Hi everybody,

I am currently changing jobs and require a 4x4 for access to remote substations, which should be mainly dirt tracks not too rutty. I am looking to spend around 20k and have narrowed down the field to the Octavia Scout and the Hyundai Santa FE, although my preference is towards the Scout after reading these forums. I will be looking to do around 20k miles a year and plan to keep the car 3 years. With the difficulty of trying to find a used scout at a reasonable price i want to look what i can get for my money with a new car as they don't appear to lose much value in the first year.

Looking at Drive the Deal i can get an Octavia 2.0TDI CR with the following options;

Front parking sensor

Space Saver wheel

Bi-Xenon Headlights with adaptive front light system

LED daytime running lights

17 isch polished proteus

4 spoke multifunction steering wheel with audio / phone control. blutooth + maxidot

Alcantara upholstery

electric drivers seat with memory

Metallic paint - Anthracite grey

on the road at £20,805.74

Are any of the above options just not worth the money or are there better options to choose? I have never bought a new car before and could maybe scrape 50% deposit to take advantage of the 2 years interest free finance option, are there any local dealers who would match drive the deal or anyone who has experience of buying through them.

Overall any advice appreciated

Hi everybody,

I am currently changing jobs and require a 4x4 for access to remote substations, which should be mainly dirt tracks not too rutty. I am looking to spend around 20k and have narrowed down the field to the Octavia Scout and the Hyundai Santa FE, although my preference is towards the Scout after reading these forums. I will be looking to do around 20k miles a year and plan to keep the car 3 years. With the difficulty of trying to find a used scout at a reasonable price i want to look what i can get for my money with a new car as they don't appear to lose much value in the first year.

Looking at Drive the Deal i can get an Octavia 2.0TDI CR with the following options;

Front parking sensor

Space Saver wheel

Bi-Xenon Headlights with adaptive front light system

LED daytime running lights

17 isch polished proteus

4 spoke multifunction steering wheel with audio / phone control. blutooth + maxidot

Alcantara upholstery

electric drivers seat with memory

Metallic paint - Anthracite grey

on the road at £20,805.74

Are any of the above options just not worth the money or are there better options to choose? I have never bought a new car before and could maybe scrape 50% deposit to take advantage of the 2 years interest free finance option, are there any local dealers who would match drive the deal or anyone who has experience of buying through them.

Overall any advice appreciated

Hi Jim.

I am not a Scout driver so cannot help you too much there; but knowing this place others will pitch in with good advice soon !!

In terms of your selected extras, it seems you have made some good choices but do you really need an electric seat ?? unless it is standard I would save your pennies !

I have never gone thorouh DtD but purchase my Skodas from Savilles nr Kidderminster and can highly reccomend them, and not too far from mid Wales either ?? it might be worth a ride out and a chat ?

I maybe should have had Maxidot on mine, but would only have used it once to setup hijack locks. But people swear by it.

I maybe should have had Xenons on mine, but still think hey are a lot of money. But people swear by them.

I had electric seats on my last car and decided against them, they are just too slow and the wife and I share a key rather than have one each.

This is my first car with heated seats, and I love them.

I would not have a car w/o rear parking sensors, but I can't see the point in front ones.

The Alcantara is great.

I would def add Maxidot and Variable boot to that order. Heated Seats great in winter of course.

Ah yes. VBF - a must have for me. Create a cavity underneath it precisely the same height as the diameter of a bottle of wine, and two pockets either side also as wide as the diameter of a bottle of wine and long enough to carry 5 bottle in either side without any risk of movement.

Ah yes. VBF - a must have for me. Create a cavity underneath it precisely the same height as the diameter of a bottle of wine, and two pockets either side also as wide as the diameter of a bottle of wine and long enough to carry 5 bottle in either side without any risk of movement.

All about keeping the alcohol safe

I maybe should have had Maxidot on mine, but would only have used it once to setup hijack locks. But people swear by it.

It's worth getting the Maxidot if you think you might want to install the factory bluetooth in the future.

Some dealers will match DTD, I found one who did. Also worth noting DTD only give 6 months tax, most dealers give 12

If you add the steering wheel with Radio controls it comes with Maxidot anyway as you have spotted so you already have that.

Variable boot floor is really really good, we had it on the last Octy & added it again on this, handy for keeping all those silly little odds & sods, coats & room for a handbag or Laptop if you park, as foo has also said its exactly a wine bottle deep or a lot of bottles coming back from france although it will never match the 24 cases we got in the Superb

Front parking sensors, its really easy to see the front so probably a luxuary but you will regret not having them the day you dink the bumper.

We added Alcantara & it came with a leccy drivers seat & mirrors so double check thats not included, no point paying twice (or were we lucky), Heated seats are also includeed with Alcantara & Well worth it. Wendys Abarth dosent have them & its a real pain in the winter having got used to them in the other cars

Great choice of car by the way, we absolutely love ours, the only thing I would have said is Arctic Green but Im biased

With regard to your list...

Front parking sensor - not needed (turn the headlights on and judge how close you are using them)

Space Saver wheel - if you are in remote places then surely a must!

LED daytime running lights - I thought these were now standard?

17 inch polished proteus - if you are off-roading then I'd have thought you'd be better with smaller diameter standard wheels and proper tyres

4 spoke multifunction steering wheel with audio / phone control. blutooth + maxidot - I have the MFSW and it's great.

Alcantara upholstery - leather may be easier to keep clean?

electric drivers seat with memory - I've always found them a pain.

Metallic paint - Anthracite grey - nice colour and the Scout I saw recently in anthracite looked great.

To the above I'd add:

Heated seats if it is a diesel as they are slow to warm up.

The rear armrest and through-load facility if it is not already there (I use it a surprising amount).

Towbar

Luggage nets etc.

Mudflaps

Cruise control

With regard to your list...

Front parking sensor - not needed (turn the headlights on and judge how close you are using them)

Space Saver wheel - if you are in remote places then surely a must!

LED daytime running lights - I thought these were now standard?

17 inch polished proteus - if you are off-roading then I'd have thought you'd be better with smaller diameter standard wheels and proper tyres

4 spoke multifunction steering wheel with audio / phone control. blutooth + maxidot - I have the MFSW and it's great.

Alcantara upholstery - leather may be easier to keep clean?

electric drivers seat with memory - I've always found them a pain.

Metallic paint - Anthracite grey - nice colour and the Scout I saw recently in anthracite looked great.

To the above I'd add:

Heated seats if it is a diesel as they are slow to warm up.

The rear armrest and through-load facility if it is not already there (I use it a surprising amount).

Towbar

Luggage nets etc.

Mudflaps

Cruise control

Based on ours ordered in Feb so assuming specs havent changed BUT CHECK !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Leather isnt an option or I would have had it but Alcantara is better than I had hoped & incldes the bum heaters. If leather is now an option I wouls still go for it, our last car was sold with 165K on it & the interior was in great condition

Rear rest & throughload is included

Luggage nets , we got 3, still havent worked out which go where

Towbar, Ive been quoted £450 aftermarket, the Skoda one + all the factory fit wiring will see you kissing goodbye to 1K+

Cruise is included as std

My info was based on the brochure dated 25th May 2010.

This is good advice, i guess people who may have ordered one after may might not have received their vehicle yet!

it sounds like if you go for the Alcantra upholstry you get electric seats? thats not in the brochure.

something i had missed out on was curtain airbags for an extra £246, with 2 little ones in the back would it make a big difference?

the LED running light replace the foglights and as i may be out in the sticks a bit thought they may be a good idea?

so getting rid of the electric seats and front parking sensors and adding curtain airbags comes to £20,057

something i had missed out on was curtain airbags for an extra £246, with 2 little ones in the back would it make a big difference?

If you crash, it could make a massive difference. I live out in the sticks (kinda) and have to use a lot of old narrow sunken lanes, it is potentially easy to roll a car. I have a little-un and so ordered the side airbags.

purchase my Skodas from Savilles nr Kidderminster and can highly reccomend them

Sorry can't say the same - we've tried to purchase 4 (if not 5) new Skodas from Savilles (including 2 at the same time), each time they have been the most expensive and not willing to move or do any sort of deal. Talking to other local Skoda owners this seems to be common

Servicing seems to be OK, but be aware of there masive mileage charge for a loan car.