Hi. After a long time in the wilderness (5 years!) I am looking to return to a used octavia estate. I want a vRS but we now live in the country and are quite isolated, so I wad eyeing up a 4x4 estate. Has anyone got any feedback on how good these are in floods, mud and ice? It's essentaly an Audi quattro isn't it.

Also, we have a dog which rides in the boot in a dog crate. I wanted to install the false floor that does not come as standard with either the cVS or the 4x4 - is this possible to retro fit to an estate car? I need it to lift the crate up so the door will open past the boot lip.

There doesent seem to be many used 4x4s about for my money so maybe I will get the vRS afterall but I would still need the false floor in the boot.

Thanks

If you are considering crossing water with any machine. lean firstly where the air intake is for the engine and second were any vulnerable electrics ECU are. If your diesel engine ingests water into the air intake then it could mean, say goodbye to the engine as water is not compressible and steel is. The con rods will get mangled and smash through the crankcase. I have seen this done. Petrol motors often stall before this happens. If you must cross and thing that it is just about OK, then open the bonnet and drape a sack or blanket over the radiator and front bumper, then close the bonnet. This will protect the radiator from getting damaged and hopefully push the water away from the air intake. This will only work while moving steadily. With 4x4 vehicles we normally try to establish a bow wave which we push in front of the car. This will occur as a fairly lowish but steady speed. this keeps the water out of the car interior. never crash at speed into deep water even if your sure that you can safely cross. doing so will smash the radiators including cooling, air conditioning and inter coolers if exposed to the force of water.

It is less likely to get stuck in rural areas if your sensible through snowed roads, depending on exact environment because their are less cars to get stuck behind. Winter tyres are worth buying in the winter and could be worth their weight in gold. At this time of the year it is sensible to carry things like sleeping bags, blankets, warm clothing, Wellington's torch, small supply of food and drinks etc just in case you do get stuck miles from any where. A tow rope and even better or as well as a collapsible tow pole. Know where the tow points are in advance. An all wheel drive car is an advantage but not essential good tyres can be.

Mine has been fine on ice so far, but I use winter/all-season tyres, so your experience may differ...

As for the Audi Quattro comment, depends. It's a 4x4 so in that sense it's the same, but it uses a different system to Quattro (not better or worse, just different). I believe Audi use viscous couplings, Octavias use Haldex clutches. Others may be along soon who know more about this though (I'm not very knowledgeable about Audi)!

Not sure about the variable floor, I ain't got one.

Have you tried looking for the Scout? It's 99% the same as the 4x4 Estate. Should be more of those about than the 4x4 Estate.

The dog cage is an interesting question. What sort of dog do you have? My Greyhound has a problem standing up in the back of the 4x4, because of the angle of the rear window. The VBF (false floor) is a mixed blessing. It is useful for losing all the odds and sods that clutter up the boot, but does reduce the height under the parcel shelf to a point where big things won't fit. I bought the VBF, but took it out to carry stuff over Christmas, and it's still in the hall!!

Not used mine much in poor conditions, but SWMBO has had it for the last week and seems happy. What driving I have done on ice and packed snow has convinced me that it was worthwhile!

Sadly my Labradour died before Christmas, but I used to carry her around quite successfully in our Scout. I do not have a cage but had a mesh dog guard and full bootliner fitted from HatchBag. Can't recommend the full tailored boot liner enough, this is the second estate car I have had one in and it is fantastic, you can also get it with an extra flap to trail over the bumper to stop scratches and muck. I certainly have not regretted not getting the VBF.

As far as the Scout goes it fantastic for rural life, great in Snow and Ice with winter tyres and loads of power for steep hills. I have driven off road in the UK and in Europe in the last year and never got stuck or out of my depth. I had a Discovery and a Subaru Outback prior to the Scout and have no regrets about moving.

Thanks guys. The dog is a larger than average springer spaniel. We use the crates to seperate dog from munchable people stuff like hats, gloves, boots , wellies etc - particularly usefull on holliday, and also to try and contain the hair and dirt.

We used to have a forrester but it was proving too costly and was a little high for the lazy dog to jump into.

Scouts are still a little too pricey for my pockets at present, and I was looking at the petrol 4x4 as it's performance looked to be better.

My present car is a 2.0 diesel Volvo v50 and it's getting on a bit. I find that I don't 'enjoy' driving the diesel, but that might just be down to the Volvo. Seems to be lots of changing gear which I get sick of.

On Monday I had to drIve on 4.5 miles of untreated slippy road to get to the main road which was a but hairy! This is the second winter of such conditions and we regularly get flooded roads of 12" water, so the 4x4 higher ground clearance should help.

I didn't measure when I looked, roughly how big is the boot lip? I was thinking 3" or so.

Ta

Edited 12 January, 201016 yr by shrops_paul

Hi

Placed lots of info on this subject over the last year this was on one posting.

We have a 30klo black retriever/ collie cross, travels in the back using a guard and a tray both supplied by Skoda. Can't fault the 4x4, its probably one of the largest estates in its class, so plenty of room. We drive between Croatia and Austria, and often car carries 2 adults+ dog + clothes + bags+ odd small tools, and odd plant or piece of furniture. What more can i say !!

Hi

Placed lots of info on this subject over the last year this was on one posting.

We have a 30klo black retriever/ collie cross, travels in the back using a guard and a tray both supplied by Skoda. Can't fault the 4x4, its probably one of the largest estates in its class, so plenty of room. We drive between Croatia and Austria, and often car carries 2 adults+ dog + clothes + bags+ odd small tools, and odd plant or piece of furniture. What more can i say !!

is that a 1.9 tdi?

Hi

Yes 1.9 tdi pd 4x4 now 2 yrs old

Scouts are still a little too pricey for my pockets at present, and I was looking at the petrol 4x4 as it's performance looked to be better.

Have you thought about the 1.9 TDi 4x4? On paper it looks slug-slow, but I've test-driven one and it's really quite a decent drive, if you aren't in a rush. Plenty of torque, so not much frantic gear changes. Plenty of folk on here with one, so ask about if you like...

The main reason I chose the 2.0TDi was I wanted to buy almost new, the price diff wasn't a problem and I wanted to make sure I was "future proofed" i.e. not stuck with a car that might be hard to sell in a few years. Although frankly, I was probably worrying unduly

Before you decide on a petrol engine I would suggest that you try a diesel. My only experience was with the wife's Doblo, which runs a van engine. I was immediately impressed by the 1.9Tdi, pulls like a train and happily goes on and ond. Only thing that slows it down is the caravan, when 6th gear doesn't do hills. The replacement 1.6CRD is as pwerful, and should be even smoother, and more econmical.

Can't fault the 4x4, its probably one of the largest estates in its class, so plenty of room.

I think the Octavia Estate in general is possibly the best family car pound-for-pound money can buy, and is one of the best even taking money out of the equation, if you believe the reviews.

As for the 4x4, I've been absolutely thrilled with mine this last year!

My Volvo is a 2.0 tdci (from ford I guess) with 140bhp so I was thinking the 1.9 vw unit would be a step back. You are right that I should drive one though.

It would be nice to get into a 2.0 scout but even a nationalsearch on auto trader returns only 16 hits starting at 15k

Sorry not much to contribute to the 4 x 4 debate; but just had to say a great couple of pics guys !!......loads better than some of the endless "Heres a pic of my new dashboard/wheelarch/engine bay" that seem to proliferate at times !

Have you thought about the 1.9 TDi 4x4? On paper it looks slug-slow, but I've test-driven one and it's really quite a decent drive, if you aren't in a rush.

Slugs are rarely in a rush in my experience.

Sorry not much to contribute to the 4 x 4 debate; but just had to say a great couple of pics guys !!......loads better than some of the endless "Heres a pic of my new dashboard/wheelarch/engine bay" that seem to proliferate at times !

There's plenty of dog-owner websites if you want pictures of dogs in cars

As for the TDi debate, why not get the 1.9TDi and get it remapped if you want extra power

There's plenty of dog-owner websites if you want pictures of dogs in cars

As for the TDi debate, why not get the 1.9TDi and get it remapped if you want extra power

You mean there were dogs in those pics ???

I had a 51 plate vRS hatch about 5 years ago and loved it. Hence I now want to comeback to skoda now used prces are within my range (I don't want to spend new on a dog car that will get a fairly hard life with us!)

I'll try and get some test drives done

Can vouch for the 4x4's ability in the snow and ice - very good indeed!

There will be a much loved 4x4 estate available real soon in the Birmingham area, trading for a Yeti. No faults / problems - trading at dealer.

My Volvo is a 2.0 tdci (from ford I guess) with 140bhp so I was thinking the 1.9 vw unit would be a step back. You are right that I should drive one though

I'd certainly try one before ruling them out. In performance terms, I'd probably have been perfectly happy with one.

quattro is full time mechanical 4 wheel drive with a torsen diff

Haldex, front wheel drive car with a prop shaft to a hydraulic clutch that uses a swash plate pump to generate pressure when theres a difference in speed between the two halfs of the clutch and thus close it

Both very capable systems

Edited 12 January, 201016 yr by dan_the_v8man

1.9 pd tdi 4 x 4 octavia is magic been using my sons in this bad weather and I have to say nothing has even worried it, stop starts on hills are no problem and it handles and drifts so well ....ahh ...... lots of fun.....and the 1.9 pd tdi engine will remap to 150 bhp with no problem.

Just another thought I think it comes with ESP as standard

Sorry not much to contribute to the 4 x 4 debate; but just had to say a great couple of pics guys !!......loads better than some of the endless "Heres a pic of my new dashboard/wheelarch/engine bay" that seem to proliferate at times !

Thanks, here are a few more to show you where you can go in a 4x4 or a Scout

The Scout ride height is slightly higher, but if you decide to get the Octy 4x4 there are plenty to be had on the auto trader site

My Volvo is a 2.0 tdci (from ford I guess) with 140bhp so I was thinking the 1.9 vw unit would be a step back. You are right that I should drive one though.

It would be nice to get into a 2.0 scout but even a nationalsearch on auto trader returns only 16 hits starting at 15k

Dad's got an Octavia 140 Tdi and i have a V50 2.0d("upgraded" from Mk1 Octavia). Octavia seems to pull better and gear ratios are longer. Boot is a much better size in the Octavia. We have a SpringerxLab and the dog crate in the V50 is a tight squeeze. Seats are better in the V50 which is why i did not go for Octy Scout am now considering Scout Facelift if seats are improved earlier models found upper part of back rest very uncomfortable.

Would say the Octavia engine much more flexible and variable servicing a bonus too versus Volvo 12500m/annual service. Thats 2 a year for me!! EEK

Edited 12 January, 201016 yr by loskie