Chappers.

The deal in the UK was that the price agreed when the contract was signed at order was the price you'd pay, so effectively immune from any price rises. The variable would be trade-in value of your old car which could change between order and delivery. That said, I've just cancelled my order as the delays are getting longer and 4 months later it's still not been accepted by the factory. I get the impression from my local dealer that this is a regular thing recently.

Why shouldn't they continue to build cars? At least when the relevant parts become available they can be added to the part built vehicles quickly and the order completed. If they stop production altogether then everyone ends up waiting even longer and the list will grow exponentially. After looking at other manufacturers a lot are suffering from similar issues especially for popular or desirable models.

In my case, the very fact that I get an email once a month from the dealer with an update (even though it is just to say they have no further information from last time) means that they are at least checking on orders. Yes, I see the email and my hopes are raised until I read it and then everything is dashed again, but at least I know they've still got an interest in proceedings. My dealer was upfront about delays, in fact it was the first thing they told me before we even started discussing the car and specs etc. Dealers can only pass on info they are provided by Skoda UK, and don't have any input or sway on the factory. They're as frustrated as we are and they don't get any money until the car has arrived and is about to be driven off the forecourt. What I would never do is get rid of a vehicle I am dependant on until I knew its replacement had arrived at the dealer and was ready to go.

The problem is most car manufacturers globally are experiencing long delays with uncertain delivery times or dates. If Toyota are less than 4 months (and I don't think that is the case across the range when we were in the dealers looking for a car for the wife the other week), the response from most manufacturers would be to go to Toyota and get a car from them. Personally speaking, do I want to wait for an unspecified time for the car I ordered to be manufactured and delivered? No Is there anything else out there that ticks all the boxes I want in a car for a comparative price? No Therefore my choice is do I go for a compromise vehicle sooner or wait for the car I really want? I did consider nearly new (Superb Sportline, Audi A4/6, BMW 5 series), but choice is also limited especially in the spec and options I want and most potentials from those cost over the £40k new list price barrier, and I'll be damned if I'm paying the government an additional £500 a year in tax for five years.

Q3 2023, but I thought that was for more recent orders (I could be wrong however).

Not sure anyone that ordered an Octy in November 2021 will have had any update on build dates yet. I ordered mine in late November (vRS estate petrol) and get monthly emails from my dealer apologising for still having no updates from the factory.

Pretty much sums up my position. There isn't anything else for a similar price (still sub £40k list price) that really does it for me. There are a handful of Superb 280 4x4, almost new or pre-registered out there available, but I'd be paying £500 a year VEL for 5 years instead of £155 - and I'm loathed to throw any more money at the government than I have to.

Problem being most manufacturers are the same or similar. 12 months plus now for many brands.

Not great either. We visited a handful of dealers over the past week or so and everything has a wait. Some of the Japanese & Korean makes may be better than VAG but that is model dependant. Ford dealers were quoting 8 months or more for a Transit Custom early last year and I can't imagine that's improved.

Was at my dealer this morning collecting the wife's 'new' Fabia and chatting to the dashed manager who confirmed that delays for most Octavia's (and a lot of other models) are now in excess of 12 months. The only things they are able to get within around 18 weeks are the new Mk4 Fabia but he's expecting the delays to start with them very soon. In regards to builds, they are built in campaigns as when I made a couple of changes to the spec of my vRS the dealer contacted Skoda UK to make sure it wouldn't affect or delay the order any longer. Mine was ordered in November and no update or even acceptance from the factory yet. The dealers get little to no information from Skoda.

Thanks for all your help folks, it has really assisted. Placed an order this evening for the estate in Race Blue (with a couple of options 😉 ). Now just got to settle in for the looooong wait.

Thanks for the response folks. The old quartz grey was nice but I'm not sold on the graphite grey option. I'm a sucker for a black car but can't help think there's a bit too much black on the new estate with nothing to break it up (plus the wife isn't keen 🙄) so it looks like I'm going to go for the race blue - the colour really does pop when it's waxed and it's got the sun shining on it (not got the guts to opt for the Phoenix Orange 😂 ).

He folks, not posted for quite a long time but after 7 years with my mk3 vRS hatch I'm about to put an order in for for a mk4 vRS estate (I can't wait for 9 month wait 🙄). Unfortunately, I can't decide on the colour. Really liked the quartz grey but that's been discontinued as an option now. Colour choices for past cars were a race blue Blackline and my current black hatch. What colour did you choose and why? Pictures appreciated, especially of estates.

No problems with the Michelin's on the front/Bridgestone on the back - only changed the rears at 29k as one had a puncture and they had started to sawtooth slightly. See my earlier post about Goodyear's though. Sidewall is too soft and ruined the steering response and made the car feel woolly to drive.

The rears were still the original Bridgestones that were on from new.

I've just rotated the fronts to the rear after 10k miles and had a new pair of the same fitted to the front. Wear it's probably slightly more than I'd have liked but that is only by eye rather than using a tread guage. If expect about 15-17k miles from a set on the front alone, rotated I'm expecting a lot more.

They're great. I don't really think about them which must mean that they're doing the job well. Unless something fantastic gets released I'll be choosing the same again as & when replacements are needed.

Yes. The Goodyear is slightly quieter but it's not a vast difference. It's the road surface that has the most effect on cabin noise in my experience. The mk3 is not the quietest car out there.

My apologies fit but updating my final decision. I bought the Goodyear's for the front but they were horrific. The were very soft and vague and ruined the feel of the car. The fitters to be fair made a hash of fitting them and after having one 'faulty' tyre replaced due to excessive vibrations and tracking issues they eventually gave up trying and offered me a full refund. I then went for the PS4's at a different garage and couldn't be happier. Okay, they're more expensive and a bit noisy (probably no worse than the OEM Bridgestones) but feel and performance is great. I've not measured the tread depth properly but I'm expecting to match the 16-17k that I got from the OEM set on the fronts, but with more grip.

Thanks folks, I'm 95% certain that it'll be the Goodyear that I end up ordering. The Asy2 I had fitted to my mk2 were very good so hopefully the Asy3 will be even better (plus they're cheaper than the Michelin's). Quite amazed I've managed 17k on the factory supplied Bridgestone S001 and only just got down to under 3mm on the fronts, but they're harsh and noisy so looking forward to the change.

The front tyres on my 2014 vRS Cr are getting ready for replacing (currently running factory fit Bridgestone S001). When I had my mk2 Octy the GY F1 Assy2 was the tyre choice and i was very happy with it when I had then fitted, however version 3 is now out (with mixed reviews). I've narrowed the choice to either the new Goodyear F1 (3) or the Michelin Pilot Sport 4. Anyone had experience of either on the vRS, and what are your views. What is the rim protection like as well. Advice willingly accepted.

For many years they were mainly fitting Continental Sport Contact 2 on the vRS but my late 2015 (64 plate) came with Bridgestone Potenza S001. I've driven quite a lot of miles in otherwise identical cars and the Bridgestones are a bit better than the Continental but they will be replaced with the Goodyear F1 when the time eventually comes.

Two labradors fit happily in my hatch (as they did in my mk2). On both occasions I had every intention of buying the estate because of them but the hatch is plenty spacious enough.

I've driven several hundred miles in a my vRS with the older Conti SCS2 tyres and my vRS came fitted with the Bridgestone last December. My own opinion is that the Bridgestone is slightly better than the Conti. They're both loud but the Bridgestone seems to grip slightly better and feels more secure but has NO rim protection at all. I can't comment on wear rate. Would I replace with the same? Not a chance - the transformation that my mk2 had when I put the GoodyearF1 on is more than enough to persuade me to go the same route again when it's time to renew them. Much better grip, feel and awesome in the wet.

I've had my Mk3 vRS for about 9 months now and it replaced my previous Blackline so it's quite easy to compare the two. The suspension isn't particularly "harder" than the mk2, I find that it's the rear suspension that can get crashy around town - it's almost as though it hasn't been fine tuned for UK roads. The seats seem to offer more support than the mk2 (although it may be that my BL had leather and this one is cloth) however, I find the base terribly uncomfortable but this is mainly due to the side bolsters digging into my thighs. It's my main gripe with the car. The sound system isn't as good as the Amundsen+ in the BL - the sound just doesn't cut it. I've found the source of music has a big influence on this and it's got better as the speakers have bedded in, but it is still inferior. Mine is in black and my BL was the blue version so this current one just doesn't stand out - it looks like an Audi (good or bad I'm not sure). The headlights are amazing. The engine is noticeably keener than the 170bhp version, both are DSG and the programming on the mk3 is a country mile better than the sluggish dim-witted programming installed on the mk2 DSG box. It is more competent in day to day use, quite a bit more refined and when really pressing on puts a massive smile on my face.