Hi Guys,

New to this forum, although I have been lurking for a little while. What a knowledgeable lot you are, so I hope you don't mind me picking your brains.

I am thinking of replacing my car 7 year old BMW 325ti Sport Its great but getting old and expensive to run. I also find my self not requiring the ultimate driving machine any more not mention I also don't want to have to walk when it snows ;-)

Prime candidate is an Octavia 1.8 TSI Elegance. (Good balance of toys and pace at a good price). I have test driven a 1.4 TSI and whilst I found it quite good it did lack the mid range punch I though the 1.8 would give me, having previously owned a MK IV Golf GTI 1.8T.

I have decided on getting the following options.

Metalic paint – Rosso Brunello (Red)

MFSW & Maxidot

Spare ( actually would a Elegance alloy fit I the well? If so could I buy an extra wheel / tire?)

But not sure if I should order these :-

Front parking sensors? - How do they work? Any good for helping with very tight parallel parking?

Sports suspension & wheel upgrade - 16†alloys look small on an Octavia this appears to be the only way to upgrade the alloys. However I don't want a very hard ride.

ESP – Not had a car without this for a while and the 1.8 TSI is quite quick. Is it needed or do other functions almost cover this (ASR?, MSR?)?

Anyway I will try and get a test drive on of a 1.8 TSI (not so easy), but has anyone any views on my choice and can help me decide on what options to choose.

Thanks

Simon

Edited 29 January, 201016 yr by SBirch

Welcome

I would go for the ESP and keep the wheel size no greater than 17" TBH

No ESP in an Elegance? wt*

And furthermore Xenon, Xenon, and dont forget to order the Xenon.

No ESP in an Elegance? wt*

And furthermore Xenon, Xenon, and dont forget to order the Xenon.

Digidoctor,

Yes no ESP I checked with the dealer when I had the test drive of the 1.4 TSI.

Sorry not a big fan of Xenons, after being on the receiving end of them, also I have frends that have had BIG bills when they go wrong.

Simon

Right..

I put on mine:

Maxidot - Why this isn't standard I don't know, makes adjustments easy.

Sport Suspension & 17" Pallas Alloys - Nice ride, firm but not overly hard or harsh.

Xenon's - Brilliant lights.

DSG - Great in the wet, dry or frost - USELESS IN SNOW!

Rear Parking Sensors - Brilliant little bit of technology that's saved me £'s.

ESP - Comes with the DSG box, as does Hill Hold if you have a DSG box, so don't order it if you take the DSG box option.

The one that I should have put on:

Spare Wheel - Order it & you'll get the toolkit as well.

If your not going for DSG make sure you add ESP, its a must. The sports suspension/ pegasus option is money well spent, its not just lowering springs, you get uprated shocks and a heavier ARB, it really gives the car a quality feel. If you like your music the sound system is fantastic.

But the ESP is a must.

You cant even sell a hand cart without ESP in Germany. It is surprisingly enough that Xenon isnt standard with the sports version of the Octavia. But 18" alloys with Elegance and no ESP as standard is ridiculous.

You cant even sell a hand cart without ESP in Germany. It is surprisingly enough that Xenon isnt standard with the sports version of the Octavia. But 18" alloys with Elegance and no ESP as standard is ridiculous.

I think it only comes with 16" as standard and only the Vrs and L&K get ESP as standard. I agree with you, I think all cars regardless of price or class should have ESP as standard, I know it will impact on prices but the technology is there and it saves lives.

I think it only comes with 16" as standard and only the Vrs and L&K get ESP as standard. I agree with you, I think all cars regardless of price or class should have ESP as standard, I know it will impact on prices but the technology is there and it saves lives.

Sorry, I may mixed up Octavia/Superb Elegance.

OK I think I will add ESP.

What about front parking sensors? I would only need them for very tight parallel parking how do they activate? I have only had rear sensors before.

Simon

I can't see the point in making the car noisier and more uncomfortable by adding bigger wheels (ergo lower profile tyres) just because they look better in the arches. If you want the car to look better, why not a VRS? Then you get the toys anyway.

I must say, even after nearly 3 yrs of Octy ownership, I still can't judge the front end. Its something to do with pedestrian safety regulations forcing manufacturers to have more rounded bonnets I suppose. But I would baulk at paying for front sensors. The rear ones (standard on Elegance) are paranoid frankly.

Got to have onyx cows bottom and heated seats. The seat fabric stains if you just look at it, I swear. Honestly, its a pain.

Xenons are pretty expensive and satnav is a monstrous waste of money given that it doesn't do full postcodes. Why is that exactly?

Just my two penn'th!

the dill

Just picked up my 1.8TSi L & K today... long wait but worth it.

So far very impressed with this engine - extremely flexible and pulls really well in all gears (it tells you when to change!!!) . Hope the economy is going to be OK as I've come from Diesel.

I think if you spec up an Elegance you are going to be in L & K money territory...

I've had 58 1.8TSi Elegance hatch for 14 months and it is just brilliant (and SFAIK has ESP - I didn't order it as an extra - handled pretty good in the snow recently and has the dashboard light).

Engine is great, hardly ever use all the punch and when I do it goes like a rocket.

No front parking sensors added - never seem to miss them - rear ones are standard and excellent.

Only extras were the other mudflaps, and carpet mats - got them all for nothing anyway.

Economy on motorway - by the time you have done an hour or so at roughly 60 to 70 you should be just over 40 mpg according to my read outs. At lower steady speeds it gets to mid forties.

Drive harder and it is mid to high thirties. I use 99 petrol