Dutch,

Thanks for that info on the panama interior. It is not an optional interior in the UK. Thats why I was asking if anyone else had a similar car/interior.

No problem, Barry.

Here, the Panama interior is one of four interiors for the Elegance.

Bamboo Black (with onyx detailing) and Bamboo Beige (with onyx and beige detailing) are the standard interiors. (I have Bamboo Black sports seats in my 4x4.)

The beige/brown Panama half-leather interior (with onyx and beige detailing - no alcantara!) is optional at EUR 1010 (approx GBP 630).

The full-leather black interior is optional at EUR 2285 (approx GBP 1440).

The L&K has the beige alcantara interior or beige leather interior.

On the downside - only 15" Triton rims here as standard spec, also on the 4x4. So had to fork out an additional EUR 455 (approx GBP 290) to get the 16" Style alloys.

Ouch, thats quite a lot of cash. Thank-you for the information.

In the UK the have dropped the 4x4 Hatch for my 2003. I now believe I have quite a rare car (in the UK) Again I put out a plea to other to 4x4 hatch owner to step forward and make themselves known.

I have been looking for some options to buy for my car. Looking at the Skoda UK website there does not appear to be very much. BUT

I looked at another skoda site ( can't recall which country) but you can get carphone to fit the armrest, 4x4 embridered backpacks, and a host of other cool stuff.

Apparently in Ireland you can by a 'Rough Road' pack. Unsure of what it entails thou.

@ biodad20

i,ve got the 4x4 hatch, bought it new at the end of july 2002. its in rally red which i believe has been discontinued. fitted a supersprint stainless steel backbox @

Do you get the feeling that momentum is gathering on 4x4 hatch /estates with Jabba remaps ? !

I also had the Bailey dump valve fitted after the remap at Jabba last week and it is 'whooshier' than normal. (ECT - I got the last one in stock so make sure they have had supplies or take one yourself!)

I have to re-emphasise how good the standard 'soft' suspension is on motorways and rough'ish (normal) A roads. YES it rolls more and I'm going to get stiffer roll bars, but boy does it allow the car to flow on bad surfaces (Tavia4x4, ColinD have both mentioned this and I'm right with them on it!)

If we can get some Golf R32 (?) bushes and roll bars it will take some beating.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, the badge is worth another 20bhp on top against tailgaters !

A 320CLK Merc obviously could not take defeat lying down yesterday but eventually gave up trying...

Originally posted by Fabpreza in this post

I've said it before and I'll say it again, the badge is worth another 20bhp on top against tailgaters !

Tailgaters! That was the word I was looking for when I wrote this yesterday. Still finding out new expressions in your wonderful language every day...

Haven't experienced the original soft suspension but can imagine it would be something close to that in the Legacy. The Legacy suspension is very hard to beat (only by Hondas). It's comfortable on rough roads but still keeps you going in corners, also because the car emphatically does not understeer. You can guide it on the throttle, allowing you to really feel on top of the car.

So far, the 4x4 suspension with the MAD lowering springs is equalling that because of its stiffness. I do find that the Haldex set-up is slightly more prone to understeer, probably because of the front-biased torque split. However, especially the rear MAD springs go a very long way in dialling that out, with the bigger wheels compared to the Legacy also helping out, of course. Top speed through some long, winding corners I'm familiar with is in fact higher, but there's is slightly less room for throttle control if you go in too fast.

On motorways the stiffer ride gives a solid, chunky feeling that I like - but it's not rock-hard, definitely not. Then again, not too many sweeping roads in hilly terrain here, like in the UK, so won't dare to make any statements on the effectiveness of a lowered set-up for your part of the world...

Mattijs - Glad to hear that the car arrived 'safe and sound' (another English phrase for you...!)

I carried out some non-scientific but fairly accurate acceleration times on the car.

(NB: Just as an indication of what's available (NOT a my-car-is-better-than-your-car!)

30-70 through the gears: 7.2

50 - 70 in 3rd: 3.9

30 - 50 in 2nd: 2.5

50 - 70 in 4th: 4.6

Standing 0-60: 6.7

(All times are to speedo +5mph eg 30-70 is timed 35-75; 2/3 tank fuel; 16 celsius; level ground! I was very honest with the times)

May do some higher speed runs at some stage as 4th and 5th at 'motorway' speeds are I think the most impressive side of the car.

Fab,

some good figures there. In fact they are pretty close to the figures Autocar got whne testing the RS for the first time and would pretty much confirm that they tested a "breathed" on RS.

Cheers.

Adrian.

Fabpreza - what tool did you use to measure the times? Have you got a performance meter?

Mattijs,

Great news for you!

I'm actually; as Fabpreza picked up upon, really debating a change to another well known make (behind Skoda in WRC ATM)...after driving there new 03 model around I sat down to work out what the Skoda4x4 is missing in my head...

It's not power, looks I'm not that vain, braking possibly needs more, grip/handling; have to break that down.

Impossible to tell as the demo car was just that a demo, not settled in, but I think you could actually push the Skoda more than the my03, purely because of the haldex "catching" you. However what I really liked was the precise ride ofthe my03 (soft in comparison to a sti or older modles, but a mile ahead of the "farmers" setup on the stock 4x4).

The same road felt worse in mine because the "softness" of the ride actually led to the shell bouncing around if that makes sense. So I'm looking to "firm" it up I think...scary bannana's. Thus the my03 actually felt better to drive from the very narrow pespective of turn in, weight loading into corners, "boat" sensation on undulating ground. So if I could get the Skoda4x4 Est close to that then I'll be v happy.

As Ian (Tavia4x4) points out messing with one might lead to another etc, so I'm really fighting the urge to swap for the out of the box solution.

Off to the butty wagon.

ps on a private road of course, 80 - 100mph most pleasing and rapid after a touch up.

Behind Skoda in the WRC? You're not talking Hyundai here, are you?

I'll assume for the moment that you are talking about the new Impreza WRX MY03. Been there, done that - and as soon as the Octy is run in, I will shortly step in one again to compare them head to head. IMHO, it's all a matter of taste and (driving) style. So what sort of driver are you, Colin?

First, let me own up to being a huge Subaru (and Petter Solberg ) fan. I can really understand your being tempted by the new WRX. Yes, the ride and turn-in are precise and crispy, and its handling in corners is impeccable - also compare my remarks about the Legacy. Double that for the Impreza...

Then again, some things aren't as sensational as you would expect from a 225bhp machine, even though the MY03 is in many respects an improvement over 'Bug-eye'. I'm still not wooed by its low-end pick-up, or rather lack of - under 3500rpm it feels like an ordinary 2-litre. Above it will go off the dials in a flash, and unreasonably so, but I didn't like having to keep the revs up all the time. (This is also true of the STi, so it's not a simple matter of lacking horsepower.)

In contrast, and you'll know what I mean, power delivery of the 1.8T is virtually instant in all gears and on all revs above 2000rpm, so much more practical in daily traffic. Plus it comes with a surge that has been carefully massaged away in the WRX. (The old GT Turbo did have it, and I found it marvellous for it. Sadly, the old model lacked the boot space to carry all the kiddie stuff necessary at the time. So I made the sensible choice and picked the Legacy instead.)

If you're a man for screaming exhaust notes and turbo whistles, and a fan of a rock-hard ride, you will feel thrilled too (in Holland it comes with a barking Remus backbox as standard), but for me as a business driver and family man it's just too loud and uncomfortable. So again, a matter of taste. I do like a firm suspension, so I've countered that situation by lowering the 4x4 with sports springs. Does the job beautifully - it now feels almost WRX-like, and it looks a lot more purposeful too. Added to that, the 4x4 sound is reasonably well-behaved, so I won't grow tired of an endless growl on long motorway journeys.

So if you want to shell out the dosh, go for the lowered sports suspension. It's pricey, as the 4x4 requires specially made springs, but it's well worth the investment. How much is the Impreza compared to the 4x4? And does it get climate control, cruise control, a onboard computer, a [you fill in all the extra goodies]?

Finally, insurance companies, thieves and tailgaters (!) won't know you are driving a performance car...

Cheers,

Matt

P.S. BTW, glad to see this thread developing as the definitive 4x4 turbo thread - I'm sure our threadstarter Barry won't mind!

Colin

Mattijs sums up the Subaru side very well and I agree with much of what he says.

At the end of the day if you can afford to buy, RUN and then modify an Impreza (because you definitely will do), then you will enjoy it very much and not regret it.

If you've already got the Octavia, chipped it and got used to the ride, economy and stealthiness, then in my view you are only a couple of grand away from modifying it to exactly what you want.

Not sure of the age of your car and presuming that it isn't company owned, you would be looking at

re the Legacy, would dam love too, one day maybe a VR4, if they keep making them. Have to keep the car newish to keep the cash from the company.

Yes Yes and Yes to the Scoob (they were behind last WRC I watched :( ) and of course yes to the thief, tailgaters all the things that kept me away initially.

Current Octy is 14 Months, APR Chip (98Ron 220ish bhp) for 6 months. A compromise is required for sure as I'm not going to run to the Subaru garage, but at the same time spoililng the octy seems, well it's so good it does seem daft to change it...if I can get it right I honestly think I could keep it to my grave...not alot out there to replace it with for sensible everyday driving leaving it in an ncp type of money.

As to what driver...well how do I know I'm always tail end charlie, umm wonder why, but I guess the quiet till provoked type. Provocation coming from any open road or roundabout, so defintley not the 3" full decat brigade.

re maths, yes almost to the penny...I don't think the subaru as it is now is worth the change too, fiscially. But when did fiscal policy ever matter to your heart...current trade in book price for a 12month4x4 is 9600GBP.

Yes sorry Barry...slap my own wrist. Shoud get the moderator to split the thread :flowers:

Colin

Do I detect some common-sense barging its way into your thinking?!

Only trying to balance your thoughts along with Dutch4x4 as we've both been there and can see

that if you already have the Octavia 'almost' as you like, you could spend a fortune trading it to better it.

Options (1) and (2) !

(1) If cost is not a concern, buy an 03MY WRX Wagon SL model and PPP it for

Originally posted by Fabpreza in this post

So

I test drove a WRX before settling for the RS and I must say I wasn't really impressed with the WRX. Sure, it was much more comfortable than the old GT and had way better interior but were nowhere near the GT in terms of pure fun. It didn't even feel that much quicker than the RS. OK, if I could get the WRX and RS for the same price new it might have been a different story but when the price difference was/is 11000Euros :eek: it made the choice alot easier.

hehe, yes sense, the underlying sense that I saw 6+ months ago.

For the price, the subarau is an option, but I would not even say it's 70% of what I want for that money...rather another 5k for the sti...I think that is for a few years down the road when they reintroduce the STI wagon, that afterall is the only option for me, which the my03 does not offer so even that was a compromise, of course ppp does give big old power boost, but so would 2k at Jabba, 3.5K for the APR stgIII (coming soon humma humma).

So option 2 has it...despit my better half's desires to own a scooby ...yes the prices here are mad, funny how you mention guilders over euros, I think thats going to always be the case if you grew up with somthing, marathon, snickers etc...

Yes - Super-duper brakes: Say

Originally posted by Chrille in this post

I test drove a WRX before settling for the RS and I must say I wasn't really impressed with the WRX. Sure, it was much more comfortable than the old GT and had way better interior but were nowhere near the GT in terms of pure fun. It didn't even feel that much quicker than the RS. OK, if I could get the WRX and RS for the same price new it might have been a different story but when the price difference was/is 11000Euros :eek: it made the choice alot easier.

So another similar experience!

I'll even go on record saying that a WRX feels slower than an RS (certainly a chipped one). The only speed sensation it gave me was by looking at the speedo :p

But... 11,000 euros! :eek:

Holland must have funny pricing indeed - here a standard WRX is

Yes Mattijs,

I forgot to state that the WRX does seem slower than my Octavia, but I doubt it actually is..it has that feeling about it, which does it as much good as it does bad. TBH I saw three new WRX pull up while I was there, it's also a fuel garage, each one was 30+ dad, with mum and 2/3 kids. It's the Dads fast car I guess now rather than the "wow a wrc car on the road" it was perhaps when we were, well younger

So is the fact htat the sensation of speed is removed a ogood or bad thing, the salesman was of course happily splurting how it's a great sign of a well finished and quality product, quite clearly sold on blue dials he was, then again no car is aswell finished as an 80's Rolls Royce so it's of no matter to me what he said.

But the "firmeness" of the ride did hide some of that speed, do I feel it more in mine because I know what it feels like at x MPH?, becuase I drive it faster? I took on the route I drove in the WRX a few minutes later in mine. Upon approaching the "this is a really slow corner sir" I was at least 25mph faster leaving in the octavia than the WRX...

It was at this point that I decided the WRX was bettter turning in and more composed as my haldex was flashing and car was bounding out (left 100degree apex in dip). It was also the point I decided that the haldex was possibly better than AWD for on the roads in the UK..god knows I'm just a passenger sometimes.

...I think a trip to the stifferening school is required somehow, of course to be fair as you said Mattijs, you'd need to know and have free rains with both to be fair.

The prices here, UK 4x4 16700 list I think new, WRX 20795 GBP. Of course thats new, still too much for what it really is...don't even go to the vRS, that dam cupra type R is so appealing to the "vain" bit in me, actually I want the brake kit...

Hi all

Talking of Scoobies , I was reading the Newcastle Journal's motoring supplement this weekend , noticed a local Scoob dealer has a 'bug eye' Y reg WRX , one owner and 20 ish K on clock for

Did I mention fuel consumption as being a big advantage of a Turbo 4x4 Octavia over an Impreza ?

I've done 3500 miles in just over a month and the worst (measured, not by the trip computer) consumption figure in the Octavia is still better than the BEST I had in the Impreza. This includes 3 tanks (1000miles) since Jabba had a play. On average I'm doing between 25 and 30% better, whatever the paper figures say.

Yes, you did mention that, Rob! And rightfully so - am doing 33 mpg on average now, still running it in, so that's considering I'm revving up to 4000rpm at the moment. Any idea how much will it drop as soon as I am free to hit the redline? In between it will have lots of long motorway chores, so shouldn't be too bad. If I do 30 mpg I'd be really chuffed (that was my Legacy average!).

Talking of "my Octavia 4x4 turbo" - have mailed some stuff to Manny, so hopefully y'all be able to see how my black 4x4 has turned out!

My worst indicated avg fora short 35 min run is 16 mpg...

Originally posted by Dutch4x4 in this post

Talking of "my Octavia 4x4 turbo" - have mailed some stuff to Manny, so hopefully y'all be able to see how my black 4x4 has turned out!

Thanks to Manny, my Briskoda gallery is up here.

Well if your looking for a VR4 Galant a friend of mine may sell his for