The U.S. saw the last Skoda come over in 1967 or early '68. Between the invasion of Czechoslovakia and our inane new safety and emotions standards, it was the end of the line for a neat little car here in this country.
I rented one of these. We used it on a long-ish trip, about five or six hours each way. It was one of the most comfortable cars I've ever driven. What a nice vehicle. It felt sturdy and I liked it.
I had it's successor, the Felicia, for 14 years, never gave me any real trouble, never once broke down though the front suspension struts did collapse through corrosion, a common problem but easily replaced . The model I owned had the 1600 Polo engine.
The first car I owned was a 1996 Felicia and I loved it. To my mind it was very sturdy, roomy and practical. Haven't seen a Favorit on the road for a while and I wish the two young men who own this all the best on their journey to Croatia.
The first car I bought was a Favorit 136LS. A great car and lots of equipment for the price including a torch in the boot! She got me through my lean University years and beyond. I loved hearing that engine note again! Thanks Steph 😊👍
Headlight level adjustment was becoming a legal requirement… Silverline also had metallic paint, floor mats, front fog lights, glass sunroof, sports seats, and Blaupunkt stereo radio cassette player.
What cars like this lack in modern crash safety, they gain with excellent visibility and fewer distractions. The engine in these goes back to the mid 60s, though modernised through the years. The 135 and 136 Rapids having an almost identical engine. If the engine sounds a little rough, it probably need a new timing chain, and this will make it sound like new! Excellent review
My first Škoda was a Felicia, which was a re worked Favorit, I really loved that car, so much so, that I have only owned Škoda’s ever since. An excellent small budget vehicle, sadly not many are around now Great video Steph❤.
My 2nd new car was a Favorit, took delivery on August 1st 1992 (K), cost 6k on the road. Miss it even now though my Octavia is one heck of a car. In fact, at the time Mercedes didn't have radios as a standard fitting, you had to pay extra.
I've always liked Skoda's, even back in the Estelle days, I nearly bought one as my first car in '88 but bought an Allegro instead. That is a smashing little car, on the seatbelt woe you had, my 2011 Panda has exactly the same issue but not so bad that I'd want a fuzzy on it lol
Hi Steph, I can relate to the seatbelt, I drive a Citroen C1 and I have the same problem and there is no adjustment at all. And good luck to the guy's on there trek and the only stops are for fuel. 👍👍
Oh yeah. The neck cutting with the seatbelt was an issue i also remember having in the Felicia my parents had. But only in the rear seat where it wasn't adjustable(if I remember correctly)
It's a treat to watch you review stuff that we never got in the U.S. I'm about average height for a guy i suppose, about 5'8" but I have the seatbelt into the neck thing in even almost every modern car I drive. Seems like they would have figured that out by now...
In the early 2000s my sister separated from her husband. She got to keep the 1990 Yugo 45a runaround that he mainly used. The Yugo was too "bare bones" plus she had 3 young children thus not practical so it was sold on and my sister bought a much more practical 1992/93 Favorit 136 LX in burgandy. On one occasion I had to drive her to her house in the Favorit. It was a decent little car. Our parents gave their 1994 Astra F to her "on the basis that she paid them whatever the Skoda for for". What Car? magazine road tested the Favorit a few times and once commented on the over engineered gas strut on the glove box.
I did notice the position of the coil away from the engine what kills coils is the heat from the engine which means the coil could be original also the glove box its hig enough for the Haynes work shop manual it looks like the glove box wss designed to fit a Haynes manual and l don't mind driving older cars they are so involving as my 1997 Toyota Hilux is
This was a basic but complete car and bigger than a supermini of the time, which was great. That's why it isn't too daring to drive it across Europe. That's one of the last, with many improvements over earlier ones - I test drove a used early one back in 1999 and it was a bit rubbish with rattly loose dash buttons and a rear side window that threatened to slip from its runners.
I noticed that despite being RHD it has the brake master cylinder on the left side of the engine bay like a LHD car. I assume there must be rod running across under the dashboard connecting the brake master cylinder on the left with the brake pedal on the right.
Well, the Sana/Florida wasn't real competitior to the Favorit because of production volumes at Zastava factory. They still couldn't get rid of "golden Goose" Yugo 45/55 by late 80's. That's why one can say Skoda mostly completed with Lada and Dacia. Compared to the Samara 5-door the Favorit had better build quatily (especiallly speaking of plastics), but it wasn't so much fun to drive. Dacia 1302 ... well, no real comparison here, but Romanian car was cheaper.
A truely wonderful little car the Skoda Favorit is and it's true you got quite a lot for your money back then unlike some car's here in australia where most thing's were a cost option witch is crazy and only now thouse things come standerd.
It's a brilliant car. It is much more spacious than you would think. Unfortunately, these kinds of cars are no longer made. Now you have to go to an authorized workshop to have a bulb or wiper changed.
Thomas is not incorrect , I have just bought a MG3 and to preserve my warranty I have to book it in to do just that 😕 . I have been doing driveway maintenance my whole driving life , and I was aghast when it was told to me . The computers can detect when work is done , light bulbs blowing ECT .
Skoda used to have a really bad name and like a lot of cars not totally deserved. I think there was a lot of prejudice against a soviet block country and manufacturer. They used to compete in the rallies of the day and did very well. My father bought a Skoda 110R and from what I remember mechanically it wasn’t all that bad and I think some of the faults were probably poor repairs. The one thing that I do remember was rust, I think the earlier vehicles were made of poor quality steel and not really rust protected but how many cars were. Skoda used to sell to a budget market so had to be made cheaply and cheap doesn’t always mean longevity and quality. I think this particular model was Skoda’s first Front Wheel Drive car, previous models were Rear Engined Rear Wheel Drive. That looks a great little car and the road trip is for a fantastic cause, good luck lads 👍
Seeing the Bottings of Sway (New Forest) dealer sticker in the back window brought back memories. I come from not far from there originally and they were the main Skoda dealer around those parts at the time. Incidentally, I seem to recall that much of the engine was a reworking of the old 130 Estelle unit…..moved from a rear position with rwd to a front position with fwd….think the block is much the same - perhaps with some revision to the castings of the mounting points and to the area where it mates with the clutch / transmission. Main change I think was an improved cylinder head and revised fuelling system for the better economy and emissions.
I guess that the Favorit was the beginning for new times for Skoda. Me? I can't stand the brand. I know it my head that is warped, but I can't forget the 120L I owned in the mid 80'ties. Endless trouble.
In 1980s government invested a lot in Skoda AZNP and in 1987 they started production. Later fkin german bought them for a fraction of that price and continued production of Favorit later renamed to Felicia after cosmetic modifications up to 2001!
Whether a classic Model T, a modern day Bentley, or even a Skoda, only Steph can provide the most interesting and detailed auto reviews!! 😊
Makes you feel old when you used to valet those when they were brand new, great little cars 😊
The U.S. saw the last Skoda come over in 1967 or early '68. Between the invasion of Czechoslovakia and our inane new safety and emotions standards, it was the end of the line for a neat little car here in this country.
Great little cars - bags of character!
I rented one of these. We used it on a long-ish trip, about five or six hours each way. It was one of the most comfortable cars I've ever driven. What a nice vehicle. It felt sturdy and I liked it.
Great video
I had it's successor, the Felicia, for 14 years, never gave me any real trouble, never once broke down though the front suspension struts did collapse through corrosion, a common problem but easily replaced . The model I owned had the 1600 Polo engine.
The first car I owned was a 1996 Felicia and I loved it. To my mind it was very sturdy, roomy and practical. Haven't seen a Favorit on the road for a while and I wish the two young men who own this all the best on their journey to Croatia.
The first car I bought was a Favorit 136LS. A great car and lots of equipment for the price including a torch in the boot! She got me through my lean University years and beyond. I loved hearing that engine note again! Thanks Steph 😊👍
I drove a rally prepped favorit on a driving day birthday and it was so much fun
I've had 3 Favorits &:2 Felicias,great cars.
had 2 loved em both
I've had three of those in the past and loved them. Shouldn't have sold my last one. In fact I tried to buy it back but was too late.
I won a brand new Skoda Favorit Silverline in a competition in The Stage newspaper- lovely car ❤️
Sadly my signature on the bonnet, during Rustival, has now been removed… 😢
Headlight level adjustment was becoming a legal requirement… Silverline also had metallic paint, floor mats, front fog lights, glass sunroof, sports seats, and Blaupunkt stereo radio cassette player.
My last one was a Silverline estate. Wish I still had it.
Always felt this manufacturer was underrated.
What cars like this lack in modern crash safety, they gain with excellent visibility and fewer distractions.
The engine in these goes back to the mid 60s, though modernised through the years. The 135 and 136 Rapids having an almost identical engine. If the engine sounds a little rough, it probably need a new timing chain, and this will make it sound like new!
Excellent review
I've had 2 Felicias in the past, brilliant cars and so endearing, I'd love to find a good one to have again.
My first Škoda was a Felicia, which was a re worked Favorit, I really loved that car, so much so, that I have only owned Škoda’s ever since.
An excellent small budget vehicle, sadly not many are around now
Great video Steph❤.
My 2nd new car was a Favorit, took delivery on August 1st 1992 (K), cost 6k on the road. Miss it even now though my Octavia is one heck of a car. In fact, at the time Mercedes didn't have radios as a standard fitting, you had to pay extra.
Nice spot on Czech Republic vs. Czecheslovakia. I guess they didn't change the mould for the light for a while after the legal change.
I've always liked Skoda's, even back in the Estelle days, I nearly bought one as my first car in '88 but bought an Allegro instead. That is a smashing little car, on the seatbelt woe you had, my 2011 Panda has exactly the same issue but not so bad that I'd want a fuzzy on it lol
Hello Steph. You need to try the Skoda 120L Estelle. The Czechoslovakian factory imported some rear engine, rear wheel drive Skoda 120L to the UK. :)
Hi Steph, I can relate to the seatbelt, I drive a Citroen C1 and I have the same problem and there is no adjustment at all.
And good luck to the guy's on there trek and the only stops are for fuel. 👍👍
Thanks for another great review Steph and I wish the Lads the very best of luck on their trip and of course a safe return. 👍👍
The škoda brand has gone a long way in terms of sales, performance, and reliability. Even though most of the car they sell now are just rebadged vws.
I want one more than ever now.
Great video . I would love you to get a hold of a Skoda S110 and have a real experience of fun .
I sold several Favorit's (and Felicia's) back in the early 2000's. They weren't bad cars at all.
Excellent! I liked the comments about Czech Republic vis-à-vis Czechoslovakia.
Oh yeah. The neck cutting with the seatbelt was an issue i also remember having in the Felicia my parents had. But only in the rear seat where it wasn't adjustable(if I remember correctly)
Don't remember this being an issue on any of my Favorits nor Felicias. Perhaps I'm just a funny shape😁
It's a treat to watch you review stuff that we never got in the U.S. I'm about average height for a guy i suppose, about 5'8" but I have the seatbelt into the neck thing in even almost every modern car I drive. Seems like they would have figured that out by now...
I was delighted to hear Maureen from driving school referenced!
In the early 2000s my sister separated from her husband. She got to keep the 1990 Yugo 45a runaround that he mainly used. The Yugo was too "bare bones" plus she had 3 young children thus not practical so it was sold on and my sister bought a much more practical 1992/93 Favorit 136 LX in burgandy.
On one occasion I had to drive her to her house in the Favorit. It was a decent little car. Our parents gave their 1994 Astra F to her "on the basis that she paid them whatever the Skoda for for".
What Car? magazine road tested the Favorit a few times and once commented on the over engineered gas strut on the glove box.
I had a 1995 Felicia estate. It was a good car in many ways but the paint was very thin so there were rust scabs on every panel.
I did notice the position of the coil away from the engine what kills coils is the heat from the engine which means the coil could be original also the glove box its hig enough for the Haynes work shop manual it looks like the glove box wss designed to fit a Haynes manual and l don't mind driving older cars they are so involving as my 1997 Toyota Hilux is
This was a basic but complete car and bigger than a supermini of the time, which was great. That's why it isn't too daring to drive it across Europe. That's one of the last, with many improvements over earlier ones - I test drove a used early one back in 1999 and it was a bit rubbish with rattly loose dash buttons and a rear side window that threatened to slip from its runners.
I noticed that despite being RHD it has the brake master cylinder on the left side of the engine bay like a LHD car. I assume there must be rod running across under the dashboard connecting the brake master cylinder on the left with the brake pedal on the right.
A transiston car from the butt of many a joke to well on the way to becoming a major player
It kinda looks like a rally car
Well, the Sana/Florida wasn't real competitior to the Favorit because of production volumes at Zastava factory. They still couldn't get rid of "golden Goose" Yugo 45/55 by late 80's. That's why one can say Skoda mostly completed with Lada and Dacia. Compared to the Samara 5-door the Favorit had better build quatily (especiallly speaking of plastics), but it wasn't so much fun to drive. Dacia 1302 ... well, no real comparison here, but Romanian car was cheaper.
A truely wonderful little car the Skoda Favorit is and it's true you got quite a lot for your money back then unlike some car's here in australia where most thing's were a cost option witch is crazy and only now thouse things come standerd.
Great video Steph ❤ I love the Skoda Favorit, marvellous car. Wishing the lads all the best and look forward to following their journey on instagram 😃
It's a brilliant car. It is much more spacious than you would think. Unfortunately, these kinds of cars are no longer made. Now you have to go to an authorized workshop to have a bulb or wiper changed.
Wtf? Bulb or wiper? You do it in 3min alone.
Thomas is not incorrect , I have just bought a MG3 and to preserve my warranty I have to book it in to do just that 😕 . I have been doing driveway maintenance my whole driving life , and I was aghast when it was told to me . The computers can detect when work is done , light bulbs blowing ECT .
Skoda used to have a really bad name and like a lot of cars not totally deserved. I think there was a lot of prejudice against a soviet block country and manufacturer. They used to compete in the rallies of the day and did very well. My father bought a Skoda 110R and from what I remember mechanically it wasn’t all that bad and I think some of the faults were probably poor repairs. The one thing that I do remember was rust, I think the earlier vehicles were made of poor quality steel and not really rust protected but how many cars were. Skoda used to sell to a budget market so had to be made cheaply and cheap doesn’t always mean longevity and quality.
I think this particular model was Skoda’s first Front Wheel Drive car, previous models were Rear Engined Rear Wheel Drive.
That looks a great little car and the road trip is for a fantastic cause, good luck lads 👍
😊👍
VW steping in is, shall we say: "interesting" given that VW started with ripped of Cyechnology (granted the original Beetle was a Tatra).
Seeing the Bottings of Sway (New Forest) dealer sticker in the back window brought back memories. I come from not far from there originally and they were the main Skoda dealer around those parts at the time. Incidentally, I seem to recall that much of the engine was a reworking of the old 130 Estelle unit…..moved from a rear position with rwd to a front position with fwd….think the block is much the same - perhaps with some revision to the castings of the mounting points and to the area where it mates with the clutch / transmission. Main change I think was an improved cylinder head and revised fuelling system for the better economy and emissions.
Coolx
I advise getting some new wiper blades before they scratch the windscreen which may be unavailable or difficult to find ?
Steph, I think the current name of the country where Skoda cars originate is Checzia. I'm not sure if I spelt it correctly.
Looks like a Felicia
HotHatch only 3 door
Citroen Visa GTI, Alfa Romero 33 1.7 16V, Lancia Delta HF Turbo could be examples on small hot hatchbacks with more than 3 doors.
I guess that the Favorit was the beginning for new times for Skoda. Me? I can't stand the brand. I know it my head that is warped, but I can't forget the 120L I owned in the mid 80'ties. Endless trouble.
In 1980s government invested a lot in Skoda AZNP and in 1987 they started production. Later fkin german bought them for a fraction of that price and continued production of Favorit later renamed to Felicia after cosmetic modifications up to 2001!
I had one of these, it was an estate version. The worst car I ever had. I was glad it fell apart.