Thanks to James at Allams, I've now had a thorough test drive in the 170TDi.

All I can say is.....wow!

Steel grey is such a fabulous colour. So much better than the black LHD car that I saw. It really compliments the shape of the car, making all the proportions and angles look just right.

The new engine is such a huge improvement. At idle, you can barely hear it inside the cabin. It revs so much more freely, and the power delivery is much more linear. Once you've driven it, you'd never want to go back to the 140PD.

The seats are fabulously comfortable, even for me with my bad back. The range of adjustment is brilliant, and I had no trouble at all getting comfortable.

As usual, the Columbus unit is fabulous. It integrates seamlessly with all of the cars features. The display for the parking sensors, climate control and heated seats is great. It even supports CD-text on audio CDs that have it. One downside is that the new bluetooth module does not work with the iPhone (running 2.1 firmware). The iPhone only supports the bluetooth phonebook profile (which is supported on the old bluetooth kit), but the new unit will only work with rSAP enabled phones.

I did a good range of in town, country road and motorway driving, and came away thoroughly impressed. The ride quality was great on all surfaces, even the crappy concrete of the M25. It really insulates you from the outside noise in a way I wouldn't have believed. I saw no evidence of a crashy or unsettled ride that has been mentioned with the 140PD car. Rear visibility is a bit limited, as the rear window opening is quite small. It's not a problem, but you definitely wouldn't want to order a car without rear parking sensors. The wings mirrors are HUGE, providing great visibility. They also fold really nicely using the key.

As we drove around the M25, we were honked and waved at by a very happy looking Czech lorry driver. It's clear that the Czechs are very proud of Skoda, and the new Superb, in particular. Based on my test drive, they have every right to be.

Bagpuss.

Thanks to James at Allams, I've now had a thorough test drive in the 170TDi.

No problem, good job you liked it seeing as you had ordered one without even driving one before!

Actually glad you came down, it was nice to get out of the showroom for a while.

Snap.

Just been and driven a Steel Grey Elegance 170 DSG.

Nice car, not sure if it's my cup of tea at this stage but a very capable car.

Managed to get the Park Assist to work as well which is a bit spooky.

Snap.

Just been and driven a Steel Grey Elegance 170 DSG.

Nice car, not sure if it's my cup of tea at this stage but a very capable car.

Managed to get the Park Assist to work as well which is a bit spooky.

I'm off out in a Steel Grey Elegance 170 DSG on Saturday from Bickertons in Sheffield. They seem to be all the rage!

Just been for a spin in my local dealers 140PD Elegance DSG in......you guessed it, steel grey.

This was a totally standard car, no options, but still very, very impressive. It really makes you understand just how much car you are getting for your money.

The engine is nowhere near as refined as the 170CR, but it still pulled the car very well. I didn't get chance to chuck it around, as my wife and daughter were in the car, but I didn't really notice that much difference in the ride quality and handling from the 170CR. Cornish roads are not the best sometimes, and it handled some bumpy little back lanes very well.

I didn't really miss the DSG paddles either, but I think I would if out on a 'spirited' drive. I do still prefer the look and feel of the 3-spoke wheel. It has a thicker rim, and is just nicer to hold. It's a shame you can't get this steering wheel on the manual Elegance.

Bagpuss.

I'm off out in a Steel Grey Elegance 170 DSG on Saturday from Bickertons in Sheffield. They seem to be all the rage!

I'm going to go for another test drive in a manual next week. Not entirely sold on the DSG. Park assist however is great.

Disappointed there isn't slightly more room around the left knee (wider central console than the Octavia) and two nice big foot rests like on the Octavia would have been nice. The front seat squabs could do with being a touch longer too, they seem shorter than the Octavia II ones. Also disappointed by the rear headroom (rear legroom obviously great).

Those things aside though, I really like it.

Edited 20 September, 200817 yr by wega3k

As a ridiculously tall person, I irritating how the seat squabs on the Elegance are substantially shorter than those on the SE so less of your leg is supported.

As a ridiculously tall person, I irritating how the seat squabs on the Elegance are substantially shorter than those on the SE so less of your leg is supported.

are you sure ? i looked at both back to back yesterday and thing the seats are identical apart from the elec adjustment on the elegance. the seat base tilts on the elegance but i am sure the seat shape / size is the same.

are you sure ? i looked at both back to back yesterday and thing the seats are identical apart from the elec adjustment on the elegance. the seat base tilts on the elegance but i am sure the seat shape / size is the same.

100% sure.

still not convinced - i shall take a tape measure to the showroom and check !

I'm off out in a Steel Grey Elegance 170 DSG on Saturday from Bickertons in Sheffield. They seem to be all the rage!

I think I saw that one this lunchtime when I called in for a pollen filter - very nice it looked too!

still not convinced - i shall take a tape measure to the showroom and check !

Note the front edge of the seats in relation to the wide bit of centre console just behind the gear stick.

errrm - those are the cloth seats from the "S" model (SE has alcantara and Elegance has leather) and it depends on the position of the seat on the sliders !!

The two seats in the above pic are actually the same seat from the "S" model so i am afraid i think you are incorrect. I actaully sat on the SE seat and elegance seat back to back yesterday and both me and the salesman were comparing and contrasting and we both agreed the seats are the same except for the material and elec adjustment.

if you examine your pics very carfully you can see the cream one is set further back (look at the seatbelt on the door pillar and the gap to the side bolster)

errrm - those are the cloth seats from the "S" model (SE has alcantara and Elegance has leather) and it depends on the position of the seat on the sliders !!

The two seats in the above pic are actually the same seat from the "S" model so i am afraid i think you are incorrect. I actaully sat on the SE seat and elegance seat back to back yesterday and both me and the salesman were comparing and contrasting and we both agreed the seats are the same except for the material and elec adjustment.

if you examine your pics very carfully you can see the cream one is set further back (look at the seatbelt on the door pillar and the gap to the side bolster)

You're right. I got the S and SE seats mixed up. The S ones have a longer squab than the SE and Elegance. You can't use the side bolsters as a point of reference as they're a totally different shape on the two designs of seat. The SE / Elegance ones come out wider 2/3 of the way up. Either way, the seat squabs in the SE / Elegance I sat in were markedly shorter than the ones in my Octy 2. Some very short people complained about those digging into the backs of their knees though.

strange on a large car. obviously czech people are tall and sit in the back and have very short chauffers !!!

Hi,

Is Steel Grey an official UK colour option or are members just calling it that?

In the catalogue in Ireland, the colours are:-

Satin Grey

Platin Grey

Anthracite Grey

Which one of these are 'Steel'?

Anthony

Hi,

Is Steel Grey an official UK colour option or are members just calling it that?

In the catalogue in Ireland, the colours are:-

Satin Grey

Platin Grey

Anthracite Grey

Which one of these are 'Steel'?

Anthony

Steel == Platin. Steel is just the UK name for it.

I'm glad I'm not the only person to notice the lack of a throttle rest. In my Octy2 with cruise set I can rest my right foot.

Another small detail is the handbrake on the lefthand side of the central console, rather than on the more convenient righthand side (for UK drivers) as in the Octy2.