Skoda trademarks model names in US for the first time.

[93JC]

Nevertheless, my point still stands.  Model-for-model, spec-for-spec, Škodas are still more affordable than equivalent Volkswagens.  Even the miserable, cost-cut-to-death Jetta.

Except the Jetta is not cost-cut-to-death in the UK. It is, for whatever reason, priced substantially higher than its competition is there, so the price comparison is moot.

EDIT: as an exercise let's assume for a second that whatever discount the Octavia sells for in the UK as compared to the Jetta would be the same here. In the UK Jetta starts at £19,155 and Octavia starts at £16,660. In the US Jetta starts at $17,680.

(16,660/19,155) x $17,680 = $15,377

Do you really believe VWAG could import Skoda Octavias here and actually make a profit selling them for a mere $15,377? Keeping in mind they don't need to pay any tariffs on Mexican-built Jettas nor ship them across half of Europe and the Atlantic to get 'em here? Please, the idea is patently absurd. At best the Octavia would end up priced competitively with other compacts like the Focus and Cruze, just as an Octavia is actually a little more money in the UK than a Focus or Astra.

The Focus is $17,225 in the US; the Cruze, $16,995. Right around what a Jetta costs here. That's squarely where an Octavia would hit, at best. Are people going to rush out and buy Skodas for those prices? No, probably not.

Oh, but why bother, right?  We should all just be good little sheep and be happy driving identical beige Toyota Camrys and cookie-cutter crossovers that all look the same.

Skodas are Europe's proverbial beige Camry: terminally dull, inexpensive to run and practical. You're only jizzing your pants over them because you're convinced the grass is greener on the other side of the fence. As I've said several times before: spare us your bullshit and just move to the UK already.

[Madman]

Skodas are Europe's proverbial beige Camry: terminally dull, inexpensive to run and practical. You're only jizzing your pants over them because you're convinced the grass is greener on the other side of the fence. As I've said several times before: spare us your bullshit and just move to the UK already.

I think the beige Toyota Avensis is Europe's proverbial beige Camry.

Anyway, back to Škoda.  Clearly, you've never read any reviews of the current Škoda models because, if you had, you'd know these cars are not just rebadged Volkswagens.  That may have been the case with earlier Škodas but today's models are distinctly separate from their VW brethren in the way they look, feel and drive.  If Hyundai and Kia can coexist in North America then certainly there is room for both Volkswagen and Škoda.

And I used UK pricing as an example simply because UK-based websites are written in English, as opposed to German or Czech websites, neither of which I speak fluently (or, in case of Czech, at all).  I don't know where you're getting your "grass is always greener" nonsense from but, I believe that if you have the money, you should be able to buy whatever damn car you want.  Funny how the US and Canada are two of the few places in the world that puts such draconian restrictions on what kind of cars you are allowed to buy.  If Wimmer is free to import his 1974 Dodge Monaco dream car then anyone here should have the freedom to buy a Škoda if that's what they want.

[cawimmer430]

Well your assertion that the Octavia isn't available with a three-cylinder is plainly untrue: http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/skoda/octavia/95904/new-skoda-octavia-10-tsi-2016-review

My bad. I don't keep up with the latest developments in the auto industry. When you were talking about a 3-cylinder Octavia I thought maybe you were referring to a Fabia! 

[cawimmer430]

Toyota Avensis 





Skoda Octavia 

[CaminoRacer]

That looks like a design from 2008.

[Raza]

That looks like a design from 2008.

Has car design moved on from 2008?

[12,000 RPM]

Ha ha, the Toyota looks much better than the Skoda. You guys are not selling this at all.

Madman Hyundai/Kia is a completely different situation for a long list of reasons.

- H/K's designs are very different, but both modern. All Skodas look at least 10 years old.
- H/K does a good bit of differentiating Skoda can't. For example the Tuscon/Sportage have completely different engines. Forte has engines the Elantra doesn't. There's no Kia equivalent to the Santa Fe Sport. Etc. VW's lineup already has all the engines Americans want.
- Most of Skoda's lineup is in stagnant or shrinking segments in the US. Subcompacts and compacts are down a good clip so far this year in a growing auto market: http://www.goodcarbadcar.net/2016/08/usa-small-car-sales-figures-july-2016-ytd.html
- and Skoda really only has one vehicle Americans might consider interesting- the Yeti- which is an interesting looking but overall weaker version of the Tiguan, which has been a massive flop due to its thoroughly un-American size and value proposition. Those weak 110HP engines won't fly here, and with the big TSI engines it will be just as expensive as a Tiguan, with all the same problems, and a completely unknown brand. FLOP.

I know you feel auto manufacturers should operate in a vacuum free of any kind of market considerations, but the truth is Skoda offers nothing... NOTHING.... compelling to the US auto market. Their cars are all bland, old looking Volkswagens that will at best sell for the same money once equipped to American tastes. VW would do better to hurry up with its lineup of crossovers. Depressing? Not really, selling cars is BUSINESS, not WHIMSY.

[2o6]

The Yeti is Juke Sized.



The car they're focusing on would be the Kodiak - which is basically a Tiguan.




I think the main problem is that parts commonality and styling differences are too close to VW. At least with Audi, there's no real big glaring signs that your car is a VW. With Skoda, they use the same switchgear, design choices, etc.


It'd be like choosing an Olds Silhouette versus a Pontiac Trans Sport.

[cawimmer430]

Ha ha, the Toyota looks much better than the Skoda. You guys are not selling this at all.

You should rent a new Skoda Octavia when you visit Europe again. 

[93JC]

And I used UK pricing as an example simply because UK-based websites are written in English, as opposed to German or Czech websites, neither of which I speak fluently (or, in case of Czech, at all).  I don't know where you're getting your "grass is always greener" nonsense from but, I believe that if you have the money, you should be able to buy whatever damn car you want.  Funny how the US and Canada are two of the few places in the world that puts such draconian restrictions on what kind of cars you are allowed to buy.  If Wimmer is free to import his 1974 Dodge Monaco dream car then anyone here should have the freedom to buy a Škoda if that's what they want.

You want to talk draconian? Let's take the UK as an example. The Octavia and cars like it are popular there because they're "cheap to tax", which is to say because their government CO2 emissions ratings are such that they're charged about £20 per year to keep the thing registered. If you wanted to keep a Ford Mustang GT you'd pay £1120 (US$1484) to register it for its first year and £515 (US$673) to register it every year thereafter. Then of course there are the exorbitantly high taxes on gasoline, making the entire proposition extremely expensive. Just to keep the thing on the road is preposterously onerous.

Europeans have an illusion of choice. Taxes are so high there it makes car ownership an expensive luxury. People are forced to buy shitty little cars because they're too poor to afford anything better.

[Madman]

Toyota Avensis 





Skoda Octavia 

The current Avensis is actually a pretty sharp looking car.  I was referring to earlier models in my previous post.

[Madman]

Could the Kodiaq be the crossover that, err......, crosses over to North America?


http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2016/09/czech-mate-photos-leak-skoda-suv-come-u-s/

[CALL_911]

^wow that's ugly

[Madman]

^wow that's ugly

I think a new prescription is in order.

https://www.lenscrafters.com/

[ifcar]

It's just a Highlander with less flair. But we're already getting either the same thing or something very similar under the VW badge.

[12,000 RPM]

Yep, this will bring nothing the VW version won't except worse resale value

[12,000 RPM]

VWAG top brass agrees

http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2016/12/skodas-plan-enter-u-s-pure-suicide-says-volkswagen-brass/

Speaking to Automobile, one senior VW board member stated, "We may be crazy, but we're not mad."

"Entering this huge market with an unknown brand, a model range focused on Europe, and a non-existent dealer network is pure suicide," the board member said. "Furthermore, the last thing Volkswagen of America needs now is in-house cannibalization."