Great pics.  Pretty much the same assessment as me.

 

Well, we've got 34 dealers already listed. Skoda should be paying me commission.

Bloody nora, come 3 months there'll be a lot of Race Blue ex-demos available judging by that list 

Westover Skoda in Bournemouth have a diesel estate in silver.  Manual, basic spec with Pictoris alloys.  Nice new showroom and v helpful staff, btw.

 

I took a test drive today.  I'm new to Skoda, but currently own a 56-plate Audi A4 Avant S Line with quick 2.0 TSi 200bhp engine, and am also on my 5th Golf, currently Mk6 2.0TDi GT (140PS).  So, I'm very familiar and happy with VW Group products, and am not a brand snob.  I'm looking to replace the Audi and am attracted by the extra boot and rear space of the Octavia.  And I like a car with a bit of go... 

 

So here are my first impressions, for those interested:

 

Appearance:  I like the shape and angular appearance - very close to my Audi.  But in silver with black roof rails it was very uninspiring and ordinary looking.  Probably blue or white for me.  I don't like the Pictoris alloys either - too heavy looking.  The brochure says the Gemini anthracite alloys are standard, and these would suit the car much better IMO.

 

Interior:  Again, personal opinions will vary, but you can certainly tell where Skoda save money vs VW and Audi.  Many familiar parts, but the material choice and finish seem more akin to my Mk5 Golf (the worst of the lot) than the current one (eg open cupholders, visible moulding lines on the lower dashboard and seat parts, etc).  Other little things give the game away, like the glovebox handle being a plain black polypropylene moulding rather than being chromed or a more expensive and tactile plastic.  I could do without the fake carbon fibre gearstick surround and door trims too.  And why do performance cars have to come with black headlinings these days (BMW and Audi do it too)? - it just makes the inside feel smaller, and gloomy.  All that said, in practical terms the cabin is great - well laid out and spacious.  The steering wheel & gearstick are both nicely done and good to hold.  I could live with it, if it were not for...

 

..the HIDEOUS seats!  These were the standard vRS sports seats.  I could live with the shape and fixed integral headrest, though I wish they had a tilt adjust on the base and an adjustable length squab.  But the materials are just dreadful - cheap fake PU leather to the back and sides and headrest, and shiny, very synthetic cloth to the wearing parts.  Worst of all? - the red accent under the headrest in the same nylon netting that they use for the bug-shifters on car sponges!  Altogether, to me the seats look tacky, and make the interior look horribly cheap.  I'd have to look at the leather upgrade option, but the dealer had no pictures to show me.

 

Kit: A mixed bag, in standard spec.  Seems to be lacking some kit versus the Elegance?  The Bolero infotainment system looks lost in the dash - I'd look to upgrade to the Columbus.  No cruise, no colour MaxiDOT.  But you do get BiXenon headlights and dual zone aircon.  I'd need to look at the options list carefully...

 

Drive:  the most important bit.  And it was great!  The diesel was brisk enough, although not blisteringly fast.  It pulled well and smoothly across the rev range, perhaps more like a petrol than a diesel.  Compared to our 140PS diesel Golf, the Octavia's low-end torque wasn't as noticeable, which could just be that there was more torque right across the rev range, not just at low revs.  The ride was firm but not harsh (better than my S-line Audi, but not as compliant as the Golf), and stayed flat and very composed through some quick and tight roundabout corners.  The steering is niceIy quick and weighty.  There was a fair amount of road noise from the 18" tyres, but I could live with it.  Overall, I wouldn't call it a thrill-ride (the petrol might be), but as a flexible way of making good progress, without drama, it's great.

 

As an overall package, if I could get it with decent seats, Gemini anthracite alloys and some decent kit inside, without blowing the price up to something silly, I'd be tempted.  The offer of 0% finance and 3 years free servicing are good deal-sweeteners too.

 

Sorry for the long post, but hope this helps other potential purchasers, coming as it does from neither a fan-boy nor a knocker!

 

 

 

Lightcliffe Skoda abergele have a race blue petrol estate.

I had a drive of it yesterday... shame that at 5pm on a Friday evening, the A55 is not the road to be on!

Capitol Skoda Newport - Petrol DSG in Race Blue

Bloody nora, come 3 months there'll be a lot of Race Blue ex-demos available judging by that list 

 

Found another one.....

 

Motorline (Dartford, Kent), Estate, Race Blue, petrol DSG.

 

 

DC

Beadles Maidstone white tdi Manual estate with sold on it.

Beadles Maidstone white tdi Manual estate with sold on it.

Don't know why it is up side down !!

Sinclair Skoda (Swansea) have a Race Blue Petrol DSG Estate

Westgate Skoda Grimsby have a race blue petrol manual estate

Willis in Ruislip has a petrol manual.

I had a drive of it yesterday... shame that at 5pm on a Friday evening, the A55 is not the road to be on!

you should have taken it on the twisty's up towards Brenig  

Claybank Skoda (Eccles) have a petrol race blue manual combi. I test drove it Saturday gone and it was impressive.

Derek Slack in Middlesbrough have a Diesel race blue manual combi.

 

Was on 18" rims (not sure which ones)... still think it looks bland.

More info. ...Number 23 in the list, Progress skoda Northampton is a DSG petrol.

Thanks for the update.  We've got about 1/3 of all UK dealers listed here - top job!

Allams in Epsom has a race blue petrol estate. It's not registered but can be taken out with a bit of warning. Apparently a proper demo car is coming in Sept.

Update - Henry's Glasgow is a race blue estate petrol manual.

 

Drove it today - very nice it was too!

Bickertons Sheffield have a estate tdi in available for test drive from next week

Drove the petrol dsg @ Simpsons Preston yesterday. My first time in an auto, so it took a bit of getting used to, but the car was an absolute joy to drive. The acceleration is really smooth when booted in sports mode and the car always felt perfectly planted on the road, despite the immense power being put through it.

Got about 25 mins in it, so I'd need a more relaxed and extended run in a petrol one (to test mpg more than anything) before I would be able to commit to the petrol one.

I'm desperately hoping the diesel doesn't feel sluggish in comparison, or it's going to cost me a fortune in fuel from now on!

Available from today a Race Blue Petrol DSG Estate with 18" Silver Pictoris @ Lookers Stockport.

 

/Spots first post. Welcome to Briskoda soapywetdish 

Cheers soapywet, and welcome!

After seeing launch at Goodwood I've been working out what cars are about near me and have the following to add to the list

 

Crawley Down Group (Crawley) - Diesel, Manual, Brilliant Silver

West Sussex (Worthing) Diesel, Manual, White

Caffyns (Tunbridge Wells), Petrol, Manual, Race Blue

 

Got a test drive booked in for the Black DSG Diesel from Birchwood Eastbourne at the weekend and hoping the drive lives up to expecations!

Thanks man...for being the first one to copy my format and make it easier for me!