Largely Academic at present but.....

...I drove the New Octavia lten days ago. Very nice it was too. Only the 105bhp outfit but I loved the Elegance trim level (with those Laguna-esque climate control dials, very chic).

Unfortunately, i can't enitirely live with the front of the car, it's a bit too...too.....urgh..... narrow and pointy i guess. To my eyes, it doesn't seem to fit too well with the rest of the car, so I am ruling it out as a replacement........although the dealer did says rumours of the next 4x4 being a diesel did intrigue me.....

So I'm starting to look for a newer car. I can't bring myself to buy a laguna as it's french, and a VW badge is way too expensive and they don't look good either. Skoda it is then.....but which one.?

I dearly love the idea of a Fabia vRS, but it's just a bit too small inside for me (6ft tall, 52" chest, built like the proverbial.....) and the boot is a joke (no room for guitar and amp) so I'm back to the Octavia...

It has to be diesel (cough cough, in more ways than one!!! ) so the decision comes down to .......

Octavia 110bhp Hatch Elegance OR

Octavia 130bhp Hatch L & K OR

Estate versions or above engines in Elegance trim only (and pass me the options list........ )

I just have one problem with the L & K trim - that plastic wood trim inside....

conversely, the problem with the hatch is rainwater running into the boot....

Of course, until funds are available, it's still an academic argument but, let's say I went down the Estate route in 130bhp guise......

given that i'd get around 4500 off list (nearly four for my Octy, plus a little more) I'd only end up paying 9600.

Which means there could be room for "improvements"....

What options do i have on this front?

Jabba re-map obviously, but I'm thinking more in the handling dept. Suspension and roll-bars etc.....prices? options?.......