Hello I have just joined the forum as I am soon to be the owner of a New Octavia 2. For collection in the new year. If anyone has a picture of one in red I would like very much to see it.

Hello and Welcome to the party that is Briskoda,

sorry haven't got a picture but looking forward to reading your report about it once you've got it.

Which version did you go for?

I had no intention of buying a new car but my Mk3 Golf met with a premeature ending thanks to being rear ended by a Scania Rigid so I originally went on the look out for a 01 to 03 Octavia 1 1.4 but was whooed over by the smooth talking salesman who was originally offering a brilliant deal on the current model. Its true that at this time of year many dealerships are keen to make up numbers and will go far to get your business.

If anyone is in the market for the current model there are good deals to be made and they have just updated the spec, putting many of the extras from the Elegance into the Ambiente - leather trim, arm rest, upholstery, Air Con, Console change. Or at least that is the case here in Ireland although there was probably always a pretty high standard spec in the UK. We tend to suffer a low spec due to the high initial costs and ridiculously high purchase Tax. I expect these deals are likely to go on into next year as the current model will be on sale for at least a year. Though there are significant differences between dealers here in Ireland. Current Ambientes are going for less than the price of a classic and that includes metallic paint etc. There were never many Elegance on the road here.

As regards the new model I am going for a bog standard 1,4 Classic in red. But content none the less as I never intended getting a new car but the prices are very reasonable for what you get - It is quiet a leap in my opinion and the Classic comes with a better spec than earlier models. In Ireland The exterior is lacking the colour coded mirriors, door handles and spot lights and they dont come with the plastic trim on the doors like the ambiente - this must be bought separate at