I have arranged to pick up my new Octavia on Wednesday, a black 1.8 TSi Elegance with DSG, I'm not quite as excited as I was when I picked up my new Alfa Brera (which I was glad to get rid of), but I'm still pretty excited.

The only extra is heated seats as the car was already built and I am having a boot spoiler fitted as I am not sure what other dealer accessories to go for yet or if these are available anywhere else apart from the dealers.

By the way does anyone know if it is possible to fit a TomTom SatNav in the recess on the top of the dash, I can't remember how big it is?

I use my Navman in the dash-top recess, fits well.

I use my Navman in the dash-top recess, fits well.

Do you just wedge it in and is there a way to get the power cable up behind the dash?

I wedge it in. Fine with battery use but Navman cable fits in on bottom of unit so can't use the dash recess with the cable attached - I'm going to try making a sort of hard foam mount for it to sit into with a cable cut-out.

I wedge it in. Fine with battery use but Navman cable fits in on bottom of unit so can't use the dash recess with the cable attached - I'm going to try making a sort of hard foam mount for it to sit into with a cable cut-out.

Great idea, I was thinking along the same lines as the battery on my TomTom is useless so I will have to use the cable.

My battery lasts about 2 to 2 1/2 hours if I'm lucky, despite Navman claim of 5 hours!

If I accelerate suddenly, it can fall out so I need to get on with making the base.

I might consider one of these satnav weighted mats that you just plonk on the top of the dash and the satnav fits on top using its sucker mount, but using the dash recess is neater.

I'd recommend the Arkon range of TomTom mounts, rock solid, good quality. I put my TTG 720 at the bottom right of the windscreen, that way it's not in the line of vision.

I've been considering buying a 1.8 tsi Elegance Estate, but have never owned a Skoda before and mydealer hasn't managed to get me a car to test drive yet.

It would be great to hear what you think of your new car.

I've been considering buying a 1.8 tsi Elegance Estate, but have never owned a Skoda before and mydealer hasn't managed to get me a car to test drive yet.

It would be great to hear what you think of your new car.

I test drove both a 1.8 manual and a 1.4dsg as well as the 2.0 PD and CR diesels before I made up my mind, both from Meadens in the New Forest. The best drive of them all was the 1.4dsg estate which was the smoothest car I have ever driven and there was probably more than enough pulling power, but I didn't want to get anything much slower than my current Alfa which is why I choose the 1.8, and the DSG actually improves the mpg and its faster on paper than the VRS diesel. This will be my first Skoda and although the mpg is not as good as the diesel you can still only get the rougher PD engine in anything other than a VRS and I don't do enough miles to cover the additional cost of the car. Good luck with your final choice

I test drove both a 1.8 manual and a 1.4dsg as well as the 2.0 PD and CR diesels before I made up my mind, both from Meadens in the New Forest. The best drive of them all was the 1.4dsg estate which was the smoothest car I have ever driven and there was probably more than enough pulling power, but I didn't want to get anything much slower than my current Alfa which is why I choose the 1.8, and the DSG actually improves the mpg and its faster on paper than the VRS diesel. This will be my first Skoda and although the mpg is not as good as the diesel you can still only get the rougher PD engine in anything other than a VRS and I don't do enough miles to cover the additional cost of the car. Good luck with your final choice

I like this! Just about to order this in Elegance trim to replace my current 1.9PD.

Just remember that the 1,8TSi doesn't have the torque that the diesel will have so you maybe slightly disappointed (I know I was), it needs to be worked slightly more & sometimes to do a quick overtake you may need to select the Sport mode as the DSG doesn't always respond fast enough.

Just remember that the 1,8TSi doesn't have the torque that the diesel will have so you maybe slightly disappointed (I know I was), it needs to be worked slightly more & sometimes to do a quick overtake you may need to select the Sport mode as the DSG doesn't always respond fast enough.

Yes, there was a big difference between sport mode and normal and I assume that the 0-60 time is based on the Sport Mode, but I guess that this could also be measured using the gear box in manual. I have changed backwards and forwards between petrol and diesel a few times and know that it takes some time to adjust but I have never had an automatic before, however the 1.4 didn't seem to have much lag at all.

I can also put this into perspective as my brother let me have a go in his new Audi RS6, (10 cyls, 580+ bhp 0-60 4.3 secs), and everything feels slow by comparison.

Well I'm of to collect the new car in a couple of hours from Sway in the New Forest, and its a beautiful sunny day so may take the long route home.

Just remember that the 1,8TSi doesn't have the torque that the diesel will have so you maybe slightly disappointed (I know I was), it needs to be worked slightly more & sometimes to do a quick overtake you may need to select the Sport mode as the DSG doesn't always respond fast enough.

I've just gone from diesel to 1.8TSI DSG - and have never had cause to use sports mode. I find it incredibly quick to overtake - just floor the accelerator and it behaves in a (very positive) way that no diesel that I have owned in 25 years (including Octy) can compete. I loved the driving properties of diesel engines but find this TSI engine to include all those properties and some more. Might be just my driving style but I've never noticed any delays with DSG.