Very nice indeed....and it comes with the 4x4 badge!

Looking good!

 

Re. the steering, try using the 'individual' driving mode setting to set steering to Sport and leave everything else normal and see if that fixes it.

 

Still don't understand how I stole a fortnight on you between delivery and order? :think:

If I hadn't ordered a vRS I'd have gone for a 4x4. 

is an elegance 4x4 150 diesel likely to become a rival to the vrs diesel due to similar power to weight ratio plus the 4wd option denied to the vrs?

Well 16 weeks to the day I've finally got to collect the Octy III 4x4 ordered back in October.

 

Built WK3 and delivered in good time end of WK5

 

First impressions are very favourable, seems very smooth and fairly quite, even at motorway speed. Raised Ride Height suspension is very good and noticeably better than that on the 2wd.

 

Only minor negative being the steering, which didn't seem quite settled in a straight line at speed; maybe need to check the tyre pressures, although hopefully I'll be switching to winters in the next day or so. Could also be due to the weather but will know more with a few more miles covered.

 

IMG_4507p.jpg

 

IMG_4508p.jpg

 

 

TP

that looks fantastic TP, congrats. Check the tyre pressures and if that doesn't solve it I'd look at getting the tracking checked. Good luck.

is an elegance 4x4 150 diesel likely to become a rival to the vrs diesel due to similar power to weight ratio plus the 4wd option denied to the vrs?

 

Funny you should say that, as after driving our 4x4 I was thinking the same thing. Personally for me anyway, even with the RRH suspension, the 4x4 is a better drive than the vRS 184 I test drove back in October and leagues ahead of the TSI 140 and TDI 150 hatches I've also driven.

 

Would suspect on 17" wheels and standard height suspension, that you could make swift and controlled progress in a 4x4.

 

 

TP

I wished I had your RRH yesterday when I had to reverse down a standard height kerb (square on) and the front skirt just clip the kerb as the front bounced. Luckily no damage done! Phew!

Congrat and thanks for confirming my intention to go for a 4x4 Elegance

 

An almost stealth, yet road effective and roomy car is really intriguing to me.

Spent the day applying some autoglym products, fitting front mud-flaps and winter wheels.

 

Disappointingly I found a slight blemish in the paintwork on the NSF wing, looks like a semi dried paint drip fell on to it. Being white it's not noticeable thankfully; probably explains why it's not been picked up before. Anyway I'm happy to leave as is rather than mess things up further but I will be letting the dealer know just to be on the safe side. Otherwise overall the finish appears to be pretty good.

 

 

VAG 6Jx16 ET48 winter rims with Octy III Nordic winter wheel trims.

 

 

TP

is an elegance 4x4 150 diesel likely to become a rival to the vrs diesel due to similar power to weight ratio plus the 4wd option denied to the vrs?

Its an interesting point.

I personally do prefer the vRS in the way it looks both inside and out to the regular car but I no longer wanted sports suspension (something in my opinion VAG still arent terribly good at in terms of ride quality), also was concious that the new vRS TDi really isnt a great deal quicker than the regular 150.

An example a manual 150 TDi estate weighs 1272kg and has a power to weight of about 118hp/ton. The vRS TDi 184 in the same configuration weighs 1412kg (yes 140khs more!) and has a power to weight of about 130hp/ton. Where this is interesting is that the 150 TDi 2wd has near enough identical power to weight ratio as a Mk2 vRS TDi.

Of course the 184 TDi is still going to be a bit quicker than the 150 but a difference of 12hp/ton is hardly anything and on the road I reckon it'd be hard to call.

I decided to not go 4x4 in the end, I wanted Elegance spec which was not possible when I ordered, also I did not feel the loss of efficiency and additional expense was worth the trade off.

When comparing the 2wd to the 4x4 150 TDi in estate form you are looking at 109 v 118hp/ton so the performance difference between the 2wd 150 and vRS 184 is similar between the two 150hp cars. The 4x4 will of course help it off the line but it still weighs 108kg more than the 2wd car which is quite a bit.

Of course the 4x4 also benefits from multi-link rear suspension which will allow it to handle twisties a bit better but it'll have inherrited that rear suspension because the propshaft and rear diff would never have worked with the torsion beam arrangement.

The torsion beam rear suspension has got to be one of the biggest contributors to the hugely reduced kerb weights on the regular 2wd Octavia and 180 TSi.

Edited 1 February, 201412 yr by pipsyp

I'd be interested to know how you feel about the 'ride' of the O3 4x4 vs your previous Yeti. I have a MY 11 Yeti and am looking for another Skoda but I'm not sure whether to go with a 4x4 Octavia or a 4x4 Superb. I am a total convert to Skoda's: my 22 y.o. son has my 'old' 57 plate PD 170 TDI VRS and my 18 y.o. has my 04 plate Octavia 1.9 TDI (130BHP) Ambient  SE.My wife and I 'share' a Yeti 2.0ltr (170 bhp) Elegance  and a 1.2 ltr Corsa (which was  a starter car or both sons). I plan to swap the Corsa for a new Octavia or Superb and I'm not sure which will give me the best (most comfortable) ride. I'd appreciate your opinion (and anyone else who can offer some constructive advice)

Well I'm in danger of being controversial here but IMHO the 150 4x4 is better to drive from initial impressions, than the other three Octy III's I've also driven including a vRS 184 DSG Estate, particularly on rural routes.

 

 

TP

Any thoughts on the Superb. Money isn't really an object but (like you) I like the 'feel' of 4x4's so it's just a matter of whether I go for the NEW Octavia 4x4 Elegance, the current Superb 170bhp 4x4 or 'hang-on' for the NEW Superb (hoping they provide a decent 4x4 option),

I'd be interested to know how you feel about the 'ride' of the O3 4x4 vs your previous Yeti. I have a MY 11 Yeti and am looking for another Skoda but I'm not sure whether to go with a 4x4 Octavia or a 4x4 Superb. I am a total convert to Skoda's: my 22 y.o. son has my 'old' 57 plate PD 170 TDI VRS and my 18 y.o. has my 04 plate Octavia 1.9 TDI (130BHP) Ambient  SE.My wife and I 'share' a Yeti 2.0ltr (170 bhp) Elegance  and a 1.2 ltr Corsa (which was  a starter car or both sons). I plan to swap the Corsa for a new Octavia or Superb and I'm not sure which will give me the best (most comfortable) ride. I'd appreciate your opinion (and anyone else who can offer some constructive advice)

 

From first impressions I'd say the Octy III 4x4 is a better car than the classic Yeti, seems quieter with a smoother and more compliant ride and it handles well even on the raised ride height suspension. Mind it has got a longer wheel base and it feels quite a big car in comparison to the old Monster, rear passenger space for example is very generous even behind my drivers seat set for a 6 foot frame.

 

Not driven the Superb II FL but I did get to drive a 2009 170 DSG fairly extensively a couple of years back and the Octy again would get my vote, chassis feels more controlled.

 

 

Hope of help,

 

TP

Many thanks for your impressions. I realise how difficult it is to provide 'objective' feedback.. I guess I'm at the stage (age) where I'm thinking about making some long drives around Europe and I'd like them to be comfortable for all concerned. I've had an Octavia, I've had a VRS and I've still got a Yeti (which I think is brilliant and intend to keep) but as I know I'm going to go for a new Skoda fairly soon, I'd like to make the 'right;' choice regarding an Octavia or a Superb. I realise the Superb has always been regarded as a comfortable  car but I thought the new Octavia might give it a run for it's money. The situation has been complicated by the fact that a new Superb model is soon to be launched and should offer models with better mpg and technology. in short.......I'm confused!!!!!!!!!

TP cheerz, mate! You have it finally and I'm sure you won't be disappointed.

The car is great and it looks the part, it would be my choice also had it also dsg available:)

BTW today I tested my 4x4 in reverse uphill in the snow and it made a damn good job. Contis TS 850 are great also

Bought my winters as a rim and fitted tyre package from a Skoda dealer here and they came with Bridgestone Blizzak LM30's. Have run this model of tyre already on a Fabia and they appeared pretty good, so hopefully they will also suit the Octy.

 

 

TP

Think I've bottomed out the odd steering sensation I mentioned in post 23 and it seems to be mainly wind related. Although our Octy does also appear to like to follow the road contours no matter which way they meander and that's on both summer and winter tyres.

 

 

TP

Think I've bottomed out the odd steering sensation I mentioned in post 23 and it seems to be mainly wind related. Although our Octy does also appear to like to follow the road contours no matter which way they meander and that's on both summer and winter tyres.

 

 

TP

Interesting to read that you are finding it sensitive to wind (cross wind I assume?) because I don't find it on mine and I have clocked up about 11k now under varying conditions. The only mechanical difference between our cars is the RRH option. Do you think that this may have something to do with the raised height?

Interesting to read that you are finding it sensitive to wind (cross wind I assume?) because I don't find it on mine and I have clocked up about 11k now under varying conditions. The only mechanical difference between our cars is the RRH option. Do you think that this may have something to do with the raised height?

 

Not sure and I'm beginning to wonder if there's more too it than wind as I first thought. Noticed that the steering wheel is not quite level when driving in a straight line; slightly right hand down, so maybe it's very fractionally out of adjustment from the factory :wonder:

 

Most of my driving since picking the car up, on anything but a shorts runs into town, has been in the dark, so difficult to tell exactly what's going on. However its a very minor irritation and one that can wait to see if it settles, or if not then dealer investigation at a later date.

 

Oh done my first refuel after 316 miles and I managed 46.4mpg fill to fill, so a similar figure to the old Yeti but with a much more accurate computer reading, with trips ranging from 42 to 49.5mpg. The Yeti had to get consistent computer readings in the low 50's to average 45 fill to fill.

 

 

TP

I found my Scout a bit scatty on the motorway, and it turned out the wheel alignment was way out - 4 degrees on one wheel. Probably from kerbing it (not me honest). I also think the ride height does increase the sensation. Anyway all fixed now - but I would recommend getting it checked if not very stable or wheel off centre.

Could be a wheel alignment / suspension geometry problem.  Errors in this can cause all sorts of subtle and unexpected effects.  If your car suffers any or all of the following characteristics, its suspension geometry may be slightly out of adjustment.

(1) Tracking - tending to follow white lines
(2) Skipping - tending to jump about and lack directional stability on broken surfaces
(3) Lurching - tending to lurch off-line if you hit a bump in the middle of a long, fast, sweeping bend
(4) Wandering - tending to wander gently from a straight line on motorways, requiring continual slight steering corrections
(5) Floating - having excessively light steering, lacking any "feel" of the road surface

Had all of these issues with a brand-new Mazda MX-5.  Immediately and totally cured by getting the alignment set correctly to the manufacturers specification - it was miles out when delivered.