Don’t miss out on our latest stock offer on the Skoda Yeti 2.0 TDI CR SE available to lease from just £154.95 + VAT a month on a 2 year contract!

With its rugged 4×4 styling, family orientated practicality and impressive on road performance, the new Skoda Yeti is the perfect vehicle for combining family life with city living.

Inside, the Yeti’s flexible Varioflex rear seating system, spacious boot and high ride height make it one of the most practical and versatile vehicles in its class, whilst under the bonnet, the Yeti’s choice of two or four-wheel drive and wide range of diesel and petrol engines turn it into a high capable on and off-road vehicle.

Nationwide Vehicle Contracts is pleased to offer a fantastic deal on the Skoda Yeti 2.0 TDI CR SE with reductions of up to £60 a month.

Prices now start from just £154.95 + VAT  a month on a 2 year contract with cars in stock for quick delivery. Standard features on this model include:

• Radio / MP3 Compatible 6CD Changer

• Black Roof Rails

• Front Fog Lamps

• Acoustic Rear Parking Sensors

• Cruise Control

• Auxiliary Input Socket

• Dual Zone Air Conditioning

• 17″ Dolomite Alloy Wheels

To take advantage of this fantastic Skoda car leasing deal before stock runs out, call Nationwide Vehicle Contracts today on 0844 482 9595 or follow the above links.

Prices based on a 2 year contract and excludes VAT, initial payment and processing fee. Limited Stock Available. Terms & Conditions Apply.

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In the market for a new family car? You can now save up to a whopping £100 a month when you lease the Skoda Superb and Skoda Superb Estate with Nationwide Vehicle Contracts.

Winner of the Auto Express New Car Awards 2010 for Best Estate Car and Best Family Car, the Skoda Superb and Skoda Superb Estate sets a new standard for luxury, quality and load carrying ability thanks to its world class engines, smooth transmission and a high specification.

From the outside, the Skoda Superb boasts a distinctive, elegant style and is the first car ever to have a boot which can be opened as a hatch or a saloon.

Inside, the Superb offers a high build quality with supreme levels of standard specification including manual air-conditioning, 7-airbags, comfortable cloth seats and chrome dashboard detailing offered as standard on all models.

Nationwide Vehicle Contracts is pleased to offer a fantastic car leasing deal on the Skoda Superb and Skoda Superb Estate with prices starting from just £234.95 + VAT a month.

First up is a great deal on the Skoda Superb 2.0 TDI CR 170ps SE, available to lease from just £234.95 + VAT a month. Standard features on this model include rear parking sensors, 6 CD changer with MP3 and aux-in socket, alcantara/leather upholstery and 17’’ alloy wheels.

For those after a little more space, the Skoda Superb Estate 2.0 TDI CR 170ps SE is now available to lease from £249.95 + VAT a month. Standard features on this model include rear parking sensors, cruise control, dual zone air conditioning, alcantara/leather upholstery and 17’’ alloy wheels.

To take advantage of these fantastic Skoda savings call Nationwide Vehicle Contracts today on 0844 482 9595 or follow the above links.

Prices based on a 4 year contract and excludes VAT, initial payment and processing fee. Limited Stock Available. Terms & Conditions Apply.

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The world and its budgy’s harking on about winter driving these days. It’s almost as if a particularly harsh winter’s been predicted in the wake of two further successive particularly harsh winters.

Hmn.

Well, now it’s ŠKODA’s turn to do their bit and have their say in regards to winter driving.

Their drivers can get a set of winter tyres from just £248 at participating ŠKODA retailers.

Winter tyres allow for shorter breaking distances, resistance to aquaplaning and increased grip. Also, contrary to a common misconception, they can be used in all conditions – be they wet or dry. ŠKODA would have you note that last year alone saw almost five months of the year – 146 days – when winter tyres would have been the safer choice for UK motorists.

Beyond the tyres, though, ŠKODA  are also offering their customers a complete Winter Check at £19.99 which is to ensure that their car is ready for the onslaught of winter.

It involves:

1. Lights– Are they aligned correctly? Perfectly aligned lights enable drivers to have the best possible visibility, critically important during winter’s dark days and nights.

2. Wiper blades – Severe weather puts increased demands on wiper blades, so it’s crucial to make sure they’re in good condition before winter begins.

3. Windscreen washer fluid – ŠKODA technicians will check it is topped up with the correct antifreeze screen wash fluid.

4. Brakes – Fast, responsive brakes are essential in winter, so the pads, discs and brake fluid are checked allowing drivers to brake more effectively.

5. Tyres– The condition of the tyres is checked, plus customers will be given additional advice about choosing winter tyres.

6. Battery– Winter puts extra strain on batteries, so technicians will check they’re in good working order before cold weather hits.

7. Air-con– By ensuring the air-con is in good shape, drivers need not worry about a winter of condensation.

So if you’re a ŠKODA driver, get yerself down to yer nearest dealer and get yerself all kitted up smart for the winter.

And if you’re not a ŠKODA driver – well, do it anyway. But not at a ŠKODA Retailer. I’ll wager they’ll turn you away should you not be driving one of their own.

“If you really want to know about cars, ask the experts.”

So says Which? Car editor Richard Headland. But who are these experts? Manufacturers? (Bit biased.) Dealers? (Bit too profit making.) Garage owners? Mechanics?

None of the above. According to Richard, the experts are “… the people who drive every day.”

With (allegedly) no brand loyalty – although that is a touch difficult to swallow – it’s the everyday driver who can tell you what is good, and bad, about the cars that they drive.  Personally cars are like salad cream – it has to be Heinz – but in these economically frugal days, to paraphrase Joseph with his dreamcoat “Any car will do.”

So what did Which? Car find out in a Summer 2011 survey for new and used cars?

Makers of the most reliable cars

Hyundai; according to the survey, has a great range of cars, is value for money, reliable and offer transferable, five-year warranties at a time when everybody is looking to cut back and make their money go further. In fact, a Hyundai has, on average, a 20% chance of a fault in 12 months from new. That’s not the best – but more about that later.

Car that makes its owners happy

In first place, a car that was actually phased out 6 years ago, but still holds a place in its owners’ hearts – the Toyota Yaris Verso.

Second, the VW Passat CC

Third, Land Rover Discovery – but, as you’ll see later, that was the only good news for the Land Rover in this survey.

Most Loved cars

In the Top 10 of this list, there’s 4 Skodas – the Yeti, (Never seen one of them, although the apparantly exist ), Superb Estate, old Superb and new Superb.

But down there at the bottom…

Most ‘un-loved’ cars

Strictly not a true title but I didn’t really want to put ‘Most loved cars – well, not really’ as a title so, at the bottom of the most loved cars, with a satisfaction percentage of 49.4% (No; I’ve no idea how they were calculated but I’m guessing at a “How much do you love this car?” question) is the Renault Laguna Sport Tourer.

It’s in good company, as 7 out of the bottom 10 are built by French manufacturers (did they ask Al Murray to put this survey together?) with poor handling, performance, build quality and poor non-engine electrics cited as reasons for this particular poor performance.

So, it seems that Which? Car readers and members seem to like practical good-value cars (like Skoda, so it seems), aren’t keen on the “unreliable and fault-prone” Gallic cars like Renault and Peugeot and really can’t be bothered with the ‘satisfaction factor’ of so-called luxury brands like Mercedes, BMW and VW – giving them an average score, the same as Alfa Romeo and Citreon.

Says a lot more about them than any other statistic.

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The survey looked at over 67,000 cars – new and used – to get the results, and other ‘winners’ included:

Best Buy (Medium Sector aka ‘most popular car bought’ sector) – Kia Cee’d estate
Best value cars based on dependability and running costs (Medium Sector) – Honda Jazz and Skoda Fabia diesel
Best Medium Cars (Used) – Mazda 3, VW Golf, VW Jetta, Ford Focus
Best MPV (Used) – Honda FRV, Skoda Roomster, Toyota Previa

But the biggest winner of all, an undisputed winner in the Large Section (Used) – and every other Large Section sector – was the Toyota Avensis. Often called “dull” in description by the questioned drivers, the petrol version scored way ahead of many of its rivals in the majority of cases.

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And, if you want further proof of reliability. What Car? in conjunction with Warranty Direct released a report suggesting that, for reliability, Japanese and Korean makes are the best.

Honda vehicles, for the 6th year in a row, are top of the pile (That’s the power of dreams, eh?) with a mere 9% chance of developing a fault from new in the first 12 months. Toyota, Suzuki, Lexus and Mitsubishi fill the next four places.

And down at the bottom? Close your ears Land Rover – it’s you – with a 55% chance of a fault. And you won’t have to travel too far to have a chat with your fellow relegation favourites because they are all European. Alfa Romeo, Renault and Saab are all in the mid forties when it comes to chance of a developing fault from new.

Sorry Europe! Time to get those metaphorical socks pulled up!

The Tour De France is perhaps the most hypnotic sporting event that ever was, is and and shall be. There’s just something so lulling and satisfying of those marvellous machines gliding along in perfect whirring serenity – legs pummelling the pedals in something approaching unison – that I understand completely ŠKODA’s pride in playing the sponsor to this illustrious event.

2011 marks the 98th annual event, but it’s only the eighth time that ŠKODA  have backed the Tour. It commenced on Saturday 2 July in the western region of Vendée on the Atlantic coast, and has since seen legions of competitors battle through twenty-one gruelling stages and some 2,100 miles in order to reach the Arc de Triomphe on the Champs-Élysées by July 24. It’s safe to say, then, that it’s pretty hardcore.

So, what role do ŠKODA play in all of this? Well, as the official vehicle supplier, they have provided the organisers with almost 300 vehicles from across their vehicular repertoire. These range from the fleet of white ŠKODA Superb Estates which are being used for VIP guests; the “advertising caravan” which passes through each stage some two hours before the riders and the red ŠKODA Superb for Tour Director Christian Prudhomme. A replica of this car is currently being displayed in the daily “Departure Village” before the start of each race.

Says ŠKODA brand Director Robert Hazelwood: “The Tour de France is one of the world’s great sporting events. The riders put in top-class performances and we are proud to be supporting this fantastic event for the eighth time. It provides us with the perfect opportunity to demonstrate the engineering excellence of our vehicles in front of billions of people worldwide.”

Thanks, Robert.

12 May was a good day for both Skoda and green motoring in general. On this day, Austrian driving specialist Gerhard Plattner achieved an impressive 1,246 miles (2,006 km) on a single 45 litre tank of fuel. His weapon of choice? The Škoda Fabia GreenLine.

Gerhard’s incredible journey started in Reutte, Austria, and saw him driving to Bov, Denmark, and back again. It demonstrates a record-low level of fuel consumption at 127.8 mpg. However, it is to be noted that the model’s official consumption figure stands at 83.1 mpg (combined). How do you explain that,  Škoda? Oh. They don’t. In this respect they’re like those infomercial guys who, in response to the question of “how does it work?” respond with an incredulous “I don’t know! But it does!”

Says Dr. Eckhard Scholz,  Škoda’s head of technical development: “We work hard to reduce the fuel consumption in our vehicles. The primary goal of these efforts is to offer efficient technology in all of our models at affordable prices, and our second-generation GreenLine models meet this requirement perfectly. The Fabia GreenLine is going to show what can be achieved by combining refined technology with economy driving.”

On his part, Gerhard has this to say: “The Škoda GreenLine models are perfect for fuel-efficient driving. In light of the current fuel prices, not only is that important for one’s own wallet, but also for lowering environmental pollution. With a fuel consumption well below the specified norm, I want to show that besides the car manufacturers, every driver can contribute to further reduce this environmental pollution. It already starts with small details such as the proper tyre pressure.”

The excursion was supervised by the International Police Motor Corporation (IPMC), who sealed the fuel tank before Plattner set out from Reutte. There was seemingly no way, then, that he could have cheated with a sneaky refill en-route.

Impressive, no?

It’s unlikely that many will be excited by the news that Škoda UK will be sponsoring London-Paris 2011, but still. It’s something, isn’t it?

Now, what’s London-Paris 2011? Well, it’s a cycling event which will be taking place on 23-26 June of this year.

An almighty 520km bike ride, it’s recognised as one of the world’s most exciting “cyclosportives” (which is, in turn, recognised as one of the world’s most exciting words). It involves a combination of professional sportsmen and women, high profile celebrities and industry leaders – all of whom will be cycling from London to Paris over three gruelling yet lovely stages.

Today (19 April) a press event took place in which such sporting celebrities as Geoff Thomas, Mark Bright, Lee Dixon and John Salako rode a 40 mile scenic route with the support of a Škoda Superb, the same vehicle that will be part of a 14 strong Škoda fleet leading the 365 riders from London to Paris in the summer.

Yes, it is fitting indeed that it’s  Škoda who’re sponsoring such an illustrious cycling event. They broke their teeth building bicycles way back in 1895. It’s in their blood. Just ask  Škoda UK’s Head of Press & PR, Catherine Sleigh.

Catherine?

“Our vehicles are ideal for use as a support car; they are incredibly reliable, well engineered and offer class-leading space so can carry lots of equipment and withstand the wear and tear that comes with it. We’re very proud to be involved in such a great event.”

Thanks, Catherine.

Should you find yourself thinking “cor, I want that car” in your viewing of London-Paris 2011, then it might interest you to know that The Superb Estate (modest) which will be used for the event is priced from £18,550.00.

Cars, they mean different things to different people. For some they are nothing more than a metal box on four wheels that gets them reliably (hopefully) from A to B. To others they are the very lifeblood of their existence, their prized possession their pride and joy and extension of themselves, something that transcends mere machinery and becomes an extension of their body… Ok, ok I’ll stop before this sounds any more like a cheesy 1980’s car commercial! Chances are, whether or not you have an emotional connection to your car it is essential part of your everyday life.

Such an important tool that is also probably one of the most expensive items you’ve ever brought should deliver quality, performance and reliability to match its price tag on every front. But what if it doesn’t? You can’t take a car back an exchange it, but you make your feelings; good or bad known by participating in the Auto Express Driver Power Survey 2011.

This survey, run by one of the UK’s top weekly motoring publications, is free to enter and consists of a series of mostly multiple-choice questions about your car and your motoring habits. The survey is crucial for manufacturers and the winning car is imbued with much credibly having been praised not by critics and journalists but by long term owners who have paid for and lived with it.

Similarly, models which don’t make the grade are exposed for their faults, meaning if your dissatisfaction about your car is felt by others, it will likely be outed in this survey. No matter if you own a tiny electric city car or a hulking great Maybach, whether you have brought your vehicle out right or have taken out a contract hire plan, you are eligible to enter. Last year’s shock winner was the Hyundai i30, finishing ahead of the Jaguar XF and Skoda Octavia, but will it retain the crown this year?

Submissions can be made online or using the form in the latest issue of Auto Express, the closing date is 18^th February 2011. Get your views heard!