Skoda Octavia I test drive - 2010 -

Skoda Octavia 1.6

The autopilot evaluates cars according to five main criteria. The amount of advantages is indicated +, disadvantages -. The next subject gained four + and one. This is Skoda Octavia 1.6.
EXTERIOR. Very thoughtful, balanced and successful. The solid, elegant and modern new face of Octavia, created almost four years ago by Czech designers, and today does not particularly need suspenders. In general, the car makes an impression more expensive than it really is. Wonderful aerodynamics 0.31. The body has one hundred percent galvanizing and is guaranteed, according to the manufacturer, it opposes through corrosion for 10 years. Warranty for paintwork 3 years. Since 1999, special training for the Russian market includes a reinforced suspension with an increased clearance and plastic muddy protection of the motor compartment to 170 mm. On all versions, four liners are regularly installed, there is a factory anti -corrosion processing of the bottom and hidden cavities. +++++
INTERIOR. It is modest, but you can’t call him completely simple. Due to the high quality of materials, the fitting of all elements of internal upholstery and massive forms, it looks very solid. Since 1999, for the better, the torpedo has changed along with the front console the upper half now made of soft material. True, the change in the form of the torpedo has so far only touched the versions of GLX and SLX, in the cheapest, LX, it remained the same.
There are spacious pockets in the lining of all doors, pockets for small things are also found on the backs of the front seats. A voluminous glove compartment with one minus the open cover is flopped down exactly to the passenger. The salon is very roomy and spacious. In the hatchback of LX, the back of the rear seat folds entirely, in richer versions and in all Combi station wagons, separately. The volumes of luggage departments are simply phenomenal: with folded/laid out seats, they make up 528/1328 and 548/1512 liters of hatchback and station wagon, respectively. By the way, recently Octavia got into the Guinness Book of Records in capacity: 34 (!) Man managed to packet in it, after which the car was still able to go. ++++
Equipment and ergonomics. Budget LX options like electric packets, etc. Does not indulge. They are the prerogative of more expensive GLX and SLX. However, there are no fail a hydraulic wrap, a simple trip-computer, the steering column is adjusted by departure and angle of inclination, the driver's seat has an adjustment in height. There is also a radio training with antenna and four speakers. The Volkswagen Panel of the Devices and all the buttons since 1999 changed the color of the backlight from red to green.
Hard seats are comfortable and ergonomic. The arrangement of the driver’s place, governing bodies, their location is all on top. No noticeable inconvenience is found. With some exceptions: the pedals are too close to each other and are too shifted to the right, the course of the gear lever is great. The sighting in Combi is excellent, but about the hatchback this can not be said to be hollow glass and the high edge of the trunk to the limit is limited to the review. And there is not enough space for the legs of passengers from behind. SSSST
ROAD. The version with a 75-horsepower engine is the cheapest and, accordingly, the most affordable. Only hatchbacks are equipped with such a motor, Combi begins with 101-horsepower. Both engines are eight -valve, the same volume. The difference is 26 hp It is due to varying degrees of force. However, in terms of fuel consumption, they are almost equal.
The transfer numbers in the checkpoint are selected individually for each of the engines, so there is practically no sharp difference. Of course, the 101-horsepower provides a slightly better dynamics, the high power also affects the car completely loading, it is better to pick up. At the same time, the 75-horsepower is quite burdened, and due to its relative low-costness, it was as if more elastic. If you do not demand miracles from him when accelerating, then behavior is more than satisfactory. 101-horsepower to achieve the best effect still forces itself to twist itself. The pluses include excellent exchange rate stability, tenacious brakes, good smoothness, understandable and correct behavior in turns. By the disadvantages, the hydraulic wrap takes too much, at a speed of more than 100 km/h, the connection with the road weakens, the steering wheel, as the athletes say, becomes empty. Deep potholes are pretty shaken by the car, and if the surface of the road is wavy, then it begins to dance at high speed, trying to shift to the side. In general, the cheapest version is a typical family or acceleration car for a calm driving. ++++-
     
 
Features of national operation. In Russia, the guarantee for Octavia 1 year, the mileage for this time is not limited. The price of repair and maintenance works ranges from $ 2535 per norm. Regularly (every 15 thousand km), together with consumables, will cost $ 150,200 on average. Both motors Purebred Volkswagen. However, there are frequent cases when the engine control program created in the Czech Republic is malfunctioning, the idle speed jumps. Each setting will require approximately $ 20. After 60 thousand mileage, the timing belt requires special attention: in the case of a break, the meeting of the pistons and valves will result in at least $ 450. At the first signs of wear, it is better to change it: depending on the specific motor, it will cost $ 160200 along with the tension mechanism. Problems with high -voltage wires are possible: they are not located in the most successful place and dry out of the temperature. The consequences are clear. The kit costs about $ 70. The candles themselves, alas, do not tolerate poor-quality gasoline from separate gas stations and die at the 1015th thousandth of the run. Lambda-zond does not have a lead protection, so ethylated gasoline is very dangerous for it. In addition, the car located under the abdomen, its connector is not protected from the effects of the notorious Russian salt. Contact and increase in fuel consumption, difficulties with the launch of the engine, etc. disappears. The axes of the wiper leashes are strongly and often suffered from salt, so at the first signs (slow work of the wipers), you should immediately contact the service, since the burned motor will shake out of the wallet about $ 150. The costs of steel protection of the motor compartment will be an average of $ 8090, since the fifth gear cover on the pounds on a checkpoint or a gang of a crankcase will require over $ 300.
Bad roads can quickly, starting with 30 thousand km of run, disable the upper supports of the front racks. Repair will require about $ 180. The traction of the anterior stabilizer in Octavia 1.6 is made of plastic, and their bolts attaching from excess vibration, they usually have to unscrew and fall out. This node needs constant control. You can smooth out the problem: for $ 80, set a set of steel rods from other Octavia modifications. Otherwise, at the suspension, the margin of strength is very large and is estimated at about 8090 thousand km until the replacement of the main elements. After 6070 thousand, the front brake discs will require replacements. And no gym protrushes are inappropriate here. About $ 200. Here, in fact, are all the relatively large features of the perception of Russian conditions that have been revealed today. The troubles of the first years of release of spontaneously bursting rear glass on the hatchback and the refusal of the immobilizer in new batches of cars, fortunately, are not found. ++++-
Our sentence. Reliable, solid, beautiful and functional machine. Equally suitable for family and business use. European quality at a completely Russian price. ++++-
 
Text Andrey Timofeev, photo Alexey Ilyin
 

Source: "Autopilot"