Skoda Octavia

I might as well tear up my licence now. After 15 years of virtually blemish-free driving, my pristine permit is under threat as never before.
The reason is my new long-termer, Skoda's Octavia vRS. For the past three years, I've run highly sensible cars - a Nissan X-Trail, Honda Accord Tourer and Vauxhall Zafira - each a sound, economical (all were diesel) and spacious family model, ideal for my high mileage role as Auto Express's staff photographer.
However, none was very exciting, and since I regularly travel well over 1,000 miles a week, I hankered after something I would really relish driving. The Octavia vRS estate certainly fits the bill - but the trouble is, I think I may have bitten off more than I can chew. Compared to its predecessors, the 197bhp Skoda is a rocketship, officially capable of scorching from 0-60mph in 7.5 seconds. In fact, the road testers tell me that's pessimistic, and in reality the car can complete the benchmark sprint in less than seven seconds.
All I know is that I have to watch the speedo like a hawk, because the Czech estate accelerates so effortlessly. The direct-injection turbocharged engine delivers its torque so smoothly and progressively, you don't realise how fast you're travel-ling - and that's a worry with Britain's heavy population of speed cameras. I'll just have to treat the throttle like I'm treading on eggshells.
I should have been equally gentle with the pull-out parcel shelf. Unfortunately, the plastic retaining clip snapped, and so now the retractable cover does not sit properly when pulled across. I'll have to get it seen to, because I hide all my camera gear beneath it. And that's not the only reason I need to visit the garage. Only 10 days after we took delivery, a stone flicked up by another car smashed into the windscreen. The crack has spread quickly, and a replacement glass is now needed.
That's hardly the Skoda's fault, though, and apart from the load cover, the Octavia is proving every bit as well built as I had hoped. I like the rubber toggle boot pull, the seats are superb and the doors thunk solidly shut if you slam them - anything less and they don't close fully. We suspect the lighter shade of the two-tone trim will soon start to show the dirt, though - as was the case with our previous long-term Skoda, a Fabia vRS.
But aside from that, I can't think of anything I dislike. The car is a superb all-rounder and has proven more frugal than we expected. The Zafira CDTI and Accord Tourer i-CTDi topped 40mpg, yet although not up to those standards, the hot estate's trip computer suggests a 32mpg average. In reality, it's actually been returning 30.5mpg.
Not bad at all considering the variety of tasks the car has performed since it arrived six weeks ago. It's had the boot crammed full of DIY kit, has undertaken a 3am run to the airport plus a family visit to Somerset, on top of my extensive daily driving schedule all over the UK. I also love the vRS's subtle appearance. Pity the styling doesn't make the car invisible to Gatsos, though... Pete Gibson
Second opinion
I have to say that I'm rather envious of Pete running the Octavia vRS estate, as it's such a great all-rounder. It's not quite as much fun on the road as the Volkswagen Golf GTI I am currently driving, and doesn't attract so many envious glances, but it compensates by being every bit as fast and far more practical. The Skoda's understated appearance also suits it to a tee. And priced at nearly £2,000 less than the Golf, it represents stunning value for money. Oliver Marriage, road test editor