| THE transformation of Skoda after it was taken over by motoring giant Volkswagen has been nothing short of remarkable. Arguably, the most important element of that revolution has been Skoda’s mid-range family car, the Octavia, which has grown from a mild mannered family vehicle to a well engineered performance sedan (for the range topper) that knocks the Japanese and Koreans of the quality and reliability ranking top spot. Originally launched in 1996 in Skoda’s home market, the Czech Republic, it took seven years before the Octavia arrived in Malaysia through importer Auto Praha. With only a hatchback initially and two engine sizes - 1.6 and 1.8 turbo - it appealed to the cost-conscious buyer, offering good levels of equipment and plenty of space for Japanese
and Korean purchase value. More than a million have been made and sold worldwide, and this year heralds the introduction of an all-new model that has moved the benchmark even further with quality and value for money features that the VW Group mainstay models (Audi A4 and Golf) cannot compete with. We look at the first Octavia that arrived on our shores some four years ago. Sharing many components with its more expensive siblings, Audi and VW, this ensures that the Octavia is a well-made car. The bread and butter five-door Octavia 1.6 comes with an engine and gearbox found in the VW Golf Mk4 that is proven for reliability, low fuel consumption, power delivery and robust nature. It is an eight-valve, oversquare (81.0/77.4mm) engine with a tuned intake system that makes 97bhp. Standard is a four-speed automatic gearbox that is not only smooth in shift delivery but also very precise. Driving around the city is a fairly uncomplicated task with the engine offering adequate torque to get around even with this rather large and heavy sedan. Because it is a relatively large car, most would have the impression that the 1.6 power plant will struggle with the heavy load. This is not so true as we have driven the 1.6 with four passengers up the highway to a hill top resort and found the car lacking in no area. It may not be able to chase up the slopes in a hurry, but the engine was never gasping for power and did not feel lethargic when called upon. For the ‘new’ asking price of RM107,000 the Octavia came with ABS brakes and two airbags. There were also four power windows, central locking, washable cloth trim (leather only with 1.8 turbo version), front disc brakes and a CD stereo that needed better speakers. Lucky customers got a tilt and slide sunroof with certain cars: A benefit for some. Despite its Czech origin the Octavia feels very Germanic. The cabin is dark and sombre like all other VW Group products, and the seats are firm with good support. Interior cabin space is good and many of the switches are sourced from the VW parts bin making it well built and having less possibility of cracking and breaking after years of usage. Despite its saloon-like proportions the car is a hatchback: lift the tailgate and you have one of the largest boots in the market. At 528 litres, it’s larger than that in the 1996 Mercedes E-Class. Be sure to check the car’s history carefully and examine the odometer, driver’s seat, steering wheel and foot pedals for signs of clocking by looking to see if it is worn in tandem with the mileage reading. The quality interiors shrug off high mileage so check properly. Accident damaged units must be avoided since so few of these cars were sold, the chances of a proper repair job by an insurance company is rare. It’s better to look for a car with service history from the dealer or a VW specialist. Maintenance parts are all common so any reputable VW mechanic will be able to maintain and repair most mechanical and electrical problems you may face. We located a used year 2002 1.6 automatic registered in 2003 with its original light green paintwork at a used car dealer. The owner had traded up. Having covered 45,000km, the car seemed to be in good shape. Mileage may have been high but the service record was good and after a thorough inspection we found no signs of accident damage or abuse. The asking price was rather high at RM74K, but the dealer was willing to negotiate, knowing that parting with this car would take some time and many buyers are seriously unaware of its quality and value. Be more concerned with acquiring a car with a few owners and a doubtful service history. The galvanised body comes with a 10-year warranty valid only in Europe, so any sign of corrosion usually indicates a poorly concealed repair job. If you ignore all brand prejudices and see the car for what it is, I think you’ll agree that the Octavia is a cheaper route for a car owner with a Malaysian, Korean or Japanese made car looking to move up the quality chain to a European car. It may be used and secondhand but its quality and driving dynamics will shine after a few hours behind the wheel. Try this car out. | 
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