V-A-G "future"

[tihol tiholov]

I do recall reading in a UK on line publication (a
while back) that the Skoda Octavia is a very good, and
somewhat cheaper version of the VW Jetta, 

True, Octavia is a low-on-options Jetta (Bora in EU) with uglier and
cheaper front and rear.  SEAT is uglier, cheaper version of mostly Golf
(there is a 4motion version, though), also of Polo and Lupo (li'l thang)
 

>which of course is the poor cousin to the Audi A3, right?

Golf is it or maybe it's a half-brother/sister.  BTW, recently VW
lamented (as per German car show) that the Golf V is not selling very
well.  The competitor Opel Astra OTOH comes from the factory with 18"
wheels.  Too bad that a 1.4 L 90 hp engine won't light them up, maybe
the 1.9 L 150 hp Diesel will.

I also dislike the overall trand towards fattening and enlarging
(engrossing?) the cars, especially the small ones.  Drove the Golf IV
with 100 hp Diesel last summer in Germany.  It was quite nice but now
it's the size of a small minivan.  At speed over 150/160 km/h felt
somewhat unstable and reluctant to keep a straight line, same as the MB
A-class.  Any "normal" MB from the last 10-15 years has better
aerodynamics.  Piech's nose was aimed too high, I guess memories from
working for Porsche don't leave him and he is one of the family by
marriage anyway.  *

TT