RE: Skoda Kodiaq vRS: Driven
Discussion
I had one years back, ek51 ejc. Looking back it wasn't really that fast and it understeered when pushed, the grip just wasn't there on the front. But it was my first fast car (compared to Peugeot 406 and rover 216) so I loved it!
The real selling point for me though, was it took my girlfriend (now wife) and me, all our luggage and a large sideboard on the rear seats from up north all the way to South London at 36mpg/78 cruise to start our life together. I've never had a car as practical as that since... Even the wife's rapid spaceback, which is a similar size, wouldn't swallow a sideboard.
I loved it, I thought it was a driver's car.. but honestly, even at the time, it was outpaced by diesel repmobiles on the motorway and the Leon / focus on the windeys. It was low, and it had a satisfying gear change, but it needed more pace and a stiffer rear. Oh and rear calipers that didn't jam would have been neat.
The real selling point for me though, was it took my girlfriend (now wife) and me, all our luggage and a large sideboard on the rear seats from up north all the way to South London at 36mpg/78 cruise to start our life together. I've never had a car as practical as that since... Even the wife's rapid spaceback, which is a similar size, wouldn't swallow a sideboard.
I loved it, I thought it was a driver's car.. but honestly, even at the time, it was outpaced by diesel repmobiles on the motorway and the Leon / focus on the windeys. It was low, and it had a satisfying gear change, but it needed more pace and a stiffer rear. Oh and rear calipers that didn't jam would have been neat.
kambites said:
donkmeister said:
Yes, I am tight. I haven't bought a new car since 2001 but I appreciate that the idea of a 3-4 year old Merc will not appeal to those who must have a new car. I just find it amazing that people look at something like this and think "hmmm, £42k for a 4-pot diesel Skoda? Erm, where do I sign?!".
You can spend an awful lot more than that on a four-pot diesel Land Rover and I know which I'd expect to be the more reliable, better built car. 
Personally I don't buy new so new cars always seem to be crazily priced to me, but this seems decent value compared to its obvious competition.
Mike335i said:
Konan said:
MK1 Octavia VRS.... good driver's car. That's the point at which there's little point in reading any more in an article.
Why? It was a good drivers car in its segment at that time.Hope they sell well. If so, fiver says they won't be far off shed money by 2030. Then exhaust and a remap and perhaps lower it a bit and you'll have quite a weapon with a good dollop of practicality for not much money at all.
There are definitely other places I'd spend my 42 grand, though, even if I did need seven seats!
There are definitely other places I'd spend my 42 grand, though, even if I did need seven seats!
its crazy that a proper dependable 4x4 can be had for same money, 7 seats, and longer warranty. A Toyota land cruiser, yet a lot of consumers will go straight to latest VAG offering, and the LC is pretty much classless to boot. yes not as refined but strong residues.
Edited by Thesprucegoose on Sunday 20th January 12:10
Thesprucegoose said:
its crazy that a proper dependable 4x4 can be had for same money, 7 seats, and longer warranty. A Toyota land cruiser, yet a lot of consumers will go straight to latest VAG offering, and the LC is pretty much classless to boot. yes not as refined but strong residues.
For people who don't want the performance the entry point of the Kodiaq range is about £25k; the Land Cruiser starts at over £30k. For those who do want the performance, there isn't a Land Cruiser which competes. Plus for the use that the huge majority of SUV buyers put their cars to, the Kodiaq is almost certainly a better vehicle. The LC is a remarkable, perhaps even peerless, vehicle for those who need what it offers but the elements of its design that you pay such a premium for are useless to most people.
Edited by kambites on Sunday 20th January 16:17
That’s a crazy amount of cash. I do wonder how many they’ll actually sell.
My Octavia vRS is a good car. It’s a company car, and I think I’m going to miss it when it goes back in a few months. It doesn’t really excite me in any way but it’s bloody easy to live with (brisk enough, pretty well spec’d, OK on fuel and deals well with have bikes and stuff chucked in the back). Not sure I’d buy one with my own money because from what I’ve read elsewhere, they depreciate badly and I’m guessing it’ll be even worse on the Kodiaq.
My Octavia vRS is a good car. It’s a company car, and I think I’m going to miss it when it goes back in a few months. It doesn’t really excite me in any way but it’s bloody easy to live with (brisk enough, pretty well spec’d, OK on fuel and deals well with have bikes and stuff chucked in the back). Not sure I’d buy one with my own money because from what I’ve read elsewhere, they depreciate badly and I’m guessing it’ll be even worse on the Kodiaq.
Court_S said:
That’s a crazy amount of cash. I do wonder how many they’ll actually sell.
Sell, probably none. People don't really buy cars anymore. Lease is another matter, which obviously depends on how much overhead they've built into the price to "lose" by offering discounted finance deals. My guess is that Skoda will be expecting to net no more than about £35k on each car, maybe less.
Court_S said:
That’s a crazy amount of cash. I do wonder how many they’ll actually sell.
My Octavia vRS is a good car. It’s a company car, and I think I’m going to miss it when it goes back in a few months. It doesn’t really excite me in any way but it’s bloody easy to live with (brisk enough, pretty well spec’d, OK on fuel and deals well with have bikes and stuff chucked in the back). Not sure I’d buy one with my own money because from what I’ve read elsewhere, they depreciate badly and I’m guessing it’ll be even worse on the Kodiaq.
As above they will be churned out on cheap lease deals. My Octavia vRS is a good car. It’s a company car, and I think I’m going to miss it when it goes back in a few months. It doesn’t really excite me in any way but it’s bloody easy to live with (brisk enough, pretty well spec’d, OK on fuel and deals well with have bikes and stuff chucked in the back). Not sure I’d buy one with my own money because from what I’ve read elsewhere, they depreciate badly and I’m guessing it’ll be even worse on the Kodiaq.
Not sure how I feel about this. On one hand you have a highly practical family car that is certainly capable enough. Yet on the other hand, you have a £42k (won't matter with lease deals) car that is only offered as a diesel. Hard to see many forking the cash out for one with so many decent alternatives.
kambites said:
Sell, probably none. People don't really buy cars anymore.
Lease is another matter, which obviously depends on how much overhead they've built into the price to "lose" by offering discounted finance deals. My guess is that Skoda will be expecting to net no more than about £35k on each car, maybe less.
That makes a lot more sense to me...Which floor pan does it use from the Audi shed, Q5 or Q7? Lease is another matter, which obviously depends on how much overhead they've built into the price to "lose" by offering discounted finance deals. My guess is that Skoda will be expecting to net no more than about £35k on each car, maybe less.
POPE Paul said:
That makes a lot more sense to me...Which floor pan does it use from the Audi shed, Q5 or Q7?
Neither. VAG have two major platforms, MQB and MLB, for transverse and longitudinal engined models respectively. That platform defines the geometry of the firewall and front suspension and the design of the rear suspension but not the length or width of the floor pan which varies from model to model. The Q5 and Q7 are both longitudinal engined so MLB based; this is transverse engined so MQB. It probably doesn't share a floor pan with any other car.
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