I can't see past Foresters as the ones I have owned have been trouble free and carried out what they say on the label. So I would be interested as to why you believe the Skoda Octavia to be a better car. Thanks
I currenty run a Subaru Outback, and I love it to bits, BUT, its time for it to go. I have looked far and wide for a replacement, and I have come close several times with either Foresters or Outbacks, but there has always been something not right.
I started with the JD Powers surveys of the last few years. Skoda come 1st wuth the Superb, 2nd with the Yeti, 17th with the Octavia, 31st with the Fabia. Subaru are not listed in the top 150.
I then looked at the customer satisfaction. Skoda came 4th, Subaru are not listed in the top 27.
Next came user reviews and clips on YouTube showing all my options on snow/mud/wet fields. There appeared to be little difference between the Skodas Haldex 5 system and Subarus AWD. The general opinion from Subaru drivers was that the quality was going down, and I would echo that from the state of some of the secondhand Outbacks I looked at (very rusty underneath even on 2 year old cars) compared to my hard used and abused 2005 model, and the quality of Skodas is going up. (JD Powers supports this). Considering that Octavias number far more on the roads that Outbacks, I was amazed at the lack of problems associated with them (Especially the Petrol versions).
I then looked at prices. A new Outback starts at £30k and only comes in Diesel now. The Forester starts at £25k. The Scout starts at £25k and is of a higher spec than the eqivalent Outback. Seconhand prices had the same relationships.
Next I looked at running costs. I only looked at Petrol as the Subaru diesels are still having issues with snapped crankshafts and I was not willing to take a £7k repair bill. Now, I love my boxer 2.5, its superb, but the 1.8 Skoda engine is sweet! It has more power, more torque and is smoother. I did not think that possible! The tax on the Skoda is £225, the forester I took out (XT) was £485. MPG are about the same, and thats Honest John results, not the manufacturers estimated ones. Insurance on the Skoda is £164 fully comp, 2 drivers, the Outback was going to be £289
I then looked at levels of equipment and quality. This is where the Skoda started to move ahead. The Scout trim I have is pretty loaded, the Outback was pretty basic, although still better than my top of the range older Outback.
Lastly I looked at the deals available. I had to rule out brand new as this is my second car for winter and fishing. So for £14k I got a 61 plate with 14k on the clock. For the same money I was looking at an Outback at a 2009 with 30-40k, Forester 2010, 40k+. An Approved Skoda comes with 2 years free servicing and a full years manufactures warranty. The Subaru just a warranty. Servicing is around 40% cheaper on the Skoda as and when I need to pay for it as well as being every 10k against subarus 7.5k schedule.
So...with all that research, I decided to go for the Scout. Its not an icon like the Subaru, and certainly no where near as mental as the 2.5 turbo Forster I took out...but my head says its the right car.