Fairly positive review.

http://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/first-drives/first-drive-review-skoda-octavia-20-tdi-dsg-elegance

As for the price, ouch! Fingers crossed Skoda will be offering VAT-free pricing to make it even more attractive.

Statto

A good review. It's going to be fairly pricey over here in Ireland and I have to say I am very disappointed about the rear suspension, it seems like a step back !!!

(might cure the inner rear tyre wear problem)

I disagree, it is yet another "interior and gadgets" review, skipping over the missing spare wheel / tools and the (too) small fuel tank, and just glossing over the fact that the rear suspension is worse than in the outgoing Octavia.

Also, despite the review being done in mid-winter, somehow the reviewer does not notice lack of electric aux heater (I dare not say parking heater) nor any other winter options on the options list. Probably because to write a good review, the hacks are shipped off to Portugal, no need to think about winter there..

SUK only allows the least useful / most troublesome winter options, yet these options are available everywhele else in Europe, including Ireland. I believe winter is less severe in Ireland than it is in the UK...

I disagree, it is yet another "interior and gadgets" review, skipping over the missing spare wheel / tools and the (too) small fuel tank, and just glossing over the fact that the rear suspension is worse than in the outgoing Octavia.

Also, despite the review being done in mid-winter, somehow the reviewer does not notice lack of electric aux heater (I dare not say parking heater) nor any other winter options on the options list. Probably because to write a good review, the hacks are shipped off to Portugal, no need to think about winter there..

SUK only allows the least useful / most troublesome winter options, yet these options are available everywhele else in Europe, including Ireland. I believe winter is less severe in Ireland than it is in the UK...

What I meant was that he liked the car.

I gonna take a wild guess here Diesel, and say that your not entirely over awed with the new Octy!!

And yes our winters over here are positively balmy, almost Algarve like.

I have to disagree Diesel V6. Although we have way more options than the UK I was not able to spec an AUX or Parking Heater for my Octavia when I bought in 2010. Wish I could have though.

Ahh Skoda. Got to love them.

Skoda Ireland does allow aux heater on the Superb and Yeti, and they did allow it on the Octy for at least some time, as I tried car configurator and it was listed there.

SUK allows only heated windscreen or nothing on Octy and Superb.

At least we know now full sized spare is OK on the Octy, also in the UK. At time of writing my earlier post, SUK said tyre inflation kit or temporary spare only...

I am getting ready for Round 2 retrofit fight for aux heater in the Roomster. If the damn housing can be removed without taking the dashboard apart, I won't mind not having it on options list as retrofit has some advantages, namely I can run it as a windscreen heater/dryer, or as a patch heater before coolant heater works, and I can command full heater power on a cold morning with engine idling (factory install restricts current severely until the engine is above 2krpm or so).

Still, will wait till vRS/4x4 come out before test driving the new Octy.

Edited 7 February, 201313 yr by dieselV6

may I ask what is an aux heater??

Swinny,

Essentially, it's an independent heater within the car that you can switch on remotely without needing to unlock or start the car, so you can defrost/warm up the car from your house before you go out in the morning/evening.

It's separately powered and uses a little bit of fuel (and some of the battery) to perform it's duties.

H

Herschel's description above is spot on, but for more versatile (and much more expensive) auxiliary parking heater that actually burns diesel in a separate chamber.

Electric aux air heater which I refer to is simply another, electric PTC heater matrix that slides in under car's heater matrix and heats the air in the existing air conditioning system. It takes about 60A worth of current when at full power. As a result, you get instant heat from cabin vents after you switch the engine on. It does use more electricity initially, but as soon as engine coolant is warm the heater stops taking current.

As electric aux heater has considerably more power than the heated windscreen, it can do as good job as a heated windscreen, and heat up other windows in the cabin as well, which a heated windscreen cannot do. As I mentioned earlier, heated windscreens are much more prone to chipping, I have another 2 small chips / ~6mm outer layer cracks after this winter alone. Looks like 4th heated windscreen for the car is less than 1 year away... :(

Here is a picture, as you can see it is like "normal" car heater matrix, but with cables sticking out. It is protected against fire, when it gets hot, current drops down to near zero.

Edited 8 February, 201313 yr by dieselV6

wow guys thanks for the explanation just hope it now comes up in next weeks pub quiz

You're welcome.

I part wish I did not have this knowledge, much rather would know instead which box to tick on SUK options list to get it as standard on my next car :sun: Same for rough road suspension.

Fairly positive review.

http://www.autocar.c...di-dsg-elegance

As for the price, ouch! Fingers crossed Skoda will be offering VAT-free pricing to make it even more attractive.

Statto

Agreed price is a serious "ouch" & sizeable discounts will I think appear a few months in.

Its also a shame the styling is just become so bland, The Rapid IMO looks awfull & this is just a bigger Rapid with tweaked rear lights. The rapids have already had a less than favourable reaction from the public judging by the number that arent selling & with the 2 cars looking so similar many of joe public will confuse the 2 & that will have another negative effect on new Octy risiduals. Lets hope the Estate manages a little more style

Edited 21 February, 201313 yr by Stuart_J

Yep, the price is eye watering. I priced up a 150 TDI Elegance in the configurator and without many options I crossed 25k. I hate to see what my 4x4 estate will come up as.

Yep, the price is eye watering. I priced up a 150 TDI Elegance in the configurator and without many options I crossed 25k. I hate to see what my 4x4 estate will come up as.

Scarily with the pound falling against the Euro prices should go up !!!!!!!!!!!

I can feel Skoda UK quietly pooping themselves, they arent going to shift them in big numbers at these prices

I paid 19500 on the road for our Scout, with Xenons, Alcantara Interior, Heated seats, lower boot complartment, Real spare wheel, up specced steering wheel. I can see a similar scout 3 with the blander & less stylish looks being north of 30K. Just dosent feel right

The rise in prices appears to be common across all the 'value' marques. On Sundays Top Gear, the Cee'd they reviewed was only £5 less than an equivalent (engine wise anyway, equipment levels might be different) Focus.

Steve

Just read the what car review at the local wh smith's library, they've rated the new octy better than the golf. Bet vw aren't happy lol

Sent from my Galaxy S3, not a Crapple!

Yep, the price is eye watering. I priced up a 150 TDI Elegance in the configurator and without many options I crossed 25k. I hate to see what my 4x4 estate will come up as.

We are now talking a quality, properly sorted product! Skoda realise this and are charging the appropriate price. And why not!

I love my Mk 2 FL - lots of toys and under 21k new. Things have now changed though!

People have realised that Skoda is now a serious, top quality brand - as per the recent Autocar review result - Golf 0 - 1 Octavia.

The interesting proof (or not) will be whether Skoda sell as many Mk3s as they did Mk2s. I really think they deserve to, and I hope they do.

I will buy a nearly new Mk3 in 2 years' time for sure - another silver vRS estate I imagine!

Edited 12 March, 201313 yr by dunc69