brewsta

Good feedback. I only had the test car for 90 minutes and did not think to play around with the revs. One interesting point -- the interior of the Octavia actually had more of a quality feeling than the Volvo. Softer plastics and rubber. The Volvo was all hard plastic, cheap feeling turn signal stalk. I liked some of the design points in the Octavia more too -- better, more creative vent design, etc. But this goes against what I've heard about cheap quality/rattles in the Octavia. But these are things that probably reveal themselves over time.

I test drove the Octavia estate 2.0 TDI this week. Previously, I also tested the 1.9 TDI 4X4 and a Volvo V50 2.0 D. Here are some observations: I was a little disappointed with the 1.9 TDI's power. It was reasonable, but the acceleration was a little weak. I had heard other posters talking about the 2.0 TDI's superiority so I went for another test. And yes, the car is more powerful, but: Serious turbo lag. There. I said it. I hope no 2.0 TDI owners will get defensive, but I did not like this feeling at all. I was out on motorway and floored it and... nothing. For a couple of seconds. And then, WHOOSH, it took off. OK, eventually the power came out, but waiting and whooshing is not a great feeling for me. I repeated this test over and over. It is possible to build acceleration normally through more judicious use of the accelerator. But you can't demand an instant punch of power from the car. Perhaps my criticism of this motor comes, in part, from the fact that I tested the Volvo 2.0D before it. I had hoped that that since they were both 2.0 diesels they would be comparable. But not even close. The Volvo motor is just fantastic. It has instant power on tap all the way up the speedo. Yet, the car is quiet and refined. So, why don't I buy the Volvo? Well, it is a more expensive car (but I found a deal to make them comparable). The two big problems with the Volvo are it is much smaller, with almost no extra storage, and the insurance rates are a fair bit higher (I live in Prague, by the way). The other main factor that makes me keep the less practical Volvo in consideration -- terrifically comfortable seats -- way better than Octavia. I just thought I'd put this out there and see what other's think.

Any other opinions on these wheels out there? Especially the ride quality and wear issues?

Does anyone have long-term experiences to relate regarding sports seats vs. standard Octavia seats? I tested a car for the weekend that had sports seats upgrade. The back support and side bolsters wer great, but felt it was a bit hard on the hind quarters -- very firm. I saw another thread here with someone finding the standard seats uncomfortable. Any other opinions?

Ah -- was wondering why DPF is an option on the 2.0 TDI in Germany and Czech Republic (where I am shopping).

"ALL diesel-engined cars sold in the EU must now meet Euro IV emission standards, which limit the amount of ultra-fine particulates emitted from the exhaust system. " If this is true, why is the DPF system still an (expensive) option when buying a new Octavia?

The 4x4 2.0 tdi is also avaialble in the Czech Republic (see the Czech website konfigurator) But not in Germany yet, as far as I can tell.

Question of the day: I live in Prague but want to buy my Octavia in Germany. Both countries offer the option of DPF on diesel motors. I understand this reduces pollution (diesel partical filter) and the EU may require these on new cars soon. But if they are not required now, what is the reason for paying an extra 1000 euros for it now. To help the environment? Or to insure against restrictions tightening later? Anyone know the arguments for whether or not to invest in this?

Forgive me if this has been gone over before -- I'm new here: I think the Pegasus wheels are absolutely beautiful. But... I'm worried about the potential drawbacks -- I've heard low profile tires generally: 1. Have a rougher ride (is it much more noticeable?) 2. Have faster tire wear 3. Are much more expensive to replace. On the plus side, they look great and handling is sharper. Can some folks share their experiences, positive and negative, with me?

Thanks for all the info. Final question then -- sounds like Light Assistant is not that useful for me since lights need to be on all the time. Is there a way to set up the car so that the lights will always be on when driving and will completely shut off after leaving the car, even if the lights are switched on. I've seen some American cars with this feature -- lights turn off completely by themselves after leaving the car.

Thanks for the welcome. I'm not familiar with all the jargon -- what is VAG com? Also, would it work for me not to get Light Assistant?

I am planning to buy a new Octavia estate 4X4 and have a question about how the lights work. I live in the Czech Republic (but I may buy the car in Germany because it is cheaper there). The Czech Republic has just passed a law requiring the lights to be on at all times. Would I be better off with or without the "Light Assistant?" If I keep the lights on constantly and leave them switched on when I leave the car, will they turn off automatically even without the "Light Assistant?" Or will the battery drain down? I read a lot on the forum already -- also afraid if I get the "Light Assistant" it will be programmed for Germany instead of the Czech Republic. Thanks.