Company Car change

[george]

is that the one with the rear engine quite rare saw one in a mag/book sometime ago love to hear it running though hope the brakes are beter than the moskvich !!!<br>
s*it thet were bad

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[SMIFTER]

<!--EZCODE QUOTE START--><blockquote><strong><em>Quote:</em></strong><hr>Its still a Skoda because although its made on the same production lines as the equivalent Passat/A4 etc and shares many common parts its cheaper to buy and its value plummets by comparison due to the stigma of driving a skoda<hr></blockquote><!--EZCODE QUOTE END--><br>
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Precisely Alun!<br>
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Thats why i can afford one and not the equivalent A4/Golf of the same year! Although they are still worth 50% of list price after 4 years is pretty good.<br>
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As for the badge, I couldn't give a toss as long as the car is good, I'm thick skinned enough to own a Smart Roadster and take two years of stick for driving 'tupperware', 'a dyson', 'a moulinex magimix' and 'a motorised slipper' to name but a few <!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :lol --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... /laugh.gif ALT=":lol"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <br>
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I actually quite like the idea of driving a Skoda that can almost nudge 150mph and its a middle finger to the sheep that queue up to pay silly money for an Audi TT or Golf GTi, both of which are essentially the same car.<br>
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I'm planning on looking at a few next weekend.<br>
<br>
Alun - I'm still not brave enough to buy an Alfa (although tempting).<br>
<br>
G

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[alun n]

A bit of research with my Mate from VAG in the pub tonight; the skoda is based on the passat which in turn is based on the A6 (not A4), as is the SEAT equivalent. Basically the floorpans, inner panels engine and drivetrain are shared. It is however the skoda and seat that now receive the hi-po engines as standard leaving the vw and audi as the poor relations.<br>
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Buying second hand the advice was its irrelevant, skodas still shed value, but still carry equivalent servicing costs; having the bells and whistles as standard means it costs more to service the skoda than the A6 equivalent and your average 'service advisor' will hit the owner of a 3year old plus car because they can. <br>
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All you get therefore are different outer panels, interior and badge.<br>
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Not brave enough to buy an alfa but you'd take on a skoda?<br>
<br>
Henry IV Part 1: "...my reformation glitering o'er my guilt shall show more goodly and attract more eyes..."?<br>
<br>
OK Alfas used to have a poor reputation now resolved, but at least they never had books of jokes written about them...<br>
<br>


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[SMIFTER]

Thats because nobody bought the books - much like the 166 when new<!--EZCODE EMOTICON START ;) --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... s/wink.gif ALT=";)"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END--> <br>
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I do like the Alfa's, but I know of too many people who choose a 156 instead of a 3 Series on the late 90's and suffered serious pain from the Fiat group dealers as a result to take the chance. <br>
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I'm not too fussed about main dealer attitudes to be honest, It'll be out of warranty so I'll get my local independant to look after any servicing.<br>
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Your VAG (oo-er) mate is talking a load of brown, an Octavia is no way based on an A4, A6 or Passat! Apart from having a much smaller wheelbase the aforementioned bigger cars have a longitudual engine front drive arrangement opposed to the Golf/Octavia's transverse engine and gearbox. Common engines but mechanically totally different. <br>
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And he's wrong about Values, The VRS was £15K new, an average mileage 2003 car retails for £8-9K privately. Even the very cheapest ragged 2001 high milers go for over £5K. Ok so it's no BMW Mini but its not bad, and nothing like as horrendous as an Alfa 166 which can be bought for less money but they cost a good £10-15K more new.<br>
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I'm looking at some next weekend, I might hate them yet as the interiors do look cheap compared to VW/Audi's but I suspect the Q car performance might win me over. I'm trying to keep an open mind. Still in the same camp is the Leon Cupra R which I might keep an eye out for although the boot space is crap compared to the Skoda.<br>
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Enough of this, I think I've had too many easter eggs, this is way past by bedtime!<br>
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G<br>
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[Maurice]

My company car has the following<br>
<br>
ABS <br>
EBD<br>
ESP<br>
Half a dozen airbags<br>
Cruise <br>
Programmable power steering<br>
Key free entry<br>
Voice control blue tooth<br>
Roof mounted DVD with remote headphones<br>
18inch alloys<br>
Priv glass<br>
Built in rear window blinds <br>
Covers 54 miles on a gallon of fuel<br>
<br>
Any idea what it is?<br>


<p>Maurice</p><i></i>

[SMIFTER]

Either a BMW or something french?

<p><!--EZCODE LINK START--><a href="http://www.smifter1971.pwp.blueyonder.c ... >Smifter's Dolomite Sprint Website</a><!--EZCODE LINK END--><br>
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Featherweight 1974 Dolomite Sprint - Soon to be XE'd, NOS'd, Megasquirted and 5 linked Lash up to scare myself (and my wallet) senseless<br>
<br>
2004 Smart Roadster (company car!!) - 698cc of turbo'd adrenaline fuelled rollerskate - destined to classic status thanks to Daimler Chrysler bean counters.<br>
<br>
1997 Audi A4 2.6 to chill out after the above and fill with baby products.....<br>
<br>
2005 Trek 1400 (ok its not a car but still fast) - <br>
a bit like Lance Armstrong but slower and fatter</p><i></i>

[DOLLYDUDE]

my mate just bought one off ebay, and its the proverbial canine genitalia , its a 53 plate, leather interior, 6 speed box, etc etc . what more does one need<!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :D --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... /happy.gif ALT=":D"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END-->

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[alun n]

Ford Focus Maurice?<!--EZCODE EMOTICON START :D --><img src=http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/im ... /happy.gif ALT=":D"><!--EZCODE EMOTICON END-->

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[Maurice]

Close Alun

<p>Maurice</p><i></i>

[Reg]

Laguna Diesel?

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[george]

is it out of this world ?

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[Jon Tilson]

the Passat and A6 share the same floorpan and the new skoda superb does too.<br>
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As to the direction of the engine I think that depends on the model. I havent looked under all of them. My in laws run a tdi Octavia and its a cracking car. The engine is transverse. I bought an A4 for a friend once...tdi too and transverse.<br>
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The Octavia shares a floorpan with the A4....old model.<br>
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Jonners

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[SprintMWU773V]

Sorry Jonner's you're wrong! The octavia is a Golf underneath along with the Audi TT, A3, Seat leon, the golf etc etc. vRS is a great car in my opinion, a real good fun piece of kit which is much undervalued and quite rare to find. I'd have one any day over the similar Seat Leon Cupra which seems to be assembled by lazy spaniards, every one i've driven has crap paint and rattles badly.<br>
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Of course the left field choice would be an MG ZT, cheap, reliable, great handling and looks mean. Forget any parts issues as well it's the best supported of the old clan. Go for 1.8T for economy or the 2.5 V6 for the noise. Diesels also available too. Nip down your local auction house and pick up a 2 yr old one for 6-7k trade.<br>
<br>
Mark

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[alun n]

I think we are now talking about different Skodas; my VAG mate is an authority on what bits fit where, its his job! and I may have mislead him about the discussion.<br>
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I'm sorry to say I don't look beyond the badge as far as skoda is concerned, maybe to my detriment and definitely in ignorance, but I just couldn't entertain owning one!

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[mbellinger]

...this is.<br>
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First a few myths. Octavia is Golf/A3/TT/Leon based NOT A4 or A6 or Passat based.<br>
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Curiously, Octavia has a better reliability record than all the others inc. TT, with least warranty claims per thousand.<br>
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Skoda dealerships in UK at least are mostly updated small privately owned franchises, with excellent customer care, unlike VW/Audi gin palaces. Hence very good Skoda ratings in customer satisfaction surveys (JD Power etc).<br>
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Coil packs go wrong INCESSANTLY on the 1.8T VAG lump - you should budget for a set every 10K or so.<br>
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The VRS is good to drive and more accomodating than the Golf, with a much better boot. Most observers say the ultimate handling is franctionally better too, owing to the bigger shells better weight distribution. They are heavy on front tyres but name another powerful FWD car that isn't.<br>
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Alfa 166's are great value and have robust major mechanicals. The electrics are lousy though and the customer service nil. Parts are expensive when you can get them. They don't even look nice. No wonder they are worth less than yesterdays paper. I ran three 166's on a fleet in my last but one job. All three did identical 3 year, 70-90K miles tariffs. Two ate engines, all ate electrical components, inc. a new mother ECU an all three. Total warranty expenditure on all three was north of £3K each!!!! If you find a good clean one for around a grand or so, take the plunge and keep the rest of your money in an interest bearing account for keeping the thing on the road. A shame as they are intriuging vehicles which are different from the herd (which I like).<br>
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Of the vehicles you have quoted Graeme, I think the Skoda has the best blend of qualities. There are some other left field choices (Mondeo 220bhp ST, Vectra 3.0 litre).<br>
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Incidentally, I agree with Julian that BMW customer service experience is the best there is (my 320d just had major Inspection II service - change from £250).<br>
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And for, completeness, I put George in a Ford Focus C-Max, probably the Ghia, with all the toys.

<p>Martin<br>
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1968 Triumph 1300FWD<br>
2002 BMW 320d<br>
2002 Renault Scenic<br>
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