SKODA has been producing great cars since they were taken over by the VW group in 1991. Now arguably it looks like the main difference between a VW and a Skoda is the badge on the bonnet.
The history of the Czech company goes back to 1894 when Vaclav Klement and Vaclav Laurin formed a company to repair bicycles. The idea came from Klement, who had bought a bicycle from a German company and after finding a problem with the bike he wrote a letter in the Czech language to the company requesting they repair it.
The German company replied that they would only deal with his request if the letter was written in a
‘comprehensible’ language. Klement, who at that stage ran a bookshop, was so annoyed he formed a company along with his friend Laurin to repair bikes.
Laurin and Klement progressed from bikes to motor bikes and then to cars in 1905. Now Skoda is remembering their founders with executive versions of their Octavia and Superb. I drove both versions recently and I think the Octavia is probably the best value for money.
The Superb had always had one of the biggest boots around and now the boot in the Octavia L&K is almost as big. I’m not a golfer but there is room for two or three golf bags in the spacious boot. And if you need more luggage space, with a flick of a switch you can leave down the rear seats. Then you would have enough room to carry a pole vault! Underneath the boot is a full-size spare wheel, which should keep Irish buyers happy.
The L&K version of the Octavia has a few nice interior touches, like walnut trim on the dash. There is ample leg and head room for five well-built adults. Overall black and brown are main interior colours, but the roofline is beige. The use of the Laurin and Klement logo on the leather seats and door sills gives the car that added touch of class.
The list of extras in the Octavia included 18-inch Turbine alloy wheels, which were a nice contrast to the Topaz Brown colour of the car. You also get bi-xenon headlights with LED daytime lights, brown Alcantara leather upholstery and an upgraded stereo system.
The Superb L&K came in Limousine Black which was appropriate as you could certainly use this car for limousine work if needed. Externally it sits lower than the Octavia, but internally it’s much the same. You get cream leather seats which really add a touch of class. There is ample leg and head room and back seat passengers get a foot rest; there are other little extras like an umbrella in the door pocket and a flash light. Both cars had DSG automatic gearbox and excellent stop-start technology.
Prices for the Octavia start at
?¬31,995 for the 1.8 petrol, while the 2.0-litre diesel model I drove will cost you
?¬34,510. The 2.0-litre Superb costs e40,615. Road tax is e200 in the Octavia and
?¬280 in the Superb. If you want to see for yourself just how far Skoda has come design and comfort wise, take a test drive in either of these L&K versions.