I can't agree with that at all. I test drove a current shape Mondeo and the lateral support in the seats was just appalling - they were just designed to be comfortable for fat people.

I meant performance fords, ie. ST or RS models.

I suspect that the 'value' you give the insurance is a ruse to bump up your premium. If you have a write off the ins company will look to CAP etc to get the valuation not what you've put in.

I think you are right but GAP insurance will make up the shortfall to invoice or replacement depending on your policy.

The ford is more money and smaller - I can't see any reason to choose one over a vRS.

Emmm Customer Service?? Something Skoda is severly lacking in right accross the board.

Ford Dealer Vs Skoda. I've had a Skoda dealer swear at me and hang up the phone when I didn't buy from him. Ford dealers have all been fine to me, even Arnold Clark in Aberdeen.

GlenFord in Forfar are nice to deal with if not the cheapest. MacRae and D1ck in Perth have always been ok to speak with too.

Couldnt agree more, Every Skoda dealer round about me has been awful either in person or on the phone.

One other advantage of the Focus ST.... electric folding mirrors!!! Why you used to be able to specify them on certain Octy models, before they were removed from the options list, is a backward step in progress in my book!

You're not convincing me about this OTR nonsense. You're telling me you're gonna ignore a £3k to £4k price diff because it 'might' get written off and skoda 'might' ditch the VAT offer?

As for the insignia, It's certainly better looking than the Ford, and possibly better looking than the Octy too.

And no, I haven't quite made up my mind about it yet. I'd like to test drive one, as well as a used Insignia VXR estate (my budget's about 25k) before making my mind up. Crikey, i've gone and shot myself in the foot and set myself up for some Vauxhall-bashing now!!!

I was set to get a vxr opposed to vrs - test drive one - too heavy, too thirsty and feels just as quick as the Octavia despite having 120bhp more. It is however a very good handling barge.

Brake disks will also make you're eyes water... When you have to replace the fronts every 20k at £1000+ a time. I think theres a reason you don't see many on the road.

Get the Focus!

Think I would rather get an Octy vRS + Stage 1 = 245bhp and save a few grand.

I've ummed and arred a lot about cars lately, and a vRS Octy TSI Is what I will have next. Period.

I have to admit to being a badge snob so would rule the Ford out on that basis.

Ha ha! How times have changed!

+1

I'd be tempted by the Focus if it was me

I would completely ignore any claimed MPG by ANY manufacturers brochures, as they are no where near real world figures & based on my experience of my last 3 new cars ( Skoda included) to be completely fictional.

Scout around forums & ask what people are really getting & regardless of what people say, drive the car you would like to buy 1st before committing,

Having had a Mondeo as a hire car for 3 days, & all the praise it got in the press, I really could not see what was so special about the day to day running of the car, to me it felt no better than the Fabia vRS I had at the time,the perception of how good cars are is personal.

It's worth checking Spiritmonitor, Honest John or just googling for 'real world mpg'.

I often beat the official mpg for my VRS but I know that's the exception rather than the rule and most other cars I've had have been about 10% off. That gap seems to be getting bigger these days.

Edited 13 June, 201214 yr by Aspman

One other advantage of the Focus ST.... electric folding mirrors!!! Why you used to be able to specify them on certain Octy models, before they were removed from the options list, is a backward step in progress in my book!

?? They came as standard on the 2012 1.8 tsi I just bought

Emmm Customer Service?? Something Skoda is severly lacking in right accross the board.

Couldnt agree more, Every Skoda dealer round about me has been awful either in person or on the phone.

I can only speak for my Skoda dealer and they are excellent which is one of the reasons I keep coming back. Silbury Skoda near Newcastle.

About point 2), the OTR price is very important. Put it this way, if you went and collected a new vRS today, and benefited from the VAT-free price, would you insure it at the value of the OTR price or the VAT-free price? I wouldn't want to risk insuring it at the VAT-free price, given that it's a temporary offer that could be withdrawn at any time. Can you imagine if the offer was withdrawn at the end of today, and you wrote it off tomorrow? I think you'd have a fight on your hands with the insurance company about making up the shortfall.

About point 4), is it an estate that you've got? Many on this forum, me included, have found that the road noise on the estate is unsatisfactorily loud, especially from the boot area. Owners have had to resort to adding extra sound insulation to minimise it, thus adding extra cost and weight.

And no, I haven't quite made up my mind about it yet. I'd like to test drive one, as well as a used Insignia VXR estate (my budget's about 25k) before making my mind up. Crikey, i've gone and shot myself in the foot and set myself up for some Vauxhall-bashing now!!!

For 25k you are into second hand S4 territory. That's where my money would go, not on a Ford or Vauxhall!

Edited 13 June, 201214 yr by Guest

I had a Mk1 Focus before my Octy and loved it. The only thing that puts me off a new Ford now is the design of the interior - this button heavy mobile phone styled design with acres of cheap looking fake-metal trim. Mercedes are awful for this as well (I tested a C-class estate and thought it was well below par compared to the L&K estate). This is one thing Skoda (& VAG in general) have got right IMO - nice clean touchscreen and simple controls. Shame they haven't sorted the drive and so many people feel they need to change suspension and chip engines to get a decent drive but at least you can modify those, it's a damn sight harder to restyle a car interior!

DTD gave me a price of £27,600 on an Focus estate ST3 which has a similar spec in terms of options to my vRS. Nothing wrong with a Focus but I fully agree with Jonno VRs on this one.

?? They came as standard on the 2012 1.8 tsi I just bought

Yes, but not available on UK vRS's.

I can only speak for my Skoda dealer and they are excellent which is one of the reasons I keep coming back. Silbury Skoda near Newcastle.

I can vouch that Silbury Skoda are excellent; that's where I got mine from and would have no hesitation in returning if I was to get another Skoda. Edinburgh-based Skoda dealers, whilst pleasant enough, couldn't offer the deal that Silbury offered. The 100 mile trip to fetch it was no hardship especially when I had the prospect of the A697 on the return home.

For 25k you are into second hand S4 territory. That's where my money would go, not on a Ford or Vauxhall!

True, and it's been another one of my considerations, but that'd only stretch to an older, leggier version that's out of warranty.

DTD gave me a price of £27,600 on an Focus estate ST3 which has a similar spec in terms of options to my vRS. Nothing wrong with a Focus but I fully agree with Jonno VRs on this one.

It'd be the ST2 that i'd go for which is approx. £25k. Sometimes it's worth paying a premium for something with a higher specification.

Have had in the family a couple of Octy II, an Octy I, a Golf MKIV, a focus MK I and a focus MK II.

Reliability: Focus MK I, Focus MK II then Octy's then Golf.

Feel inside - Yes the Octy does feel a bit nicer, but not much over the MK II Focus.

Handling - Focus every time, then MK II Octy, then golf and MK I Octy similarly.

The fords are good reliable cars.

My old vRS spent quite a bit of time at dealers for repairs to wheel alignment, DPF, engine mount, suspension bushes, ECU, injector and loom issues.

I would not call it reliable nor the dealers competent.

I will consider the Focus when I can get rid of my co. car.

Also, I too would like an S4 if I had £24k to spend but you can't compare a 5 year old used car with a brand new one. In fact, with that logic, I'd have a 997 Carrera 2 for £24.

The remap issue to match the new STs 250bhp will also invalidate your warranty and complicate insurance so that is not a fair comparison.

Steve

My old vRS spent quite a bit of time at dealers for repairs to wheel alignment, DPF, engine mount, suspension bushes, ECU, injector and loom issues.

I would not call it reliable nor the dealers competent.

I will consider the Focus when I can get rid of my co. car.

Also, I too would like an S4 if I had £24k to spend but you can't compare a 5 year old used car with a brand new one. In fact, with that logic, I'd have a 997 Carrera 2 for £24.

The remap issue to match the new STs 250bhp will also invalidate your warranty and complicate insurance so that is not a fair comparison.

Steve

You get a 2 year old S4 for that money with average miles so in my view it is a valid comparison. If the ST was priced similar to the vrs then it would worth considering if you so desired a Ford.

All the ones I see for around or less than £24k are a bit more than average miles!

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/search/used/cars/audi/s4/postcode/ca286th/radius/1500/body-type/estate/maximum-age/up_to_3_years_old/sort/default

All with one year left of warranty and much higher running costs than a £24k new car.

Steve

All the ones I see for around or less than £24k are a bit more than average miles!

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/search/used/cars/audi/s4/postcode/ca286th/radius/1500/body-type/estate/maximum-age/up_to_3_years_old/sort/default

All with one year left of warranty and much higher running costs than a £24k new car.

Steve

You need to be patient and look around like I was for a while but decided against it so stopped looking.

i think the ST estate looks like a good car, its a lot more modern looking compared to the current octavia maybe we shouldnt compare to the current octy but wait till new model arrives.

i know a few people with st's and they all love them apart from the mpg issues, but that looks like it has been addressed in the new model.

i think the the interior is a little fussy but very sporty, the octy vrs wont come with recaro's , and a dash pod with boost and oil temp gauge etc. fords have always had a good pedigree with there sporty models and are definitely a contender for my next car.

Brake disks will also make you're eyes water... When you have to replace the fronts every 20k at £1000+ a time. I think theres a reason you don't see many on the road.

Where was that price from? I have no idea how long they last but the front discs sell on-line for £150 a pair which is pretty normal I would have thought.