Used car of the week: Skoda Octavia (98-04)

The original Octavia did so much to help change the image of Skoda and was the result of a major injection of expertise from new parent-company Volkswagen. Based on the running gear of the Mark IV Golf, the Octavia was offered as a hatch or estate, was very well built and benefited from class-leading handling - it was so successful that many argue it dented sales of higher-end VW cousin the Audi A4.

Fancy a closer look? Check out our used Skoda Octavia (98-04) gallery

Plenty of the Skoda's components were sourced from the VW Passat and Golf but the styling remains refreshingly neat and unostentatious. Inside there's a big boot, and the cabin trim is high-quality, although the rear seats are slightly cramped. Some of the engines are a little disappointing, notably the 1.6-litre FSI which lacks go, but diesel variants (like the 1.9-litre turbo diesel) adequate blend economy with urgency.

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Because it's a budget Skoda it is significantly cheaper than the equivalent models in other parts of the VW empire, such as the Audi A4, Golf and Passat estates, yet it benefits from the same levels of finish. However, that also means similar reliability issues; with 1.8 20-valve engines the timing belt change is critical - if it fails, the engine cannot be repaired. Early 1.8s are more prone to this because of the design of the water pump, which was later modified. The 1.4 and 1.6 engines also suffer belt failure if its isn't changed, though they can be repairable. Power loss on the diesel TDI 110 is usually down to the ECU, which must be replaced with an updated version, and windows can jump from their runners. A well-cared for Octavia can make a shrewd used buy, but like the Golf on which it is based, it is not as dependable as VW's reputation suggests.

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Tiscali verdict: 8/10: roomier than it's German sister the Golf. The Octavia is well-built and reliable.

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