Afternoon everyone.

 

I am in the process of speccing up a new company car and have decided to go for the 2.0 Tdi 150 SE hatch. The company I work for use a leasing company, but I have used the car configurator to spec the car and make sure it still falls within the budget.

 

I'm going to spec as following:

 

2.0Tdi 150 SE

Chrome Window surrounds

18 inch Golus alloys

Black Magic Metallic paint

 

The dilemma I have is that I’m a bit worried about the ride with the 18's as I've read less than glowing reports on here. Ideally I'd go for the 17 inch Hawk alloys, but the issue is that you can only have the Hawk alloys if you go with the Sports Silver package. If I were to do this, it puts the price up by too much.

 

I would be going for standard suspension, as again  I couldn’t stretch to adding the sports suspension, so can anyone let me know what the ride is like on the Golus alloys with standard suspension?

 

I mainly use motorways, but I do cover quite rural areas as well, so I don't want the ride to suffer as a result of the choice of wheels.

 

 

 

Cheers,

 

 

 

Adam

I'm sure Briskies with more experience than me can talk you through the various permutations, but I chose an SE over an Elegance partly because it rides better on the standard alloys with the taller tyre.

There's no getting away from the fact that the unsophisticated back axle of standard models delivers an unsophisticated ride, and a taller tyre can only cushion that slightly. If you're on your own in the car a harsher ride may be something you're willing to trade for a slightly sexier appearance, but back seat passengers will certainly notice the difference.

Thanks for the feedback. I know what you mean about the ride, I had a 60 plate mk 2 on 17 inch alloys with the sports suspension option selected from new and the ride was quite jarring! Comparing this to my wife's 58 Fsi Octavia estate which runs on the standard 15 inch rims and the ride is alot more forgiving.

Maybe I should stick with the standard rims and spend the 750 quid on a different option!

IMHO the unsophisticated rear SE suspension would be a poor match for the 18" wheels. My SE is on 205/55 16" and the ride is comparable to my old Saab 9-5 that had aftermarket low and stiff springs with its 17 inchers running 225/45s. Handling isn't as tight though!

 

The Octavia's wheel arches look better with 17" wheels though.

 

Ask for cruise control if you haven't already.

IMHO the unsophisticated rear SE suspension would be a poor match for the 18" wheels. My SE is on 205/55 16" and the ride is comparable to my old Saab 9-5 that had aftermarket low and stiff springs with its 17 inchers running 225/45s. Handling isn't as tight though!

 

The Octavia's wheel arches look better with 17" wheels though.

 

Ask for cruise control if you haven't already.

Thanks for the feedback. I think cruise control comes as a no cost extra now, it seems to when you spec the car online anyway. In an ideal world I'd compromise and go for 17's, but as you also have to buy something called the "sports silver package", it puts it over budget. The 18 inch wheels are £750, but you don't have to go for the sports sliver package. It's a bit frustrating, but I guess that's where they make their money; on the extras.

Maybe I should stick with the standard rims and spend the 750 quid on a different option!

+1 ^^^ The standard wheels will give you a smoother ride. The 18"rims will probably have a wider tyre on them too, which if that's the case will most likely be noisier and use more fuel. What else can you get for the £750?

For €750 you could also buy a very nice set of after-market wheel with tyres for winter or whatever.

I don't think its worth paying extra for alloys or cosmetic things like this.

Both of my sets of wheels ended up scratched & damaged after less than a month of ownership... :(

If you like looking at really pretty thatched cottages with their small windows that roast like hell in the summer, buyer a modern house opposite one and look at it.

 

If you like pretty cars that looks great but, jarr your spine and make mor noise than the radio, park opposite one or go to a car show but, if you want a smooth ride in an O3 with basic rear suspension, don't put bigger wheels on it.

 

Nuff said.

Thanks for your replies guys. I was hoping someone might say that they have the 18 inch rims with standard suspension and that the ride is actually not too bad. Looks like I might have been a tad optimistic!

Re what else I can get for the £750, I'll have a look, maybe I stretch to a sunroof!

Sunroof is only half a sunroof on a hatch, spare wheel is a must if you want to make that meeting just 10mins late with dirty hands instead of missing it, rear air bags if you've got kids, arguementative point some would say but, my ole Dad said "rubber prevents accidents" ! Adaptive CC for motorway munching, heated seats for softies its really a matter of personal choice.

I purposely chose the standard 16" ( Ilius ? ) as I like the ride, looks, easy to clean (VERY easy) and the tyres strike me as more protective of the rims.

The ride is fine - so much so that I am often puzzled by the complaints here about suspension etc.

Also I assume that when tyre replacement time arrives these are probably more economic.

I purposely chose the standard 16" ( Ilius ? ) as I like the ride, looks, easy to clean (VERY easy) and the tyres strike me as more protective of the rims.

The ride is fine - so much so that I am often puzzled by the complaints here about suspension etc.

Also I assume that when tyre replacement time arrives these are probably more economic.

Same here (Ilias for the winter and Minoris for the summer tires). The 17" would have looked a bit nicer to my eye, but I didn't want to sacrifice comfort for looks, nor did I want to make tire replacement more expensive.

For €750 you could also buy a very nice set of after-market wheel with tyres for winter or whatever.

I don't think its worth paying extra for alloys or cosmetic things like this.

Both of my sets of wheels ended up scratched & damaged after less than a month of ownership... :(

I agree, if it was my own car then I'd definitely do as you've suggested. Unfortunately it's company car though so after four years it goes back to the leasing company.

I agree, if it was my own car then I'd definitely do as you've suggested. Unfortunately it's company car though so after four years it goes back to the leasing company.

After three years I meant to say

Sunroof is only half a sunroof on a hatch, spare wheel is a must if you want to make that meeting just 10mins late with dirty hands instead of missing it, rear air bags if you've got kids, arguementative point some would say but, my ole Dad said "rubber prevents accidents" ! Adaptive CC for motorway munching, heated seats for softies its really a matter of personal choice.

I've checked and sunroof is £850 so not really an option. Good point re the spare wheel, I can't believe that all manufactures charge you extra now for a spare wheel. Havering said that, I guess most people wouldn't even know how to change a wheel these days!

Same here (Ilias for the winter and Minoris for the summer tires). The 17" would have looked a bit nicer to my eye, but I didn't want to sacrifice comfort for looks, nor did I want to make tire replacement more expensive.

Fortunately the leasng compnay covers the tyres so this isn't an issue for me. 17's would be a good compromise, but you can only get them on the SE when you spec the sports silver package, which is over 400 quid for a couple of bits of trim and a boot spoiler!

I've checked and sunroof is £850 so not really an option. Good point re the spare wheel, I can't believe that all manufactures charge you extra now for a spare wheel. Havering said that, I guess most people wouldn't even know how to change a wheel these days!

Having said that even!

On a separate point, I wonder why more people don't spec the chrome window surrounds? I think they look good personally, but I've yet to see a car that's had them fitted.

On a separate point, I wonder why more people don't spec the chrome window surrounds? I think they look good personally, but I've yet to see a car that's had them fitted.

They're standard here in Finland on Elegance, L&K and Scout (and optional on RS) which makes them very common. And I do think they look rather nice, unless you want to go for an understated all black look.

On a separate point, I wonder why more people don't spec the chrome window surrounds? I think they look good personally, but I've yet to see a car that's had them fitted.

 

I don't think they were available when it was launched (or they were removed from the options list soon after).

I didn't have a choice when I ordered my car a year ago.

 

+1 for ACC & Heated Windscreen as mentioned by TheManWithNoAim

Another vote for sticking with the 16's. I have an Elegance with 17" Teron, but I put 16's on for the winter and having just swapped them back it's definitely what James May would call a bit more "jiggly" (even  on the motorway, it seems very adept at feeling the section joins). Never been convinced by all season tyres, but they seem to be improving so I may put some of these on the 16's and just stick with them all year round for comfort, but that's a decision for another day, after a bit of research.

 

Defo get a spare though.

I purposely chose the standard 16" ( Ilius ? ) as I like the ride, looks, easy to clean (VERY easy)....

 

Yep, I forgot to mention the easy to clean aspect! One of the reasons I didn't get a Volvo S60 some years back. More spokes on the alloys than a bicycle wheel.

Yep, I forgot to mention the easy to clean aspect! One of the reasons I didn't get a Volvo S60 some years back. More spokes on the alloys than a bicycle wheel.

Coming from a Volvo, being able to open the air valves without pinching your fingers feels luxurious.

Unless you have to stick to SE trim for company list reasons I personally would just go for a standard Elegance.

The spec is quite a bit better (particularly now they come with adaptive cruise and park assist now), the interior trim in nicer and the teron is quite a nice wheel and strikes a good balance between the 16's and 18's.....tyres that are 225 wide like those on the 18's but with 45 rather than 40mm sidewalls so on standard suspension a good grip v ride compromise.

Whilst the 16's provide a bit more straight line comfort, the lack of tyre width and sidewall flex is considerably more noticeable and alters it from a car that deals OK with pushing on to somethinf that loses grip and understeers at any given oportunity....particularly with the 150hp diesel motor.

Just my 2p worth.

Unless you have to stick to SE trim for company list reasons I personally would just go for a standard Elegance.

The spec is quite a bit better (particularly now they come with adaptive cruise and park assist now), the interior trim in nicer and the teron is quite a nice wheel and strikes a good balance between the 16's and 18's.....tyres that are 225 wide like those on the 18's but with 45 rather than 40mm sidewalls so on standard suspension a good grip v ride compromise.

Whilst the 16's provide a bit more straight line comfort, the lack of tyre width and sidewall flex is considerably more noticeable and alters it from a car that deals OK with pushing on to somethinf that loses grip and understeers at any given oportunity....particularly with the 150hp diesel motor.

Just my 2p worth.

I would love to go for the Elegance, but unfortunately I'd have to then drop down to the 1.6 diesel to keep within budget. I kind of had my heart set on the 2 litre Tdi so I guess I'll have to make a compromise!