Hi,

I have had an Octavia 1, 1.9tdi since 2002 and am very happy with it. It has never let me down in 90 000 miles. I am seriously thinking of buying a new Octavia 2 but things appear a bit confusing - at least for me. I think the no VAT offer refers only to the non-face-lift model. Assuming this is so, what does the panel think of the face-lift model. Is it really worth paying the £1 - 2000 extra for the face-lift model?

I would like to buy the tdi with DSG and was wondering what is the general opininon of the DSG?.

best box and most fun i've ever had..well worth the extra

The facelift model does look nice, but as you point out the vat savings make the pre face lift model good value. Is it worth another £2k for different lights?

oh yeah! for me the prefacelift and the facelift feel very different...It is my first octy and tbh would have never bought an octavia if it wasnt for the facelift...i have driven both and in the cabin i could feel the difference....the facelift is more fresh, better interior design and quality...

my 2c...

those £2k, that you will try to 'save', will be gone in a flash..from the moment you step in that car actually!!..the value of the prefacelift model will go down as demand decreases...

also it is not only the lights that have changed.... do your research, test drive one and you will see what i mean...

''The new Octavia has undergone a series of significant design changes which include dynamic, sweeping headlights and complimentary front fog lights, new foldable door mirrors and body colored bumpers and side moldings.

Improvements go well beyond a traditional facelift with the new Octavia benefiting from a redesigned interior which features a range of new steering wheels, new stereo and nav systems, and new upholstery....''

ref: DSG....well it an amazing gearbox...you can drive it manually and have fun or you can just put it in drive and just relax...just perfect..the best from both worlds...

however, i am still sceptical of the reliability...it is a very complex piece of engineering and if the mechatronic (the computer of the box) goes bad, it can be very costly if out of warranty...since i am changing my cars within 2-3 years time frame i am pretty relaxed if something goes wrong...if you keep your cars out of warranty and for many years then you might want to think it again...

Edited 14 March, 200917 yr by TOURBOLUX

I'll second the comments about the facelifted Octavia. The difference between the two cars is astonishing. I drove a facelift Elegance TDI for a day and I am seriously considering another L&K when mine goes back. I was considering a Superb II as my next car but most of the good stuff in the Superb can be found in the Octavia now.

Do a back to back test of the old car and the facelift model and you'll be very surprised.

best box and most fun i've ever had..well worth the extra

Tell me more about the maxi-dot, I have asked at one Skoda dealership but I think on that day that the "man" had a day off and the boy was minding the shop. Mine has cruise control and I am hooked on that feature.

A few shots of the maxidot from a facelift Octavia Elegance.

As the car is a demonstrator I think the maxidot was added as an option.

Is this not the non Maxi Dot version?:confused:

There are no pre-facelift cars left now so you'll have to get a facelift car now.

Yes DSG is a brilliant gearbox, worth trying one out and you'll see yourself just how good it is.

Like yourself I was driving a MkI Octy for many years ... 110bhp TDi which I had virtually from new in April 1999. It had done 140K when I sold it in March - cannot say it never let me down, but was pretty reliable overall.

When I replaced it with a (new) VRS I opted for the DSG box since I'd read such excellent technical, road-test and personal reports of it. Like the other posters here I've never regretted it for one moment ... it really does give you the best of both worlds, it's a Jekyll and Hyde! Coupled with cruise control (standard on the VRS) it allows for a very relaxed drive if you (or SWMBO ) want, but if you want to put your foot down you will beat a manual any time because effectively you're never off the power during the gearchange. And all this without the fuel consumption penalty of a traditional torque converter. Wth one exception it always seems to be in the gear I want, when I want. The exception is that sometimes, cruising in an uncongested 30mph zone and obeying the limit scrupulously (as you do!), my DSG sometimes insists on sitting in 4th (presumably in case I want to zoom off somewhere?) when I would personally slot into 5th to relax the engine ... and moving across to 'manual' has no effect - it won't let me override. Otherwise - would absolutely always make the same decision again!

re your visit to the Skoda dealer ... I'm not totally surprised. If it was Underwoods you went to I got the impression they were still learning about Skoda. So bought my new one a long way away - again, great deal, great service, right decision!

I bought the pre facelift Octy VRS with dsg. CR Diesel. I NEVER get tired of driving it. I thought I would miss the manual box I had in my old petrol VRS.

I don't really bother using the sport mode.it's a bit too frenetic for my liking. Nice to know it is there when you need it though. I just marvel at the engineering that creates such a fantastic driving experience.

One thing bugs me though, there is a delay when you initially boot it in D. I just wish it was a tad quicker to react.