I have a Skoda, as does my dad. Once upon a time, like last century, Skodas were pretty ropy, due to communist build quality, but they still won lots of rallies, and they were still better than some British cars, like Triumph. You have to realise that before the communists took over Czeckoslovakia, Skoda were a luxury car manufacturer, who built big limousines.
I test drove a Bora, W plate, with a 90Ps 1.9 TDi, £6000 from a dealer. (2007). It was horrible, it was slow, crappy gearbox, it wallowed around corners and was uncomfortable. The next day I drove a 51 plate Octavia, 1.9TDi 110Ps, £5000 from a dealer. The difference was amazing. I used to drive a W plate Audi A4 at work, and getting into the Skoda was just like the Audi, all the controls are the same, it was beautifully comfortable, went like the clappers, and I bought it on the spot. I had a Puma before, and the Skoda saved me a lot of money: tax was £110 against £175, insurance dropped from £300+ to less than £200, and fuel consumption went from a best of 33/gallon to 64/gallon on steady motorway trips. The amount of space in the back of an Octy is huge with the back seat down: I can get my Inbred 567 in with just the seat removed. For your budget you could probably get a fairly recent Octy estate, or possibly even a Superb, which is basically an Audi A4. The Octy is based on the Golf, the Mk IV in the case of mine. Get over the name thing, you're denying yourself a bloody good value for money car for no rational reason, build quality is up there with Audi, and better than some VW's.