Sorry if its been discussed before, but I saw an 09 Octavia Estate today, and I'm sure it was a pre facelift model! It was a taxi and it caught my eye (passed by twice) and I immediately noticed how much nicer it looked than the facelift version.

Was I hallucinating?

No.

They still sell the Mk1 octavia for taxi use as well

Sorry if its been discussed before, but I saw an 09 Octavia Estate today, and I'm sure it was a pre facelift model! It was a taxi and it caught my eye (passed by twice) and I immediately noticed how much nicer it looked than the facelift version.

Was I hallucinating?

Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.

Just out of interest the Octy I is still available in India and is called - "Octavia".

The Octy II is also available and is called - " Laura"

Perfectly possible to have an 09 pre facelift, but it would have to have been a very early 09, particularly if it have been sat around for a few weeks waiting to be registered.

I know I will probably be shot down here...

... but I am positive I saw an "08" Mark I Octavia on the A19 in Teeside recently, it was silver and in a local taxi firm's livery.

I never mentioned it on here as I thought I must have been mistaken!

I know I will probably be shot down here...

... but I am positive I saw an "08" Mark I Octavia on the A19 in Teeside recently, it was silver and in a local taxi firm's livery.

I never mentioned it on here as I thought I must have been mistaken!

probably an octavia "tour" still being made for the taxi companies

I've got a 59' pre facelift..........

Edited 22 March, 201016 yr by wardth

I've got a 59' pre facelift..........

I reckon that will be a rare sight!

I know I will probably be shot down here...

... but I am positive I saw an "08" Mark I Octavia on the A19 in Teeside recently, it was silver and in a local taxi firm's livery.

I never mentioned it on here as I thought I must have been mistaken!

Theres an echo in here ???

:rofl:

As can be seen from the my car bit at the side, I have an '09 plate pre facelift Octavia, Looking at the sticker in the car and the one in the service book, I think it was made during week 40 in 2008, so I think it was one of the last made for stock before the factory changed over to facelift production, it was then probably held in a compound somewhere until the first owner decided it was the spec for him and bought it as it was registered at the end of April in 2009.

Ian.

Edited 22 March, 201016 yr by countryboy

Theres an echo in here ???

You commented Mk I's were still being manufactured. I mentioned that I saw one, not sure how that's an echo?

You commented Mk I's were still being manufactured. I mentioned that I saw one, not sure how that's an echo?

Same horse, different jockey........

Same horse, different jockey........

You said it!

I've seen 09 Mk1 Octavias, again as taxi's

I think I might have even seen a 59, but I'm not sure.

Why do you think this is?

I'm struggling to think of any benefits of keeping the Mk I in production when the Mk II is essentially the same car just freshened up?

Surely there would be a cost increase by:

1) Having to run additional production lines

2) Increased component inventories

3) High cost prices on parts due to smaller quantites?

I'm thinking the original purchase price, running costs and reliability would be at the top of a taxi drivers requirements... does any of this change between the Mk I and Mk II?

I'm thinking the original purchase price, running costs and reliability would be at the top of a taxi drivers requirements... does any of this change between the Mk I and Mk II?

Theres your answer right there.

Least thats what I was told

You can still buy them new in Eire. Used to be about 5K cheaper than the latest ones. Which makes a good sense as a reliable workhorse I would imagine.

I guess they are not such a bargain there now due to the Euro exchange rate!

Theres your answer right there.

Least thats what I was told

Are you saying that the Mk I has lower running costs and is more reliable than the Mk II?

If not, why continue with the Mk I if there is no real benefit?

Thats what I was told some time back, the mk1 is proven as a taxi with many doing a zillion mile and needing nothing changed, from what I gather the mk2 wasn't as resiliant.

You can still buy them new in Eire. Used to be about 5K cheaper than the latest ones. Which makes a good sense as a reliable workhorse I would imagine.

I guess they are not such a bargain there now due to the Euro exchange rate!

Just out of interest the Octy I is still available in India and is called - "Octavia".

The Octy II is also available and is called - " Laura"

Theres definately an echo in here now :p

Why do you think this is?

I'm struggling to think of any benefits of keeping the Mk I in production when the Mk II is essentially the same car just freshened up?

Surely there would be a cost increase by:

1) Having to run additional production lines

2) Increased component inventories

3) High cost prices on parts due to smaller quantites?

I'm thinking the original purchase price, running costs and reliability would be at the top of a taxi drivers requirements... does any of this change between the Mk I and Mk II?

The MK I continues in production in certain areas and offers the following advantages financially.

Initial development costs have been recovered.

Tooling design and production costs has been written off.

Dealer training is already in place with all necessary support items

An older technology which allows for easier maintenance in certain markets

The above principal items, and others, allow the MK I to be sold at an attractive market price in countries which

are not so sensitive to market trends

This is quite common practice among a number of large manufacturers.