2002 Skoda Octavia combi 1.9 tdi from Poland

Summary:

Sturdy build, no surprises, excellent value..

Faults:

Nothing.

General Comments:

The default stereo is really pathetic. They could upgrade there speakers to give the car better value.

The dull gray of the interior could definitely be improved.

The 1.9 tdi engine is excellent bang for your buck. The engine has a suprising kick at low torque and is considerable more affordable than Audi 1.9 tdi or Volkswagen.

A very compact feeling for a com-bi and it handles quite well.

The stiff suspension is good for our catastrophic Polish roads!

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 28th March, 2003

2002 Skoda Octavia Ambiente Estate 1.9 TDi from UK and Ireland

Summary:

A total bargain!!

Faults:

Nothing as yet, however the hard plastics inside car are easily scratched.

General Comments:

Excellent build quality. having stepped out of a Mk4 Golf 1.6 SE, I am surprised at how little I miss the supposed luxury of the Golf. Obviously the Skoda is not as nice to the touch as the Golf, but at a £4000 saving I'm not complaining. Air con as opposed to fuel wasting Climate Control is fine by me. A 6CD changer in the boot as standard also makes up for the lack of badge - if that is a problem for anyone!

The TDi is only the 90bhp version, but seems no slower than the 1.6 petrol version, and is a lot better for overtaking and long motorway cruises as it has way better gearing and bags of torque. I'm also averaging 48mpg vs the 30 I got in the petrol Golf which is great for my wallet.

My wife says she feels it is very little different to the Golf in most respects.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 16th February, 2003

2002 Skoda Octavia Ambiente 1.9 tdi 90bhp from UK and Ireland

Summary:

Good value for money

Faults:

Nothing yet, but no doubt something will sooner or later.

General Comments:

Good car, my second Octavia, much better build quality and dealer service than Renault.

Just one minor grumble - the car feels coarse road surfaces which seems to transmit a drumming noise through the car. Anyone else noticed this and more to the point anyone else cured it? I've driven several and they all do it. It ain't so bad that it stops me liking the car - especially the overall abilities that enable it to do everything well without being expensive to buy or run.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 17th December, 2002

14th Jan 2003, 05:46

It could be the tyres.

28th May 2003, 12:07

I just purchased a new Octavia Combi 1.9tdi, it is a beautiful car, but like you say it is very noisy with that drumming sound on rough road surfaces especially concrete roads with that rippled type finish. I find it very annoying and have in fact worn ear plugs where a long journey on rough road surface like this are encountered. it is difficult to hear the radio when on this type of road. I live in Ireland where there are lots of this type of road surface. I was about to bring it back to the garage as I thought something was wrong with it, but now that I see your posting it would appear it is not a fault. My advise to buyers is to road test it on rough roads before buying. It is a great pity this fault exists as the rest of the car is just great.

10th Oct 2003, 10:12

Just like the first comment said, it might just as well be the tires making noise. The importers usually just put on a set of tires without testing them on the different surfaces, so it's recommended to try different sets of tires. I've tried Continental Premium Contact on my old Golf and it was very quiet even in that car...

19th Dec 2003, 13:36

I have just bought one of these extraordinarily good cars (1.8 turbo 20 valve) which goes like a rocket, and I agree very much about the drumming or what seems to be tension in the body shell when traversing slightly rough roads. It may be the tyres are overinflated, but I notice a strange boom when shutting the doors as if something is over tensioned.

I have noticed a marked improvement in this when the tank is full and we have four people in the car.

31st Mar 2004, 14:55

Actually it is a nice and cute car, but the problem that it is tough and not comfortable at all for long distances.