What do we think of Skodas?

[Tute]

No, actually, this one is fact. Saying 'just because you think that doesnt make it so' on a discussion forum is totally pointless. The whole point in a forum is for people to post what they THINK. If they dont do that, then there are no posts. By all means challenge their thoughts with on-topic fact or opinion but to just say JUST COS U THINK IT DONT MAKE IT TRUE is just stupid.

You posted the following did you not?

A comfortable, refined car with a decent wheelbase which gives good primary and secondary ride quality and, crucially, allows you to complete the journey feeling refreshed not like you've just done a journey.

So just because YOU don't feel like that in a Fabia, it does not make it incapable. Thousands of people take hatchbacks on the motorway every day - do you think every single one arrives at the other end wishing they had something "better" for the job?

I did nearly 15,000 miles on a dual carriageway in a diesel Skoda last year and the only time I got out of the car feeling awful was when I was ill. Not once was it uncomfortable.

I certainly would get NOTHING out of replacing it with a large saloon.

I'm sorry, but where have I said that I am? Infact why single me out for this level of character assassination yet again when others made the points you loath so much in this thread and I just popped in to support their arguments?

I brought their posts up, you replied to it. I'm not trying to "assassinate" you - in fact you're quite entitled to your opinion.

 

[[TW]Fox]

Wow 15k a year, good job you had the diesel. Did you do many 400 mile trips in it?

Try something better, then say the Fabia is an excellent Motorway cruiser. It might well be compared to the cars you've used on proper Motorway trips but thats a bit like me saying a Kia Rio is a perfectly good car after having driven a broken Fiat Uni, a Mini that wont start and a Trabant.

 

[SkodaMart]

The Fabia was renown as the most refined supermini. I was very surprised when I drove one on the M60.
How many of you have driven a modern Skoda? I certainly wouldn't comment on a BMW M3 as I have never driven one!

 

[MagicBoy]

So it's the antithesis of what an 'ideal' Motorway cruiser is then really isn't it?

It's not that stiff. The mechanically similar Seat Ibiza Sport will snap you spine if you show it a speed bump, the Skoda won't. Loses out a bit in ultimate handling, but with a ton of pigiron up front it's was never going to outcorner a RenaultSport Clio anyway.

The wheelbase is quite long for the class of car. It's 2 inches shorter in the wheelbase than my previous VW Bora which was 2 foot longer. It's literally a wheel at each corner.

So that was a one off really. Would they be happy to do it day in day out?

Happened a number of times. You'd have to ask him that. Circumstances have changed so it doesn't really apply now.

 

[hurfdurf]

So just because YOU don't feel like that in a Fabia, it does not make it incapable. Thousands of people take hatchbacks on the motorway every day - do you think every single one arrives at the other end wishing they had something "better" for the job?

So if someone were to offer you a Mercedes S320 CDi or BMW 330D you would reply "No thanks my Fabia is a better more competent motorway vehicle".

 

[SkodaMart]

So if someone were to offer you a Mercedes S320 CDi or BMW 330D you would reply "No thanks my Fabia is a better more competent motorway vehicle".

I would love a BMW 330D or a Mercedes S320 CDi, I could sell it, buy a brand new Skoda and put some money in the bank!

 

[hurfdurf]

I would love a BMW 330D or a Mercedes S320 CDi, I could sell it, buy a brand new Skoda and put some money in the bank!

Nicely avoiding the crux of the question, would you turn one down for a long motorway journey and opt for the Skoda Fabia instead because of the Skodas amazingly competent ability to travel in style, class and comfort on the motorway?

 

[SkodaMart]

Nicely avoiding the crux of the question, would you turn one down for a long motorway journey and opt for the Skoda Fabia instead because of the Skodas amazingly competent ability to travel in style, class and comfort on the motorway?

No, of course I wouldn't however the Skoda is affordable and decent, and that's about the point really. I really like the 330D. BMW probably make the best diesel engines in the world at the moment.
If we carry on having winters like this I may be considering something with 4WD in the future!

 

[Tute]

Wow 15k a year, good job you had the diesel. Did you do many 400 mile trips in it?

Half a dozen or so.

Try something better, then say the Fabia is an excellent Motorway cruiser. It might well be compared to the cars you've used on proper Motorway trips but thats a bit like me saying a Kia Rio is a perfectly good car after having driven a broken Fiat Uni, a Mini that wont start and a Trabant.

I'm not arguing that it's the best (or better than) a saloon for long distance travel. My point is that it's perfectly competent.

So if someone were to offer you a Mercedes S320 CDi or BMW 330D you would reply "No thanks my Fabia is a better more competent motorway vehicle".

I don't think it's a better overall car, but I would still take the Skoda.

 

[Janesy B]

I would love a BMW 330D or a Mercedes S320 CDi, I could sell it, buy a brand new Skoda and put some money in the bank!

Being such a blatant Skoda fan boy is hardly adding any weight to your argument. What skoda wouldyou go for if you were to spend a lot of time on the motorway?

 

[MagicBoy]

So if someone were to offer you a Mercedes S320 CDi or BMW 330D you would reply "No thanks my Fabia is a better more competent motorway vehicle".

It was a 12k hatchback when new. Not exactly a like for like comparison.

I've never driven a 330D or S320 so I can't comment. I would quite happily jump in my car and drive 250 miles to Glasgow without a second thought. If I had a 1.2 that wouldn't be the case.

When did you last do 250miles plus in a Fabia vRS?

 

[hurfdurf]

I don't think it's a better overall car, but I would still take the Skoda.

LOL

 

[hurfdurf]

When did you last do 250miles plus in a Fabia vRS?

Test drove one for half an hour, was enough to make me realise how delusional the fanboy owners were, it probably didn't help that my expectations were through the roof by said delusional owners.

 

[paradigm]

I'm not arguing that it's the best (or better than) a saloon for long distance travel. My point is that it's perfectly competent.

"Perfectly competent" isn't really really good enough when spending the tall side of £5000 on a car. You want something that excels at what you need the vehicle for, not something "that'll do". This is the attitude rover took to their cars during the Leyland years, and look what happened there.

I don't think it's a better overall car, but I would still take the Skoda.

Why? Why not take the better car?

 

[SkodaMart]

Being such a blatant Skoda fan boy is hardly adding any weight to your argument. What skoda wouldyou go for if you were to spend a lot of time on the motorway?

True . I think I would get the new Octavia vRS. I think the new Skoda Superb saloon is one of the ugliest cars I have seen (very sorry Superb drivers ) The new Superb estate, looks spot-on and is fantastic value for money. I have two young children so I have to buy something with plenty of space.

 

[regulus]

The Fabia was renown as the most refined supermini. I was very surprised when I drove one on the M60.
How many of you have driven a modern Skoda? I certainly wouldn't comment on a BMW M3 as I have never driven one!

I drove a brand new Skoda whole of last week. Being totally clueless and disinterested when it comes to cars, I can still say it drove smooth, quiet and did everything I want from a car.

 

[Tute]

"Perfectly competent" isn't really really good enough when spending the tall side of £5000 on a car. You want something that excels at what you need the vehicle for, not something "that'll do". This is the attitude rover took to their cars during the Leyland years, and look what happened there.

You can't really compare Rover and Skoda. If the Fabia was as unreliable as BL-owned Rover then I wouldn't touch it with a barge pole.

Why? Why not take the better car?

I really don't want to go down that road, I think it'd just end up turning this thread into some kind of war.

My point always has been that the Fabia vRS is a perfectly competent motorway car. Not the best, but more than good enough, and certainly better than most of OcUK motors give it credit for.

Being such a blatant Skoda fan boy is hardly adding any weight to your argument. What skoda wouldyou go for if you were to spend a lot of time on the motorway?

I know that wasn't at me but i'll answer it anyway.

A large hatchback like an ST220 (if I could swallow the fuel bills) or a VAG mid-sized hatch with the 170ps engine (if not).

 

[MagicBoy]

Test drove one for half an hour, was enough to make me realise how delusional the fanboy owners were, it probably didn't help that my expectations were through the roof by said delusional owners.

I dare say that if I drove a BMW e39 or e46 after the discussions I've read on here then it would never meet my expectations of it being the best thing ever made.

My point stands at this - the Fabia vRS for me is an astonishingly capable car given the price.

 

[regulus]

True .The new Superb estate, looks spot-on and is fantastic value for money. I have two young children so I have to buy something with plenty of space.

That does look rather nice. How much are they new and basic (no whistles or bangs)?

Edit. Found 16k for entry level, spanking new. Should be able to grab a second hand for 12k or so next year.

 

[Uriel]

Just thought I'd chime in, having complained about my (humble 1.4 8v MPI) Fabia earlier. For a small car, it makes a nice motorwary cruiser. Comfortable, rather spacious for its size and quieter than a number of much larger hire cars I've tried.

Sluggish though. Due to the lack of nippiness it's crap about town.