Third report: What much better method to delight in a manual than on twisty, mountain roadways? Heres our weekend with the Slavia.Not remarkably, the bulk of Skoda Slavias sold are the automated versions, as consumers demand more convenience and ease of use in their day-to-day grind to work. But if you drive to Mahabaleshwar regularly, as I do, you might want the handbook. My first stint with the 1.5 Slavia because it entered our long-lasting fleet reminded me that nothing beats the connection and intimacy you get with a manual.Slick 6-speeder has a brief toss and makes moving fun.Its the simple enjoyments of having the ability to press the engine to the redline without some computer system choosing when its time to upshift, indulging in the lost art of heel and toeing with every downshift, or simply flicking through eviction of the 6-speed transmission. Real, a lot of cars still have manual transmissions, but the way the world is going, they might become extinct, so its best to enjoy them while you still can. And theres no much better place to enjoy a manual than on a twisty road, which is why I called dibs on the Slavia when a weekend journey to the hills beckoned.Complementing the 6-speed handbook gearbox is the 150hp, 1.5-litre turbo-petrol, which is actually the heart and soul of the Slavia. Its a definitely fantastic motor that has a punchy mid-range and a strong top end, which, allied to the tall tailoring of the 6-speed handbook, gives the Slavia a capability to chomp miles without breaking into a sweat.1.5 turbo-petrol has tremendous punch and is quite smooth too.The 1.5 Slavia is a long-legged cars and truck, and 100kph– the speed limit on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway– relates to a lazy 2,000 rpm in 6th equipment. Third gear, great for 160kph is an excellent overtaking tool and, at travelling, speeds falls perfectly in the meat of the 1.5 motors powerband. A small flex of the best foot is all thats needed for the Slavia to lunge ahead and this surplus of power makes the 1.5 Slavia a fantastic highway automobile. Its even much better on a winding road.The 11km increase the Wai Ghat to Panchgani was an absolute blast. Snapping in between 2nd and 3rd gears, and in some cases down to first for the tighter barrettes, to keep the 1.5-litre turbo-petrol on the boil was a weekends worth of entertainment dished out in just 15 minutes. Its not just the strong engine and slick transmission that make the Slavia such enjoyable to drive, it is also the predictable and easy handling. The suspension is perfect and truly well-calibrated for the bumpy roadways around Mahabaleshwar.Turbo lag at low revs calls for regular shifts.Driving in the hills likewise exposes among the weaknesses of the 1.5 Slavia– turbo lag. Engine revs tend to drop due to the fact that of the high gearing. Therefore, at low revs, theres a fair bit of turbo lag and you end up moving down a gear and using the gearbox frequently, which truthfully is no bad thing. Its bad for fuel performance though and this shot of perky driving came at a price. The Slavia gave 8.8 kpl on these mountain roadways, which pulled down the total average to 11.2 kpl. Its not great but okay by turbo-petrol standards.Cabin does not have the European feel of previous Skodas.Speaking of requirements, poke around the cabin and its clear that fit and finish is not up to German levels. A few of the materials are beginning to look scruffy and the woven roofing system liner likewise looks the even worse for wear. The moment you pop the clutch and put your best foot down, youll forget what you were whining about. This is truly an amusing car.Also see: Skoda Slavia 1.5 TSI long term review, first reportSkoda Slavia 1.5 TSI long term evaluation, second report

My first stint with the 1.5 Slavia since it entered our long-lasting fleet advised me that absolutely nothing beats the connection and intimacy you get with a manual.Slick 6-speeder has a short toss and makes moving fun.Its the simple enjoyments of being able to press the engine to the redline without some computer choosing when its time to upshift, indulging in the lost art of heel and toeing with every downshift, or merely snapping through the gate of the 6-speed gearbox. And theres no much better place to delight in a handbook than on a twisty road, which is why I called dibs on the Slavia when a weekend journey to the hills beckoned.Complementing the 6-speed manual transmission is the 150hp, 1.5-litre turbo-petrol, which is actually the heart and soul of the Slavia. Its a definitely fantastic motor that has a punchy mid-range and a strong top end, which, allied to the high tailoring of the 6-speed manual, offers the Slavia a capacity to chew miles without breaking into a sweat.1.5 turbo-petrol has immense punch and is rather smooth too.The 1.5 Slavia is a long-legged automobile, and 100kph– the speed limit on the Mumbai-Pune Expressway– equates to a lazy 2,000 rpm in sixth equipment. A little flex of the right foot is all thats required for the Slavia to lunge ahead and this surplus of power makes the 1.5 Slavia a brilliant highway cars and truck.