Skoda Octavia RS-P to race in Targa Tasmania 2010 posts ONLY!

[Tim]

To be "competitive" or to "compete" are two completely different things.
I dont know why but it just doesnt sit right with me. Takes the targa and turns it into a gimmicy publicity stunt.
I would probably think differently if it was a private team havin a bit of a laugh.

[dsgfh]

To be "competitive" or to "compete" are two completely different things.
I dont know why but it just doesnt sit right with me. Takes the targa and turns it into a gimmicy publicity stunt.
I would probably think differently if it was a private team havin a bit of a laugh.

I think it's definitely a gimmicky publicity stunt but lets be honest, at the moment that's exactly what Skoda needs. I can't imagine ~80 sales a month is going to be sustainable for very long, so any publicity is a good thing. I suspect the Targa organisers don't mind though (scrutineering would have pulled them up otherwise) since it's a chance of getting them a few seconds of extra TV time.

[RSwag]

Another poorly thought out, ill conceived attempt at getting recognition. I know i am going to be crucified by this but i think you will find that in the long run i will be vindicated. Targa is a drivers event, it takes up 2-3 minutes on a news reel and might get a run on SBS, it will never get them any mainstream recognition. Targa is mainly watched by males and is engaging as it allows you to see weird and wonderful, exotic performance cars. People don't watch it to see a family wagon belting around nor would that get pumped about something they know NOTHING about.

This is a brand in the throws of decline, i say this with a tinge of sadness as it has so much potential. Pricing is a VERY VERY significant issue also, having VW equivalents priced, at best, the same and at worst (and in most cases) more will see the product stagnate. I know from personal experience, i cancelled my RS order for the Golf Wagon, a decision i do not regret. I didn't get the 2.0ltr turbo but 118tsi drove beautifully and the sports pack looks the goods, i also saved $1,000's in the process.

This is a product with great potential, i hope for that things change soon and that i am wrong. What KIWI said earlier about the head office selecting cars for comparison i believe to be correct. I shook my head when i read the diesel wagon comparison online for the Golf, Peugeot, Mazda, and Skoda. The decision to put the Roomster up against all these models was made by head office, it was made at a time where they are aware the model was being discontinued (refer jake02 posting) and was done knowing it would fail dismally.

Maybe this is where the problem lies?

[woofy]

<snip self justifying rant> If people are so passionate about the foretold demise of Skoda and are willing to put forward a letter to Skoda HQ on behalf of the owners here about these concerns (I could wrangle up some more from the facebook group) then please do so. But FFS stop writing the same doom lines over and over again.

[TuNeS]

The brand isnt dying at all. I see more on the road all the time. Brand awareness is slowly increasing.

[team_v]

The brand isnt dying at all. I see more on the road all the time. Brand awareness is slowly increasing.

I have to agree with this from my experience.
Last year i would be lucky to even see a skoda on the road in Brisbane city.
Now i usually see 2 a day, mostly superb's but i see the odd octavia.

[pwcar]

Anyway, it's throes, not throws.

- throe A condition of agonizing struggle or trouble
- throw To discharge into the air by any means

[dsgfh]

The brand isnt dying at all. I see more on the road all the time. Brand awareness is slowly increasing.

Funnily I saw 3 on the cycle home from work tonight (all wagons, at least one RS). I think the problem though is that I saw a couple of thousand commodores and similar number of mazda's, toyota's & fords. BTW, is it just me or are there golfs absolutely everywhere?

As a potential owner rather than a current or past owner, I think there's certainly a question as to how long they can maintain the business in this fashion. I suspect the brand would be doing better if it was brought in by VW & sold to fill holes in the VW lineup (I actually think the Octavia Wagon ticks almost all the right boxes for me, and certainly the press I've read tends to agree) rather than selling along side in a hand full of dealers. I only say this because I can't help but wonder if Skoda Australia does stop importing the business what will happen with support. If the cars were brought in directly by VW Australia as part of the VW lineup & supported across all VW dealers, then I don't think it would be a concern.

Having said that, SAAB sold nothing in March & only 1 car in Feb, so Skoda certainly isn't in the worst position in the market.

[dsgfh]

Back on topic, looks like the carsales lads are sitting 31 out of 46 in the Modern class on day one. The category is being led by a Lamborghini
Gallardo Super Trofeo Strada, and there's some very nice hardware above them & some not too shabby cars below them so I'd guess they'd probably be pretty happy with where they've begun. Certainly showing that a wagon can hold its own.
2010 Targa Tasmania Results

[RSwag]

<snip self justifying rant> If people are so passionate about the foretold demise of Skoda and are willing to put forward a letter to Skoda HQ on behalf of the owners here about these concerns (I could wrangle up some more from the facebook group) then please do so. But FFS stop writing the same doom lines over and over again.

Your Right Woofy, and I apologize if it offensive. I realize that these sort of doom and gloom comments just grind on owners and people who are loyal to the brand. I guess I am a part time keyboard warrior who gets infuriated by what "I" personally see as quite simple to fix. The product is very very good and the notion of slow progression in the market is one I can't comprehend when right now it has a significant advantage over it's competitors.

Coming to market with a superior product and being the worst performer goes against everything I have learnt in my business so I could never relate.

Your facebook idea is a very good one but would enough people care to even make a showing? I mean take the dealers off here their might be 10-15 people who engage in this forum, hardly enough to bother the scorer?!

[dsgfh]

Update from the team

[team_v]

Update from the team

Sounds like they managed the wet weather quite well.

I thought the RS-P was AWD for some strange reason not FWD

[dsgfh]

Sounds like a fun day for the lads
Stage Summary from targa.org.au

[dsgfh]

The boys have moved up to 26th in the Modern class

[dazag]

people should go have a look at the in-car video footage from the carsales guys doing Targa,
Video news and reviews, Carsales TV - carsales.com.au