USED Skoda Octavia Estate (04 - 13)

My car

I've had this vehicle for six months. It's an excellent car with a good ride, it's economical and can cruise all day at 70 mph on the motorway or autoroute with a heavy load.

It comes into its own on long trips. Cruise control is excellent even on A- and B-roads if you are careful. This gives very high fuel economy since RPM is constant. I consistently get better than 55mpg on long fast trips.

Niggles? The manual is sometimes obscure; with so many features, maybe that's not surprising. However there is one blooper - to use it for continental driving you have to change the dipping of the lights and the manual says 'see your dealer'. What? On the ferry?

I've had no less than six different instructions from the dealer on how to do it. You have to take out the headlights and then put them back in after turning a screw - quite a performance. I had to arrange a demo. I live over 60 miles from the ferry port...

My car

This is my second review of the same car nearly 5 months on from new. I have the estate version. I am still really pleased with thie car. MPG return is always good however driven. I have done 10,000 plus miles now and its faultless. Really comfortable and lovely to drive. Good for loads and also for passengers in the back. The Elegance model is worth the extra, especially the cruise control and centre console bin for phones and leads etc nicely hidden away. Good stowage space to which you only notice when you have used a car.

My car

I bought the car when it was two-and-a-half years old - it gets better all time, is very economical for its size and power, and has great specification.

It averages 57mpg over 3000 miles, and the pulling power from low revs is great - the faster you go, the better it feels. I would love to take it to Germany and just let it go on an Autobahn.

Also, it's very good towing a caravan 16ft long - it returns 31-33mpg when towing.

You do have to remember to check the oil level occasionally, but this normal on a variable service engine, apparently.

The car was bought from West End Garage in West Lothian who look after it very well - this is my fourth Skoda, and I can never think of another brand to change to.

My car

Overall the best car I have owned. Practical, reliable, economical and comfortable. Handles Scottish rural roads and tracks very well, including 15cm of snow on standard tyres. Since June 2006 av. 50mpg. A real bonus, my wife loves this car too.