Alex Unleashed on Cars- Skoda Felicia (the Car that made Skoda)

 


Today Skoda is a well respected member of the VW empire representing the budget option in the range. But as anyone who knows about motoring history will tell you, Skoda was a laughing stock prior to Volkswagen acquiring the make. 

Although the Favorit did gain VW’s input upon acquiring Skoda, the early cars were as bad as could be. But the first sign of improvement came in 1995, when Top Gear revealed the results of it’s yearly JD Power survey and the once mocked Skoda Favorit came 13th out of 70 and the motoring world was shocked that what was the laughing stock of the motoring world was now ranked better by owners than the likes of the Subaru Legacy, Jaguar XJ6 and Audi 80.

But despite it’s success the shadows of the past still remained, the new Skoda would have to prove that good Skoda’s were to last. And that’s exactly what the Felicia did, from 1997 to 2003 the Felicia consistently ranked well in customer satisfaction surveys beating far newer cars like the Peugeot 307, Ford Mondeo, Mercedes A-Class and even the Audi A8! What sold the Felicia was the general mechanical reliability, dirt cheap running costs and Skoda’s top quality customer service that put it’s parent company VW as well as fellow saved car maker SEAT in the shade, How the tables had turned.

 The Felicia finished what the Favorit started and cemented Skoda’s reputation as a well-respected and top quality budget car maker with the Fabia, Octavia and Superb continuing it’s legacy albeit as far more well-liked cars by the motoring press who saw the Felicia’s price of over £8000 as silly when compared to the Daewoo’s of the period. But Daewoo would eventually fall into the doldrums following it’s bankruptcy whereas Skoda went from strength to strength and consistently proving itself as the strongest part of the VW group. The Felicia may have been an unremarkable car but the effort of those involved in making and maintaining it is what has made Skoda what it is today and that is what in a way actually does make it a remarkable car.

Year produced: 1994-2000 

Engine: 1.3 - 1.9 Litre 4 Cylinder Petrol/Diesel

Power: 54 - 75 BHP

Torque: 69 - 91 Ib.ft

0-60: 17.5 - 12.0 Seconds

Top Speed: 97 - 106 MPH

Weight: 897 - 935 KG

Price: £6999- £11,499

Rivals: Daewoo Nexia, Ford Fiesta, Lada Samara, Citroen Saxo, Peugeot 205 

 

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