my octavia TDI seems to be very tail happy. The back end has very little feel and seems to start sliding very easily at even say 15mph on modest corners with neutral camber.

why would it do this? are all octys just like that? a little devoid of rear end feel?

I've never known any car to slide that easily at such a low speed, even classics on skinny crossplys. Does it do anything else when it starts to go, noises and suchlike?

no there are no noises at all, and no body roll

dont get me wrong its not actually sliding like a loon, its just a feeling that it is sliding, like the back end doesnt feel very grippy or connected.

i recently changed from a ph3 pug 306 so maybe thats why it doesnt feel as planted?

I'd guess a combination of very pants tyres on the rear, and the need of a good wheel alignment is causing your problems.

The 306 was known for having a fair degree of lift off oversteer IIRC, so it might be a combination of Tom's suggestion plus getting used to a different chassis balance - didn't the Pug have a degree of passive rear steering too?

I've only had my RS for a few weeks, but it already feels remarkably planted with a tendency to understeer smoothly if anything... AND I have sucky tyres on the front I've not pushed it hard enough yet to find if the back will come out and play. What boots have you got on yours, out of interest?

The 306 had passive 4 wheel steering yes.

I went from a 306 to an octy Mk I and the Octy was miles behind the 306 and even the BX i had before that held the road much better.

I'd make sure you have all the tyre pressures right and that you have good tyres all around. If you're unsure you can get good tyres for not a huge amount of money (falken 452 and others) so better safe than on ditchfinders.

I'd also look at getting the geometry of the suspension checked as Tom said.

The 306 was known for having a fair degree of lift off oversteer IIRC, so it might be a combination of Tom's suggestion plus getting used to a different chassis balance - didn't the Pug have a degree of passive rear steering too?

I've only had my RS for a few weeks, but it already feels remarkably planted with a tendency to understeer smoothly if anything... AND I have sucky tyres on the front I've not pushed it hard enough yet to find if the back will come out and play. What boots have you got on yours, out of interest?

yep liftoff oversteer was how i wrote it off :lol:

i think also its because its my first saloon, and maybe a little confidence lacking as i only wrote off the other one a month ago. the feeling is actually getting used to the car but also because its a longer car, the front has often completed the turn before the back end follows it, so it feels very strange when compared to a proper hatchback where the front and rear wheels do the same thing at the same time (especially with passive rear wheel steering!)

rear tyres are Dunlops of some description with 4mm tread, so i think they are decent. might think about some new rear tyres in the spring.

think i just need to get used to the car and get some confidence back and it will feel normal

Not an Octy, but i know that when i have premium tyres on the front, and budgets on the back, you can induce some scary oversteer, at a very low speed.

You could try switching the tyres round, and see if your issues are reduced.

The 306 had passive 4 wheel steering yes.

I went from a 306 to an octy Mk I and the Octy was miles behind the 306 and even the BX i had before that held the road much better.

Seems like 306>Octy is a popular move as that is what I did myself!

They corner in very different ways imo. The passive rear wheel steer on the 306 makes it feel almost like the car is steering from the middle and it turns in in quite a balanced way. The Octy on the other hand feels more like you are pointing the front where you want it to go and the back gets dragged along behind it.

The Octy does feem to grip better but its definately a different feel to the handling.

Check your rear dampers, are they leaking? I had a similar problem with a punto I had. I bought it new and when I went around a corner I felt as if the back was sliding. In with the garage 3 times and it was only when I looked at it myself and seen the damper covered in oil was it sorted.

Seems like 306>Octy is a popular move as that is what I did myself!

Me too, I went from '99 T plate 3door HDi to a '01 Y plate 5door estate (2 doggies dictated this change!)