Case in point? Jessica Michibata.
You see, last weekend’s Formula 1 races brought a whole week of glitz and glamour in the form of special appearances by some of the drivers at press events, and even more so at parties all over the island organized by the participating teams in this year’s race.
So from the busy week I had before me, one of the events that I was meant to cover, a Bridgestone coordinated interview session with both Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button, was marked down and highlighted on my calendar.
Both drivers are somewhat in a renaissance of their careers at the highest peak of the motorsports mountain. Lewis Hamilton, from not being competitive in a lesser car to pocketing a fair amount of race wins while Button coming from not having a competitive car for years and then to suddenly to end up in the most competitive car this season. An opportunity to even get a glimpse of them I wasn’t about to pass on.
So during the interview, between scribbling on my notepad and recording the driver’s answers on my handphone, my eyes started to wonder. Officials from Bridgestone, Managing Director of the Swissotel, camera crew from both local and overseas television stations and, who else but Jenson Button’s girlfriend.
I realize I’m already into the fifth paragraph and nothing of the car I tested has been mentioned, but trust me when I say it’s relevant.
You see, last weekend’s Formula 1 races brought a whole week of glitz and glamour in the form of special appearances by some of the drivers at press events, and even more so at parties all over the island organized by the participating teams in this year’s race.
So from the busy week I had before me, one of the events that I was meant to cover, a Bridgestone coordinated interview session with both Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button, was marked down and highlighted on my calendar.
Both drivers are somewhat in a renaissance of their careers at the highest peak of the motorsports mountain. Lewis Hamilton, from not being competitive in a lesser car to pocketing a fair amount of race wins while Button coming from not having a competitive car for years and then to suddenly to end up in the most competitive car this season. An opportunity to even get a glimpse of them I wasn’t about to pass on.
So during the interview, between scribbling on my notepad and recording the driver’s answers on my handphone, my eyes started to wonder. Officials from Bridgestone, Managing Director of the Swissotel, camera crew from both local and overseas television stations and, who else but Jenson Button’s girlfriend.
I realize I’m already into the fifth paragraph and nothing of the car I tested has been mentioned, but trust me when I say it’s relevant.
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Well it’s not very relevant besides the fact that both are born of mixed parentage. Let’s talk about Jessica shall we?
She’s gorgeous. With those heavenly locks flowing from that flawless face, Hamilton’s pussycat doll has nothing on her. And that’s ‘usually’ what happens when you’re the product of an inter-racial marriage, ‘rojak’ in local context.
The Octavia’s no different. Benefiting from an arranged marriage forged in 1991 between the Czech brand and Volkswagen from Germany, the quality and standard of trim on nearly every aspect of the car was improved and has been improving ever since, to be more in line with VW’s reputation in producing fun and engaging cars for the masses.
So unlike its Passat-looking predecessors, the 2009 Octavia benefits from a major facelift that brings the car up to the same design language as the larger Superb. Swooping headlamps, a major feature of the Superb, together with a similar grill inset and identical creases flowing from it all the way to the back of the bonnet, have all been carried over. The rear cluster has been kept almost the same from the pre-face lifted model.
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On a whole the car’s not the same kind of beauty as Miss Michibata but certainly more beautiful than the last iteration.
Even Skoda has been bitten by the LED bug, as it’s been biting every other manufacturer in the market. The VRS we tested in yellow came with some pretty good looking LED daylight running lamps that sit low on an AMG-styled bumper. Honestly they don’t do much besides reassure you you’re up to date with the rest of the industry, important to someone with a young family, of course.
On the inside
This is where the German side of the originally Czech car starts to show. Everything from the steering wheel to the dashboard layout down to the media interface comes directly from the Golf 5, whose platform the Octavia's based on.
The driver only electronically adjustable leather seats are comfortable yet supportive but the lumbar supports seems to be a little more exuberant even on its lowest setting. This is the second car I’ve had this problem with in the last two weeks so I’m suspecting it’s probably my low tolerance for anything that provokes the natural curve of my back slightly.
Even Skoda has been bitten by the LED bug, as it’s been biting every other manufacturer in the market. The VRS we tested in yellow came with some pretty good looking LED daylight running lamps that sit low on an AMG-styled bumper. Honestly they don’t do much besides reassure you you’re up to date with the rest of the industry, important to someone with a young family, of course.
On the inside
This is where the German side of the originally Czech car starts to show. Everything from the steering wheel to the dashboard layout down to the media interface comes directly from the Golf 5, whose platform the Octavia's based on.
The driver only electronically adjustable leather seats are comfortable yet supportive but the lumbar supports seems to be a little more exuberant even on its lowest setting. This is the second car I’ve had this problem with in the last two weeks so I’m suspecting it’s probably my low tolerance for anything that provokes the natural curve of my back slightly.
Rear seating isn’t an issue either with me managing to sit very comfortably at the rear even with the driver seat set to how I would normally adjust with my five foot eight inch frame in. Seating for four is expected but a fifth could be considered for those short journeys and never longer.
Another concern is the boot space but not for the Combi. Available off the bat will be 585 litres of trunk space while folding the rear seats down will give you a combined 1620 litres for those furniture buying days.
Under the hood and how does it drive?
The same unit that powered the fifth Golf GTI into the hearts of many sits under the hood of the new Octavia VRS range of sedan and Combi and nowhere else does it feel more impressive than in the Combi.
There’s something about walking up to a massive thing like a wagon, strapping yourself into a supportive seat and wheelspin your way from the lights and pulling away from most others on the road. The 2.0-litre turbo unit’s credentials include unleashing 200 bhp at an early 1,500 rpm and 280 Nm of chassis twisting at 1,700 rpm.
Another concern is the boot space but not for the Combi. Available off the bat will be 585 litres of trunk space while folding the rear seats down will give you a combined 1620 litres for those furniture buying days.
Under the hood and how does it drive?
The same unit that powered the fifth Golf GTI into the hearts of many sits under the hood of the new Octavia VRS range of sedan and Combi and nowhere else does it feel more impressive than in the Combi.
There’s something about walking up to a massive thing like a wagon, strapping yourself into a supportive seat and wheelspin your way from the lights and pulling away from most others on the road. The 2.0-litre turbo unit’s credentials include unleashing 200 bhp at an early 1,500 rpm and 280 Nm of chassis twisting at 1,700 rpm.
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Weighing in at 1,470kg, the Combi VRS still manages to clock it’s 100 km/h dash in 7.2 seconds, only 0.3 more than the previous GTI with the help of VW's six-speed dual-clutch system. The VRS feels more like a tad heavier GTI rather than a sporty wagon. And with the yellow paint job and 18-inch sports rims, I dare say this car looks like an RS4.
Handling is predictably German. Expect a slightly stiff setup though with a torsion beam up from with a McPherson suspension and milti-link axle with torsion stabiliser rear, not something your children or rear passengers would thank you for on the longer drives. No Dynamic Chassis Control here so make sure you’ve driven it over sufficient bumps and humps before deciding that this car is the right one for you.
Would Jessica Michibata buy one?
Of course she wouldn’t. She’s doing well for herself and I’m very certain even if she wasn’t, boyfriend Button wouldn’t mind sharing his mini collection of supercars with her (he just sold his Bugatti Veyron).
Handling is predictably German. Expect a slightly stiff setup though with a torsion beam up from with a McPherson suspension and milti-link axle with torsion stabiliser rear, not something your children or rear passengers would thank you for on the longer drives. No Dynamic Chassis Control here so make sure you’ve driven it over sufficient bumps and humps before deciding that this car is the right one for you.
Would Jessica Michibata buy one?
Of course she wouldn’t. She’s doing well for herself and I’m very certain even if she wasn’t, boyfriend Button wouldn’t mind sharing his mini collection of supercars with her (he just sold his Bugatti Veyron).
But for us normal folks with a family, you’d find this car made for you if what you’re searching for is something that can switch things up when you feel like doing so. Whether its school runs or the drive to and from work, this car allows you to really pull away from the crowd or be part of them on the road.
Like everything else though, this car has its share of competent competitors, one being the Subaru Exiga. On paper the Exiga makes a much better “bang-for-buck” choice with around 25 bhp and 40 Nm more than the ‘Czech-man’. But placed side-by-side, the Octavia Combi VRS trumps the Japanese with its muscular and stylish stance and its VW build quality.
Even with all the good things the Skoda brings to the table, this car still has a harder ride than most of its competitors out there so make sure it’s something you can live with before signing on those dotted lines.
Like everything else though, this car has its share of competent competitors, one being the Subaru Exiga. On paper the Exiga makes a much better “bang-for-buck” choice with around 25 bhp and 40 Nm more than the ‘Czech-man’. But placed side-by-side, the Octavia Combi VRS trumps the Japanese with its muscular and stylish stance and its VW build quality.
Even with all the good things the Skoda brings to the table, this car still has a harder ride than most of its competitors out there so make sure it’s something you can live with before signing on those dotted lines.
