If somebody had told me 10 years ago....

..... That I'd consider having a Skoda on the drive I'd have larfed. Arf Arf.
But.... I have to select a company car. I'm restricted to make via our Lex Lease options, so my chosen demo options are Octavia Elegance estate, Mondeo Titanium estate and Volvo V40 hatch.

There are other options like Audi and VW etc, but just don't fancy.
No MG6 option! :oops:

I've been to the chippy in the Skoda: so far so good.......
Going to see my brother in Cleveland on Sunday to get a better idea of the Skoda.

Once upon a time you wouldn't have even admitted to thinking about considering a Skoda!

You say you don't fancy the VW, but the Skoda is all VW underpinning, just a parts bin cheaper VW. They are put together well and I look forward to reading your verdict on it.

The carrying capacity of these three are quite different. How much equipment do you have to carry? The Mondeo is cavernous. I was considering a Mondeo Titanium and in the old days, with a car full of children it probably would have been the choice for shear space in the back (ended up getting a BMW 320i). I've driven a few Volvo models but they just don't do it for me.

Pity the MG6 isn't an option, it has been getting some good reviews and owners are very happy with them.

I had a skoda octavia elegance hatchback on a 08 plate a few years back when it was only a year old.

Got to say it was one of the best cars I've ever had, economical, roomy, the boot was enormous!!! well built and quite fast for a 140bhp diesel.

My brother has a Skoda Fabia turbo diesel and it is a very well put together little car. Very comfortable and pretty nippy. All the bells and whistles are there too, cruise control, abs, stability control etc.
Most of the mechanical parts are interchangeable with VW/Audi.:shrug:

Thing is when all is said and done it is still a Skoda and I can assure you there will NEVER be a Skoda on my drive
My sister has one and loves it but I just can't see it as a mans car may be it is because I am a tattooed yuppy :broon:

Thanks for the comments guys. The background is that I've long had the entitlement to a car, but shied away, using pool cars and hire cars for business use. I have to juggle head and heart here as I have to pay a personal use component, plus the tax impact. Pay a load for an upmarket car or let the head rule.
So, a Mondeo/Skoda estate will stand me at about 150 a month. A Beemer or similar considerably more. Economy is important too, as we get a fixed per-mile payment for business miles. So a diesel it is. I don't need a large car for the business bit but prefer bigger cars and an estate or hatch is handy for personal use.

Of the three demos I ordered: I don't actually have to order any of 'em! As the offer was there it seemed daft not to cruise round in a series of newbies!

The VW DNA is evident in the Skoda, as it is in Seat hire cars I've driven. The plus point of the Skoda is that the standard Elegance spec is quite high. Important because adding options racks the price up.

The list of available makes is
BMW, Ford, Volvo, VW, Toyota ( hybrids only) Mini, Jaguar (temptation..) surprisingly no Vauxhall.
A run to Cleveland and back tomorrow in t'Skoda will be interesting.

The problem I have is they all started out as economy brands, but they no longer are, so despite how good they are, I would rather buy a better name. Nothing wrong with the cars themselves, but when I look at a SEAT Cupra and it is more than £28k then I kind of switch off. :omg:

Does anyone else consider that it is ironic that someone who drives an MGRover car (one of the most slagged off makes ever) would disparage another make of car purely because of the name?
Or is it just me?

Fair comment, but, I don't think MG was ever sold as a cheap car. In fact, in the good ol' days, SEAT, Skoda, Lada etc were the by word for crap but cheap. Their quality made MG/Rover look like Rolls Royce of car build club, but people were happy as they were cheap as chips. :yesnod:

In fact, as a child/teenager, it was the Skoda that you didn't want your parents pulling up at the school gates in, not the Rover..... and guess what my dad had. Maybe I was just scarred as a kid. :slapme:

Cjj Could not have put it better why would I drive a Skoda when I can drive a Merc BMW Volvo for much the same money these days the BADGE makes all the difference in my book and in many others if not we would all be buying the cheapest out there :clap:
When asked by some one what car do you drive would you prefer to say I drive a mercedes.
Or I drive a Skoda. Just does not have the same ring to it some how

I agree with the badge comments, and also how the cheapo crappy cars of old have up-classed over the years.

I'm still not sure I'm ready to proudly boast of driving a Skoda. Old-school badge snobbery I guess.

Could not agree more john they are now good cars even the police use them.
I could not even think of having one though as I know people would take the P**s