Second-Hand Sense: With the new Skoda Octavia now having its international launch, one is struck by the disappearance of Skoda jokes. Remember them? Q: What do you call a Skoda with a sunroof? A: A skip.
Skoda was originally one of the finest names in European automobile history, having been launched over a hundred years ago and achieving considerable status for innovation.
Like a lot of other industries, the Czech car industry went into decline behind the Iron Curtain. Its rebirth began when VW, which knew full well that the Czech tradition of car engineering could be revived with the right investment, bought the lot.
The investment has paid off and VW has been able to turn out all sorts of models with shared development costs. The Octavia shared components with the Audi A3 and A4 and the Seat Toledo?
The Octavia, launched in 1998, was built in saloon and five-door hatchback versions and, when the range was complete, some 20 versions were on sale here. Engine sizes started with VW's 1.4 basic petrol engine and went right up to the 1.9 turbo-diesel engine.
The Octavia, although sharing the Golf platform, feels a good deal bigger than a Golf and I think even drives a little better! It soon proved itself a sturdy, reliable and efficient car with a huge boot and generally frugal with fuel.
It's essentially a no-frills experience - you get basic grey plastic on the inside but everything is solid and practical. Seating is good and strong, but the big boot takes its toll on the rear seating comfort levels. The 1.4, like the older Golf, needed a bit more poke but returns a reasonably average performance, especially for city driving.
The car rides and handles reasonably well, but grip in challenging cornering can be lacking. Overall, though, the Octavia doesn't disappoint. It's not known for giving problems, although an exhaust flaw has led to early replacement and 1.8 and 2.0 litre versions have been recalled for an ignition coil pack problem.
In terms of crash testing, expect results similar to the Golf and Passat. Airbags and general safety have been a strong part of the VW group philosophy.
In second-hand terms, the Octavia still does have an image problem. A 2000 model 1.8 turbo with 56,000 miles on the clock has an asking price of €10,975 at one garage, while a 1.9 turbo diesel, registered in 2002, has an asking price of 17,750.
Those in the know realised a long time ago that Skoda was once again making really good cars at a better price than anything in the VW group. That's where the real Skoda secret is - they are excellent value.