My son buys a new Skoda Scala as his first car in Ireland

April 23, 2024

It is longer and wider than both the Hyundai Creta and the Skoda Kushaq available here in India.

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My son buys a Skoda Scala in Ireland (13th Jan 2024)

So my son had completed nearly a year in his first job as an engineer with a top construction firm in Europe. Though he had been offered a company car from day 1, he did not have a European driving licence to own one. So after 4 failed attempts he finally got the Irish (EU) driving licence in September last year and has been looking at opportunities to own his own first car since then. I told him to buy a 5~10-year-old Audi or Beemer but somehow he wanted a new car as his 1st one and a Skoda at that (like father like son).

So he finally narrowed it down to their starting level car there, which is the Skoda Scala, in its topmost trim – the Style variant. He was in India in Nov-Dec for the marriage of his sister and had already paid an advance deposit for the car before coming. So the car finally arrived on 5th January and he went in for the PDI armed with the TeamBHP PDI checklist which I had sent over.

Here’s the first look of the car he got in Steel Grey. It was a late 2023 manufactured car according to the VIN-

The Rear. Note the 17″ alloy wheels –

The price list. And Yes, in Ireland, cars are heavily taxed like in India and almost 30-40% costlier than UK or Germany. He chose the 1.0TSI 110bhp 6MT variant in Style trim –

The feature list. The car comes with limited ADAS as Lane Assist with active steering and cruise control with speed limiter is standard. However adaptive cruise control was a 567Euro extra.

The technical specs of the car. The engine seems to be the same as the 1.0L Kushaq available here in India but with a higher 200Nm of torque –

For perspective, the Scala is longer and wider than both the Creta and the Kushaq available here. Even the wheelbase is more than the Creta. The boot space is 30L more than the Creta and 80L more than the Kushaq and just short of 90L from my Superb. Overall, it is a ‘superb’ starting car for a person in his 20s –

The 1L TSI 110bhp 6-speed Manual Transmission engine is an award-winning gem of a frugal engine with a 0-100 time of 10.1 seconds. He is easily getting 12kmpl in the city and 16~18kmpl on the highways –

The interiors. Some highlights being 8″ Bolero Touchscreen with 8 speakers, Climatronic Dual Zone Auto AC, Keyless Go, Full LED Lights including headlights with AFS, fog lights, 7 Airbags, TPMS, USB C ports front and back etc. etc. –

The dashboard. Notice the chrome door handles –

The rear seats with dedicated AC vents and 2 USB-C ports –

A walk-around video

LED Tail Lights with dynamic indicators

Of course, he wanted the Superb like his father

But even pre-owned ones were very costly –

His final quote after discounts and add-ons; 29k; insurance was extra and even road tax is yearly –

His dealer threw in some extra goodies which he adjusted in the discount like Wireless Charger and Heated Front Seats (very essential in Ireland) and washers –

He finally takes delivery of his 1st car with his own earnings on the auspicious day of Lohri/Makar Sakranti – 13-01-24 –

Outside the dealership, front view –

and Rear –

The interiors –

First thing I taught him was to always check the oil of VAG cars

The Engine Oil specs – same as the Kodiaq sold in India; and the AC refrigerant specs –

Self Car Wash comes in handy for keeping it clean –

He has to put up an N sign signifying a ‘New Driver’ for the initial 2 years of a fresh driving licence –

Gassing it up has to be done by one own self –

And since his sister was also taking driving lessons on his car, he had to display 2 signs up front, one for N and the other signifying Learner (L). She has since, btw, also got her driving licence in just the 2nd attempt… and will tease him forever