When my Sandero went with me in a ditch on an icy road and rolled over, I suddenly turned out to be the owner of a new car, and the unfortunate slabokislogo freak with all creased panels, and roof, flattened pancake. No restoration could not be and speeches, but because I have chosen to get the insurance premium for hull, and to say goodbye to the unfortunate Frenchman once and for all.
Отзыв об эксплуатации автомобиля Шкода Октавия-skoda-octavia-jpg
Now, when the hands returned 100 thousand, you could look at something else, because this "lifted Logan" I have not caused any enthusiasm - not its primitive beauty, nor filicauda turn signals, no slurred appearance or outright lack of prestige of enthusiasm I did not add. All that is done - for the better.
On second thought, decided to take out a loan and buy something more status - benefit, financial condition has improved somewhat. The list of requirements for the machine was simple. First of all, it is no prestige, and therefore belonging to a higher class. Next: large trunk (on the Sandero he was vanishingly small. Sure - spacious cabin, and thus reliability and efficiency. Quiet design. Well, it is desirable price not exceeding $20 thousand...
After travelling around the showrooms, I realized that the Koreans heart is not in it, and the Japanese all the polls more expensive (and not the fact that better). The pure-blooded Germans. But Octavia, which is made in the Czech Republic, in and of itself is nothing like Golf with all its advantages. Moreover, and much larger in appearance, and the price at all pleased: standing before the entrance of the showroom Skoda shone with a huge price tag - $18 500. This offer! No competitor, that is, not lying is a big, beautiful, air-conditioned, with four Windows and electrically heated and even blocking system is. Key with remote control locks - in "base". The ratio price/quality, I think, is simply unprecedented. The decision was quickly made.
Of course, I had right in the showroom to fork out another thing - in the "empty" car was not even rugs on the floor. Was not "music", which is to maintain the warranty, it was necessary to embed here, biting, price (3 thousand for a simple receiver Alpine together with the installation). The alarm was not too, and it is the same story as with the receiver, only this time the price was more than 4 thousand. But, be that as it may, 600 I did it with a vengeance, even on the flaps remained. Plus the show has presented the model of this exact Skoda in scale 1/43, and that all of a sudden, a bottle of champagne.
The operation of the machine proved that I was right. The economy was at its height - the city never had more than 8 liters per hundred. On the road - and at about five. The motor is the smallest, 1.4, with a capacity of only 80 HP In combination with a 5-speed manual transmission. Dynamics, of course, in this configuration is nearing zero. With four passengers on gentle slopes generally have to move to transfer lower and conditioning advanced prelusive overclocking, like some "Matiz"! Well, just to extremes "dumb" car - why, with such weight and size of the motor can not handle. Just a relaxing drive. And then there's this damped the gas pedal with delay... Vegetable.
But if you go slowly - smooth sailing. In the cabin is fairly quiet (except in rain drops drumming on the roof unexpectedly loud), uneven suspension dampens confidence. However, without load. But with the cargo rack and then punches to stop, especially in the rear, which further leads to slow movement. Yes and bumps loud surrender inside, especially the back.
Materials of beauty liked - soft wheel, the gearbox is tactile, the Parking brake lever. The top front panel-soft as the top of the front door. The back, however, the door panel hard from top to bottom - saving... don't really like and driver seat - oddly enough, in Reno it was more convenient. But in the rest of the ergonomics claims the slightest.
Space - the sea! Spacious and front and back, in all dimensions, always and everywhere. That's where the power of Octavia in the internal dimensions. Behind the passengers seat in the limousine. As for what to boot - it is a holiday. All competitors are knocked out. I remember a misunderstanding of the Lancer x, to which, it was, looked... Funny it becomes. He is there just less than two times. And me baby stroller to haul it, and a lot of printed products at work. Every day this pleases the trunk, just one of the main advantages of auto.
For six months, and 10 thousand kilometers all was very good. Then winter came, and it was found that at low speed the oven heats too weak. You can say, bad. But even worse was that somewhere began to drain antifreeze! First, Parking was a little puddle of 10 cm in diameter, and a week later there was already a large puddle on the panel - red exclamation mark... warranty changed some ring in the system, the impression of a smooth machine smeared.
A week had passed - key-FOB stopped to open the car. Maybe the battery of the village? Now open the old fashioned way - flow sting. Probably also a warranty case, during THAT turn.
In summary, I would say - still a better car for the money not to find. Big, solid, comfortable, and economical compact car. Where else can you find such a set for such ridiculous money? But the reliability seems to be more and more German in the modern, negative sense of the word. Volkswagen, after all...