2009 Skoda Octavia reviews

Skoda Octavia TDi SE DSG auto 2009

I bought this new in 2009 with the aid of the scrappage scheme, getting rid of an old and much-loved Mondeo, which we were very sorry to consign to the scrap-heap, but you couldn’t say no to £2,000. So the Skoda had a lot to live up to, and has done in spades. We had a very specific requirement for a mid-sized diesel automatic, which narrowed the field down a lot, leaving you with the outrageously expensive (e.g., BMW), the distinctly unappetising (Vauxhall, Ford) or the VW Group. After looking seriously at VW, I thought, why pay an extra three grand for the badge? and went for the Skoda. Best decision I ever made! The car has been brilliant; solid as a rock, very adequate performance (it’s only the 105 bhp diesel, after all), excellent roadholding, if not quite up to the Focus we also had, and the DSG gearbox is quite amazing. 55 mpg from a medium-sized automatic! While it is true that the car shares a drive train with the rest of the VW group, Skoda regularly beats the others in reliability surveys, even the VW itself. We have not had a single fault in 2 years and 30,000 miles, and it has not yet flagged itself up for its second service (first one came up at 16,000 miles). Only one really minor niggle - there is some road noise, the drive train makes a happy warbling sound at speed, which makes you think a wheel bearing is going until you get used to it. I don’t know if this is a standard feature or reflects the tyres it is fitted with, but it has been like it from new. Just had two new fronts at 29,000, rears are good for many more miles. Overall it’s an outstanding car. Highly recommended.