I am having my first drive in an Octavia later this morning. It will be a 1.4 TSI (not sure which trim). I want to buy an estate car that is big enough for my Golden Retriever to fit into (a lot of the so called "lifestyle" estates have too tiny a load area). I recently drove the latest Passat which was way too big. Some years back I had the previous shape Passat and this was ideal for my needs and the current Octavia seems a similar size; as does the latest Golf Estate.The Golf costs more but the residuals are much better so there is an interesting comparison. I have owned many makes of car previously but have never had a Skoda.

I wouldn't expect a Skoda forum to recommend any other manufacturter alternatives - but feel free if you want to!

I do 6000 miles a year with a lot of cold starts/short journeys.Twice a month I do a 120 mile mainly motorway round trip. The VRS does look tempting but I don't think I could warrant all the extra cost so I am thinking of maybe Elegance trim with petrol engine (because of relatively low annual mileage).

Your forum is very interesting and I look forward to any comments and or advice!

The VRS does look tempting but I don't think I could warrant all the extra cost so I am thinking of maybe Elegance trim with petrol engine (because of relatively low annual mileage).

Doesn't the Elegance cost more than the vRS?

I would say go for the VRS but if you are still unsure ask your golden retriever, they are very sensible, bound to say yes.

Doesn't the Elegance cost more than the vRS?

not if it's the 1.4 engine!

I would say go for the VRS but if you are still unsure ask your golden retriever, they are very sensible, bound to say yes.

I don't want to turn this into a "dog" of a thread but my Retriever's main interests are load height, i.e. height of boot lip above floor (which rules our Yeti and other 4x4 creations) and space once inside. So, what I am really looking for is any guidance on engine choice/trim level and any essential extras that you guys would recommend. Of course at this stage pre test drive I am not sure if I will go ahead but if I like the car then I want to get a quote.

thx

ps Yes I also like VRS but plus £3K over an Elegance? and worse fuel consumption, higher road tax and insurance - not sure....

So, what I am really looking for is any guidance on engine choice/trim level and any essential extras that you guys would recommend.

That's what I ordered one month ago, if it is of any help, for me it was an optimum for 21.000€ (19.000 GBP)

I hope I'll get all the translation ok.

- Škoda Octavia Combi 1.4 TSI Elegance

+ metalic color (374€)

+ ALU Crateris R16 205/55 (181€)

+ Bolero radio (267€)

+ 12 spreaker system with digital EQ (341€)

+ Hill Hold (71€)

+ tyre pressure ... (50€)

+ heated water for cleaning windows (25€)

+ Light Assist paket (180€)

+ rear parking sensors (325€)

+ spare wheel (50€)

+ sunSet (138€)

+ multifunkcional leather steering wheel (154€)

Edited 12 March, 201016 yr by Tomson

+ Bolero radio (267€)

Bolero is standard in the UK.

+ heated water for cleaning windows (25€)

Not availabile in the UK :(

I'd agree on most of the others though.

It's very interesting to see how equipement varies from country to country, as some stuff is standard in Slovenia and not in UK and vice versa ...

As I pointed out, the equipement I listed is most important to me, so everyone should list their priorities ...

we orderd a 1.4 elegance estate back in January

There is currently a mismatch between what the brochure says and the website says, but the Elegance trim should (as far as we know) come with the Variable boot floor, which makes the boot level with the boot lip, but therefore obviously gives you a couple of inches less height in the boot. Plus because the false floor only covers the central section,and has gaps down the sides I guess that could be a dangerous for your dog getting their paws stuck.

Edited 12 March, 201016 yr by Wet Kipper

we orderd a 1.4 elegance estate back in January

There is currently a mismatch between what the brochure says and the website says, but the Elegance trim should (as far as we know) come with the Variable boot floor, which makes the boot level with the boot lip, but therefore obviously gives you a couple of inches less height in the boot. Plus because the false floor only covers the central section,and has gaps down the sides I guess that could be a dangerous for your dog getting their paws stuck.

I would recommend that you remove the variable boot floor, as it will then give you an extra 8" depth, not just a couple of inches. Also, get the boot liner, not the plastic boot dish, but the rubber liner.

I did the same comparison 2 years ago. Whilst basically the same car they have different options (Golf has side airbags but crap sound system, Octavia was other way round)

The ride is very different between the 2 cars with the Golf estate being much harder sprung and jittery than the Octavia - I had the benefit of having 2 demonstrators at the same time so drove teh Golf estate rouns a loop near work and then immediately drove the Octavia round the same loop. I preferred the Octavia's ride and ambience.

With side airbags and maxidot it was still £1000 (list) less than the Golf and about the same on the lease scheme.

I actually got an Elegance hatch and (short of the heated seats which were dropped from the options for a year or so and the options i added - maxidot, metallic and side airbags) has everything you could want - including a separate heater control for the wife!

Can't really comment on the engine as the only 1.4 petrol I have driven was the 170bhp version in the Golf GT.

I took delivery of a 1.8 tsi Estate SE spec on 1st March 2010. I think its a great car family car. The space in the boot is enough for a large dog and the engine I went for is more than enough to keep me interested. I also think that Skoda offer great value for money compared to other cars on the market. The build quality is superb and would even say its as good as an Audi (badge snobs have lost out!!!!). I went for the rubber boot cover as our dog will be going in there at some point.

If you're using your car for carrying a dog around, i'd recommend a fitted dog guard from someone like lintran or athag. I bought a double dog crate last year from athag and have never looked back, the dogs are nice and secure inside and really relaxed even on long journeys

Well, thanks to all for your very informative replies and I will respond to some of your comments, but first some feedback from the test drive.

I'll start with saying I can understand why Skoda Dealers get such high ratings in J D Power etc. Nothing was too much trouble in terms of time spent with me, answering questions about the car etc. I was given the 1.4 TSI Elegance demonstrator (hatchback) and was told to take it away for as long as I wanted. So, I was able to do some city driving, speed bumps, motorway and a little bit of the twisty stuff. This was in contrast to the VW garage which I visited this afternoon; had great difficulty getting parked and after standing around in the showroom for 10 minutes with nobody approaching me I took a brochure and left!

Back to the Octavia. Plus points were ride/handling/steering, great engine gearbox combination, plenty of kit such as climate, touch screen radio etc. Small minus was that the trim did not seem up to VW standards. OK, it is a cheaper car but they have to save the money somewhere. My biggest "concern" was road noise (car had Bridgestone tyres) which seemed ever present whatever the speed. The car was brand new, only 400 miles on the clock, not that that should influence things but I assume tyre pressures were OK. So, is it me being fussy - or is it a fair obsevation?

I liked the 1.4 engine but it is obvious the chassis can handle much more power and hence 1.8 TSI, vRS in the petrol range would be desireable but would have higher road tax. Also, I learnt petrol vRS depreciates much more than the diesel version and the majority of sales of this variant are now diesel.

Thank you for the comments on the variable boot floor. I would need to get that checked out as the ordinary boot with the boot liner would be adequate for my purposes.

So, what next? Well, I have a couple of weeks to think it over if I want to order in March and get the current "no VAT" offfer. Delivery incidentally has now moved to 12 weeks which presumably ties in with the reduction in factory capacity mentioned in the motoring press and elsewhere on this forum.

I still think the vRS seats are crap, but it might just be me :(

Delivery incidentally has now moved to 12 weeks which presumably ties in with the reduction in factory capacity mentioned in the motoring press and elsewhere on this forum.

Was it ever anything else? I think I waited 14 or 15 weeks for mine, collected over Christmas.

The only way you'll get one quicker is if your dealer can find you a matching car already in the system.

I still think the vRS seats are crap, but it might just be me :(

I think that's you! Although all Octavia rears are too upright

Was it ever anything else? I think I waited 14 or 15 weeks for mine, collected over Christmas.

The only way you'll get one quicker is if your dealer can find you a matching car already in the system.

I was lucky enough to find one this way. Mine is being built on March 29th

I took delivery of a 1.8 tsi Estate SE spec on 1st March 2010. I think its a great car family car. The space in the boot is enough for a large dog and the engine I went for is more than enough to keep me interested. I also think that Skoda offer great value for money compared to other cars on the market. The build quality is superb and would even say its as good as an Audi (badge snobs have lost out!!!!). I went for the rubber boot cover as our dog will be going in there at some point.

I disagree with the build quality, my Audi doesnt have any of the squeaks or rattles that my vRS had, also when you take it apart, it goes back together properly, its not put together with self tappers, everything bolts together. Don't get me wrong the Skoda's are very well put together and I'd have my vRS back in an instant if I saw it up for sale. The Skoda is deffinatly the sensible buy as the Audi, although put together better, is certainly not worth the premium price you pay for a better interior (and in some respects I prefer the Skoda design - Maxidot is better and more intuative than DIS you get in the Audi)

Reason I bought mine was for quattro. I wanted the 2.0TFSi with all wheel drive, something neither Skoda or VW currently offer. Really miss the boot space of the vRS estate though

"Reason I bought mine was for quattro. I wanted the 2.0TFSi with all wheel drive, something neither Skoda or VW currently offer. Really miss the boot space of the vRS estate though."

Sounds as if your next car needs to be a Superb 4x4, Dan!

I had considered it, but its not a proper quattro, only uses haldex. Next car im having will be 3.0 V6 TFSi or TDi in an A4/S4/A6 Avant

I had considered it, but its not a proper quattro, only uses haldex. Next car im having will be 3.0 V6 TFSi or TDi in an A4/S4/A6 Avant

I see you still have a desire to have something that goes like a train

Haven't you bought that A6 Avant yet then ?

In response to the OP; I have an Octavia Scout Estate and a (very large - about 50 kgs) Golden Retriever as well. There's plenty of room for him but as he is so big and has dodgy back legs he finds getting in difficult. compared to the RAV4 we used to have. As he likes to get very wet and very dirty I have ordered a Hatchbag bootliner with some extras - (http://www.hatchbag.co.uk/ ) but it hasn't arrived yet as they are clearing a backlog of orders so I can't comment on how good it is at containing his mess.

In response to the OP; I have an Octavia Scout Estate and a (very large - about 50 kgs) Golden Retriever as well. There's plenty of room for him but as he is so big and has dodgy back legs he finds getting in difficult. compared to the RAV4 we used to have. As he likes to get very wet and very dirty I have ordered a Hatchbag bootliner with some extras - (http://www.hatchbag.co.uk/ ) but it hasn't arrived yet as they are clearing a backlog of orders so I can't comment on how good it is at containing his mess.

I think the Scout as a 4x4 has a higher ride height than the 2 wheel drive versions of the Octavia Estate; not sure by how much. Surprised it is higher than a RAV4, or is it just that your dog is getting older which is why he finds it difficult to get in? Boot liner is a good idea and as a minimum in any car the rubber floor covering is a must for coping with soggy doggy.

I see you still have a desire to have something that goes like a train Haven't you bought that A6 Avant yet then ?

If i had the cash id be driving it now, but my A4 is on finance so id have to clear that to get rid of it and then buy the A6. Think I may just save some cash and swap next year at the dealers instead, missing out on a really good car though :( its perfect