The Skoda we had was a really nice car. Definitely not what I remember from the old days.
Like most cars from the UK it is a drivers car. The gearbox is tight and the suspension stiff. I sort of describe the difference in driving in N. America and the UK like this.

In N. America we are used to "Going for a ride in our cars". They are comfortable and smooth on the road. You can relax and enjoy the scenery going by.

In the UK you "go for a drive". You concentrate. You drive every moment. You think about shifting and down shifting. You brake before entering a corner and accelerate coming out of the turn. Your passenger doesn't just sit there, they lean into the sideways forces as much as the driver.

The roads are far more narrow than in N. America and the trees and bushes come right up to the edge of the road so there is no use trying to watch the scenery.

I really enjoyed driving in the UK. It is like driving a motorcycle. You are totally involved in the experience of driving.