Skoda Octavia II 2004 test drive - 2008 -

Victims of stereotypes

What do you associate diesel with? Surely many will say: noisy, but confidently lucky from minimum revolutions; economical, but expensive to maintain
In Russia, the attitude to passenger diesel cars has always been ambiguous. There are enough reasons for the dislike: firstly, the former diesel engines could not approach the dynamic indicators to the gasoline. Secondly, they are noticeably more expensive. Finally, the most important minus the quality of diesel fuel in the country was, to put it mildly, low, dangerous for motors. As a result, official dealers simply did not make such modifications. Today, things are somewhat better, although we are still far from its 50 percent share of diesel engines in the market.
So far, the most budget option is offered by Ford in the person of the folk favorite focus. He was of greatest interest to us. The closest competitor, but here the catch does not take a cargo -passenger peugeot partner or Mitsubishi L200 to partners! Therefore, the background will be Skoda Octavia more powerful, more expensive, but also diesel and, as it were, typically passenger. Let each car represent its own class and social group of owners. The main task is to destroy or justify stereotypes.
Focus, perhaps the most welcome car today in its price category. True, a copy that fell into our hands was far from the most common configuration. In addition to the turbodiesel itself, a durent with a volume of 1.8 liters and a capacity of 115 hp, it is distinguished from the base of the universal body, the course stability system, an expensive musical system with an MP3-player, the seats and other expensive options.
Thus, the people's favorite pulled on 21,335 evergreen. Expensive? It depends on what you compare it to. For example, a test skoda costs all $ 34 569! Even a similar Volkswagen Golf, on the platform of which is built octavia, is a little cheaper, but the main thing is now the type of motor, and different bodies and features of the configurations for us are secondary.
Behind these thoughts, I surpassed time on the way to the representatives of Ford, where in the parking lot I was waiting for a shredded snow universal.
Neoenzinin is not Mustang
Another throw, and I hide in the cabin from the cold wind. Everything is as usual here, that is, like an editorial machine that I managed to get used to. Unless a huge radio is indispensably glittering chrome edging and Sonya logo. Well, what's special about you?
The question was disappeared, it was worth turning the key: the sound of a working motor cannot be confused with anything. Touched? It wasn’t there: after a split second after I released the clutch, Ford stalled. And with an awesome blow. Such that an animated horror story flickered in my head: a connecting rod that breaks through the block, and scattering into pieces of the piston. We will try BRR again. A little more gas and Ford breaks down under an alarmingly flashing icon of stabilization system. It is empty, then densely! Calmly, friend, you are not called Mustang, throw your tricks!
At the third traffic light, I understood the car, and she accepted me. The engine is good. It should simply be borne in mind that it is not lucky if the tachometer arrow falls below 1200 rpm. Where the most puny gasoline motor, tearing, still accelerates the car, the focus diesel strives or stall (hearing this sound more than two times unbearably!), Or slow down, as if hanging a computer. There is nothing to be done, Turboyam. There is only one recipe: I move one gear below, and the kick of the turned on the turbocharger immediately sends Ford forward with unexpected zeal. For this you can forgive lethargy below.
The focus manageability once again brought only positive emotions. It is obediently that he does not react too nervously to the commands of the steering wheel and writes the arc stably. The station wagon only on the yota is more than the sedan and the hatchback showing a tendency to skidding in critical regimes.
Contrary to expectations, vibrations and noise were not annoyed. The most loaded organ of the mechanical box, on which the trembling comes in waves, then retreating, then overwhelming with a vengeance. But this is just a nit -pick. It is much more significant in our conditions that diesel is reluctant to heat up. On a gasoline machine, you can still go into the cork and bask along the way, but the diesel requires exit to the combat mode, otherwise you will not get rid of hoarfrost on the side glass. And the station wagon muddy rear wiper must be turned on often
From modesty will not die
And what about Octavia? I must admit that my attitude towards Skod is about the same as to diesel engines in Russia, ambiguous. Yes, Felicia was once loved and recognized. Now Skoda are less accessible than we would like, but the prestige of the brand has not reached the heights of Volkswagen or Audi. The recently appeared Octavia, to make a coup, but prices quickly cooled the ardor of supporters of the Czech car.
Here she is, a burgundy modest with a body of hatchback, at first glance so reminiscent of a sedan. I press the button on the key fob, and Octavia readily blinks with turn signals, simultaneously inciting xenon in the headlights. Acquaintance with the car began unusually from the rear seat (I just wanted to throw bags of papers there). At first glance, spacious: without ending, sat back. Apparently, the previous driver was not too tall, painfully free in the second row. But when I took a place behind the wheel, I even had to move forward and
Is this Skoda? Expensive plastic, excellent panel fitting, pleasant handles, excellent seats and ergonomics as a whole. A complete illusion that he got into the golf, rather, even in the Passat.
Who would have thought that a diesel engine could be so good, especially in combination with a machine gun! Here it should be clarified: not simple, and DSG is a transmission with two clutches. The one that is placed on Volkswagen and Audi. A two -liter engine with a capacity of 140 hp. As if born in order to transfer the moment to wheels through this box.
Unlike Ford, you do not need to drive your eyes behind the arrow of the tachometer. Know yourself Davi on the pedal and enjoy acceleration, during which the engine sounds rudely, but very assertively. In sport mode, the turnover does not fall below 1,500, and the transition to the next gear occurs at 4500 rpm. Switching is performed almost instantly. All this creates a feeling of very dynamic driving. You can only cling to twitching during the discharge of gas, but it is easy to get rid of them by moving into a regular drive.
Outside the city, Octavia is distinguished by a powerful pickup during overtaking even at speeds above 100 km/h, which allows you to finish the maneuver with a large margin. The chassis has demonstrated a European character. On the small bumps of Skoda, it is very comfortable, but on more or less serious defects of the canvas begins to shake the riders.
So we went to the denouement. Is it worth it? I ask myself again and again. To make it easier to answer, calculate the average consumption. During the 400-kilometer dough, Ford, having traveled on city and suburban roads, on average asked for 6.9 liters per 100 km, octavia 7.3 liters. Editorial gasoline focus with a 1.6 l engine with a capacity of 100 hp. Consumes about 9 liters.
Thus, it will be possible to save at least 2 liters per 100 km. Given the difference in the price of diesel fuel and gasoline, this is at best 50 rubles. for every hundred. That is, every 10,000 km in a piggy bank can be deposited at 5,000 rubles, or $ 170180. A lot of? It's time to remember the price of cars. A diesel focus is more than $ 2,000 more expensive than gasoline, so the latter will pay off after 110,000 km. Um ... there is something to reflect on
Ford Focus
Focus II appeared in 2004, a year later its production was established in Vsevolozhsk. 3- and 5-door hatchbacks, sedan and station wagon leave the conveyor. Today the focus is the most affordable passenger diesel in the domestic market.
Engines: gasoline 1.42.0 l (80145 hp), turbodiesel 1.8 liters (115 hp).
Gearboxes: 5-speed mechanical two types, 4-speed automatic (only with a 1.6 liter engine, 100 hp).
Complete: Ambiente, Comfort, Trend, Ghia.
Price: $ 11 72025 165.
Ford Focus diesel modification requires addiction, but, once understanding it, many will not want to transfer it to a gasoline version. The most important thing is to find arguments for buying just such a machine
+ Enviable economy, confident acceleration starting from 1,500 rpm, a clear work of a mechanical gearbox, worthy of controllability.
- lack of traction at close to idle speed, slow heating of the cabin.
Skoda Octavia
The second generation of Octavia debuted in 2004 at a car dealership in Geneva. They are produced with bodies of hatchback and station wagon.
Engines: gasoline 1.6 and 2.0 liters (102 and 150 hp), turbodiesel 1.9 and 2.0 (105140 hp).
Gearboxes: 5- and 6-speed mechanical, 5-speed automatic, 6-speed automated DSG.
Complete: Classic, Ambiente, Elegance, 4x4.
Price: $ 21 03634 569.
Skoda Octavia is a great option for those who have already grown from golf, but have not yet ripened to the passat. Despite the fact that the diesel 2-liter machine is the most expensive in the gamut, I overpaid my thoughts do not arise.
+ An economical motor with sports ambitions, excellent transmission, high quality decoration, rich selection of configurations.
- High price, rather hard suspension.
Mikhail Gzovsky
 

Source: The magazine "Driving"