T-Cut Color Fast Scratch Remover

You'd be hard pressed to find a second-hand car on the road without a scratch on its bodywork. When you’re running a vehicle every day, it’s sure to pick up the occasional blemish. And if the mark isn’t too major, you could try tackling the problem with this new product from top maker T-Cut.The Color Fast Scratch Remover combines a blemish-lifting formula with colour, to help whisk away unsightly marks. It comes in six of the most popular shades – black, red, silver, blue, green and white – and is claimed to incorporate microscopic nanoparticles, which help make the job easier.

We tried the product out on two different-sized scratches. The first were minor blemishes on a blue Citroen Saxo, caused by grit in a polishing cloth. We applied a small amount of Scratch Remover in a swirling motion, and were surprised at the results. After buffing, the mark had gone.The second test was on a scrape on a silver Skoda Octavia. This really was a job for a bodyshop, but the T-Cut still covered up some damage. It’s said to work best on scratches you can’t feel, and our test suggested this is the case. But while the Scratch Remover is a decent product, it’s pricey for 150g.Source

Skoda Superb

Is it a saloon or a hatchback? Simple: the new Skoda Superb is both!Thanks to a clever boot des­ign, the latest large family car offers the ultimate in flexibility. The set-up is called TwinDoor, and it features two buttons positioned under the bootlid.Press the centre pad and the boot opens as it would on a saloon. Close it again, press the pad on the right and the whole tailgate swings up. The TwinDoor can also be operated with the key fob, while beneath it is an impressive 565 litres of luggage space. Power comes from a choice of six VW-sourced engines, ranging from a 1.4-litre turbo delivering 120bhp to a 260bhp 3.6-litre V6 petrol.Likely to account for most sales, though, will be the 160bhp 1.8-litre turbo petrol model, along with the three diesels – a 1.9 TDI and two 2.0-litre units. In addition, there is an eco-friendly Greenline version (below), which features the 1.9 oil-burner and emits only 136g/km of CO2. Sales of the Superb range start in September.At the same time, Skoda top brass revealed more about other forthcoming new models. The brand’s first SUV – the VW Tiguan-sized Yeti – will arrive next year, with an MPV following in 2010. It will rival the Ford S-MAX. Skoda’s first city car, due in 2011, will be based around VW’s up! show model. It’s set to be 3.5 metres long, and will have a rear-engined layout.Source

Skoda Roomster Scout

It looks quirky but some clever thinking has gone into the well-engineered Roomster Scout.

Driving
The Scout’s standard 16-inch alloys may look smart wrapped in their low-profile tyres, yet the sporty rubber doesn’t do a lot for the ride. Although the firm suspension helps counter body roll in corners, bumps and potholes are not that well absorbed. And while the Skoda feels exceptionally composed and stable at all times, proving safe and easy to drive, it’s neither that agile nor engaging. The Scout offers a choice of four engines – the 1.4-litre petrol struggles, and the 1.6-litre doesn’t feel all that more lively. Better are the diesels; the 1.4-litre TDI has a unique engine note but is effective, while the 1.9-litre TDI is punchy and effortless. Alas, it’s also unrefined, with a tiring drone from under the bonnet on the motorway. All Roomsters have a substantial-feeling gearbox, though it’s not that slick or precise – it’s all too easy to select reverse instead of first when pulling away.

Marketplace
The Roomster remains a distinctive-looking machine, enhanced in Scout guise with well-judged matt back bumpers, wheelarch extensions and lower door trims. And as the Roomster is a supermini-MPV, it provides a very distinctive take on the perfect transport solution for a growing family, offering practicality in spades. There is just the single well-equipped trim line, with prices generally in line with the top-spec ‘3’ model of the standard Roomster. Off-road-look rivals include the Peugeot 207 Outdoor and Ford Fusion, while Renault also sells a mini-estate version of the Renault Clio, and both Citroen and Peugeot offer ultra-practical van-derived models for those who need more space; the Berlingo Multispace and Partner Combi are great value.

Owning
The Skoda has three individual chairs in the rear, plus big doors and wide openings to make getting in and out a breeze. The seats are fiddly to fold, though, and while the boot is gigantic, the load sill is high. However, adults will enjoy a real sense of space, and the two outer chairs slide back and forth while the smaller middle chair folds down to form a handy table with cupholders. Indeed, the whole cabin is well designed, with a good driving position, comfortable seats and ample cabin stowage. There’s a real feeling of quality, too. The boxy shape does, however, hurt fuel economy a little, and while retained values are OK, rivals hold on to a little more of the list price after three years. Source

• Rating:
• On the road price: £12,630 - £14,210
• For : Spacious, flexible, practical, reassuring to drive
• Against : Can’t accommodate five adults comfortably, not the most nimble drive