I put a deposit down on a Skoda Octavia vRS hatch about a month ago (green with a few extras) as I loved the look of the car, especially from the front, and thought it offered an ideal compromise between the performance I currently get from a MiTo Cloverleaf and the economy which I currently don't, but so desperately need.  Because of the 0% finance and free servicing, I had a bit of fun with the options and I've specced the car with everything I would like, with the exception of electric seats and a built-in Sat Nav.

 

However, some #@!£ has arrived at the office in a black Mercedes CLA 220 CDi, and my lust for this car has reignited.  The interior finish looks much better, and I think the look of this car simply is stunning.  I drove the vRS in the pouring rain, so I've not really got a good understanding of the performance, and I'm starting to wonder whether I made the right choice....

 

Is it fair to compare small Mercedes/BMWs to the Octavia, or do they command different market sectors?  Anyone get a quote on the CLA/something similar - what monthly payments were you offered?

 

What other cars did you testdrive before settling on the Octavia?  Are you still confident you made the right choice?

 

It must be my time of the month... someone reassure me I made the right decision!  With all this waiting, I'm starting to doubt myself!!

Edited 10 December, 201312 yr by fiisch

I am ZERO expert on Merc but I think you are comparing runners with slippers there? Would Merc not be seen as a "Class" above?  I know I would look at someone differently if they were driving a Merc as compared to the VRS!

The Merc and Octavia are aimed at totally different markets, and priced as such. To get what is in effect a poor mans Mercedes upto the same spec as the Octavia will need a lot of ticks on the options sheet as everything bar the base car is extra. The base car is also more to start with IIRC

Nah Mercs are rubbish now - didn't they come bottom of Top Gear's JD Power Survey.  They can't give 'em away....

 

In all seriousness, I flirted with the A Class over the summer and was getting lease quotes of circa £300/month which is same ballpark as Octavia vRS for admittedly a much smaller, less equipped, less powerful, less able car.

http://www.topgear.com/uk/car-news/mercedes-benz-cla-first-drive-2013-03-06

http://www.whatcar.com/car-reviews/mercedes-benz/cla-saloon/cla220-cdi-sport-4dr/summary/66969

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/mercedes/cla/63031/mercedes-cla-220-cdi

 

All you need to know. End of! Enjoy the car you ordered. Mercs all mouth and nay troosers

I'd read another report which used the phrase "style over substance" quite a lot..

I'm in the same boat. I've seen an A6 Sline 3+23 contract lease...

 

http://www.leaseyournextcar.com/lease-audi-a6-diesel-saloon-2-tdi-s-line-4dr.php

think the new C Class is out in May 2014 thats why there are such good deals, before opting for the vRS i looked at a 220 AMG sport and for the money the vRS for me was the better car.

I'm in the same boat. I've seen an A6 Sline 3+23 contract lease...

 

http://www.leaseyournextcar.com/lease-audi-a6-diesel-saloon-2-tdi-s-line-4dr.php

 

I had a 2012, A6 with the tech pack prior to the VRS, it was nice but my VRS has more toys and is more fun for similar money.

 

The A6 was just bland. 

Ive had a c220 AMG Sport Auto Estate, for 12 months and as much as i love it, its quite expensive on the old CC Tax (and you get no options), so ive gone for a VRS TDI DSG, with most options, and its still considerably cheaper, I suppose i depends how much you go in for brand snobbery. All in all, more badge, less kit, or more kit less badge.

Merc's aint what they used to be at the end of the Day it's all down to personel Choice i Used to Drive an E Class 8 years ago Traded it in for a 170 Elegance Superb much better car for considerably less cash One Other Superb and there VRS's later i have just got the Mark 3 VRS love it probably stick with Skoda Till im driving my Zimmer frame.....skoda might do them by then.

Quote from Auto Express on this very car .

 

"Refinement is an issue, though, with a fair bit of clatter from the engine under heavy throttle loads. It’s a similar story at high speeds, where road and wind noise is acceptable for a car of this size, but no match for the new crop of VW Group products, like the SEAT Leon and VW Golf.

Read more: http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/mercedes/cla/63031/mercedes-cla-220-cdi#ixzz2n646lQrn"

I think the CLA is pretty smart, someone at my work has been running around in a 220 CDi AMG Sport in White with Black alloys and it really does look the part but for me its more form over function.

Various road tests have reported that it doesnt drive half as well as it looks and for the money (given its a new model which isnt cheap anyway and wont be heavily discounted at the mo) a C class is a better bet. Its also not the most practical of cars with that heavily swept rear end and small saloon boot.

To be honest if I were considering anything of that nature it'd be the A class on which its based, drives a bit better, more practical and more importantly cheaper to obtain given its now been around for a little while.

That said bang per buck the Octavia vRS, particularly the TSi is difficult to beat....my problem is that I know the TSi if used as nature intended will get nothing near its official fuel figures and prove relatively costly to run, the TDi is barely any quicker than a regular 140 TSi or 150 TDi as whilst it has a bit more power its also quite a bit heavier.

I decided to can my Mk2 Blackline for an Elegance spec 150 TDi on standard wheels and suspension it drove so well comparatively and saved myself a good £40 or so a month in the process over a fairly basic 184 TDi vRS. Found my MK2 is a bit of a sheep in wolves clothing as far as performance is concerned and without disrespecting any vRS TDi owners on here on paper the MK3 looked to be much of the same so just bought a regular one.

I think many people have had the elegance or vrs debate.  In the end, having looked at the waiting times, the availability of a vrs in the system specced to what I want, with a fairly quickly promised delivery and a good discount sold the deal.

 

Would I prefer a merc? No, the Octavia really is a great car, so practical with decent levels of fun.  I'm going to be new to skoda ownership but from the extended test drives I've had, I'm in for a treat. In the form over function debate, the merc looks great but i'd have extended test drives in all cars I'm considering and make an informed choice based on the driving as this is what really counts for me.  It's a big choice and worth doing the research to get it right.  Good luck.

Waiting does put patience to the test, and March is several months away. However, you will have a fantastic car at the end of your wait. Green will look stunning on the VRS Hatch which makes driving fun.

 

Taking into account; 1) 0% Terms. 2) 3 years servicing. 3) 3 years recovery. 4) 3 years warranty. 5) Equipment. 6) Available options. 7) Performance, the Skoda Octavia VRS Hatch is a very difficult car to pass by.

 

Mercedes quality margin over other manufacturers has been much reduced to a level where other factors such as options, performance, styling and warranties outweigh any perceived advantage. Perception is where it happens. Skoda have managed their march to increasing sales with great purpose, and so it continues. Historical reputations fade through the years and new ones take form in the minds of the young, and so it continues.

 

The Octavia VRS TSI DSG Hatch was worth waiting on. Once I'd seen it and test drove it, I wanted it.

 

Hang on in there and don't be distracted from what attracted you in the first place.

I test drove the CLA before ordering a VRS Estate. It was not very Merc-like and felt cheap. It wasn't great to drive either. I drove it for 10 miles or so and was more than happy to never drive one again.. It looks stunning, but the interior is blingy without much substance. The air vents are very cheap plastic and the screen is just dreadful. The CLA cost a lot more for a much worse engine. Don't worry you've made the right choice.. he's bought a badge.. you've bought a car...

I've had far more compliments on my choice of car since I've had Octavia vRSs (just got my third) than I ever did when I drove a Mercedes B-class.  They may have improved in the latest models, but my B-class 200 CDI was intolerably noisy: a similar sound to a London taxi only louder.

I dont want to offend anybody, but, if you drive a CLA then people will think you are a traveller. Unless thats the look you're going for?

You pays your money and takes your choice we have my E350 AMG estate and the TSI VRS both are very good cars but in different ways. The E class has much better quality on the leather and other fittings but I have less toys than the Superb Combi I traded in for it and the Merc has all my essential toys. My decision at the time was I didn't use a lot of the toys on the Superb and whilst the Superb was a good motorway cruiser the Merc beats it hands down and obviously 265BHP does make a difference. Running cost on the Merc are not too bad if you take out the service plan, I don't lease my cars as I do around 45K a year.

 

The VRS TSI is also a very good car and great fun and has more than enough room and fantastic performance, its well spec'd as standard but as you start adding extras the price does creep up and starts to bring it into a different class price wise. The entertaining thing with the VRS is watching jaws drop when they find out its  a Skoda!

Moment's madness...  The CLA looks a bit dirty today, and it looks smaller.  Thanks for the replies on here - arguments of cost and - most importantly - performance makes me comfortable I've made the right choice.

 

I just wish I could have had more of a thrash on the testdrive!  I spent most of the drive fighting the traction control, and I wasn't going particularly hard.....