BarnabyJones

Hello Thanks for the post. Yes, I agree that the 2.0-litre 150 diesel version is pretty much all the car you'll ever need. As for all the car you'd ever want, though... I'm not a huge fan of most DSG gearboxes, either. They're too hesitant and jerky at low speeds, so can make manoeuvring a pain. They're great once you're up and running (the gearchanges are really quick and smooth), but overall I prefer a conventional automatic 'box – or, even better, a manual. Still, I'm sure the engineers will make the next generation of DSG gearboxes better. I hope you enjoy your Octavia a bit more in future, though! If you do go for a vRS version, let me know how you get on. Barnaby

Ah, yes, very odd – and annoying! Sorry, I'm not sure why that isn't working. If you can't use the link, here's an old-fashioned copy and paste of the report: I’ve been having an interesting chat with fellow Octavia owners on the Skoda forum Briskoda.net for the past couple of weeks. Everyone likes their Octavia for the amount of space and equipment it offers for the money, but a couple of 2.0-litre diesel owners were especially keen to point out how much they prefer their cars to the 1.6 diesel versions. I wholeheartedly agree. For me, the 2.0-litre’s far superior performance (in any gear and at any speed) outweighs the 1.6’s lower purchase price and slightly cheaper running costs. The 1.6 diesel isn’t a bad choice – far from it – but if you like to get to places even moderately quickly, you’ll think the extra the 2.0-litre costs over the 1.6 is money well spent. I certainly do. Barnaby

Ah, that is odd. It works properly here in the What Car? office, and I've asked a few colleagues to check the link on their computers and mobiles. What device are you using? Barnaby

Hi all Thanks for all your posts so far – it's really helpful to know what you think of your Octavias. Read my latest update on whatcar.com here – www.whatcar.com/car-news/july/1301978 – and, yes, it does mention Briskoda.net, so thank you! Barnaby

Hello Ah, that's not good about the rattles. Quite right about the sunroof! Are you going to get a dealer to investigate soon, or wait until the car's next service is due? Either way, let me know how you get on. Hmm, I've not heard any complaints about the paint quality. My car's (metallic) paint isn't the best I've seen, but it's perfectly acceptable, and certainly not like your car's. I'd get a dealer to take a look, but I have my doubts that you'll get a quick (or even a satisfactory) solution! Barnaby

Hello Glad to hear you like your vRS so much. I'd have liked the Canton stereo as well (if it was my own car, I'd have gone for it), but the standard one is pretty good. Yes, the standard stereo (if that's what yours had) in the BMW 3 Series is poor. An old colleague of mine from a hi-fi magazine said it was mainly due to the cheap speakers the 3 Series comes with. It's a shame, you'd expect (well, demand) an upmarket car such as the BMW to have a good stereo, but it certainly hasn't got that! Barnaby

Hello Simon Ah, I should have looked at this forum ages ago! It would have saved me (and the dealer) a lot of hassle! A 1.4 petrol Estate sounds like a mighty fine car – good choice! I wish I'd gone for cruise control and the multi-function steering wheel on my car as well. You're right about the noise – I also think the Octavia could do with some more sound-deadening material. Like you, I'm also cynical and think VAG want there to be distinct differences between the Seat Leon/Skoda Octavia/VW Golf, and this is one way of doing that. Still, I'm glad you're enjoying your Octavia so much. Thanks for the post. Barnaby

Hello Yes, that's an interesting point. It'd certainly have better economy (maybe not by a huge amount, though) and has the torque to cope with longer gearing. Gearing is always a compromise between fuel economy/CO2 emissions and performance at all speeds and on all roads, though, so it'll never suit everyone. Many modern cars already have very long gearing, however – it's odd driving a car that can do 70mph in second gear, knowing that you have four more gears to go! Barnaby

Hello Thanks for the reply. Yes, you're right about the lack of a sixth gear – it's an example of penny-pinching (to be fair, Skoda is far from the only manufacturer to offer smaller-engined, cheaper cars with fewer gears than larger-engined, more expensive ones) and does mean that the engine is revving higher on the motorway for a given speed (unless the gearing is long enough to compensate, which it usually isn't) so it'll use a bit more fuel and be noisier. I must admit, it'd put me off the 1.6 over the 2.0-litre, but then that's just my opinion. Barnaby

Good morning Yes, I agree with a lot of what you say about company car tax. The rising cost of fuel and VED is another reason why many people are turning away from the 'more interesting' versions of cars – and if people aren't buying them (and car manufacturers are obliged by European legislation to reduce the average CO2 output of their cars) then these versions will disappear. It's eye-opening to look at a copy of a magazine from a few years ago to see what types of engines were available (it's pretty different to what's around today). Having said all that, it's not all doom and gloom. I'm a strong believer in the technical ability of car engineers, and although it's true that a car with a 1.2-litre turbo engine is unlikely to be anywhere near as fun as one with a 2.0-litre turbo, I'd much rather have a 1.2 turbo than an older-style 1.6 non-turbo engine, for example. I'm also sure that as more and more engines become turbocharged and the design of the turbos is improved, turbo lag will be less and less noticeable (as it has already become over the years). There, I feel better for that! You're right that the cheaper Octavias make more sense than the more expensive ones – although the pricier ones have loads of toys, they also cost a similar amount to cars with posher badges (not that that is a guarantee of a good/better car). I'm sorry to hear that your Octavia has so many rattles. Have you got the one that mine (and many others, by the sound of it) had on the passenger seat? It was the seat-height adjustment lever rattling against the plastic side of the seat – most annoying! Thanks again for the post. Barnaby

Hello I'm glad you said that: it's my biggest issue with the car. Sure, the handling is good, but I wish the ride was more supple. Sadly, many new cars are engineered to be stable first and comfortable second. I went for my Octavia (a 2.0-litre diesel in SE trim) with the standard 16-inch wheels, too, in an effort to get the best possible ride: http://www.whatcar.com/car-news/april/1289000 I've also driven a VW Golf with the same rear suspension as my Octavia, and it's much more comfortable and settled over bumps. Still, the Golf is also more expensive to buy, so you pays yer money... Barnaby

Hello Ah, I was talking about the 1.6 and 2.0-litre diesel versions as a whole, in that they're both fine choices. I said that there is a noticeable difference in performance, but you're right that they'd use similar amounts of fuel (we're running a 2.0 diesel Octavia and a 1.6 diesel VW Golf and their economy is remarkably similar). Like you, I'd much rather have (and pay the extra for) the 2.0-litre diesel model, but I'm sure there are lots of 1.6 diesel owners out there who love their cars and don't care that it's slower than the 2.0. As I said, everyone has a different opinion, which is great, so keep them coming. Barnaby

Good morning We prefer the entry-level petrol Octavia because it's a bargain and is brisk enough for most people. We prefer the entry-level diesel version of the Estate for the same reasons and, because an estate should (theoretically) be used to carry more stuff more of the time than a hatchback, its superior low-rev torque means you don't have to work its engine as hard as a petrol (I take your point about the 1.4 petrol, though, which is an excellent engine). The final reason to go for the diesel is tax: many estates are company cars, so low CO2 emissions (plus a fairly low price) mean cheap tax costs, which is vital for company drivers. Having said all that, if you want more performance, the 1.4-litre petrol and 2.0 diesels are both excellent choices – we just think that the 1.2 petrol and 1.6 diesel are the better versions for most people. Opinions are great, though, so please keep them coming! Barnaby

Thank you for your replies. It sounds like the noise in my Octavia – and those in other Octavias I've driven – isn't the same as the one many of you are hearing. The one in mine is a muffled background rumble, rather than the air-resonating noise that you describe. From what you say, it sounds like some cars have a specific issue that causes this noise. You're right, though, the best way to get a solution is to register it with your Skoda dealer and ensure that they feed these complaints back to Skoda HQ. If enough people do this, Skoda *should* investigate... Keep the posts coming, and I'm sorry to hear that so many people are being annoyed by this mysterious sound. Barnaby

Hello Yes, you're quite right: pretty much all Skodas are good – and they have been for many years. They're also often far better value than many rival cars. Trust me, I'm not here for a scoop – I simply want to know what you all think of your Octavias. I have my views on my car, and it'll be great to know how you are getting on with yours. Keep the replies coming! Barnaby