Faults:

Car broke down with smoke and fuel billowing out of the exhaust. They changed the main circuit board and the car was on the road again.

Boot lock stopped working.

I wound down the passenger window one morning and it wouldn't go back up.

The car will cut out almost every cold morning before it warms. My local garage have looked at it 3 time now and have not been able to fix the problem. They told me yesterday that they can't fix it so I'm writing this review.

Coolant leaked - part cost £14 but job cost £450 by the time they replaced my cam belt to get at the coolant pump where the leak was.

General Comments:

I had a Honda before and it was excellent and never any trouble. I bought the Skoda because I heard it was reliable, but I was very disappointed. The car has been well looked after and serviced regularly.

Faults:

Window mechanism broke on passenger side, but dealer fixed with no quibbles.

General Comments:

My favorite car owned to date. Previous cars have been changed every 3 years, but this one is still good.

Faults:

The left rear window mechanism collapsed, so the window could not move up or down.

The left rear window has a severe rattle.

Intense heat is felt in the driver's foot area.

Rust was found on bonnet hinge after only two month of owning the vehicle.

Rust on the trunk hydraulic arms of the vehicle.

The light in the stowage compartment does not go out when this is closed.

Intense vibration is experienced in the brake pedal whenever pressure is applied to it.

Trunk mechanism failed to function and access to the trunk was denied.

General Comments:

The satisfaction which I expected from owning the car was very short lived. Regret, of intense magnitude has now replaced the temporary state of pleasure.

Basic parts (e.g.one wiper blade cost $43 United States) are very costly and often unavailable.

The brake pads and brake shoes were changed and the car squeaked severely for ten days after.

The room in the back is cramped for an adult.

Faults:

A windscreen wiper blade split at 10000km. Glued back together.

Brake judder at 30000km.

Slight clutch judder between neutral and first emerged at around 40000km. will be seen to at next service.

The heating control panel lighting began to work intermittently at 45000km.

General Comments:

The car has been reliable and has given excellent service over almost two and a half years.

The car is well screwed together and the bodywork particularly solid.

Performance of the flexible 20v turbo is excellent and provides both swift overtaking on all roads and quiet cruising on the motorway. At the same time fuel consumption is.

Impressive at around 35mpg overall.

The gear change, brakes and steering are first class. There is a fair bit of body roll, but roadholding is good. The ride is also firm, but comfortable and the car copes well with the worst Czech roads can throw at the car. As a Brit abroad, I can say that this is far worse than you would find in Britain.

While very firm on first acquaintance the front seats are supremely comfortable on a long run: I suffer from disk problems and unlike every other care I have owned I can get out after a trip of 3-4 hours and 200 miles without a hint of back-ache.

The interior design is deliberately understated, even austere. I like it a lot!

Rear headroom is excellent, but leg and knee-room poor for adults. This familiar Octavia bugbear does not worry our children.

The boot is massive.