Mondeo looks massive though. Would be a much bigger car to drive about in. That was my consideration for not choosing it as the Octavia has as much space inside but seemed to be much smaller dimensions outside.

Thanks for your thoughts guys - I'll have to think hard about this.  I am swapping out of a Passat but the new model isn't due here until the end of the year.  The quality of the carpets and door cards do put me off the Octavia a bit in comparison to the Mondeo as does it resale and the fact the Mondeo is better equipped.  I do like the drive of the vRs though! 

The Mondeo has just landed in Australia and I can get a fully loaded 240hp Titatium hatch for about 1500 pounds cheaper than my fully loaded vRS wagon I have on order.  I haven't driven the Mondeo - interested in thoughts as to whether I should consider a swap? 

 

New mondeo with 240hp and you buy an octavia?

 

 

 

As much as I like my O3 if I could get a new Mondeo for close to the same money I would go for that straight away.

 

I know Passat is more expensive but the question is by how much. I was referring to uk people:

 

http://www.volkswagen.co.uk/new/passat-viii/configure

Edited 7 May, 201511 yr by toni8b

The Mk3 Octavia is a very good car.

Ive had my 2.0 Elegance manual estate since Feb 14 from new....have done 23.5k miles since and short of routine maintenance has proved to be a twist and go experience. Its yet to give me any bother and just gets on with the job in hand.

Sure like most cars its not without its issues......I dont personallh think its quite as well made as the Mk2 I had previously and it feels a bit lightweight by comparison (well it is 140kgs lighter), the infotainment has lots of functionality but it doesnt present the best user experience and does have a few bugs/quirks, the standard sound system is nothing to write home about (sounds perfectly good but has some strange artificial output levelling system on it I think to prevent door trim rattles and blown woofers....if you have the volume up on a bassy track it effectivelh turns down the volume when it decides its gotten a bit much which is most annoying) and I have to say the diesel engine now well bedded in whilst it still goes well does IMHO feel as if the power delivery at certain revs in certain gears has gotten a bit flatter and its noisier at idle than when it was new...particularly when cold.

But these are frankly all minor gripes....it is overall a better car than the Mk2 and other than not being particularly fun to drive (being an Elegance on regular suspension and without progressive steering) its a great car and cant level lots of critiscm at it.

I should have purchased a vRS TBH.

One thing I would say though....do be aware that residual values on the Mk3 are proving to be quite poor.....its the first of three Skodas ive bought in the past four years that ive gotten trapped in the PCP deal....big negative equity but again thats not a fault of the car, rather the (probably) overly cheap finance deals VWFS are offering, overestimating the cars future value.