The Leon range (inc. the ST) has £1000 Seat deposit contribution, 0% PCP and free technology pack now. If this deal had been available last summer, I'd have probably chosen Seat over Skoda tbh.

Autoexpress seem to like it:

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/seat/leon/87821/new-car-awards-2014-best-estate-car

Yeah it makes for a pretty tasty option ATM

I own one so am bias, but £25k for a Skoda is is not v good value. Similar spec Audi A4's, 3-Series and C-Classes can be had for similar sums and all offer better quality. The Octy trumps them for space and practicality (which was my main reason for buying one) but if you are considering a Seat Leon space probably doesn't matter so much. In my opinion Audis and BMW's with easily available huge discounts offer better value.

The Octy is a very good car and I really do like mine, but I got what I paid for and nothing more. Not many will agree with me within this forum, but ths is my opinion.

 

Depends which Skoda you have surely? Show me an A4/3 Series/C Class that has the space and performance and standard kit as my VRS for that money. I'm pretty sure you can't, I looked at all those marques before i bought the Skoda, and couldn't get anything comparable.

 

Edit: I should add that mine is a company car. I get a budget, I have to stick to it, and it's done on P11D value, not purchase price.

Edited 18 August, 201411 yr by CBMotorsport

hmmm,  a lot of rose-tinted glasses being worn here. 

 

Before buying the vRS, I put it up against a similarly priced / specced Leon (the ST was not out then)

 

You essentially has the Leon FR 2.0 TDi (18" rims, tech pack (Xenons, stereo upgrade), winter pack and something else) against the vRS 2.0TDi (specced with cruise, black pack, stereo upgrade which I can never spell  , spare)

 

- Same engine (Yes, the 184Bhp remap for the Leon FR was out by then, bringing it up from 150)

- Both has 18" Wheels (lower cost  of the Leon allowed the upgrade)

- Both had the trick rear suspension from the Golf

- The offer from Seat did *NOT* require a hefty deposit (mine was going to be £500)

- Both had the same GMFV (within £50)

 

OFFERS

- Skoda was the usual "3yr servicing, 0% finance"

- Seat was "£1K deposit, 4.9% finance and free tech pack (Xenons, stereo upgrade equivalent to Skoda Ahmundsen)"

 

Anybody spinning out the old "Seat interiors are naff" line has only sat in a basic spec Leon SE, or has a bit of brand bias going on. I drove a Golf to a seat dealership and the FR standard spec holds its own well. It is *definitely* the equal of the vRS interior.

 

Why did I get the vRS? I thought the extra space would come in handy, and that the (inevitable) arrival of a new Cupra would hurt the desirability and resale value of the FR (whilst the vRS would be largely untouched by black / L&K editions). However, the lack of front parking sensors / electric folding mirrors / cruise as standard was a constant arguing point for me.

 

Had the ST come out a little earlier, the outcome may have been different depending on the deal on the table.

hmmm, a lot of rose-tinted glasses being worn here.

Before buying the vRS, I put it up against a similarly priced / specced Leon (the ST was not out then)

You essentially has the Leon FR 2.0 TDi (18" rims, tech pack (Xenons, stereo upgrade), winter pack and something else) against the vRS 2.0TDi (specced with cruise, black pack, stereo upgrade which I can never spell , spare)

- Same engine (Yes, the 184Bhp remap for the Leon FR was out by then, bringing it up from 150)

- Both has 18" Wheels (lower cost of the Leon allowed the upgrade)

- Both had the trick rear suspension from the Golf

- The offer from Seat did *NOT* require a hefty deposit (mine was going to be £500)

- Both had the same GMFV (within £50)

OFFERS

- Skoda was the usual "3yr servicing, 0% finance"

- Seat was "£1K deposit, 4.9% finance and free tech pack (Xenons, stereo upgrade equivalent to Skoda Ahmundsen)"

Anybody spinning out the old "Seat interiors are naff" line has only sat in a basic spec Leon SE, or has a bit of brand bias going on. I drove a Golf to a seat dealership and the FR standard spec holds its own well. It is *definitely* the equal of the vRS interior.

Why did I get the vRS? I thought the extra space would come in handy, and that the (inevitable) arrival of a new Cupra would hurt the desirability and resale value of the FR (whilst the vRS would be largely untouched by black / L&K editions). However, the lack of front parking sensors / electric folding mirrors / cruise as standard was a constant arguing point for me.

Had the ST come out a little earlier, the outcome may have been different depending on the deal on the table.

Whilst I agree that the new octavia doesn't represent the same value for money as the mk2 may have some of the comparisons made in this thread are a little unfair in my book.

Comparing a manufacturers standard car to a modified one is a total no no for a start if you are ever going to look at selling it or even using the warranty.

Also the audi a4 is as far as I know quite an old platform, only up to 177bhp and a fair bit heavier. Although your neighbour probably doesn't know this so it may or may not matter to the buyer.

Certainly things have changed since I bought my vRS but at that point there was little that could touch it for the mixture of value, practicality and performance.

Two things that really put me off the Skoda Octavia was that the nice multilink rear axle is only on the VRS, & that the XDS diff is only optional on the Elegance, & standard on L&K, & VRS.

 

The Golf estate gets the Multilink rear on engines including & above 122PS, and ALL versions get the XDS as standard................much better drivers orientated car range.

Two things that really put me off the Skoda Octavia was that the nice multilink rear axle is only on the VRS, & that the XDS diff is only optional on the Elegance, & standard on L&K, & VRS.

 

The Golf estate gets the Multilink rear on engines including & above 122PS, and ALL versions get the XDS as standard................much better drivers orientated car range.

 

Wrong - the multilink rear axle and XDS diff are both available on the 4x4 as well. Plus four wheel drive!

Wrong - the multilink rear axle and XDS diff are both available on the 4x4 as well. Plus four wheel drive!

Yup and the 4x4 is great :-)

Octavia is really only good value in lower spec models, as soon as you get high end model plus you start specing it with equipment, price almost matches cars of the class above.

Wrong - the multilink rear axle and XDS diff are both available on the 4x4 as well. Plus four wheel drive!

 

Left out the 4x4 because it is obvious you have to have a multilink axle!..........  ..............also looking at the brochure the 4x4 only comes with a heavy 2lt tdi engine...............NOT what I need!

 

If I wanted 4x4 I would get a Golf R hatch or wait for the estate version which whey are talking about!  :clap:

 

The multilink axle in none 4x4 was fitted in the MK5 Golf, so old tech really & if VW fit this to engines of 122PS & above & fit XDS (again old tech) as standard across the range this proves that Skoda are not that "driver focused" & skimping on what I consider must haves for a drivers car in this day in age!!

Octavia is really only good value in lower spec models, as soon as you get high end model plus you start specing it with equipment, price almost matches cars of the class above.

 

...says the person with a 2.0 TDi DSG Elegance.

 

Seriously, why did you buy it if it is such crap value for money?

In Spain we don't have good leasing offers or things like that and we buy the car to keep 10+ years.

We wanted an estate BMW or Audi with some extras such as sunroof, heated seats, satnav... For a second hand BMW with no extras we're still 5000 euros over the Skoda Octavia vRS estate with almost all the extras.

So at least here it seems to make some sense: we either buy a 2-3 year old BMW/Audi with no extras or for the same price a new Skoda full of extras!

...says the person with a 2.0 TDi DSG Elegance.

 

Seriously, why did you buy it if it is such crap value for money?

 

I havent said it was crap value for money but its not a winner either.

 

I did get the space I needed but the overall build quality and not to mention ride quality is still very much down compared to the cars like Insignia, C5 or Mondeo.

Edited 19 August, 201411 yr by toni8b

When I see an insignia, my eyes hurt.

I thought the title was about the vRS not the lesser models?

 

The Leon ST FR can be spec'd similar to the vRS but in petrol you only get the 1.8TSi but that then means you get the 7 speed (good or bad I'm not sure). And it's not that much cheaper.......but as above you possibly get a better deal on finance.

 

If you are looking against other cars, then the Octavia is not that bad, for example a Mini Countryman starts of at around the same price for the "s" model. So in the grand scheme of things the Octavia vRS is not really over priced, but either is it the steal it once was.

 

The way I look at it, to replace my current vRS with the same spec I'm looking at spending at least £20k on top of p/x'ing my current car.

 

Which is the same as I spent before with no deposit!

 

If Skoda brought back the 0% deal and the dealer would give a good price on my current Octavia then I think I'd make the change.............but that's not going to happen.

Comparatively speaking a 2.0 Elegance estate @ 23k given its performance, space and equipment level takes some beating even if it is getting on the wrong end of pricey for a Skoda Octavia.

I think the biggest mistake I made was not buying a vRS; the Elegance is very good but its just a bit too dull for my liking. The TDI may not be a great deal quicker than the 150 but with the better chassis, brakes, XDS+ and progressive steering and a chunk more power and torque its bound to be a better drive, was rather naive in that respect and now missing my Mk2 vRS for the same reasons (even though its slower than the Elegance).

Elegance is great if you just want a good car, if you want something remotely enjoyable it has to be a vRS.

Edited 19 August, 201411 yr by pipsyp

Pipsyp, get a rear anti roll bar and a tuning box, throw a pedal box on for good measure and I think you'll be able to live with that Elegance till the financial pain of changing cars becomes a little easier to swallow.

 

Go on, you know you wanna.

There are some rather large discounts available however on seats - 

2.0 TDI 184 FR 5dr DSG

images hosting

 

As opposed to skoda equivalent

 

image hosting 30 mb

 

There are some rather large discounts available however on seats - 

2.0 TDI 184 FR 5dr DSG

images hosting

 

As opposed to skoda equivalent

 

image hosting 30 mb

 

 

Wont this £900-odd difference only apply on a cash sale? To get that SEAT figure you need to take out the finance of 4.9%, which would likely wipe out any difference?

But then the vRS also if taken on finance will be around the same rate (3.5% flat rate) so that's either here or there.

 

Plus the discount on skoda is actually greater in the first place!

But then the vRS also if taken on finance will be around the same rate (3.5% flat rate) so that's either here or there.

 

Plus the discount on skoda is actually greater in the first place!

 

Hence why I said the discount applied on a cash sale only (don't get me wrong, I'm fighting for the vRS here ) ... plus the spec above doesn't mention if the SEAT has had 18" wheels added to bring the spec in line?

Hence why I said the discount applied on a cash sale only (don't get me wrong, I'm fighting for the vRS here ) ... plus the spec above doesn't mention if the SEAT has had 18" wheels added to bring the spec in line?

 

I think we are both on the vRS side

 

interesting that DtD state that the spec I want there is a massive £4333.80 discount. Now........if that's on the lower rate finance package that they have then its very tempting!

Comparatively speaking a 2.0 Elegance estate @ 23k given its performance, space and equipment level takes some beating even if it is getting on the wrong end of pricey for a Skoda Octavia.

I think the biggest mistake I made was not buying a vRS; the Elegance is very good but its just a bit too dull for my liking. The TDI may not be a great deal quicker than the 150 but with the better chassis, brakes, XDS+ and progressive steering and a chunk more power and torque its bound to be a better drive, was rather naive in that respect and now missing my Mk2 vRS for the same reasons (even though its slower than the Elegance).

Elegance is great if you just want a good car, if you want something remotely enjoyable it has to be a vRS.

Cheery thoughts Pips for one who can't stretch to a vRS and is about to order a 150 Elegance! Is it really that bad? I'm coming from a Mk2 vRS.

Two things that really put me off the Skoda Octavia was that the nice multilink rear axle is only on the VRS, & that the XDS diff is only optional on the Elegance, & standard on L&K, & VRS.

 

The Golf estate gets the Multilink rear on engines including & above 122PS, and ALL versions get the XDS as standard................much better drivers orientated car range.

According to the August '14 Octavia brochure, the only Octys to get the "multi element rear axle" are the 4 wheel drive versions.

All 2 wheel drive cars get the "compound link crank-axle" & the only suspension change for the vRS is "sports suspension".

 

A genuine change for the 2015 model-year vRS or crappy proofreading?

 

DC

Cheery thoughts Pips for one who can't stretch to a vRS and is about to order a 150 Elegance! Is it really that bad? I'm coming from a Mk2 vRS.

No not at all.....in a sense I'm probably being a little unfair to it. As it goes its hardly put a foot wrong in the several months ive owned it, goes v well for a 150hp car and is getting more frugal as the miles clock up, subjectively its probably the best Skoda Ive owned to date.

Just several months in I am kicking myself a bit that I didnt buy a vRS. To look at the Elegance is a bit dull as it is frankly to both sit in and drive too. I suppose the initial shine of it being Mk7 based and having a few more toys has worn off and now left with a car thats arguably not as fun to punt around as the Mk2 vRS I traded it for despite IMHO being perkier in the engine dept.

In the same vain I suppose as a Mk7 2.0 TDi SE Golf being quite different dynamically to a GTD.....with all the chassis and mechanical changes between the normal and sports variants does make them quite different cars.

Biggest complaint I have on mine is the steering, lacks feel and the rack is also quite slow requiring quite a bit of lock to prompt quick direction changes....the vRS has the progressive rack which is much better for example.

I bought this car for practical reasons really to save some money and try and do away with the wife and kids being rattled around (my Blackline made my few hour old son puke his guts up on the way home from hospital which prompted my about turn) but was probably a slightly rash decision; its about the least sporty car Ive owned/run for many years. That really is my only problem with it lack of sportiness. If youre not so bothered about that then you'll not go wrong with an Elegance as its plenty quick enough and nicely equipped with no optional extras.

Edited 20 August, 201411 yr by pipsyp

According to the August '14 Octavia brochure, the only Octys to get the "multi element rear axle" are the 4 wheel drive versions.

All 2 wheel drive cars get the "compound link crank-axle" & the only suspension change for the vRS is "sports suspension".

A genuine change for the 2015 model-year vRS or crappy proofreading?

DC

Crappy proofreading for sure. The 1.8 L&K will get multilink as will all vRS variants. Just anything 2wd and 150hp and below gets beam suspension.

Id also assume the 1.8 and new 184 Scout will also get 312mm front brakes.