Faults:

The ventilation system consumes excessive amounts of energy and the generator cannot usually cope with it in traffic jam situations. The addition of air conditioning system made things even worse. However, the dealer added an extra switch enabling the driver to select outside air or circulation of the air inside the car. High risk of battery being used up when in traffic jam for more than 40 minutes.

Difficulty in setting the rear 1/3 seat in the upright position. It does not lock with ease.

High risk of stopping under rainy weather circumstances.

Manual steering makes parking a hard task. Body builders may find it easier.

Notified by the first owner that the headlights positioning adjustment system had been out of order from the very beginning (it is hydraulic).

General Comments:

This Skoda is my first car and as such didn't actually mind about buying a second hand car. Overall performance is quite satisfactory especially for commuters. Also very good behavior on highways. Perfect grip on the road and excellent response of the brake system (although non-ABS). Acceleration is quite acceptable for a 1.3L motor.

The interior is spacious, with comfortable seats even for all of the five passengers.

Would recommend it for all those looking for a car designed for tear and wear, with low running costs. A real workhorse!

Faults:

I have already two times change the suspension first one "Koni" and now "Bilstein".

Ventilation system seriously inadequate, it is really necessary an aircondition.

Motorway driving is quite noisy and the steering is quite heavy when parking.

I have discovered some rust in the inside lower right corner of the rear windscreen.

General Comments:

Generally a robust, hard wearing car in which Volkswagen's influence is obvious. It is certainly spacious, with a large luggage area and will comfortably seat five adults.

Very satisfied with the overall performance.

The car has proved to be very reliable and cheap transport.

Faults:

Rear suspension lower spring holders corroded to the extent that spring burst through, causing car to list to one side - potentially very dangerous and a common problem according to the Skoda dealer. Replacement spring holders made from a different material and are thicker to avoid problem occuring again.

The car also does not like running in cold weather despite proper servicing - it has a tendency to cut out when warming up, or if engine laboured in traffic.

Recently discovered extensive rust in the lower corner of the rear windscreen, working its way through to the inside of the car very fast.

It has also somehow gone through three CV boots in the year I have owned it.

General Comments:

Generally a robust, hard wearing car in which Volkswagen's influence is obvious. It is certainly spacious, with a large luggage area and will comfortably seat five adults.

The only problem being that the engine may not be able to cope with the weight of these people and their belongings, on account of it being somewhat reluctant to propel the car at any decent speed. Attempts at hill climbing and hard acceleration are met by a raucous din from the engine, without much to show for it.

The unassisted steering is very heavy and ponderous and the car wallows through corners - it does not like to be hurried.

But clearly this is a vehicle that was not designed for racing. Instead it is a cunningly simple, straightforward family car which can turn its hand to most motoring situations without ever really disgracing itself in any of them.

A close look shows that this is a car designed with DIY servicing and repair in mind - under the bonnet, all is accessible and easily serviceable. The pushrod engine is well proven and uncomplicated, if noisy and underpowered, and fuel consumption is very good, with a 40mpg average.