Crazy isn't it how a bad reputation can linger for so many years. Skodas have Excellent build quality, reliability and are very good value but I, like you, could never really own one.
I had a Fabia VRS Bought from new and kept for 5 years. BEST CAR I HAVE EVER OWNED!! EVEN Jeremy clarkson ranted on at how much power and torque it had. Ride, build, development. Unbeatable quality. Yes the name caused a few sniggers with friends but after ALL of them either drove or had a ride in it they ALL changed there minds. Stigma sticks, quality just gets better. The new skoda yeti, well it begs to differ what that will do.
Some say they're VWs for poor people. I think they're VWs for people with more sense than money. I was looking for an Octavia, really liked them after borrowing a friend's, but the local dealer never got back to me with a trade in price for my existing car, or even follow up on my interest in the 2 year old example I viewed. So I ended up with a Vectra from a more obliging dealer but it has been far from reliable. Shame as it's really nice to drive but I think that when I can afford to change it I'll get an Octavia..
My boss has two Octavia estates, one for work (and I mean work) which he does his best to try and kill and a newer shiny one for weekends. Both beat his partner's Golf hands down.
Thoroughly reliable cars. We've had two and had no probs apart from the jokes.
We can live with that. There used to be that joke what do you call a skoda at the
top of a hill? Answer:- A miracle. We travelled all over the Lake District in ours, even
up scafell pike. Other models of car were getting stuck halfway up, ours didn't!!!!
Straight up to the top, no problems at all.