3nkero

So I guess it is roughly one third to a a half at least on top of a stock car price (please bare in mind that I look this from a window, where a standard car costs 50k£ give or take)... ?

Phenomenal!!! Roughly, if I may ask, what was the overall budget getting the beauty done to this incredible stage? I've only test driven stock 280bhp Superb, and that felt nippy in the wintertime. But this story weirdly raises the interest towards Superb again, despite I drive like a blind nun

Vaclav has a uncomfortable tendency not to reply when he has delivered non-matching goods, like in my case error warning cancelers to Octavia 3. They would've fitted, if my car was last decade VW, but not this make he stated they'd fit. As a resolution he suggested soldering the wires directly (no thanks) or use of abicos etc (no thanks) as the car is still under warranty. He agreed to supply matching products, but after myself sending them back to him, no replies to emails what so ever after that. I strongly recommend to consider if his service is worth loosing your money. Definitely I will not return as a customer despite if he delivered eventually the goods he has invoiced me 42€ of...

Problem was solved earlier this year - update to Fabia Estate. Today iOS 10 update fook'd up both Octavia's and Fabia's CarPlay

Trust me (a Finn), that the rear axle makes a difference. We have slightly better grip offering winter tyres here, and here we really notice the difference between fwd and awd. You notice it even in the summer time in the rain. The car also feels more solid in everyday use, and the consumption added is not that drastic; previously I had 1,6TDI, and now this 184bhp 4x4 consoles roughly 0,5-0,7l/100km, that is nothing from the comfort brought by the agility of the engine overall. In UK, spending money for proper winter tyres is anyhow better choice. Having 4x4 is just pure enjoyment! Take my word for it (waiting for proper winter!!!)

I've owned mkI, mkII facelift and now two mkIII Octavias, and in general the last is way best, refining itself during the years. MkI was the best to handle, whereas these latter ones come with ESC. Ok, you survive with them, but the ones that you can't take ESC off,min hard winter conditions you may get into trouble. Nevertheless, this mkIII 4x4 is the way best car I have ever had - I considered also second hand C-series Merc, but that felt a bit old fashioned, especially when I learned the bad habits with previous mkIII with almost all bits and bobs.

Money well spent! Here in Finland usually cars come with front flaps installed, but rear flaps are missing. I recently installed ones to my 4x4 (and my wife's Fabia), as occasional driving on gravel will eat away most of the paint from the rear bumper skin (that happens in fwd even).

Would anyone happen to know, if an early model Fabia could be upgraded to Smartlink? Feels a bit stupid to have externally similar Bolero in MY16 Octavia, but MY15 Fabia needed to have non-iOS phone to have nav etc. working as it should.

As a Finn it is nice to see that Nokian is recognised as a high quality brand. However, guys, if you experienced the winter tyres we have up here in the north... I myself am driving with Goodyear Ultragrip Ice studless (yep, we also have studded here), and these take the grip beyond you can imagine. From Nokian the equivalent would be Hakkapeliitta R2, which is a superior studdless winter tyre. Should you be going Alpine, have a look at winter tyres really designed for winter conditions - even in Finland people survive with Central-European winter tyres, but when you can get so much more grip with 100-200£... Don't save it - you enjoy driving more!