2003 Skoda Octavia Laurin & Klement (Hatch) review from UK and Ireland

It needed a rocker cover gasket at 68000. I didn't even know there was an oil leak, but the dealer picked it up during a service and it was all done under warranty. Other than that it was routine servicing (laughably little required), 4 tyres and absolutely nothing else.

The car was collected new in Dec 03 and has completed almost 80000 miles in exactly 24 months. Many motorway miles, but also a high proportion of urban and "A" roads also. The car was subject to variable service intervals based on the sensed operating profile of the vehicle, this resulted in an average 23000 between services. Performance and economy improved initially and then remained constant for the remainder of the time in ownership. Economy rarely averaged less than 50 from full to empty; and performance was simply amazing (ask the driver of the Jaguar S Type who found he was slightly slower from 30 to 110mph!! on a private airfield obviously). There is so much torque that putting it onto the road can be a problem (what would one of these be like with four wheel drive?). The level of standard equipment is epic; I kept thinking back to my old Lexus LS400 which was hugely expensive, but had not much more in the way of equipment (and was much less satisfying to drive). I had a look at countless cars (BMW, Merc, Honda, Volvo, Mazda, VW, Audi) when the time came to change, but nothing could match the value and spec of the Octavia.