I tried a 2.0 TDI Elegance today: the excellent Jewsons of Oxford had an open day and had managed to get two of these (there was some uncertainty as to whether they'd get them in time for the reasons mentioned above).

Very good impressions. The new 148 bhp engine is quieter than the 170 bhp CR I had in my previous vRS, and not much noisier than my current petrol vRS. It's a pity that the new Octavia can't be had with the 1.8 TSI petrol: until the new vRS arrives, the biggest petrol engine available is the 1.4. I'm old-fashioned enough still to prefer big, unstressed engines. Anyway this TDI had plenty of oomph even though it was brand new, and we all know how long diesels take to loosen up.

Good supportive seats in the Elegance, and the steering was much lighter than mine, which I liked but others may not. It may be that the steering weight is adjustable in the 'driving mode selector' mentioned though not explained in the brochure.

I'll wait for the estate, and probably also the vRS as my present one is only 2 years old and showing no signs of wear. One reason not to have a vRS will be if they again insist on fitting 225/40/18 tyres on it - quite useless in snow, and my winter wheels (steel, 16" and tyres (Kleber Quadraxer all-season) are excellent and improve the ride with negligible effect on handling.

Surprised you wouldn't have MK 3 Elegance over a blackline vRS ! I'm going from a CR vRS ( which I've loved and kept longer than any other car!) to a 1.4 TSI with full leather and heated seats in race blue metallic. Very similar on paper performance with better on paper economy and much better interior build quality and I've got the mk 3 Octy cheaper than I could get a blackline !

Each to their own Stokey, problem for me is that regardless of the mark you can never compare a vRS to a "normal" Octavia. Nothing wrong with a normal Octavia, S, SE or Elegance spec but for me and I'm sure for most other Skoda Octavia owners who were inclined to buy a MK2 vRS, even a MK3 Elegance 1.4 TSi Elegance DSG with Leather and Golus wheels would not offer enough sporting appeal to make it an appealing change, discounted or not. For me it's always been the way, the vRS will be launched and for people like myself the normal models will just pale into insignificance.

I appreciate the new car is a fair bit lighter than the MK2 but with a 30ps and 74lb/ft torque disadvantage, in real world conditions the weight advantage I don't think would outweigh the power deficit; also given the current vRS is largely based on a MK6 Golf GTi and has multi link rear suspension on the road I don't think it will be as competent when pushed, like a MK3 elegance won't be as dynamic as the MK3 when it finally arrives. I know for a fact a standard MK2 Octavia drives nothing like a petrol or diesel vRS.

I agree, the interior is improved and the spec improvements are great but I am not so sure the build quality is better than the MK2's, same as the MK7 Golf I think VAG have been clever to improve perceived quality by using new build processes but I don't think the quality of the materials or how it's bolted together is necessarily worlds apart from a Mk2, in certain respects possibly worse....how else are they saving so much money on production costs?

I made the decision to bite the bullet and get a Blackline DSG estate and think about a MK3 vRS in a couple of years time; I got full leather, 5" touchscreen nav (with 3D mapping), DAB radio, Bluetooth, Cruise Control, parking sensors......all the things I really needed. I also know for a fact my dealer would never have been able to match the discount I got on the MK2 and didn't see any sense in paying more for what I considered to be less.

Your Elegance will be a really nice car but part of me does wonder whether you'll experience some buyers remorse once the vRS is revealed.

Pipsy having owned 3 vRS's and a mk 2 scout over the last seven years I know I won't experience any buyers remorse I am not denegrating the blackline but it is what it is a run out edition to clear the stocks of an old model, a very good old model that I've loved to drive over the last seven years but progress has been made over those years. But it's good that opinions differ else the world would be a very boring place

Understood Stokey, know you're not down treading the Mk2 vRS; wouldn't have a problem if you did to be honest all entitled to our views and its subjective of course. I can't speak from experience but I'd be surprised if the 140 Elegance was as quick and drove better than a MK2 vRS; would have to be a huge improvement on the MK2 standard models to achieve that. I might have to drive one to see for myself sometime. I am surprised however that you haven't waited a while to see what the MK3 vRS brings to the table.

Despite the significant weight difference (140kg) the MK2 CR still carries a mild power to weight and fairly significant torque to weight advantage over the newer car, regardless of what's stated on paper there would be a bit more between them performance wise than the paper figures suggest. Also pitch two DSG equipped cars against each other, given the 170 CR has launch control (which no other Octy 3 will have at the moment I wouldn't have thought, has only ever been available on DSG cars with 170ps or higher up until now), whilst not widely publicised a CR 170 can break 60 in just under 7 secs (JWR on the forum had his timed at 6.98 secs and is completely standard), that puts quite a difference between them in the straight line stakes.

Did anyone else notice the fuel filter in chans photo now has a flat top on it now, so water ever sits in it and rots it out.

Elegance TSI @ Simpsons of Colne.

Like it!

Does have a more upmarket feel inside and is noticibly bigger. Did think the rear end had a taste of Origami about it.

The Canton box is a little exposed in the boot!

Lfc958 it is not the whole divider that can be bent and velro'd but the bottom section which can be seen in one of chans photos

Pipsyp my search for a replacement for my Octy has been long and protracted one, never having kept a car this long ( 2 years 8 months, my other 2 Octy vRS's at 22 and 23 months are the only others to come close) and yet it's the only car that I initially suffered from buyers remorse having come from aTFSi vRS. That initial remorse soon went and I learned to love it's good points and even know I love the look of it. Truth is my requirements have changed such that I don't need a new vRS at the moment and was going to purchase an Elegance Superb after the family fell in love with one with the ivory leather interior whilst viewing the Rapid last year.

Having not liked the look of standard fl Octy 2 s at all, I was surprised to really like the look of the standard Octy 3, coupled with the fact that I can have my race blue and combine it with a ivory leather interior it's a win,win for me. I initially wanted DSG but it couldn't be ordered for the 1.4 despite my dealer asking SUK and even 2 weeks ago they still couldn't give a firm date for it's release so I opted for manual. One of the reasons for not waiting for the new vRS is that I hoped to get a good part ex price ( which I did) before every one else starts to trade in their candy White vRS's causing a dip in their value.

Anyway I thinking of the Mk 3 Scout as the Elegances replacement, my dealer said it really looks the part

Fair shout Stokey, I have to agree I think the new Octavia will begin to steal Superb customers, size wise not much in it and certainly a better looking car; does admittedly look alot nicer than the normal MK2 Octavia. Pain they arent offering the DSG with the 1.4 from launch over here; another SUK faux pas but i expect the manual is nice anyway.

I also think outrightly the 1.4 is probably a nicer engine than the TDi 150 and was the best choice of the launch engines, its finally got plenty of torque and moved the game on more than the TDi, having only gained 10hp and no more torque over the CR 140.

I actually dont think the values of the FL MK2 vRS's will be hit that hard by the launch of the MK3 to be honest, the prices have been flattened a bit by the VAT deal anyway and MK3 for some time will be a great deal more expensive both new and used; i think there is going to remain a strong market for certainly the later well spec'd cars and unlike the rest of the MK2 range the vRS has always been rather spec sensitive in the used market. From experience when looking at used ones before I bought my Blackline I swerved a number of nice v good value nearly new low mileage cars purely because they were more or less base spec and most buyers I reckon tend to do the same. I think in a couple of years time my BL with all its spec will return strong money and fly off the forecourt; helps that I dont do big miles and I keep my cars v tidy though. I'm glad you got strong money for yours but i think you still would have done even if youd waited a year or so. Just my opinion though and I could be proved wrong!

In any case enjoy it when it arrives!

Edited 17 March, 201313 yr by pipsyp

Did anyone else notice the fuel filter in chans photo now has a flat top on it now, so water ever sits in it and rots it out.

Like this on my Superb :-(

Had my test drive this morning, at Vindis Skoda Cambridge, only one demo of the 3 ordered had arrived due to the shipping probs!!

Test car was a 1.6Tdi manual in SE spec, I like it, a very impressive car!! I've got a 1.6Tdi Elegance ordered, looking forward to taking delivery of that!

Delivery showing on their system as late May!!!!

Forgot to mention the car I test driven came with DAB radio - not sure if standard ...

Forgot to mention the car I test driven came with DAB radio - not sure if standard ...

Yes Chan all specs come with DAB

Saw a 1.6 TDI Elegance today.

No test drive, but first impressions are they have moved the game on from the MkII; it's a lovely interior and well-built motor.

HOWEVER, I just didn't feel anything looking at it or sitting in it............and, unless they offer some really decent discounts (like the 20% deal) then I can actually see myself considering other marques when I look to change (not that I will for a couple of years, as my vRS is only just opening up properly at 40k miles).

H

Saw a 1.6 TDI Elegance today.

No test drive, but first impressions are they have moved the game on from the MkII; it's a lovely interior and well-built motor.

HOWEVER, I just didn't feel anything looking at it or sitting in it............and, unless they offer some really decent discounts (like the 20% deal) then I can actually see myself considering other marques when I look to change (not that I will for a couple of years, as my vRS is only just opening up properly at 40k miles).

H

A day later, and that's just how I feel about it.

As a result, I went back for a second look at an RAV4 today, and although it has faults, within seconds of getting in, I wanted one.

My view might change when the vRS is released, or the Scout.

(but the "basic" model, no thanks at that price)

Edited 17 March, 201313 yr by Herschel

I'm going back to try a CR 150 elegance when it arrives. We'll see if that's more to my liking.

Went and had a look on Saturday, didn't go for a drive in the end because I was so underwhelmed by the car. maybe the bland silver colour didn't help or maybe I was expecting too much but it didn't excite me at all.

But then I spotted the Superb - now that did excite me! Test drive booked for Thursday!!

I'm looking forward to seeing the 7-seat Yeti

A day later, and that's just how I feel about it.

As a result, I went back for a second look at an RAV4 today, and although it has faults, within seconds of getting in, I wanted one.

Dr, what is it about a Rav4 that you like? Just can't see it at all myself!

The recent Toyotas I've driven just weren't up there with Skoda quality-wise!

Dr, what is it about a Rav4 that you like? Just can't see it at all myself!

It's odd how styling is such a personal thing. There's quite a few people in this thread saying that the Octavia is bland and boring with nothing to excite them and others loved it straight away.

It's odd how styling is such a personal thing. There's quite a few people in this thread saying that the Octavia is bland and boring with nothing to excite them and others loved it straight away.

Like many Skodas, I think because it is such a large car with large styling features, it really needs big wheels and sports suspension to look "right". In the images in the brochure it looks great.

Like many Skodas, I think because it is such a large car with large styling features, it really needs big wheels and sports suspension to look "right". In the images in the brochure it looks great.

I would be happier if there was the option of adjustable suspension (like in the Golf) to improve the ride after the big wheels and sports suspension had ruined it! (Pure speculation obviously).

It's odd how styling is such a personal thing. There's quite a few people in this thread saying that the Octavia is bland and boring with nothing to excite them and others loved it straight away.

For me, it wasnt until I saw it in the metal that I became totally convinced. Id give the exterior an above average mark now, nothing more but when combined with such a nice interior and massive practicality - Im convinced it'll be my next car when the right spec comes to market.

Also saw the demo at Vindis in Cambridge at the weekend. As several others have said it did absolutely nothing for me.

In standard saloon form it just looked to me like every other boring rep mobile out there. Interior quality looked good but I wasn't completely convinced about some of the changes.

I reckon the estate will look much better and the vrs will probably be great. However there is no way I would part with that sort of money for the standard specs.

Drove a new Superb estate for a few days recently and would choose that over current Octavia models any day of the week. Some of the current offers put them in the same price bracket too.