Comments on: Skoda Shows Refreshed Octavia; Still Looks Better than Jetta

By: joeaverage

joeaverage — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 20:30:16 +0000

I like it… Can I get one directly from the factory and skip the whole VWoA dealer network please?

By: joeaverage

joeaverage — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 20:29:53 +0000

I like it…

By: chuckgoolsbee

chuckgoolsbee — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 07:46:12 +0000

Volkswagen hates freedom and liberty

Huh?? No, it is just that the entire staff of VWOA are complete morons and their dealer network are rapacious criminals.

I say this as a loyal VW customer whose owned seven of their cars over the last 30 years. I love their cars – but hate the company’s American division and their dealers.

I’d buy a Skoda if I could. Especially if it had the 1.9 TDI in it.

–chuck

By: David Holzman

David Holzman — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 18:23:25 +0000

I disagree with Buick61 (first comment). I think it looks like a lineal descendant of British saloons of the late ’50s and early ’60s. Got a little bit of Hillman Minx, and various others. I think it’s ugly, although it does have a little character.

By: Mirko Reinhardt

Mirko Reinhardt — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 17:37:25 +0000

@Justin
The new Superb has more legroom than a A8.

However… the engine lineup is not identical with the Jetta’s. You can’t get the 1.4 twincharged engines in in, instead it’s available with a 1.8 TFSI.
The new 170hp common rail TDI is already available in the Octavia, but not yet in the Jetta.

By: Justin Berkowitz

Justin Berkowitz — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 17:07:00 +0000

They do indeed make great taxis, even with the nasty loud 1.9 TDI engine. BUT I will say that the real king’s ride is in the back of a Superb taxi. That long wheelbase makes for TONS of legroom.

By: salhany

salhany — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 16:32:44 +0000

I love the Octavia. I rode in several of them that were taxis on my last trip to Europe and I think they are terrific machines, much better than the Jetta. I would love to see them bring it over here in its current config; the sneaky-hatch is a really appealing feature.

By: shaker

shaker — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 16:27:56 +0000

Buick 61’s right — I think it’s the vertical bars in the grille that make it look “Chinese”, and I’m not even sure why- sort of like the grilles on the last gen Hyundais being my least favorite aspect of their styling.

Oh, and the sedan/hatch is “sneaky” like the ‘07 Mazda 6 – the rear wiper gives it away…

By: parimento1

parimento1 — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 16:02:22 +0000

I drove this car when I was on vacation. They use it as taxis in some countries because they are cheap diesels. The car I had was equipped with an automated manual (I assume it is the same one that VW uses). It was a very nice driving car, drove similar to a Jetaa TDI.

By: netrun

netrun — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 15:46:46 +0000

Love that wagon!

And I agree that the Octavia looks better than the current Jetta. If you can get the same parts in a better looking car, for cheaper, it’s a win-win-win!

By: ash78

ash78 — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 15:20:46 +0000

Not sure I dig it…OTOH, the Skoda Superb is WAY better than the current Passat.

But this one, I agree with Buick61–definitely looks like a Chinese or Korean “emerging market” car (moreso than Skoda already is)

Has some good cues, though.

By: Buick61

Buick61 — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 15:13:49 +0000

I dunno…it kind of looks Chinese.