Only the uneducated can't see sense in Skoda

Nov 9 2009 Steve Orme

THIS week, at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day, we silently remembered those who made the ultimate sacrifice in two world wars and myriad running battles involving British forces around the world over the last 90-odd years.

Well I did anyway, and I am certain you did. I am not so sure how many of our children will grow up to understand why we do so.

A study of 2,000 schoolchildren revealed that 40 per cent did not know Remembrance Day falls on November 11. And many thought the symbol of the day is McDonald's golden arches not the poppy.

Which may be forgiven because to so many of the little porkers this is the very symbol of life.

Only half knew that D-Day was the invasion of Normandy with a quarter thinking it stood for 'dooms day.' Another 25 per cent thought the Americans dropped a nuclear bomb on Peal Harbor. A dangerous notion to put into the heads of people who think random blitzing of the solar system is socially acceptable.

And one in 20 believed Adolf Hitler was manager of the German football team when, as anyone who has watched Escape To Victory can tell you, that was Max Von Sydow.

Such innocent ignorance is probably not surprising given the disproportionate effort put into telling our snappers and bairns it's okay to hug a fox and unless they get dad to buy a milk float the ice will melt and drown their doggy.

Of course these misconceptions may well be corrected in later life. But I have evidence to the contrary. The simple human animal, once deluded, is almost impossible to re-educate.

For instance, this week I have been driving a V6 Skoda Superb. A pretty damned good saloon which earned the usual round of derision from flat earthers and denialists.

How often do these people have to be told? Skodas are no less desirable than Auschwitz was a Nazi theme park. Which, incidentally, one in six children surveyed believed.

Look at the price. When you ask £27,300 for a four door saloon you had better put some value in it.

And Skoda has.

On the test car, a 260bhp 3.6-litre Elegance 4x4 with six-speed DSG gearbox, only the floor mats were an option at £50. Needless to say, as there are 75 standard features in the Elegance, I could no more list them than I could serving members of the People's Liberation Army whose surnames begin with 'C'.

Some clever ideas, however, alongside the masses of passive safety aids, comms equipment, and luxury items, include a ticket holder on the A-pillar, an umbrella in the rear door and 'Twindoor', a system whereby the boot can be opened as a saloon or hatchback.

These are the sort of essentials you will also get in a Passat or A4. But without selling your kids on ebay. Leather seats, for instance, cost an extra £1,700 in the VW.

Out on the road? Well 6.5 seconds to 60 is hardly laggardly, neither is a notional 155mph top speed.

There is a claimed best consumption of 38mph but I did worse. I always do. Expect under 30mpg. Dog drowning carbons are at 235g/km

And drivability? It's a big, roomy car utterly perfect for the motorway but more than able in smaller spaces. Yes there is the odd rough edge, a knobbly ride at times and utilitarian interior.

The headline story, however, is that what you see is what you get for the screen price. And that's a lot in a terrific car.

Now if you will excuse me, I am off to read Enid Blyton's seminal history of the SS. The Secret Seven. Oh, and put on a V2 album.