They could have sold Skodas in VW dealerships similar to how you can buy a CT6 or Sonic at the same dealer. Eliminate models that directly overlap (Golf & Co) but keep their funky offerings (Yeti) that VW doesn’t have. Sell the Skoda wagon versions of the Jetta and Passat since we just get the Golf Sportwagen.

Skoda could have been Volkswagen’s Scion.

This is not Superb news.

Totally would have worked. ŠKODA and VW offer the same platforms, sure, but they are different propositions altogether. The two brands sell happily alongside one another here in OZ and we’re a tiny market in comparison. I just upgraded from a MK VI GTI to an Octavia RS wagon. Fucking love it.

I’m with you to a point, but people love AKs because parts are dirt cheap, they’re cheap to feed (will eat literally anything), and their reputation for dead-nuts reliability is well earned.

Perhaps Ironically, that looks significantly better than the US Passat. I really dig the “not quite an Audi” vibe it’s putting off.

Too bad about Skoda, when I was in the UK last May for an extended visit Avis Heathrow gave me a brand new Octavia diesel and it was a very nice car, not too big or small, not too technical wizbang inside and I swear that thing got like 60 mpg or something (Imperial gallons I know). Not a ton of power but very…

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

Is it possible to buy a new Škoda in Canada, drive it back over the border, and then register it in the US? I’m not looking to do this, just wondering.

I think this whole matter has been approached wrongly. I think the real question should be, “would Skoda cars make good American VW’s?” For more than a few of their cars, I think very much so that the answer is “yes!” They are less expensive than their VW counterparts but don’t feel like they are drastically cheaper…

Face it, Volkswagen never (really) has and will never truly take a risk on anything, at least in America. Any of their interesting concepts have never gotten past the concept phase. They’ve never truly embraced the U.S. market with a full line of vehicles for every segment. In fact, the only risk they’ve ever really…

Skoda’s are actually much more reliable then there VW counterparts, apparently the Czechs really know how to bolt together a Volkswagen.

Technically Skoda does sell in America, they have dealers in Chile, Colombia and Ecuador. But yeah not in the US.

After riding in many Skoda taxis in the UK over the past few years:

Yeah, well, fuck VW.

-Bitter TDI owner

The Skoda news is very sad indeed, re-skinned VWs they may well be but god do they look good flying through rally stages.

“...Furthermore, the last thing Volkswagen of America needs now is in-house cannibalization.”

Sons of bitches. I was really hoping for a Superb wagon.

So if “Volkswagen” means “people’s car”, and a Skoda is a cheaper version of a Volkswagen (a “people’s Volkswagen”, so to speak), wouldn’t Skoda then be the people’s people’s car?

1st Gear: And Here We Were, Hoping For A Chance To Buy A Yeti