Well, this is a drum that we've been banging on for quite some time - that more people should buy estates. There are an awful lot of people out there paying the extra purchase prices and running costs of an SUV, or putting up with the dreary styling and ropey dynamics of an MPV, when in fact they should be driving an estate. Estates are usually more handsome than their saloon or hatch counterparts, vastly more practical, every bit as good to drive and generally every bit as cheap to run. Why haven't we listened? Put it down to a strange, old-fashioned streak in the Irish car buying psyche that says it's not a proper car unless it has four doors and a separate boot.
There are signs that at long last this is changing though, and that Irish buyers are coming more into step with our UK and European brethren, who hold the Shooting Brake in high regard. According to figures, the Irish estate segment has expanded by as much as 160 per cent since 2009, and in 2014 is expected to grow by an extra 990 units compared to 2013, bringing the total to 2,532 if the forecasts are right.
Now, in context, that's still not a lot, especially if the total for new cars sales, as expected, nudges up to around 95,000 cars this year. In fact, it's just 2.3 per cent of total sales. Still, it's on the up and Skoda (which researched those figures) is claiming that much of the increase is due to buyers flocking (relatively speaking) to the Octavia and Superb Combi models.
Anything else?
Commenting, Raymond Leddy, Head of Marketing & Product, Skoda Ireland said "While Ireland is still behind the European trend, Combi sales are on the up. The main reasons for the increase in sales can be attributed to the fact that estate vehicles have become much more attractive and stylish. Cost wise there is now little or no difference in CO2 and road taxes. There is also a large increase in outdoor activities - water sports and cycling especially which are accommodated by additional boot capacity and functional roof rails."