaded. Shell V Power seems the red hot favourite amongst performance car enthusiasts and mine definitely runs best on this.
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