HI,

I currently have a 1.6 focus estate and am looking at different models to replace it. One of these is the Octavia vRS estate (petrol).

It was mentioned though whether I actually need an esate or whether a hatch would do....

please discuss

Cheers

Rich

Unless you desparately need the extra boot space and roof rails, I wouldn't bother. The hatch has still got plenty of room.

The only reason I personally would have one is if I had a large dog.

HI,

It was mentioned though whether I actually need an esate or whether a hatch would do....

please discuss

Its a bit hard to discuss when we don't know what you're going to be using it for. What do you carry in your estate boot?

I prefer the estate's looks. The slightly extra load space is a bonus to me.

I prefer the appearance of the estate variants of most cars (Honda Accord and BMW 3 series excepted)

I bought an estate, not because I needed the space, I dont as the back is always empty. I prefer the look of the estate over the hatchback.

The hatchback and estate are exactly the same length, and upto the parcel shelf height has the same luggage capacity.

I have large boxes with RC stuff in and we have a couple of mountain bike, though I will eventually get a tow hitch for these. Also tend to carry loads of stuff for the familiy around...

I have the hatch and it swallows everything I need for a family of 3 with one dog.

All i do is take the parcel shelf out when the dog is in the boot leaving her more room than you can shake a sh*tty stick at.

to justify the estate you need to regularily fill the estae you have now to the brim.

482 lites space in 2004 focus estate boot with seats up

560 litres in 2005+ Octavia vRS with seats up

580 litres for octavia estate

Figures taken from New & Used Cars, UK Car Dealers - Parker's

Well if you have mountain bikes I'd get the estate and decent roof mounting system. If this is the only reason you'd need a towbar I found it wasn't cost effective as would be >£300 to get bar fitted. Roof rack etc from roofbox.co.uk was very affordable and I only had to change the feet when I moved from Superb to Octavia. If you don't need the space the £1k can be spent on better things though.

We have a large dog, so estate covered both areas. The downside of the roof system was that the feet of roof system was starting to dull the paintwork on the superb, so roof rails make it much more fit for purpose.

Not sure that this really helps. You also get a 12v socket in boot - does this help with your RC stuff?

I prefer the look of the estate, but I accept that the effective luggage space isn't that different.

If you're going for a vRS then be aware that the spoiler on the hatch impedes your rear viz somewhat. The estate has no such issues.

Also, does that hatch have shopping bag hooks? The estate definitely has and they're great especially if you're bringing home a take-out curry!

yeah the hatch has them on the left hand side, and what an awesome idea. never had them on past cars.

Cant say i notice the spoiler impeding my view. Not enough to cause issues with reversing or the view

Also, does that hatch have shopping bag hooks? The estate definitely has and they're great especially if you're bringing home a take-out curry!

Curry hooks. great. The only other car ive seen something similar on was my old TD5 discovery.

My focus has these in the back.

We had a vRS Estate for 18 months and now have a vRS Hatch.

I find I have more room in the boot of the hatch but this is probably because we had the secondary boot floor in the estate so lost some of the length of the boot due to the slope of the seats.

Initially I preferred the look of the estate but now prefer the hatch! Fickle!

Visibility is better on the estate but i've got used to the spoiler on the hatch now so parking isn't really an issue.

Have a good look at both then decide.

We have an estate and a hatch and I think the estate is the better looking of the two.

Its also handy to have the estate even if you only fill the boot once or twice a year.

The hatch is still bloody big though. SWMBOs new car is going to be another Octavia hatch so the pram and other baby junk will fit with ease.

I bet you can't get a washing machine and a tumble dryer in the hatch

I like the look of the hatch more, but the utiliy of the estate for getting large volume stuff in is great. I also had some second hand thule roofbars and a thule box of a mate for 100 quid. Wenr onto the estate in less than 10 mins.

Does the hatch have a 12v point too?

I've just ordered an estate and I didn't even realise about the curry hooks! As if I didn't have enough reason to be excited.

My main reasons for going for the estate were:

- I seem to spend a lot of my life driving round with furniture and otherwise using that above-the-window-line space

- looks better to me

12V socket is also handy.

absolutely no reason to get the hatch other than prefering the looks, but i prefer the estate and if its like the mk1 the estate has better rear visibility too.

My first new car was a focus 1.6 LX estate back in 2000. I needed an estate for 3 dogs at the time and the Focus looked fairly good as an estate anyway IMO. I was looking at an Octavia 1.6 estate but it was working out at £IR1200 at the time over the Focus. When I changed for an Octavia vRS in 2003 I wanted an estate version but it was working out at mad money over the hatch, so the hatch it was. I love the look of quick estate cars and due to changes in emission and VRT charges over here a new Octy vRS diesel estate was within budget when I changed. Obviously my choice is the estate all the way because it makes a great quick Q car not to mention the extra versatility etc. Have to go for a lie down now. I don't normally do long posts.

I had a MK 1 vRS hatch and now have a MK 2 vRS estate.

I have a dog now, which I didn't back then which is the primary reason. I liked the hatch too, but I love the new motor. It's a cracking motor for the money!

Also, does that hatch have shopping bag hooks? The estate definitely has and they're great especially if you're bringing home a take-out curry!

i have the hatch & it has 2 x curry hooks (4 hooks all up). I use them daily (hang my lunch on them).

The only time I've wished for the wagon was our last holiday & we were trying to fit boogie-boards, fishing gear, beach chairs, a weeks food, clothes and other assorted stuff that we would normally pack into SWMBOs Mitsubishi Outlander.

The hatch has a restricted rear vision & cars can hide behind the C-Pillar but if I can see them in the side mirrors & not in the centre then it's not a good idea to change lanes anyway.

The Hatch back is lighter as well.

One thing to bear in mind, and often forgotten, is the rear suspension. You may find it rather harsh

for normal running. Get it loaded up and you will notice a big difference

I hadn't thought about the rear suspension.. is it that much stiffer?

I also think the rear viz is pretty poor in the hatch, combination of thick C pillars and spoiler, big objects not an issue but parking at work (low level fencing, can't see it at all), fully recommend reverse sensors though.

Security was an issue for me on previous cars, had a mondy estate and always had to leave the boot cover pulled over, but somebody mentioned that suggests you might have something worth thieving from the boot. Obviously no such issues with the hatch.

I bet you can't get a washing machine and a tumble dryer in the hatch

Dunno about that but you can def get a tumble dryer and a dishwasher in the hatch though....

Personally I prefer the looks of the estate and the rear visibility and parking is easier (the back of the car is pretty much the rear window). Also the practicality is slightly better - I couldn;t have popped down to Currys at Christmas to fetch a new fridge freezer in the hatch whereas I did in the estate...