As is always the way my 10 month old Blackline estate was in the main dealers today having its first service.

Went to collect the car this evening and ended up having a chat with one of the sales guys I deal with there.

Transpires they can offer me an almost like for like monthly cost deal on a 2.0 TDi Elegance estate; trading the BL for something a little more modern, softer ride for the family, with yet a few more toys, non descript, similar performance to the diesel vRS MK2 but (on paper at least) ought to prove a reasonable amount per year cheaper to run is appealing and its probably going to be a goer. A vRS to the spec I want is just going to come out at more than im prepared to spend on a car right now, also find the ride on the Mk2 vRS a little over-firm and dont suppose the MK3 is a whole lot different.

Will probably have a quick drive to see if I like it enough to do the trade and will sign on the dotted line.

Probably going White with no options; maybe winter pack but would be happy with a standard car.

Edited 3 December, 201312 yr by pipsyp

Oh and I had a Rapid 1.6 CR SE as a courtesy car, overlight steering aside was pleasantly surprised how nice it was to drive. If I were in the market for a small family car it'd be pretty ideal

Test drove a 150 Elegance DSG back to back with a vRS 184 DSG. Personally didn't feel there was much in it performance wise within legal constraints. vRS had a slightly more controlled rear end with the independent suspension but had more tyre roar. If I was choosing between the two the Elegance would get the nod.

 

The winter pack is defiantly worth having along with a spare.

 

 

TP

Oh god yeah forgot about the spare wheel thanks.

Im more than likely going to take the car as it comes (other than a spare wheel) unless I can convince the dealer to show some generosity given it'll be the third new Skoda Ive bought off then in the past 3 years! Almost certainly be my last for a while, plan on holding onto this one for 3 years at least.

Take it as standard (with spare) and you will probably find there are some already built waiting at Emden. You'll get it a lot quicker. Thats what ive done.

Indeed tempted to order one with Canton.....problem is its another £10/month and do i really need it?!

I expect standard car with spare is how ill proceed and maybe they'll be able to source something from stock.

For me I only wanted to pay around £250-£260 per month on PCP

by the time I got the met paint, spare, sunset glass , sunroof... I reached my amount..

If I had another £50 per month to spend I would gone for the Canton and leather with heated seats

Indeed tempted to order one with Canton.....problem is its another £10/month and do i really need it?!

I expect standard car with spare is how ill proceed and maybe they'll be able to source something from stock.

Standard car is pretty good spec.

2nd owner benefits from your hard earned "investment"

Standard car is pretty good spec.

2nd owner benefits from your hard earned "investment"

Forgot too say if you get from Skoda UK stock, you could probably haggle for more discount from your dealer.

I did.

Well guys ordered a White 2.0 TDi 150 Elegance estate today, completely standard other than the spare wheel. Its well equipped even compared to my Blackline which isnt shabby so more than happy.

Took a 150 SE spec car out for an extended test drive. First impressions were v good. Immediately noticed how much better the general refinement and noise levels were over the MK2. The ride was very good on standard suspension and considering it was on 205 55 r16 tyres it handled OK too. Imagine the Elegance with its 225 45 tyres may trade a smidge of refinement for better grip etc but thats fine by me. Cant say I found the lack of independant rear suspension an issue but then i didnt get alot of oportunity to really throw it around.

Seems well built, some hard plastics here and there but nice and soft where it counts. Impressed with the Bolero infotainment gave a good idea of what to expect from the Amundsen. Stereo sounded good but as others have mentioned did find it a little light on bass compared to the MK2 but can be largely resolved by upping the bass and mid settings. Happy enough with it to have avoided ordering the Canton.

What really surprised me was how good the drivechain was. I expected performance verging on that of my vRS but it seemed every bit as fast if not perhaps a bit quicker, seemed punchier somehow and seemed happy to rev to 4.5k before really running out of puff. The gear change and clutch action was also very pleasing, very fluid, not notchy and the clutch is quite fogiving on fast changes with little or no driveline shunt...seemed incredibly easy to drive quickly and smoothly, something i really cant level at the vRS with its DSG box...in manual it either dwardles or wants to go flat out, the accelerator being a bit of an on/off switch by comparison. The weight saving in the new car vs the old was very apparent, the 150 horses hardly breaking a sweat throwing the car down the road.

Kind of love the fact its so non-descript in non vRS trim but would probably have little trouble keeping up with the 184ps TDi vRS (given it has another 135kg or so to drag along) and almost certainly would push my 170hp MK2 up the road.

So all in all very impressed, was expecting to come away disappointed and thinking i'll just hang onto the MK2 but my feelings are quite the opposite; despite its complete lack of sporting pretense the 2.0 TDi 150 even in SE trim for me was overall a nicer car to drive than a MK2 vRS TDi...ultimately it might not get through the twisties with so much conviction but still quite a statement and one im prepared to make.

Now the wait....has had to be a factory order so may end up dragging into 14 plate timescales!

Do you mind saying what you got offered for your Blackline? Is it a Dsg?

Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk

Edited 5 December, 201312 yr by B19RAK

To be honest goes to show how good i am at buying and selling cars.....i only really know my equity position. Ive got just over 1300 quid in the BL, a drop going in as deposit the rest going in the bank.

I believe it was a bit over 16k but probably strong on account of ordering the new car. Its a white DSG wagon, Jan 13 62 plate with 9.5k on the clock but is immaculate.

That's about right, I got 5% off my new car and sod all for the Blackline. My plan is to sell the Blackline for at least a £1k over their px value and use that as additional deposit.

Sat in a new stock 150 Elegance estate today down at the Lincoln dealers. Very nice spec and just a shame SUK didn't see fit to bring the 4x4 version over here :S

 

 

TP

Sat in a new stock 150 Elegance estate today down at the Lincoln dealers. Very nice spec and just a shame SUK didn't see fit to bring the 4x4 version over here :S

 

 

TP

Absolutely agree, if I could have got an Elegance 4x4 would have done so no question would have been the ultimate do-it-all vehicle. To get a 2.0 4x4 SE to near enough Elegance spec though made it quite an expensive car; the only down side with the 4x4 however is increased thirst and emissions over the 2wd version.

Standard car is pretty good spec.

2nd owner benefits from your hard earned "investment"

Agreed, wanted to make it as cheap as possible this time around; one of the reasons I went white with this and on my last car was I resent paying hundreds of pounds for metallic haha! The only essential thing for me was the space saver; the standard spec betters that of the black line I'm coming from so no grumbles.......in fact the SE I drove was pretty nice and didn't leave me feeling particularly short changed, lack of nav, cruise and a MFSW being the only things that stood out.

Everyone is different but for me to take a 23k Skoda (still quite a bit of cash) and make it into a 25/26k car quite easily by adding a few choice options just doesn't do it for me; dilutes the value for money vibe I think Skoda is all about and if sensible with the options list still just about represents.

Absolutely agree, if I could have got an Elegance 4x4 would have done so no question would have been the ultimate do-it-all vehicle. To get a 2.0 4x4 SE to near enough Elegance spec though made it quite an expensive car; the only down side with the 4x4 however is increased thirst and emissions over the 2wd version.

 

Well I've no idea what the 4x4 mpg will be like but as long as it betters my Yeti's 45 fill to fill I'll be happy and on to a winner already with emissions, as it's £70 a year cheaper on the current annual VED of the Snow Monster and still retains the excellent Haldex system

 

 

TP