2001 Skoda Octavia Ambiente review from UK and Ireland

A 50p light bulb on the indicators.

The rear wash wipe pipe will become detached if you let the washer solution become weak in the frosty nights. Easily fixed if you know where it attaches.

A recall fault on ABS.

Over 2 years of ownership and I'm still delighted with the car.

Totally reliable, you can easily get 50mpg - 60mpg if you drive very steadily.

The front tires I got 35k wear from, which was a hell of a lot more than I got from the trashy Vectra I used to own. I tend to cover long distances and have never arrived fatigued at my destination, which speaks volumes for the comfort level.

The paintwork has been excellent with only a few stone chips.

If there's a better VFM car on the road I'd like to see it.

Find yourself a good dealer (just ask local owners) and you'll be the one laughing, at all the ignorant sneerer's, (who've obviously never test driven one) who like to pay shed loads for a 2 inch badge.

Take a test drive and see!

The step up from a Fabia is marked, but unless you've got a fat wallet don't test drive the Superb. You'll only tease yourself.