Faults:

Audio-LCD problems, service changed the whole device, happened within the guarantee period.

General Comments:

This car is the perfect family cruiser. Comfortable in the front, there is enough space for the legs and heads in the back. It has also a huge boot.

1,9PdTdi runs well, drinks 6 liters/100 km.

You have to be patient, the transmission needs time for abrasion. I have been using this car for 2 years, shifting is now perfect.

Don't buy it without back windscreen wiper and parking assistance, the rear-lookout is quiet limited!

Faults:

Nothing so far.

General Comments:

Performance is adequate for a 1.6 engine and economy is reasonable. However, my Toyota 2 litre Carina - which I still also use - is returning 37 MPG on mixed motoring - has far superior performance - especially torque - and much more comfortable seats at least in the front. The Toyota has never failed me in the two years I have owned it, and the build quality is excellent.

But back to the Skoda - the seat backs are extremely uncomfortable and the gear change rubbery and sometimes obstructive - the Toyota gearchange in comparison feels very positive and precise.

The Skoda though does have a more supple ride quality - but the seat comfort badly compromises this car.

My preference is the Toyota - and although now 10 years old and would be regarded as a banger, it still looks good and delivers the goods in every other area.

Faults:

1) After 2000 km of running, the clutch became heavy. It's so heavy that it's hard to drive in city conditions for more than half an hour. Strangely Skoda cannot do any thing (as the dealer said). They told me that I should learn to live with this.

2) Horn is way too hard to press. It needs to used frequently on Indian roads.

3) Steering is much harder than other cars.

4) Leather seats and granite solid steering in the L&K is also a let down.

5) Engine gets killed suddenly at low RPM, and can invite an ACCIDENT if the car behind comes, since you have to turn the ignition way back to zero & crank it again.

General Comments:

A BIG NO to folks wanting to buy this car. It is a tank like car in terms of safety & has very good mileage, but what's the use if you find it hard to drive.

After all, cars cheap or expensive, have to first get driven.

Faults:

Nothing.

General Comments:

This car is a cruiser, and makes no pretense otherwise. More 'sporting' drivers will prefer the vRS. It does however handle quite well and have plenty of power.

The 1.8T engine is the same unit that powers the Audi A3/A4 and VW Bora/Passat - 20-valves, variable valve timing and the K03S turbo. It has a smooth delivery with very little lag and provides ample power. Quiet when cruising, it also sounds good when worked hard.

The 4-speed automatic gearbox is smooth and changes quickly, never leaving you stuck in the wrong gear. Gearing is quite long and as a result initial pull-away is quite leisurely, but quickly picks up. This is where the extra 1.5s to 60 is compared to the manuals. 75mph in 2nd gear however means overtaking is effortless and the car feels quick.

The interior is smart and well made - no squeaks or rattles and everything works properly. Road and wind noise are well controlled, and the seats are comfortable.

The Climatronic air-conditioning works extremely well and is a "set and forget" system. It can take a while to cool the car if it has been standing in the sun though.

Other features such as cruise control and parking sensors work very well.

It is hard for me to fault this car, especially at the price.