Well next Tuesday a 1.6Tdi Elegance hatch will be delivered to work and my 2011 2.0Tdi VRS estate goes back.... and I have mixed feelings.  This will be my 4th Octavia company car.  The company bought the first two, a MK1 1.9TDi Ambiance in 1999 and a MK2 replacement in 2005.  The VRS and now the Elegance are lease cars.  To be honest I was a little disappointed with the VRS, bags of horsepower but little in the way of Toys.  Now I’m getting bags of toys and little in the way of horsepower or am I being unfair to the 1.6Tdi?

 

I hope that the newer lighter car will feel better than a MK2 1.9 105bhp, but I have a nagging feeling I’ll miss the extra bhp of the VRS.

 

I'd have preferred the 2.0 Tdi but that wasn't an option.......this time.

1,6 tdi is no problem for normal driving. It is zippier than the mk2 1,6 because of less weight. If you get DSG it will feel even better. I have tons of equipment on mine. I enjoy all the extras. I cant drive faster than the speedlimit anyhow

If you load it up with full of luggage and passangers, you will of course miss the 2.0tdi. I used to have 2.0tdi 140 In a Vw Tiguan. The mk3 1,6tdi is as quick as that one. So, I really don't miss any more power.

I had a Blackline DSG estate from new for 12 months until Feb this year and whilst I loved the car in most respects it just never did it for me in terms of outright go....never at any point did it feel like a 170hp car, power delivery was a bit weak and its weight did it no favours.

As it happens the 150 TDi Mk3 with its better motor (power delivery is way better) and lighter body means real world its as quick if not slightly quicker than the vRS; doesnt handle or stop quite so well mind but you cant have it all.

The 1.6 will be a fair bit slower than the vRS, you'll feel the loss of those 65 horses and the torque but again the 1.6 is a vast improvement on the previous gen and is still quite a light car. Go atvreal world speeds will be similar to a Mk2 140 CR, not quite as quick but the nearest comparitive and more than adequate. Overall the Mk3 is a much better car and all the spec and toys will make up for the lack of go.

I find my Mk3 a little soulless but its just such a good daily drive and so far faultless id be surprised if you have any real regrets once you have it. Maybe the only thing you will regret if performance is important to you will be not going for the 150 TDi but its not as clean or economical as the 1.6 so has its downsides.

I find my Mk3 a little soulless.

This is the biggest issue for me as I am near to replacement of my company vRS.

The O3 vRS is out of budget and the Elegance just doesn't do it...bland and ordinary.

There is no sport package available (not even a spoiler) so I am leaning towards a Leon ST FR 150 which (IMHO) is a far more stylish machine with performance and extra goodies.

It may not be to Skoda quality but a better all round proposition again IMHO.

This is the biggest issue for me as I am near to replacement of my company vRS.

The O3 vRS is out of budget and the Elegance just doesn't do it...bland and ordinary.

There is no sport package available (not even a spoiler) so I am leaning towards a Leon ST FR 150 which (IMHO) is a far more stylish machine with performance and extra goodies.

It may not be to Skoda quality but a better all round proposition again IMHO.

What about a Volvo S60 D4 Business edition.  181HP, 99g co2.    Compared to VAG engine power outputs and co2 the Volvo wins hands down.

Edited 23 May, 201412 yr by Sheldon.Cooper

This is the biggest issue for me as I am near to replacement of my company vRS.

The O3 vRS is out of budget and the Elegance just doesn't do it...bland and ordinary.

There is no sport package available (not even a spoiler) so I am leaning towards a Leon ST FR 150 which (IMHO) is a far more stylish machine with performance and extra goodies.

It may not be to Skoda quality but a better all round proposition again IMHO.

Have to say I quite like the fact the Elegance is a bit ordinary in that respect, particularly with the 150 diesel motor in it and that (compared to everything else in its peer group) it weighs v little it does rather have a bit of pseudo-Q car appeal. Certainly many people on the road dont expect an ordinary looking white estate "taxi" to have such a good turn of speed.

The disappointment is that it really isnt at all engaging to drive. The gearshift is nice and with the right driver mode settings throttle response (whilst a little soft initially) and steering weighting is good on the standard suspension its just no fun to throw around and the lack of progressive steering assistance results in a slow rack than needs more input than seems logical even at speed. The upshot is that the ride is about as good as it gets on an O3 and makes for a comfortable and generally relaxing car to while away motorway miles.

I bough this one with a different set of priorities in fairness, wife was insistent after having a number of sports suspended VAG cars that this time I was not to have another for hers and our kids sakes, also wanted something that made for a better mile muncher but cleaner, more efficient and just as quick as the Mk2 vRS TDI and it ticked all the boxes.

Just my personal view but I would never again personally buy another vRS TDI, would have to be TSI or bust. I do however have the option of a Mk7 Golf GTD (with or without DSG) as a company car and have to say if I were not in the thick end of negative equity with my O3 it would be enticing.

What about a Volvo S60 D4 Business edition. 181HP, 99g co2. Compared to VAG engine power outputs and co2 the Volvo wins hands down.

Attractive from a power point of view but Mrs F would not be seen dead in one!

Edited 23 May, 201412 yr by Falkster