Hi everyone! New here - and I don't actually own a Skoda yet, but hoping to soon. Looking to trade in my Honda Jazz, which has been brilliant but the family is now growing (1 and 4) and we need something bigger for all the kit. Looking for a second-hand Octavia, say 2009-ish.

 

2 questions really:

1/ I guess the estate is better for a family's needs, but the hatch looks very practical too. Will it be worth the extra few hundred for me to shell out on an estate, or will the hatch do the job - could I get, say, a buggy and a child's first bike in there together?

 

2/ I don't do big miles and I've not got a heavy right foot. So, will the 1.2tsi be able to haul me, partner, 2 little ones and assorted kit? Or should I go up to 1.4tsi  for the extra oomph? (Can the 1.2tsi pull the estate?)

 

Whew! Boils down to...

Hatch or estate? 1.2tsi or 1.4tsi?

Thanks very much for any help!

Steve

Welcome...

 

1.8tsi if your not looking at the vRS range of things in my opinion. Personally i think the bigger engine will be far better choice for hauling the family around. I've also heard there is not much difference in economy with any of the engines....Mines a 2.0tsi vRS and gotta say i can get out of it 38mpg at best with a little squirt of oomph..... They are, in fairness, good engines...

Being an estate owner I will have to say I am happy. I have so much space in the boot its actually silly....I used to own a vec 5 door and could get it full.....too quickly. My estate i took over to europe and still had loads of room in the boot....

The hatch and estate have essentially the same size boot. Where it differs is the extra space above the parcel shelf. I went for an estate for the extra practicality of the roof rails and I preferred the looks. Can't answer your question about which engine though, vRS if you can afford it ;-)

I was massively impressed with the size of the boot on the hatchback when i got mine. I came from a leon hatchback so it must be twice the size. I don't think you'll struggle but have a test of both.

For me 1.4 over 1.2 easy

The estate isn't noticeably bigger than the hatch. 

 

The passenger space is identical, as is the boot for all intents and purposes. I think the load capacity differs by like 30 liters, and the difference is all above the parcel shelf. I bought an estate because I prefer estates and think the octavia in particular looks a bit frumpy in hatchback form. But beauty is in the eye of the beer holder, as they say. And if you frequently need to transport items taller than the parcel shelf, you might want to consider the estate. 

 

Think of the 1.2 TSI as the replacement for the ubiquitous "1.6" found in every golf, astra, octavia, focus and 307 estate over the last 10 years. It moves the car alright, but nothing exciting. The 1.4 TSI is more or less the equivalent of the 2-liter version of those cars. It behaves much like the 1.2, but there's more of everything. There's also the 1.8 TSI which is properly quick. 

 

I have the 1.4 TSI. I switched from a 210hp turbo Volvo and, astonishingly, don't miss the horsepower too much, except for when I need to overtake something with lots of passengers in the car. The tiny little 4-pot pulls well from low revs thanks to the turbocharger, and feels a lot bigger than it actually is. 

 

I can continue this all day, and you still wouldn't be any wiser. The only real solution is to drive one of each and find out for yourself. I'm glad I went for the 1.4 though. And remember, the big-block 1.4 gets dual exhaust tips. The plebian 1.2 only gets one.

Edited 17 September, 201312 yr by Perc

Welcome...

 

Mines a 2.0tsi vRS and gotta say i can get out of it 38mpg at best 

 

 

Your not driving it right.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You need Low 20's    :yes:

Great, thanks everyone so far! Very helpful stuff already. Sounds like 1.4 is the way to go - or maybe 1.8, thanks MaZvRSTSI!

 

As to estate vs hatch, maybe it comes down to looks... and whatever is around, as the TSIs don't seem that abundant on the used market. Looks-wise I dither between the two shapes!

 

Also thinking about the Rapid, but maybe I need to hop over to another thread to talk about that... boot space as big as a Mondeo (apparently?) does sound good. But then I'd have to wait longer to get something in my budget.

 

Thanks anyway, and any more insights very welcome!

 

I would just say to try both engines, take all the family along and see how it fares on a decent test route. Only way you'll find out, especially as people's expectations are different about what they consider fast, slow, etc

 

Plus try both bodystyles; as said the hatch isn't small but comes down to which you prefer - estate might clinch it with the slightly lower boot height, for easier loading of buggies, bikes etc? 

Thanks Wardy! Good plan - as I say I'm no boy racer (I drive a Jazz!), so not after blistering performance. Don't want to feel sluggish with a full car either, though.

Veering towards estate today, but probably hatch tomorrow! Best to try out a few loading experiments as you suggest...

Estate, definitely. The octavia just looks better in estate form. I've never driven a petrol Octavia (had 5 diesel octavias), but the 1.2 hauls my yeti around with no problems even when full

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 4

If you're not dead set against diesel power dont right it off. 1.6 TDi whilst not quick has more than enough punch for pulling a laden octy around and will almost certainly be more frugal. DPFs are really not such a concern on CR engined cars either so long as they are taken on a reasonable run now and again.

Ive had 3 VAG DPF equipped cars (1 Pump Duse injection and 2 CR's) over the past 5 years, 84k miles in total across all three and not one of them has given me an issue.

Thanks everyone!

Does anyone here know about the Rapid? Got one, driven one, know someone who has one?

I'm tempted by that too - smaller suits me fine - but have heard that neither interior quality or drive are as good as MkII Octavia...?

Having driven a car that was underpowered I would advise the biggest engine that you can afford to run.

An underpowered car in a situation where you need to overtake something is downright dangerous. Add to that the struggle of getting up to motorway speed etc and as has been pointed out there probably isn't much of a saving esp if a smaller engine is straining under the load.

I'm not suggesting that everyone should go out and get a vRS but I'd take a serious look at the 1.8tsi. From all I have spoken to it's a hugely well rated engine.

As long as I don't have three grown male passengers and their luggage in the car, my 1.4 TSI gets up to motorway speed with zero effort. The torque curve is like an invisible hand pushing you along.

 

My only complaint with the engine is the disconnected feel when power is delivered, especially in situations like highway ramps where you give it some stick but not quite full throttle either. It's like you place an order with the accelerator pedal, which causes it to change down a gear or two and apply as much throttle as it thinks is needed. The result is that you feel a bit like a passenger, with your own head being pushed towards the headrest.

 

I've never driven a manual 1.4 TSI so I don't know what that's like. 

1.8 TSi Estate. Drove a Polo 1.2TSi last weekend, scary overtaking, and that engine can not reasonably pull the Octavia, except downhill.

Your not driving it right.

 

You need Low 20's    :yes:

 

  I barely touched 16 in Germany 

The Rapid is more akin to the Fabia in terms of the way it drives and interior quality.

 

The MkII Octavia may be an older model but (in my opinion) remains light years ahead of the Rapid, it's a more grown up car.

 

In answer to your questions...

 

Estate and yes!

 

The 1.2 is a cracking engine and works well in the OCtavia.

 

We had two MkII Octavia's at the same time, a hatch and an estate (see sig), and whilst the boots are the same size the estate is much more family friendly. The retractable load cover instead of a big, heavy and bulky parcel shelf makes loading the boot easier.

 

Small things matter too, the estate tailgate offers more protection from the rain when changing a nappy! Not having the parcel shelf means the kids can stand up in the boot when you need to change them out of their dirty cloths and boots before letting them loose on the seats!

In answer to your questions...

We had two MkII Octavia's at the same time, a hatch and an estate (see sig), and whilst the boots are the same size the estate is much more family friendly. The retractable load cover instead of a big, heavy and bulky parcel shelf makes loading the boot easier.

Small things matter too, the estate tailgate offers more protection from the rain when changing a nappy! Not having the parcel shelf means the kids can stand up in the boot when you need to change them out of their dirty cloths and boots before letting them loose on the seats!

Ha! We have found the boot of our Scout a mighty fine place to change a nappy! And the shape of the estate boot is so much more

useful. I was able to fit a washing machine upright in the boot without having to fold the rear seats! I worked out if I folded the seats I would have got two in there!!

PS FWIW I have a 2.0 TDi and it propels the Scout along very nicely returning up to and around 50mpg...

I too would be cautious of the Rapid. It is based on the A05 platform, which is essentially a development of the Mk1 Fabia platform (A04). A serious step down in terms of quality and refinement compared to the Mk2 Octavia.....but it's cheap, so it might suit some.

 

I notice a few of the local Taxi drivers have bought new Rapids. Taxis around here are still mostly Octavias. I'll be interested to see how the Rapids hold together as taxis.

 

I too prefer the look of the Estate. The roof rails on the estate are useful too.   

I have just picked up my vrs estate. I went for the estate because of having a family and dog. Was a bit unsure at first I had made the right choice but now I have it i think it's perfect. I like the idea of the sliding shelf in the estate, in the hatch you would be lumbered with a big parcel shelf if you wanted to fit something tall in. Also think the estate does look better

I'd say go with the hatch as they're cheaper and TBF the bigger the car you have the more carp the missus will want to take with you! The hatch has a huge boot anyway unless you've got a dog it should more than fit your needs.....

 

That way you can afford a bigger engine/better interior for your budget, especially if you go manual rather than DSG.

 

This is rather morbid, but if you ever have a bump in an estate I'd always be worried about stuff from the boot joining you in the front as the covers on estates are never up to much- not good if there's kids in the back or am I being mr P Aranoid?

 

As Wardy says try a few and don't discount the diesels though they will cost you more to buy and don't get a CR if you do mostly short stop start trips, if so petrols may be the way to go and the TSI engines are nice and smooth. Make sure you get a decent test drive and take the missus and kids too so you can load it up and see how it drives then.

 

Personally I wouldn't even consider the 1.2 in the mkII. The 1.8TSI would be my choice as the best performance/comfort trade off if your after petrol but they're hard to come by. Try the 1.4 and see how you go from there, if it doesn't fit with your driving style try a diesel or a bigger petrol depending if you want a more laid back or more sporty drive

This is rather morbid, but if you ever have a bump in an estate I'd always be worried about stuff from the boot joining you in the front as the covers on estates are never up to much- not good if there's kids in the back or am I being mr P Aranoid?

 

I'd say unless you load the boot above the level of the rear seats there isn't much prospect of items coming from the boot in an accident. In this situation the load cover is immaterial as you have to remove/retract it to load above the level of the rear seats. 

As I have said elsewhere on this Forum I have carried FOUR adults, a guide dog,and a boot full of luggage in my MK 2 Octy 1.4 TSi DSG - no problem!

If I am honest, new engines these days are getting more powerful in lower ranges. I'm a petrol head and love my mighty large power house engines so will advise on atleast 1.8ltr min.....so for economy i would suggest 1.4 or 1.6

I'd say unless you load the boot above the level of the rear seats there isn't much prospect of items coming from the boot in an accident. In this situation the load cover is immaterial as you have to remove/retract it to load above the level of the rear seats.

Thats a fair point I guess but I wouldn't want to put it to the test either way though if you're not loading it up above the load cover the space available is the same in the hatch and the rear passengers get a free shower when it rains.... As I've confessed I'm paranoid and prefer the hatch because it's cheaper ( I'm tight too) and the boot is more secure if you have anything you want to keep away from tea leafs, like my golf bats and yes I'm paranoid about them too.