Evening all

Just been having a browse of the Octavia III forum. At the moment, the Octavia estate is the car in the running for our next family car.

We currently have a 2.0 HDi Picasso. Bought it new in 2004 and has done us well. It's been a good car but rattles a bit and isn't the quickest car out of the blocks - probably owing to its underpowered 90 BHP engine. Also not that economical - a large body as well as the fact that we mainly do short journeys on the hilly side of Sheffield gives us a return of about 32 mpg in winter, 36 - 38 mpg in summer. A decent run will give around 50 mpg. It's also got loads of dinks and scratches in the bodywork.

Anyhow, when looking for a new car the main criteria was a large boot. If possible almost as big as the Picasso (550 litres) or bigger. Also want something fairly ecomical and quicker than a 0 - 62 of the current 11.8 seconds. I also like the amount of torque that a diesel gives but realise that a diesel may be out of the question as short journeys will likely clog the DPF.

So, currently I'm looking at either the 1.2 or the 1.4 petrol. I notice that the 1.4 has an emission figure of 121 grams - I wonder whether the tuning will be tweaked in a few months to take it into a lower VED rating? I also quite like the look of the heated windscreen option - I don't tend to use de-icer and prefer to scrape the window which has left a few scratches - a heated window would likely solve this issue.

Anyhow, won't be buying until our share options mature at work which isn't until next year. Hopefully by that time any little niggles with the new model will have been ironed out.

Forgot to say, the missus is not convinced at the moment. Firstly, it's a Skoda (says she who will happily drive around in a Citroen). Secondly, she likes the high up driving position that we currently have. I did look at the Yeti but the boot's a bit small.

Cheers all

JB

Edited 26 January, 201313 yr by Just Browsing

I think there is already a greentech version of the 1.4 about for the Rapid, which drops the emmissions down a litte.

If so, it would appear on the Octavia too.

But that all depends if Skoda UK think it'll sell here and officially import it.

There is also a bigger Yeti rumored to be on the way, but it's some time away yet.

If you take your wife to have a look at a mkIII Octavia I think the build quality over the Citroen will leave an impact.

Not sure how torquey your citreon is but (forgive me if I'm preaching to the converted) the test drive will be so important in determining if what ever you're considering will meet your needs. The current 1.4TSI engine I had in my previous Octy was very torquey low down, pulling in 6th from 1000 rpm, but needed some stick to get it moving from 40 mph upwards if you wanted to accelerate quickly. Don't get me wrong it's a nice engine just that on the short test drive I had I never had chance to find out it's weaknesses so a good long test drive on various roads with a normal load will pay dividends when you're ready to change and help you make the right decision. Think your wife is suffering from skodaitus, it's a common viral infection that doesn't respond to antibiotics and is only cured by a nice long test drive

If you can get her to the showroom as BF suggests and show her what you'll get for your money that should win her over.

Mind you my wife has a Seat Altea (i.e. another Golf in disguise), yet turns her nose up at Skodas. That has a higher seating position but rear visibility isn't good and the internal builds quality isn't as good as the skoda either

Many thanks for your replies.

There is also a bigger Yeti rumored to be on the way, but it's some time away yet.

Hmmm, interesting. As mentioned, I'm just at the looking stage at the moment - so long as our current car holds out it'll be late summer 2014 before we get a replacement. A slightly larger Yeti would be good.

Not sure how torquey your citreon is but (forgive me if I'm preaching to the converted) the test drive will be so important in determining if what ever you're considering will meet your needs. The current 1.4TSI engine I had in my previous Octy was very torquey low down, pulling in 6th from 1000 rpm, but needed some stick to get it moving from 40 mph upwards if you wanted to accelerate quickly. Don't get me wrong it's a nice engine just that on the short test drive I had I never had chance to find out it's weaknesses so a good long test drive on various roads with a normal load will pay dividends when you're ready to change and help you make the right decision. Think your wife is suffering from skodaitus, it's a common viral infection that doesn't respond to antibiotics and is only cured by a nice long test drive

If you can get her to the showroom as BF suggests and show her what you'll get for your money that should win her over.

Mind you my wife has a Seat Altea (i.e. another Golf in disguise), yet turns her nose up at Skodas. That has a higher seating position but rear visibility isn't good and the internal builds quality isn't as good as the skoda either

Regarding the torque in the Citroen - just looked online and according to Parkers it's 151 lb-ft - which is about 205 Nm. So, compared with the 1.2 (175 Nm) there's slightly more torque in the Citroen whilst the 1.4 Skoda has 250 Nm so a bit more torque.

Before this car we had the 1.8 petrol Citroen which had a torque figure of 162 Nm. Had a BHP figure of 117. Never noticed the lack of torque in that but once I got the diesel I couldn't believe how I could drive around at such low revs, put my foot down and the car would take off. When I bought the 1.8 petrol it had a emission figure of 186 but this was reduced to 184 a few months later.

Anyhow, as you've both said taking a look and having a decent spin is the only real way to make up my mind.

Thanks again

JB

Bought my first Skoda last September. If your wife thinks that owning a Skoda is like something from the past, she is in for a shock. I come from the BMW / Mercedes stable and since owning my Skoda i have never looked back. It brings a smile to my face every time I drive it. I just feel sorry for all those out there who haven't discovered how good they are.

P.S. My wife has claimed it as here own. I only now get the chance to drive it at weekends as she will not let me commute to the station in it, shes prefers to drive me then use it all day herself.