Would I be right in saying the 4x4 option is only on the SE?

I specced up a 4x4 SE out of curiosity with the 150PS 2.0 TDI engine to the same spec as the vRS i've ordered and it came out quite a lot more expensive. Ouch!

Oh for a 4x4 vRS...

P

That's right.

 

Skoda UK are limiting the 4x4 version we are allowed to the SE, thereby making a high spec one VERY expensive.

 

Other countries get more choice.

The Scout to follow next year should fill that gap. It was a similar story with the MkII.

strange that you can not build a 4x4 Octavia Elegance, especially when you have a big car market.

In Sweden you can get Elegance on all engines including small 1.2 TSI

 

strange that you can not build a 4x4 Octavia Elegance, especially when you have a big car market.

In Sweden you can get Elegance on all engines including small 1.2 TSI

 

 

We have Skoda UK.

They choose what we can and can't have.

Basically, they don't like to give us too many options.

We have Skoda UK.

They choose what we can and can't have.

Basically, they don't like to give us too many options.

Agree with you, Skoda UK should give you endless options, then they would certainly sell more cars, too.

They can't market the one's they are selling now, let alone any other models.

They can't market the one's they are selling now, let alone any other models.

To be honest, what they cut was essentially the best models.

- 1.8TSI was the only non-VRS version to get multilink rear suspension (O2FL cornering abilities but with vRS like software diff) but offered regular ground clearance and option to fit rough terrain pack. Which means that if you haul heavy items on regular basis or need better ground clearance for uneven terrain or country tracks (last 500 yards to my own driveway in my case), this was traditionally the model to go for. This version outsells petrol RS (continental name for vRS as RS is Ford's trademark in UK) everywhere in Europe. Not available in UK.

- 4x4 DSG models were used by many fleets, including highway agency, doctors etc, again, best model out of the range for anyone living and working outside of town, not available in UK. It might come back as Scout at some point, but not all of us need plastic tat glued to the outside and spartan interiors, who says you shouldn't have beige leather and offroad ability. Well, apparently Skoda UK does.

And there is no explanation for it, because all cars are built to order, so it's not like Skoda UK would be left with unwanted cars on the parking lot. It's not a RHD conversion issue, because Ireland got all the models. It's basically "you are not going to get what you want because we say so" from SUK.

This is annoying.

If I bought a MkIII 4x4 estate, I wouldn't want all the luxury features of the Elegance model (don't want big bling wheels or fancy audio/phone/satnav options) but there are one or two features I would very much like, such as the leather seats, wood interior trim  and electrically-adjustable seats with memory settings.

But according to the brochure, these features are not available on SE models even as an (expensive) optional extra.  Grr.

Edited 7 October, 201312 yr by Stuarted

I think Skoda UK are a bit short-sighted when it comes to deciding models and spec available in the UK, or just do not understand their customers very well.

At the end of the day they more or less manufacture cars to order, gone are the days that they build thousands of stock vehicles to sit in UK compounds gathering moss for months on end.

OK the TSi 4x4 or any Elegance 4x4 isnt likely to be a volume seller but given they (ought to) profit on every car they sell why cant they just give us the option to buy one. Be a few more cars they sell in a year.

Same goes for the lack of folding mirrors on a vRS....OK dont necessarily make them standard but at least give people the option of having them if they want.

You'd have thought they'd learned a few lessons by now...particularly given their social media people no doubt trawl these types of forum sites on a day to day basis but no....seems the consensus is to restrict their model offerings and damn it with customer opinion. Maybe theres good reason for it but I certainly cannot see it.

Could it be related to stock of spare parts for niche models?

P

The OP was answered in post #3.

 

As with the MkII the top-end 4x4 MkIII requirements will be satisfied with the Scout next year.

But I don't want a Scout.

Much of the attraction of the 4x4 is its "stealth" character - especially as the MkIII apparently doesn't even have "4x4" written on the back of it.  If I wanted an SUV or something that looked like an SUV, I'd buy an SUV.  But I don't - I want something that looks like an ordinary, discreet estate car.

Why can't I hjave a 4x4 diesel estate with electrically adjustable leather seats and wood trim?  Not fair!  [stamps foot.] 

Im in the same boat as above, I like the stealth 4x4. Function over form. You can get a 4x4 Elegance, just not in the UK You could also just get a 4x4 Superb Elegance for near as damn it the same money.

especially as the MkIII apparently doesn't even have "4x4" written on the back of it.   

 

No apparently about it; the only evidence that mine is a 4x4 is the gearstick.

I just wanted a 1.8tsi 4x4 for tuning..

I just wanted a 1.8tsi 4x4 for tuning..

You can borrow my wife's car..  

You can borrow my wife's car..

 

It's a it of a treck to borrow it for a day.

In Norway the only 4x4 in SE is the 1.6 tdi.

 

But in Elegance we have 1.6 and 2.0TDI and 1.8TSI DSG

But I don't want a Scout.

 

I still suspect that there is the bigger picture to consider here.

 

While I wholeheartedly agree a big influence on feature availability is Skoda UK I also believe there will be an element of Skoda Auto wanting to limit the number of iterations available across all Global markets. 

 

The more options you have available the more expensive building the cars becomes in terms of the actual production line / factory overheads.

 

There is also the VAG element. VW and Audi will be watching Skoda's success and will be keen to ensure all brands continue to have their niche without too much overlap.

 

What's the point in offering a similar specced / performing car under all your different brands? Yes there is room for one or two similarities but they have to stop somewhere.

 

Just take a look at the reviews of the new Seat Leon vs. Golf GTD, it's rare for the Golf not to take the title each and every time but the extra price demanded for the premium badge is now no longer enough to justify the extra £4K.

 

You'll likely see more and more restricted options as Skoda and Seat become increasingly successful.

Edited 7 October, 201312 yr by silver1011

In Norway the only 4x4 in SE is the 1.6 tdi.

 

But in Elegance we have 1.6 and 2.0TDI and 1.8TSI DSG

And my UK 4x4 SE is the 2.0TDI.

Do UK get any 4x4 with DSG at the moment?

 

The one I really wanted was a 2.0 TDI 4x4 DSG :(

Do UK get any 4x4 with DSG at the moment?

 

The one I really wanted was a 2.0 TDI 4x4 DSG :(

 

Nope.  1.6 and 2.0 diesel only with a manual.

If we didn't insist on driving on the right wrong right, or whatever is correct, side of the road we could simply order, buy and import from mainland Europe.

We can order from Cyprus or Ireland though. Ireland is expensive, but Cyprus, well, we would just need brave enough dealer or supermarket to venture into "grey" import territory.

It's not uncommon for UK dealers to take initiative every now and then. I often hear of Subaru given as an example of grey imports almost rescuing the local market. Subaru importer in UK is known for questionable policies. The same company had exclusive rights to Daihatsu and Isuzu brands for the past several decades, just as an indicator of a "popularity and success" surrounding the group in question. Earlier this century, following some unworkable differences some Subary dealers chose to go rouge (read: independent) instead and flooded UK market with direct imports going through brass plaque company in Cyprus. The price difference was very noticeable, but most of the imports were in UK spec or exceeding spec. After short lived battle few indies and brokers forced authorised dealers to honour manufacturer warranties on those cars under European consumer law.

I think most of the European dealers would be able to build one for you with RHD spec without much trouble. It's the waiting list and import itself that might be a little harder for regular buyer to organise. It would just be much easier if it was fully organised by independent dealer or some company that specialise in exotic imports.

Edited 7 October, 201312 yr by v0n