Anyone know if I can downgrade to 16" wheels if I opt for Elegance spec?

+1

I'd like to know this, too. I'm a bit frustrated with the suboptimal pick of equipment at different levels, and no SE+ or L&K (yet).

Would you be able to do a swap with someone who wanted larger wheels - maybe with a cash adjustment in your favour?

I must admit, I am always in favour of the smallest wheels you can get. I'm not interested in the bling factor - you can't see the wheels when you're inside the car, and neither can anyone else when you're moving.

And I am continually reading road tests (of all sorts of cars) where the writer complains that the big wheels / low-profile tyres fitted to the test car (probably merely for the benefit of the photograher!) ruin the ride comfort and add nothing to the handling.

Edited 3 May, 201313 yr by Stuarted

Anyone know if I can downgrade to 16" wheels if I opt for Elegance spec?

Put some pressure on SUK would be my advice. It worked for us Yeti owners!

Put some pressure on SUK would be my advice. It worked for us Yeti owners!

I have now ordered another make. Spec list featured in my choice. Skoda take not.

I understand the whole ride quality thing but the new Octavia looks massively underwheeled even on 17" wheels, must look appalling on 16's. I'd have to have 18's and sports suspension if I were ordering one JMO.

Fair enough, but why not buy a sports car?

Edited 4 May, 201313 yr by Stuarted

I can't believe a dealer won't swap them for you after the car gets to them. After all most people seem to prefer larger wheels (not everyone obviously), but most. So I would imagine they would have no problems shifting a car with bigger wheels on after they swapped them for the smaller ones.

I bought a Honda Accord a few years ago and loved everything about it, except the wheels. I said I would buy it, but only if I could have the wheels from the sports model sat in the corner. The sales guy did't even bat an eyelid, just shook my hand, deal done

I'd have to have 18's and sports suspension if I were ordering one JMO.

Don't understand why anyone would want to put "sports suspension" on an Octavia that clearly isn't meant to be a sports car. Pay out extra dosh and only achieve a ruined ride?

Don't understand why anyone would want to put "sports suspension" on an Octavia

Skoda obviously think its OK, hence the vRS they build.

Remember we are all different. Don't assume your opinion is the only one

Don't understand why anyone would want to put "sports suspension" on an Octavia that clearly isn't meant to be a sports car. Pay out extra dosh and only achieve a ruined ride?

But that's your opinion. I for one want sharper handing from my everyday car. Im happy to sacrifice a little ride comfort for sharper turn in and flatter cornering.

Managed to get the rest of Europe 16" spec rather than SUK 17" spec wheels factory fitted to our Yeti. Mind it took contact directly with the manufacturer to achieve it; SUK went out of their way to stop me, or at least it felt that way.

Personally I think SUK do sell the UK market short in terms of customer choice and options, if you look at what's available elsewhere. For example Skoda Germany's Yeti range is about double that of the UK, in terms of trim levels, engine availability and well spec'd Special Editions.

TP

But that's your opinion. I for one want sharper handing from my everyday car. Im happy to sacrifice a little ride comfort for sharper turn in and flatter cornering.

Then I venture to suggest with an Octavia you've bought the wrong car - or at least you should have bought the VRS. The torsion beam suspension in the non VRS models is too basic and unsophisticated to provide sports car or even sports saloon handling, even with the so-called sports suspension.

Edited 4 May, 201313 yr by Timoctav

I chuckle at all those slagging the torsion bar suspension after 7 years in 3 vRS s I'm yet to see what the problem is with the octy 3!! It handles very flatly and is no worse than the CR vRS !

I chuckle at all those slagging the torsion bar suspension after 7 years in 3 vRS s I'm yet to see what the problem is with the octy 3!! It handles very flatly and is no worse than the CR vRS !

Not slagging it at all, for it's intended purpose it is just fine, it is lighter than the more sophisticated multi link suspension, and it is perfectly adequate for what it is intended for, a car that is built to primarily provide a relaxing ride that one can drive completely stress free all day long. I'm just saying that it isn't designed to be the last word in sports car or sports saloon in terms of handling. And therefore adding sports suspension to it ain't going to make an Octavia a sports saloon. - that is not it's intended purpose.

Edited 4 May, 201313 yr by Timoctav

Don't understand why anyone would want to put "sports suspension" on an Octavia that clearly isn't meant to be a sports car. Pay out extra dosh and only achieve a ruined ride?

Try a mk2 or 3 with sports suspension THEN drive one with standard suspension.

Personally I find the standard mk2 ride sloppy compared to our elegance with sports suspension.

Then I venture to suggest with an Octavia you've bought the wrong car - or at least you should have bought the VRS. The torsion beam suspension in the non VRS models is too basic and unsophisticated to provide sports car or even sports saloon handling, even with the so-called sports suspension.

Basic and unsophisticated? How many have you now driven? Over how many miles? If these were your findings from driving it on track then I'd possibly see your point but on the road it can be pushed quite nicely with no issues of note with the handling. Someone who wants an Elegance or an SE wants them for a specific reason. Perhaps it's the level of standard equipment on offer or maybe they want an SE so they can specify awd for the caravan towing. Why should these people be buying the lesser equipped, front wheel drive VRS?

People don't option the sports suspension to turn their car into a sports car, they do it to improve the handing characteristics and aesthetics of the car externally.

Basic and unsophisticated? How many have you now driven? Over how many miles?

I had an Octavia estate and drove 50,000 miles in it, so I have a fair knowledge of how they drive and handle. As I said in an earlier post in this thread there is nothing wrong whatsoever with the Octavia handling - for what it is and what it is designed to do. But it does not handle any better than you'd expect for a saloon car, not as good as a Mondeo or the latest Focus. I didn't choose one of those due to reliability and quality issues, the Octavai is leagues ahead on that front. My point here is that sports suspension is not going to turn the Octavia into anything like a sports saloon nor is it going to make the handling class leading.

But at the end of the day each to his or her own; you'd go for the sport suspension and I wouldn't - maybe because I've got a sports car I can go and play with and I just want something more relaxing for my daily commute - the new Octavia is still a great car and amazing value for money whatever spec you choose.

Edited 4 May, 201313 yr by Timoctav

Don't understand why anyone would want to put "sports suspension" on an Octavia that clearly isn't meant to be a sports car. Pay out extra dosh and only achieve a ruined ride?

Well you are somewhat stating the obvious Timoctav, no Octavia is a sports car. However if its the difference between driving around in a car that looks like its on stilts or not you need to order the sports suspension. For alot of people it'll be worth the ride compromise.

For me theres nothing worse than an overly high riding underwheeled car, each to their own but if i were ordering an Octavia Elegance it'd have to have the sports suspension and 18" wheels......I'd personally only have any interest in the next vRS though providing its not ridiculously priced.

Downgrade? I would consider smaller alloys an upgrade in the ride quality! You can also keep your lowered, stiffer sports suspension. I'm quite happy with the raised ride height and balloon tyres (on 15" alloys!) on my Octy 4x4. I certainly don't look at large diameter alloys with more expensive tyres as a better thing. It is genuinely one of the things keeping me from upgrading my car to a newer one. If I bought a new 4x4 Superb, I'd be on here the same day asking who wants to swap its 18" rubber bands for 16s.

Downgrade? I would consider smaller alloys an upgrade in the ride quality! You can also keep your lowered, stiffer sports suspension. I'm quite happy with the raised ride height and balloon tyres (on 15" alloys!) on my Octy 4x4. I certainly don't look at large diameter alloys with more expensive tyres as a better thing. It is genuinely one of the things keeping me from upgrading my car to a newer one. If I bought a new 4x4 Superb, I'd be on here the same day asking who wants to swap its 18" rubber bands for 16s.

Yes but a MK2 octavia 4x4 was designed to have some basic off road capability, hence jacked ride height (rough road package or whatever its called) and the small diameter wheels

I had an Octavia estate and drove 50,000 miles in it, so I have a fair knowledge of how they drive and handle. As I said in an earlier post in this thread there is nothing wrong whatsoever with the Octavia handling - for what it is and what it is designed to do. But it does not handle any better than you'd expect for a saloon car, not as good as a Mondeo or the latest Focus. I didn't choose one of those due to reliability and quality issues, the Octavai is leagues ahead on that front. My point here is that sports suspension is not going to turn the Octavia into anything like a sports saloon nor is it going to make the handling class leading.

But at the end of the day each to his or her own; you'd go for the sport suspension and I wouldn't - maybe because I've got a sports car I can go and play with and I just want something more relaxing for my daily commute - the new Octavia is still a great car and amazing value for money whatever spec you choose.

Last work car was a mk4 mondeo, previous was a mk3 currently a vw sharan.

The mondeo suspension is awful, sloppy and imo the worst I've ever driven.

Both covered over the 100k, and I wouldn't drive one if given it for free in titanium X with every option going.

The sharan isn't brilliant but is so much better after 50k so far.

....I'd personally only have any interest in the next vRS though providing its not ridiculously priced.

My point exactly - the vRS is the sports saloon of the range, the others just aren't.

Just because timoctacv you have driven 50000 in a mk2 octy we are talking about the mk3 which is like comparing apples and pears. I've driven over 70000 miles in 3 mk2 vRS s and a scout and this standard mk3 handles pretty close, certainly better than the scout and I dont notice much difference with the CR! I think the petrol vRS s handled better though

Just because timoctacv you have driven 50000 in a mk2 octy we are talking about the mk3 which is like comparing apples and pears. I've driven over 70000 miles in 3 mk2 vRS s and a scout and this standard mk3 handles pretty close, certainly better than the scout and I dont notice much difference with the CR! I think the petrol vRS s handled better though

Yeti_man asked what experience I had driving - assumed he meant Skoda - so I merely answered him. No one has yet driven many miles in the Octavia 3! The sole point I am trying to make is if a sporty handling Octavia is what is required, then simply buy the vRS in the first place rather than try and make the regular non - sporty version with its comparatively unsophisticated suspension something it is not designed to be.