Now I am slightly spoilt for cars so maybe this is why.

However, went and a good look round the new Octavia today and we were very disappointed with how cheap it felt.

I cannot remember the Octavia II feeling this way and it almost felt like to me that the car has taken a step back. Granted it wasn't the top of the range VRS but I still expected more.

Anyone else have these initial thoughts of the Octy?

Now I am slightly spoilt for cars so maybe this is why.

However, went and a good look round the new Octavia today and we were very disappointed with how cheap it felt.

I cannot remember the Octavia II feeling this way and it almost felt like to me that the car has taken a step back. Granted it wasn't the top of the range VRS but I still expected more.

Anyone else have these initial thoughts of the Octy?

I also had the same sense of disappointment to see the tops of the door cards are now hard plastic unlike the mk11. Although superficially it looked more modern, it didn't have the premium feel i was expecting compared to the mk 7 golf. Considering how close in price they are now, this was a shame really. I didn't come away feeling this was a must have when the time comes to change mine, although the vrs may change my mind.

Now I am slightly spoilt for cars so maybe this is why.

However, went and a good look round the new Octavia today and we were very disappointed with how cheap it felt.

I cannot remember the Octavia II feeling this way and it almost felt like to me that the car has taken a step back. Granted it wasn't the top of the range VRS but I still expected more.

Anyone else have these initial thoughts of the Octy?

Er top of the range VRS? Wouldnt say that, the VRS lacks a lot of buttons and extras...

Er top of the range VRS? Wouldnt say that, the VRS lacks a lot of buttons and extras...

The vRS is the top of the sport range, the L&K is the top of the comfort range.

Depends what floats your boat as to which is better spec'd

Now I am slightly spoilt for cars so maybe this is why.

However, went and a good look round the new Octavia today and we were very disappointed with how cheap it felt.

I cannot remember the Octavia II feeling this way and it almost felt like to me that the car has taken a step back. Granted it wasn't the top of the range VRS but I still expected more.

Anyone else have these initial thoughts of the Octy?

Haven't seen one in the flesh, but I am not wowed by the pictures I've seen.

First time I saw the Mk1 & Mk2 Octavias I really liked them & bought both.

Can't see me buying one of the mk3's :(

Never say never though, they may yet surpise us with a stonking vRS (& maybe a really special limited edition )

As Pooch says, top of the range in terms of sporty. I should have been more specific.

I look with interest to see what the next VRS will be like. Hopefully a vast improvement on what I saw today.

Definitely a matter of opinion - I think its simply very elegant and comfortable place to be. As my next lease car very nice. Would I spend £21K one? No chance, but probably wouldn't spend that on anything - £10K for a good used car is plenty for me.

I also had the same sense of disappointment to see the tops of the door cards are now hard plastic unlike the mk11. Although superficially it looked more modern, it didn't have the premium feel i was expecting compared to the mk 7 golf. Considering how close in price they are now, this was a shame really. I didn't come away feeling this was a must have when the time comes to change mine, although the vrs may change my mind.

Funny you mention the rubber topped door cards on the Octavia 2, noticed on my 2013 Blackline the other day that whilst the fronts are rubber the rears are solid; they've cleverly done the grain and finish the same so you'd never really know unless you prodded them.....still think its a bit tight the rears couldnt be rubberised too.

I guess its all the little things like this that allow Skoda to sell at the price point they do; though still think someone is having a laugh with the MK3's pricing; its way out to what most people in the market for that car woukd be prepared to pay.

The hard plastic on top of the door cards will be a godsend for those including me who suffered from the door card material delaminating on the MK2 causing it to bubble along the top edge. My 13 year old top of the range Audi A8 has hard plastic door card caps, and that was a 50K GBP plus car.

When I test drove, I felt like the new Octy III was a nicer place to be than my current Superb. Most of the bits you touch in the Octy III are better quality than the current Superb, which after 4 years and 85k sitting in one qualifies me to comment. The drivers door card on the Superb is blistering on the top where my elbow rests and when you touch alot of the plastic around the centre console it is hard britle stuff too although still ten times better than a Vauxhall Insignia I tried recently! My wife also has an Octy II Eleg facelift and apart from the door cards with its soft touch and fabric mix, it too has it's fair share of the hard stuff. As for top of the range or poverty spec, VRs, Elegance or L&K when it arrives, they will most likely all have the same materials, just a few different colours to make them feel different! :think:

Edited 27 March, 201313 yr by Matt Pez

Good point there. Although adding options can give the feel of quality also.

Also very disappointed, very bland styling, nothing to make us think "wow" thats the car we want, no chrome along window edge, no reversible boot floor, excessive prices. I just don't think that VAGs "value for money" brand are worth the money they are asking, our FL Vrs probably won't be replaced by an Octy III unless lack of sales prods them in to some sensible deals.

Since parting with my Bluefinned MkII CR vRS in May last year i've had a '12 140 Bluemotion VW CC which was quite nice although missed the extra power and DSG was ok got used to it still not perfect though.

Had a '13 A4 Avant S Line 143 again :( for a couple of weeks now and I feel quite underwhelmed and the mpg is worse than my VRS!

Don't get me wrong it is a nice car Sat Nav, media Jukebox, half leather etc but something is missing and I wouldn't say the quality and finish was any better than the other two tbh.

Maybe it might be different if it had the 170 engine or I just loved have something a bit different in the vRS

Very much a case of paying for the badge anyhow get to swap it for something else in October, it may grow on me.

Hoping the Mk3 vRS may be the answer!!

People disappointed with the looks of the Octavia 3, but lets be honest the mk2 never had a 'wow' factor in standard guise.

People disappointed with the looks of the Octavia 3, but lets be honest the mk2 never had a 'wow' factor in standard guise.

Agreed, but the almost permanent "No VAT" and 0% finance made up for the lack of "WOW" factor. In fact the price was the Octy IIs "WOW" factor, in our case a hell of a lot of car for £17k

You would have to ask how many people would buy skodas if they were no longer relatively cheap. I doubt anyone would have bout a fabia mk2 vrs if it wasn't cheap!

You would have to ask how many people would buy skodas if they were no longer relatively cheap. I doubt anyone would have bout a fabia mk2 vrs if it wasn't cheap!

Well folks, I just did a VW Golf configured with same engine and options to bring it as near to my Octy III spec and it came out at £25.5K vs £24K for the Octy, and I doubt i'd get the same £3K discount at VW on launch weekend so still think Skoda win the relatively cheap battle! :moon: Comparing Mk III Octy with Mk II is like comparing Golf with Audi A3 imo!

Reading the OP I remember when I first drove my BL after handing over the keys to my 12 month old 1.4TSI SE+ just a few minutes before. It was so different to drive and better in just about every department so think the whole mkIII range needs to be available before we can truely compare them against the mkII IMO. I will wait until the vRS comes out before I make my mind up so I can make a direct comparison against what I'm currently driving.

I've not sat in a mkIII yet, let alone driven one so I'll be keen to grab the keys when the dealer gets his first mkIII oily vRS demonstrator.

I also wonder how typical the average Briskoda member is compared to Skoda's mainstream target audience and whether the 'average' Octy driver isn't overly bothered about things we get steamed up about

Im finding it really interesting on how different the opinions are of the octavias interior. For me its vastly better and I believe its the first one where things have been done at additional cost because its nicer rather than taking a short cut to save a few £. Some examples of this would be not only the chrome effect vent surrounds in the front of the cabin but also the fact that the ones in the rear match. On the older models, the rear passengers didn't get treated as well in terms of materials. You also get felt in all of the door pockets to stop things rattling around and carpet/felt on the inside of the rear hatch, instead of scratchy plastic. Overall I thought that the cabin ambience was by far the best yet. One last thing. What specs are the cars people are mentioning? I thought the interior of the Elegance was a far nicer place to be compared to the SE spec version.

I took my third serious look at an Octy SE today. This was after looking at both the Seat Leon and VW Golf in similar spec.

The more of the Octy I see then the more I like it. Initiallly, I thought the styling a little conservative, but as time has passed I just think it is subtle and will stand the test of time. Nothing garish that will look dated in a few years. The interior just feels right. It is a high quality place to be, better than the Seat and certainly as good as the Golf.

My intention is to buy a specced up SE in 1.2 engine format. Price wise this still compares with the Seat and is much cheaper than the Golf. Even if the Golf were similarly priced I would still buy the Octy.

As we left the dealer, the wife and I jumped into our Mk2 Octy. Immediately we both agreed that the new model had moved things on quite significantly. Everyone has their own view, but I think the new Octy is a cracker!

Edited 29 March, 201313 yr by kevberlin

I think if the pricing of the Octavia III was similar to pricing of the Octavia II then no punters would be disappointed. Most people are disappointed because of the significant upwardly revised prices. Yes, the interior space may be more attractive but this is now manufactured on a shared platform that others are using - manufacturing costs down + sales prices up = win, win for VAG.

Styling is never going to be a strong point for Skoda. But there are two aces up the sleeves of Skoda which I think will turn around our impression of the Octavia III - the estate and the VRS.

IMO the estate will give the complete styling we are looking for.

Yeti_man I've gone for Elegance with ivory full leather

Well folks, I just did a VW Golf configured with same engine and options to bring it as near to my Octy III spec and it came out at £25.5K vs £24K for the Octy, and I doubt i'd get the same £3K discount at VW on launch weekend so still think Skoda win the relatively cheap battle! :moon: Comparing Mk III Octy with Mk II is like comparing Golf with Audi A3 imo!

When I was waiting for my Blackline back in January I specd up a VW Golf estate as close as possible to the Blackline. The price difference was...

£10,000 - yes, £10,000 (not including any *cough* generous VW discount).

It was at this time I decided that VW was outwith my wallet and the Blackline offered good value for money. It is only a car at the end of the day.

Yeti_man I've gone for Elegance with ivory full leather

Nice one, enjoy.

Hope you dont have any kids, dogs, dirty shoes, carry people, shopping, take things to the cowp...

I got my Octavia and last 3 skoda's because they where a lot of car for the money. As always said its my posh cheap car. 2 years a go I paid £15k for my 1.6tdi elegance with extras. The same car today for a mk3 £21.5k. Sorry skoda but I will be looking else where I cannot cope with that cost increase.