SKODA FAVORIT

When somebody says Skoda Favorit, your first thought if you live in the UK is probably ‘when did you last see one of those’?! Because the car which was once everywhere as city runarounds, first car and budget motoring choice for many is now rather thin on the ground - which made celebrating this one all the more special.

Although the Favorit name had been used in the 30s for an attractive side valve made by Skoda, the name really is associated with the supermini created by Skoda.

The Bertone styled front wheel drive car came in to replace the Estelle, which by this point in the competitor market, was ripe for retirement. It also gave Skoda a good punt at the supermini market, which was massive at this time.

Now whilst in the UK it might’ve competed with completely different cars, in the home market of Central Europe where it was a best seller, it was coming head to head with things like the Lada Samara and the Yugo Sana - but Skoda was regarded as the better choice by many due to a better build quality - but more on that later.

The car, which was so thoughtfully designed and successful it got VW on board for a takeover, came with a lot as standard - or it certainly did by 1993.

Retailing at around £5,000 - a figure I’ve pulled from an old episode of Top Gear as I don’t have a sales receipt for this car - each car came with the following as standard on the base spec models such as these:

Laminated windscreen • halogen headlamps • independent front and rear suspension • rack and pinion steering • dual circuit servo assisted brakes: discs front - drums rear • 165/70R x 13 radial ply tyres • childproof locks on rear doors • hazard warning lights • twin rear fog and reversing lights • inertia front and rear seat belts with centre lap static belt • carpeting throughout • heater/demister with three speed fan • two speed and variable intermittent windscreen wipers • electric four jet windscreen washers rear mud flaps ® locking petrol cap
• tripmeter • dipping interior mirror • low fuel warning light • illuminated switch gear
• headlamp beam level adjustment - capacious glove box • comprehensive tool kit including spare bulbs and fuses • head restraints on front and outer rear seating positions • 2 interior adjustable door mirrors • fully reclining front seats with adjustable head restraints • heated rear window • rear wash/wipe • fabric covered rear parcel tray ® fuel injection system • three way catalytic converter.

This might seem the minimum you’d expect from a car today, but for the time when some brands were charging for parcel shelves amongst many other things, it was a welcome sight.

Skoda by 1993 had by their own admission within their marketing material made over 500 improvements by 1993 but one of the strongest elements of the car was something there from early on - the aluminium engine.

The 1.3 engine was designed to meet US tough emissions standards and also give great MPG. The engine was fitted with a sensor to give optimum fuel consumption which also in turn, benefited the emissions rating. The car was also fitted with a 3 way catalytic converter which was said, within brochures, to be the reason it would give an MPG of 39.8 according to the Euromix formula.

The lighter than expected engine made of aluminium was also said to be beneficial as the car wasn’t wasting energy moving its own weight.

In addition to this, the car was coming into a world where leaded petrol was being used but phased out and many vehicle owners were grappling with this on older cars - the 1.3 engine was designed to accept unleaded and the tank range for a small car was impressive - 458 miles when driven at a constant speed of 56mph - so probably realistically high 300s in varied driving.

Now you might be looking at the car and thinking ‘that’s unsafe’ and it’s true, it’s not as safe as a modern car - but what car in 1994 is comparable to today’s giant lumps?

However, it doesn’t mean Skoda took a back seat on safety. The car was fitted with lateral impact protection bars fitted as standard in all four doors, plastic bumpers and additional deformation characteristics for front and
rear-end impact, the Skoda Favorit outperformed the EC regulations of the time. And with the roof stiffness improved, it was said to offer safety for the entire family.

Sold in many countries across the world, the Favorit brought many people to Skoda and developed a brand loyalty which it hadn’t appreciated in quite the same way before. The car was replaced by the Felicia, another lesser spotted motor from the Skoda family.

Today these Favorits are a rare beast - there were over 50,000 on the roads of the UK when production ended and now online websites suggest there are less than 100 left - which is why we should celebrate and cherish these little cars before there are no decent one left.

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