Having just been to look at (not test drive because apparently you can't test drive one unless you're definitely purchasing) a diesel octy vrs estate DSG, I have to say I was a bit underwhelmed. It was in pearlescent black but it just doesn't look sporty or aggressive enough to me. I know it's only my opinion but the car's proportions are a little bit out. If only it was a slightly wider and lower chassis it would have made a big difference to the presence and stance of the car. Glad I went to see one in the flesh but I won't be paying out for one. On the positive, the standard kit list is very good and was impressive. Shame, because I really am considering an estate with having a young family and carting my mountain bike around too. Now the hatchback could well be a different kettle of fish. Interesting to hear what other people think on here.

I have a lot of thinking to do, especially given that I was told the hatchback won't be available to me until March '14!!

March 14?! Why?!

Which dealer wouldn't sanction a test drive? That seems bonkers to me.

Which dealer wouldn't sanction a test drive? That seems bonkers to me.

I've previously had that said to me at my local Vauxhall dealer.

 

Needless to say, I purchased another VAG motor!

It amazing when the facelift came out there was a lot more interest.

I agree the new one looks very watered down!

March 14?! Why?!

My local dealer told me a while ago that they would be getting the estate several months before the hatch

March 14?! Why?!

Which dealer wouldn't sanction a test drive? That seems bonkers to me.

It was Simpsons, Colne. The salesman was pleasant enough and even he said that he thought my vrs fl hatchback had a sharper more aggressive front end than the new one!

Apparently new hatchback will arrive early part of new year but I'm guessing those who have ordered options and due to high demand etc. Didn't quite get it really.

Like I said, I shan't be rushing into anything given what I've seen and been told

Looked like they stopped making the hatch before the estate then got the estate out first. wonder how that happened :think:

Problem with the hatch spoiler production I hear.

Not sure if quality or stability at 150 mph plus ((for the petrol VRS)).

My dealer has been told by skoda uk that they are not allowed to tax their demo Tsi estate for another 4-6 weeks. No test drives for a short while here

My dealer has been told by skoda uk that they are not allowed to tax their demo Tsi estate for another 4-6 weeks. No test drives for a short while here

Isn't that what trade plates were meant for?

Yeah but they have been told they can't use it for test drives at present

i'm kind of torn between a vrs estate and just an elegance, i dont think the vrs has grabbed my attention the way i expected. still need to see one up close and get a shot but i think the elegance is a good enough looking car as it is.

Ditto on the underwhelming feeling!

Went into my local dealer and they had(like all other Scottish dealers) a race blue petrol estate.

Sorry to say it just doesn't float my boat as I had anticipated. In fact I walked right past it thinking it was an Elegance. Yes the devil is in the details- nice rear end with tail pipes/ red strip and LEDs and the seats look awesome but the front is shockingly boring.

And why do they insist on putting the optional alloys on the demo cars- am I right in thinking that the anthracite alloys are standard and the silver alloys are optional?

Put the dark alloys on a white estate or black estate and it may make me sign up but from what I have seen..................

Ditto on the underwhelming feeling!

Went into my local dealer and they had(like all other Scottish dealers) a race blue petrol estate.

Sorry to say it just doesn't float my boat as I had anticipated. In fact I walked right past it thinking it was an Elegance. Yes the devil is in the details- nice rear end with tail pipes/ red strip and LEDs and the seats look awesome but the front is shockingly boring.

And why do they insist on putting the optional alloys on the demo cars- am I right in thinking that the anthracite alloys are standard and the silver alloys are optional?

Put the dark alloys on a white estate or black estate and it may make me sign up but from what I have seen..................

Yes, I don't know what to do now. I went there thinking I really hope this vRS estate is as good as the Internet pics and publicity seemed to suggest but it just wasn't. It's probably now a case of waiting for the hatchback and see how that looks. Unless of course I find another solution!!!

Problem with the hatch spoiler production I hear. Not sure if quality or stability at 150 mph plus ((for the petrol VRS)).

Ahhh, so thats why..... TBF if the mpg figures I've seen flying about are true I could be tempted away from the darkside, especially with the extra ponies too, but not at the sort of prices they want at the moment.

I was at Progress Skoda Northampton yesterday and they have a race blue estate in and I think it looks fantastic - my order is going in for a White Diesel Estate (Manual) very very soon

Having just been to look at (not test drive because apparently you can't test drive one unless you're definitely purchasing) a diesel octy vrs estate DSG, I have to say I was a bit underwhelmed. It was in pearlescent black but it just doesn't look sporty or aggressive enough to me. I know it's only my opinion but the car's proportions are a little bit out. If only it was a slightly wider and lower chassis it would have made a big difference to the presence and stance of the car. Glad I went to see one in the flesh but I won't be paying out for one. On the positive, the standard kit list is very good and was impressive. Shame, because I really am considering an estate with having a young family and carting my mountain bike around too. Now the hatchback could well be a different kettle of fish. Interesting to hear what other people think on here.

I have a lot of thinking to do, especially given that I was told the hatchback won't be available to me until March '14!!

Your bike will easily fit into a hatchback. In my Mk II hatch, I fit my hybrid bike straight in, and this may be a slightly longer wheelbase than a mountain bike. To get another bike in on top, we tend to take the front wheel off the second bike to make it easier to manoeuvre.

Edited 22 July, 201312 yr by trevman

Actually hatchback in OIII has marginally more planar space in boot than estate. Obviously for tall, square objects the 20 litres more in estate is better, but hatchback us is about 4cm longer inside. This is also true for Superb hatch vs Superb estate, the former is just a tad longer inside boot.

As a whole, externally the new Octy is about 20cm wider, just as tall, and 18cm shorter than current Superb but OIII hatch has minute advantage over current Superb in terms of internal boot space.

Edited 22 July, 201312 yr by v0n

Your bike will easily fit into a hatchback. In my Mk II hatch, I fit my hybrid bike straight in, and this may be a slightly longer wheelbase than a mountain bike. To get another bike in on top, we tend to take the front wheel off the second bike to make it easier to manoeuvre.

Yes, I did wonder whether there was actually much difference in boot space between the hatch and the estate. Kind of begs the question what advantage, bar a higher boot opening space, does the estate have over the hatch and is it worth going for an estate? I am seriously considering trading in my fl octy vrs tdi cr hatch for new vrs estate on PCP.

The excellent dealer that I use, Jewsons of Oxford, has a demonstrator up and running, as has their new dealership in Newbury (Ridgeway Skoda). 

 

I can't believe that Skoda UK would stop a dealer using a car as a demonstrator: I didn't think they had that sort of control over the dealerships.  Surely dealers normally buy cars from the manufacturer which become their own stock.

i was in doing work for my local dealer today and they had a race blue estate in the showroom, i cant say i was all that impressed at the time, nor am i now really, but after playing with the configurator i would be spending a fortune on extra's with an elegance and only have a difference of maybe a couple of hundred pounds between the 2 models.

i also started to really see the differences between the 2 models and i think i will kick myself if i dont go for the RS if the figures add up.

 

so yeah, underwhelming but overall its actually a hell of a nice looking car.

 

this is far from an easy choice to make.

Actually hatchback in OIII has marginally more planar space in boot than estate. Obviously for tall, square objects the 20 litres more in estate is better, but hatchback us is about 4cm longer inside. This is also true for Superb hatch vs Superb estate, the former is just a tad longer inside boot.

As a whole, externally the new Octy is about 20cm wider, just as tall, and 18cm shorter than current Superb but OIII hatch has minute advantage over current Superb in terms of internal boot space.

Interesting...

Does that mean that the rear seats are a little further back in the estate (giving more legroom) as the two vehicles seem to be the same overall length?

Actually hatchback in OIII has marginally more planar space in boot than estate. Obviously for tall, square objects the 20 litres more in estate is better, but hatchback us is about 4cm longer inside. This is also true for Superb hatch vs Superb estate, the former is just a tad longer inside boot.As a whole, externally the new Octy is about 20cm wider, just as tall, and 18cm shorter than current Superb but OIII hatch has minute advantage over current Superb in terms of internal boot space.

how is the hatch longer internally?!

Interesting...

Does that mean that the rear seats are a little further back in the estate (giving more legroom) as the two vehicles seem to be the same overall length?

 

 

how is the hatch longer internally?!

The rear legroom is about the same, at least I couldn't find any difference and as far as I know seat mount points are identical but I think it must have something to do with the way suspension (or maybe tunnel for haldex) is mounted in Estate, because unrelated to the false boot floor option, the hatchback boot seems to be deeper and usable boot length (in the "ikea flatpack"/"B&Q timber" terms) measured from the back of the seat to the internal panel of a boot lip is longer on hatchback.

Does Skoda have pdf of the new range on their website? They always publish all external and internal dimensions in there.

Edit: here you are, from the pdf:

Edited 22 July, 201312 yr by v0n

The images make it look as if they're just measuring the estate from higher up - so it will be a bit shorter due to the way the seat back is angled. What on earth is the point of this? Somebody needs to get round to their local dealer with a tape measure!