SouthernComfort

When I'm fully loaded I honestly sense no difference in performance to when it's just me in the car. The car is comfortable doing whatever I ask of it. However, fully loaded for me is usually 2 adults plus dog and load area full of holiday gear. My out of town driving terrain is as variable as yours, as you've described it. My 8sp performs much happier than the 7sp DSG did in hilly areas, and I live in an extremely hilly region, as I said previously I find it a more 'settled' gearbox. If you want the ultimate answer I guess you'd have to do another test drive, but with 5 adults on board. To acknowledge a couple of points that @Gerrycan made: The lower ground clearance is something to consider depending on the grade of country roads you travel on, and I too wonder if the Octavia is the best size for 5 pax, dog and all the gear you will be carrying. I regard it as a small/medium car, but not big. There are still larger wagons available if like me you don't want to go down the SUV route.

Interesting, seems several things regarding the option packs have either changed in the last 12 months, or it may be just that the specs are different in NZ models. In AU in '23, you could option the Style with tech and lux packs, or a combination of both which gave you the 'burger with the lot'. Pan roof was an option on its own, as it still is.

They're very good points. I stand corrected on the rims, I mistakenly thought 19's were standard on vRS. Probably a plus that they're not. With all the other options you've mentioned (HUD, heated F&R seats, adaptive chassis/suspension, pan sunroof), all those are among the A$9300 worth of options on my Style. If those options need to be added to the standard vRS, then the price gap is widened even further. The AU drive-away price comparisons I mentioned above were based on the Style being fully optioned, against the standard vRS which is why I said that my Style had features not on the vRS. @HenryNZ, it could be worth doing the comparison in your territory on the basis of both models being fully optioned and having a close look at what you get in the option packs, they're pretty extensive.

A couple of thoughts spring to mind. Pro's and con's will always have you torn, the heart vs. the head is a tricky conundrum. All I can say is, as far as power goes (mid range overtaking power particularly), don't underestimate the Style's 1.4 turbo, it has seriously surprised me (in both the Octavia and previous Golf) on the occasions I've needed it most, stick your foot down and it shifts even in D, I rarely use Sport. The RS may launch you into space, but the 1.4 (1.9 secs longer 0-100kph) will keep you as safe as you need to be on earth. 19in wheels are standard on the RS, but 18in is regarded by many as the sweet spot. The lower profile tyres on the 19's will give you a harsher ride on anything other than super smooth highways. So your typical driving environment will be relevant. NZ pricing must must different to ours in AU. When I bought my Style in Jan '23 with all it's factory options, including many of the things you've listed for the RS, it was offered at A$53k. The RS with all its gear (but still without some of my options) was offered at A$64k. I did some negotiating and ended up paying A$49k drive away i.e. A$15k less than the RS. Made the decision easy for me, but I can see your point if you've narrowed that difference and feel it's worth the outlay. Best wishes with whatever decision you make, have fun and keep us posted!

....a couple of points I should add: I didn't take the service plan and I've never done so in the past. The individual dealer services cost slightly more than they would on the plan and are also subject to increase year on year, but I'm not one to lock myself into fixed plans. I have a good independent VW/Audi/Skoda mechanic who I may turn to even before the 7yrs warranty is up, so I'm reserving that option. My consumption is around 5L/100km on long highway runs, 6-7 urban on 98RON

Welcome to the forum. Not NZ, but close enough! You get the same models in NZ as we have here in AU. I have a fully optioned Style (1.4L with Aisin 8sp) and I have to say it's a fabulous car. The motor is very punchy, the pickup on overtaking is amazing. I came from a 1.4L 7sp DSG Golf so I was used to (the same) engine, plenty powerful enough everywhere you want to go. The 8sp is a great cruiser on long distances. Personally I wouldn't go back to a DSG, I find the Aisin box is smoother, especially at low speeds and it seems to know it's own mind (so to speak) whereas I felt the DSG was twitchy in deciding which gear it needed to be in. Even though I have every factory option (tech & lux packs, pan sunroof etc etc.) the equivalent vRS would have cost me $15k more at the time of purchase. For me, the Style was a no-brainer. I can't comment on your dealer situation in NZ however I've had no issues here, although only the first service completed so far.

Well if you're already armed with that info, good luck with the claim.

Ok, now we know it was an error by a factory operative? Details certainly matter.

Semantics?? If the finish is different and now seemingly without fault as described above, the manufacturing is modified to achieve this in my book. Doesn't matter, the point is, earlier versions are clearly defective and therefore unacceptable.

Just my 2 cents worth: Since they have obviously seen fit to 'modify' the design/finish from '22 on, it virtually suggests Skoda's admission that the earlier ones were substandard. For the sheer principal of it if nothing else, it would be worth taking it further imho. As for the dealer / Skoda Aus buck passing, it's classic avoidance behaviour, surely hoping the hapless customer eventually gives up. I had a similar experience with another brand and their dealerships, a not uncommon industry tactic methinks!

The warranty in Aus starts from date of first registration.

No mate, leave it alone. Just have it serviced per the schedule, absolutely avoid e10 (in any car), use 95 or preferably 98 if you can afford it.

Whatever the explanation, I'm actually happy with the cable I have, as I've previously posted. Even if I had decided to go for one of these, I have no other way of procuring it, so I guess I've saved a few bucks! Happy days.

I doubt it. Whenever delivery to our region isn't applicable, which sometimes occurs from foreign Amazon regions, the message is always specific in that context i.e. it wouldn't say the item is "out of stock", or "we don't know if or when the item will be available", it would simply say "delivery unavailable to your region". This particular situation is very odd.

Strange indeed, no idea what's going on. I've clicked on your link each time I've looked. For some bizarre reason I must be getting a different page, even though it's taken me to Amazon UK as it should. Just for your interest, here's a screenshot of what I'm seeing: