| Long Term Test | Skoda Octavia Scout |
| Arrival date: | | May 2008 |
| Price: | | £20,240 (including £350 for metallic paint) |
| Current mileage: | | 16,900 miles |
| Average economy: | | 40.4mpg |
Been anywhere interesting?
The Lake District, London, Le Mans and Birmingham! Okay, Birmingham may not be as interesting as the others, but it was yet another destination on the Skoda Octavia Scout's hectic itinerary in the past few weeks. A trip to France accounted for the bulk of the miles, putting 1,700 ticks on the odometer in just five days, though most of this was accomplished on motorways and French
peage. Incidentally, traffic-lite French motorways may charge tolls, but the luxury of cruising unhindered at 130km/h (near enough 85mph) is more than worth the cost in my book. The reason for this thinking is the Skoda returned 40.4mpg without fail at this speed, which is the same as I achieve driving carefully in the UK. There's a lot to be said for travelling at a constant speed without having to slow and then speed up again. Anyway, rant over, and praise be to French motorways and the Octavia's cruise control.
Anything stand out...?
Comfort, comfort and comfort. After 1,700 miles to Le Mans and back and then a return trip to Birmingham in a day - which included a hefty detour to overcome the M6 being shut - seat comfort is something I really appreciate. As anyone who suffers with a dodgy back will understand, being able to step out of the car fresh and ache-free at the finale to a long drive is worth its weight in gold, frankincense and myrrh. There's plenty of adjustment in the Scout's driver's seat and lumbar support, and it's all easy to tweak on the move so I don't need to sit in the same position for long periods.
I know I've praised the boot of the Skoda already, but I found an unusual use for the underfloor storage space on the way back from France. Stopping off to stock up on some vino, the hidden underfloor space turns out to be the ideal depth and shape to hold a plethora of wine bottles securely and stop them from clinking around. Of course, these bottles remained securely held in place and corked until I arrived home...
...and for the wrong reasons?
The boot may be ideal for keeping wine bottle from making a noise, but the dashboard hasn't been able to stop a rattle from developing. It sounds like a clip or small piece of plastic is loose underneath the dash-top moulding. Even more infuriating is that it only occurs every now and again, especially if a large bump in the road unsettles the offending piece of loose plastic. It means an unscheduled trip to the nearest Skoda dealer, but does offer the opportunity to put their service and warranty to the test. I'll let you know what is causing the rattle and if it's cured in my next report.
Where next?
The refuse tip. Again. New house equals plenty of rubbish to get rid of, but a recent massacre in the back garden of dead shrubbery and plants has left a pile too large and mucky to sully the inside of the Skoda. That means hiring a trailer and putting the Scout's optional tow pack to the test. It also means putting my driving skills to the test when it comes to towing a trailer and reversing with one attached. However, I see this as a dry run as I may borrow a caravan later in the year for a short holiday, but only if I don't look like an idiot when trying to back it into a space...
