We left Mercedes after a very disappointing experience with an E Class (£43k rrp back in 01) . The biggest issue I felt was that MB were geared up for fleet and pcp/leases and have no time for private owners

Buying a new Superb in 09 to replace it the reverse was true , a local dealer who had sold the brand for many years had a loyal following of largely private owners , unfortunately those days have gone and so have Skoda dealers like that , they now have a business model much like MB and VW/Audi

Prices seem to reflect that as does equipment levels/options

Yes the Octy VRS is expensive , seemed to be a big jump over the last one but the VRS has become a well known brand in its own right , you no longer need to explain what it means .

Having just ordered a Vrs I also looked at the ST and a used S4 I will never own another MB though due to the dealers , the ST was a strong contender but I didn't think it was big enough and there are a few annoying niggles like sync so I went for the Octy , also thought about the 3.6 Superb though , some pre reg ones about the same price as a specced up vrs

Where can you get such a car, there are 4 E300 Hybrid estates on the merc website in the UK under a year old, the cheapest is up for £32450 so a long way from 25k

Motorpoint have a load, just checked, sorry they are £27K, but still a good price as all 2014 models with around 10k or less on the clock.  Prices seem to start about £20K for the E250CDI

Edited 17 February, 201511 yr by Matt Pez

I personally don't like the C class dashboard and more generally the interior.

I think Mercedes is targetting a far younger segment, with far less resilience to showy and ostentatious presentations.

I really don't get that comment.

 

I made it as I think over the last 25 years Skoda have gone from making **** cars, to basic fare and on to fairly high spec cars, the brand has gone from a laughing stock, through mediocre and on to above average, most people would agree, although there is discussion about where they are, the movement is clear.  In my view the movement from mk ii, mkii fl and now the mk iii is clear too.  Yes there are still cheaper cars in the range, but that isn't targeted for sale as much, isn't the percentage of octy sales that a vrs over twice what it used to be? (I can't remember the figures though) for example.

Have to agree the Skoda Octavia is no longer viewed as a budget brand car. The new styling for the whole range has made all the cars look more up market.

 

Early on there was a supply issue because Skoda/VW did not expect the Octavia to be so popular especially the VRS, that just shows how strong the Octavia is within the product range and reflects in price.

 

Edit: Fifth Gear compared the Octavia and the Golf with every presenter taking the Octavia and the cash difference over the Golf.

Edited 17 February, 201511 yr by Dempsek

Skoda in fairness is really marketed as a budget VW alternative, and particularly directed as a brand towards families.

Seat is VAGs budget Audi, they get a bit more flair (I think the Leon for instance rather resembles a wedgy and better looking Alfa Giulietta), some tech denied to Skoda but with similar list prices....but on the most part the cars are smaller.

TBH if you gave me the choice of a Golf estate GT or Octavia Elegance for the same money Id take the Golf all day every day but thats really not realistic...the Skoda comparitively offers that rather teutonic VW image and feel at what represents considerably lower cost (particularly if you finance the car) and I think thats what most people are buying into nowadays. Most people now have their head around the fact that Skodas are on the most part rebodied/rebadged VW's (for a while before the release of the 1st Octavia they were rather a hybrid of czech old school and VAG switchgear) and a very good deal for the private buyer who would like a VW Golf/Passat etc but doesnt want to pay the premium for it.

That may be sometimes the case.

On the other hand, when I bought my car, there was no Golf estate yet (which anyway is a bit small), and the Passat was sold in France with only the 1.4 TSI 122 as petrol engine.

The only relevant alternatives for a 180hp petrol etate car  were the 320i touring and the A4 avant 1.8 TFSI.

Both of them with at least 5k€ less equipments, smaller dimensions (inside and boot) and marginallly lower performances.

The Octavia Estate was just the best car suiting my selection criterias within a +/-10k€ price range.

Reading this thread with interest myself. I have had my 1.6Tdi Octy since 2012, from new. I still have the original receipt for it where the headline/cash price says £14500.

 

Ok i out 4k down so my payments have been £165 or something like. 

 

Now i know they were doing the VAT free thing back then so that will have an impact, but i can't get a deal on the new Octy 3 that comes out as good a value as this.

 

This is because the price has gone up significantly in my view, i know the new one is bigger and has more equipment but they have just pushed it further up the ladder now for me. 

 

I have been looking at Mazda and the new 3 and i am pretty sure thats what i will be ordering in the next few days hopefully. Yes the boot is smaller than the Octy but the level of equipment on the new mid range 3 is stunning imho. 

 

Been offered a couple of good deals through carwow and carfile. Also got a "deal" offered for the Octy but was still significantly higher than the Mazda. 

 

Its a shame because i have always had a soft spot for Skoda, This is my second Octy and the wife has a Fabia, the cars offered great value once, but not so much now for me unfortunately.

Space pace and toys. The VRS has them and if you get a good deal then just over £21K gets you a well-specced model, which leaves similarly priced prestige badge models in your wake. You will lose more money on depreciation, then again you don't have to lay out as much in the first place. The new VRS is a different car from the MkII. I looked at many types of cars before reluctantly trading in my MKII VRS. I came to the conclusion that for the money I couldn't do much better for my personal requirements. If I wanted a good value new smaller car I would buy a Leon FR, at £17K for a 150bhp 1.4 TSI with true good economy and enough performance.

Kind of ironic that Skoda owners are widely considered as being cheap, easily pleased and not especially demanding but now they aren't and neither are we

I've mentioned on here before that I don't believe they offer as good value. I traded in my mk2 fl vrs for a mk3 Leon St fr. Got a better deal than I could on a vrs especially by the time you add on all the kit the Leon gets as standard that the octavia doesn't (sat nav, cruise control (at the time it wasn't standard), variable boot floor,folding mirrors) to mention a few. I also found the ride comfort was better on the Leon which quite a few magazine reports have commented on regarding the vrs. Yes the octavia has slightly more space but personally the Leon still offers ample room. By the time I specced up a new vrs it was almost 30k which is mental for a skoda (or seat) !

It all depends what you want. Mine is a necessary evil to get me to work and cart the family around for leisure. I needed reliability, decent economy, and space. So bought a new 1.6 s combi with a couple of options. 11 months and 19k miles later I have no complaints. Cost less than £19k and is on 0% pcp.

For a bit more each month I could have had a 2.0 elegance or vrs etc but I wouldn't drive any faster than I do in the 1.6.

 

 once metallic pain and leather are added.

As featured in the Skoda cinema ad "50 shades of Meteor Grey"