The car went on to be a travel buddy, and outlasting most of the fleeting romances of my 20s.
Owner: Dave
- Everyday practicality, fuel economy, reliability, large boot space
- Turbo lag, some difficulty sourcing parts, after-sales support from Skoda AU
An ode to ‘Audrey’ the Czechoslovakian Chariot.
Q. What do you do if a Skoda passes you in the street?
A. You walk a bit faster.
This was the joke my mechanic dropped on me when I pulled up for my first service in a 2008 Skoda Octavia Elegance 2.0TDI six-speed manual.
On returning to pick up the car, my mechanic was pleasantly surprised with how far the brand had come since leaving the Australian market in 1983.
I purchased the car in 2009, my first major adult ‘investment’ off the back of K Rudd’s stimulus package. Originally advertised for the list price of $33,500, some back and forth with the dealer (including months of little communication) had me driving away with the car at a substantially discounted rate.
The car went on to be a travel buddy, and outlasting most of the fleeting romances of my 20s.
The 2.0-litre diesel engine is mated beautifully to the six-speed manual transmission. The engine producing 103kW and 320Nm of torque pulls up hills with confidence. It’s an incredibly adept vehicle for everyday driving. I found the car easy to navigate through the streets of Sydney, and a comfortable cruiser on the freeway, overtaking with ease as the torque kicked in. The slick-shifting gearbox made everyday usability a real joy.
On the downside, the engine does suffer from a considerable amount of turbo lag. The large turbo made the car a bit of a ‘pork chop’ off the mark, which didn’t always instil confidence when pulling onto freeways from a standing start.
At the time of sale, the car returned a combined fuel consumption figure of 5.8L/100km, just shy of the 5.7 figure given by Skoda. The Octavia spent most of its time navigating the quiet streets of the Blue Mountains, which offers little in the way of stop/start driving. However, it was driven vigorously up steep and twisty mountain highways, doing little to negatively impact the efficiency. The car often returned 1000km from the 55L tank.
The handling is well weighted and direct with the electronic stability and traction control acting as extra peace of mind. Don’t expect outstanding grip levels through the bends, as it wasn’t designed for that. However, the 16-inch wheels are surrounded by an adequate amount of rubber to absorb most bumps and smooth out disagreeable roads.
Inside the cabin, the car lives up to its ‘simply clever’ motto. The instruments are well laid out and easy to access. When first driving the vehicle, my wife commented how easy it was to get used to the layout of the cabin. Useful storage compartments are featured throughout the car, including a ‘secret’ storage tray under the passenger seat.
You’ll find lots of soft-touch plastics on the dash, leather steering and gearstick. It’s a well-put-together space with adequate levels of sound insulation. The Octavia is refined at highway speeds, with a bit of road noise and wind over the side mirrors not enough to disrupt the comfort of the cabin.
The seats are firm and supportive, with the front pair offering lumbar support and adjustable height. The back row features ample legroom and headroom for taller passengers. Overall, it’s a comfortable space to be in and perfectly suited to a small family. I was able to accommodate four adults comfortably on long road trips and journeys to music festivals. Passengers over 6ft may find the back seat a bit tight.
Adding to its road trip appeal is the cavernous boot, which is class-leading for a car in this segment. The liftback (in some obscure Czech Chernobyl mutation) is a practical crossover between a sedan and hatch. The 560L boot swallows luggage with ease.
As I pulled up to the pick-up docks of various retailers, I regularly heard “It’s not going to fit in there mate”. Only for the packers to watch on as I loaded a bathtub, toilet and other bathroom renovation gear into the Czechoslovakian chariot and drove off with a quiet smugness.
Vision in the vehicle is a strong suit. Reverse parallel parks were aided by a clear vision out the back windscreen. The absence of parking sensors and reverse camera was only ever an issue in the tightest of spaces.
Visually, the Skoda draws on Eastern European styling with sharp, slap-you-in-the-face angles. I liked the no-fuss, uncompromising body shape and felt it aged well throughout the years of ownership. This was aided by the Candy White colour the car left the factory with.
Standard features in the Elegance included dual-zone climate control, cooled glovebox and armrest storage, auto headlights, rain-sensing wipers and heated side mirrors. The Elegance featured an upgraded eight-speaker sound system with MP3 compatibility and AUX input.
Some creature comforts missing, such as Bluetooth and sat-nav, would’ve made its long-term ownership a bit more pleasant. These could be optioned up with other packs and some features were available on the higher-spec RS model.
In terms of reliability, buying this Skoda was a leap of faith into an unknown brand looking to re-establish itself in Australia. That faith was repaid in spades over the life of the vehicle.
The car was surprisingly cost-effective to maintain and run. Minor services cost around $220–$250 at my local mechanic. The timing belt and water pump were due at 105K or seven years (whichever comes first) and cost $800–$1000. These intervals were increased by the VW Group due to Australian conditions. I was lucky to avoid water pump issues that were common in these models. There were also reports of DSG issues that affected the VW Group. This was one of the reasons I opted for the manual at the time.
Major repairs of note included the replacement of the AC compressor under warranty and failed blend door motors, which resulted in the car blowing out cold air from one side and not the other.
Outside of the warranty period, the turbo was replaced at 220K and the front CV joints were changed at 290K. I should note the turbo was incredibly difficult to source and cost $2000 to repair, including parts and labour. The car only went through two sets of brake pads and was still on its original back struts. The clutch was showing signs of wear but still original at 300K.
Amazingly, the car was sold with all of the electrical components still working as good as the day it was purchased. Avoiding European electrical demons – a combination of luck and reliability.
After 12 years and 300,000km of assured motoring, I bid farewell to Audrey the Octavia.
I’ve since upgraded to a Skoda Superb 140TDI, which is a great vehicle but lacks the build quality, value and character compared to my first Skoda. I would describe the fit and finish in my new Superb as comparable to my old car, which is disappointing considering the advances in car manufacturing over the course of a decade.
Indeed, the days of buying a specced-up Skoda at a supremely discounted rate may be long gone, considering the brand seems to have finally established itself in the Australian market.
Owner: Dave
MORE: Everything Skoda
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