i am due a new company car and, after reading threads on here, the Octavia estate has rather taken my fancy.

Unfortunately having submitted the 2.0 TDI L&K for a quote it is just over my allowance, even tho a modeo which costs 2k more is within it

Quite like the idea of the DSG box, having taken one for a test drive last week, so find myself in a dilema thant perhaps you 'old hands' may have a few opinions about.

Bearing in mind it will be my workhorse doing around 30,000 miles a year, i want a diesel, i also want it to be quite high spec as i virtually live in it during the week.

Does an 1.9 TDI give you enough grunt, for motorway driving, i.e overtaking or a bit of a scream if i am running late for an appointment. will it do 100ish+ without feeling like it has a mind of its own!?!

Is the DSG worth it, should i drop a spec to the elegance? will i loose much in the way of creature comforts, and will it be worthwile just for a DSG box? Is the DSG better than the extras in the L&K (namely leather, come home lights and maxidot?)

All answers/opinions greatfully received

I think it would be a good move - drop to Elegance with DSG - you can still add a bit of spec -- the only thing you can't add to an Elegance is the electric memory seats - but pretty much anything else can be had(subject to allowance)

If you have tried a 2.0TDi - you'll be very disappointed with a 1.9TDi -- although it's not a bad engine - the 2.0 just has that little more to offer.

thanks skodaw

I actually test drove the 1.9 TDI DSG saloon as they never had a 2.0 there to test. Also said they were not part of the 24 hour test drive promo as people just took the mickey.

Never had time to take it out on a motorway, which i do a lot of mileage on, and i was just worried that a 1.9 estate wont have the pull. At the moment my current mondeo 2.0 (spit) has a fair turn of speed on motorway driving, easily able to do 100+ should i need to.

Memory seats dont really bother me as i will be the only one driving the car, so once i've fiddled a bit the seats wont move. being 6'3 they just tend to go straight back and stay there!

I think it would be a good move - drop to Elegance with DSG - you can still add a bit of spec -- the only thing you can't add to an Elegance is the electric memory seats - but pretty much anything else can be had(subject to allowance)

If you have tried a 2.0TDi - you'll be very disappointed with a 1.9TDi -- although it's not a bad engine - the 2.0 just has that little more to offer.

2.0 Elegance is the way to go. I've no regrets except not being able to afford the DSG. 1.9 is good but 2.0 is a stormer (smoother and quieter too). I'd recommend the options I went for (just click on 'My Skoda')

iBearing in mind it will be my workhorse doing around 30' date='000 miles a year, i want a diesel, i also want it to be quite high spec as i virtually live in it during the week.

Does an 1.9 TDI give you enough grunt, for motorway driving, i.e overtaking or a bit of a scream if i am running late for an appointment. will it do 100ish+ without feeling like it has a mind of its own!?![/quote']

While on holiday this summer I drove from the UK to the east of Germany in a day, 10.5 hours behind the wheel in total in a 1.9 TDI Elegance. Very relaxing no problems at all. Similar for the return journey where I spent 9.5 hours behind the wheel in a day.

Was able to cruise happily at 100 mph on the Autobahns. Max speed achieved was 120 mph but the driver gave up long before the car.

2.0 has far more punch but the 1.9 has more than enough torque for rapid overtaking.

This is what I ordered instead of a (spit) Mondeo and I do similar milage to you.

I went for the 2.0 as it was far nicer than the 1.9.

How much do you have to spend - mine came in at

Can you source the car yourself, if yes try http://drivethedeal.com/

Do you have to pay for any fuel, you may find the 1.9 is less thirsty than the 2.0, also the DSG box adds weight to the car & drops the MPG a little, taking a conventional 6 speeder will also save 1000 on the price, does that help ??

What are the tax implications of each if you pay company car tax.

All things to consider but I guess youve done most of this already

Do you pay anything towards servicing, an Octy Diesel on variable servicing can easily go 25-30000 between services

My wife came out of the company scheme just over 2.5 years ago & opted for an allowance for tax reasons, we bought the old shape Octy L&K 1.9, its currently covered 97000 miles & has been a fantastic work horse & only needed 3 services, the last one being at 87000. It beats all the Vectras & Mondeos before it.

To Improve performance we had it remapped (£450) at 8000 miles , dosent sound like you would consider that but it took it to just over 160 bhp which equates to a top speed of 135, no reliability problems, still on the original clutch & it averages about 53 mpg on normal business trips! To add we are both slight petrolheads & try to ring the max out of our cars but the performance of the car as std was more than adequate & 100 + is easily achieved,

I would suggest you try another 1.9 if your not sure, If you cant get one through a dealer ring Skoda or ask around on Briskoda, theres bound to be someone near you who can help, If you are buying the car yourself bear in mind the 2.0 might be worth more when you come to sell

Good Luck

All answers/opinions greatfully received

Go for the Mondeo

Chris

Not sure if you can, but shop around for lease deals, I did when getting mine and found that some lease companies aren't giving the Octy the residual value others are and are therefore charging more per month.....

Does an 1.9 TDI give you enough grunt' date=' for motorway driving, i.e overtaking or a bit of a scream if i am running late for an appointment. will it do 100ish+ without feeling like it has a mind of its own!?!

Is the DSG worth it, should i drop a spec to the elegance? will i loose much in the way of creature comforts, and will it be worthwile just for a DSG box? Is the DSG better than the extras in the L&K (namely leather, come home lights and maxidot?)

[/quote']

The only thing of any significance you will lose by dropping to an Elegance is the heated, motorised leather seats.

1.9 is perfectly adequate for all driving conditions and will cruise happily at endorsment inducing speeds all day.

Sacrifice the trim levels, sacrifice the bigger motor, sacrifice your granny BUT get the DSG!!!!

The only thing of any significance you will lose by dropping to an Elegance is the heated' date=' motorised leather seats.

1.9 is perfectly adequate for all driving conditions and will cruise happily at endorsment inducing speeds all day.

Sacrifice the trim levels, sacrifice the bigger motor, sacrifice your granny BUT get the DSG!!!![/quote']

You'll kick yourself for not getting the 2.0. it's a world apart from the 1.9.

The 1.9 is remarkably capable, i've seen 125 on the clock in mine and only tonight I was driving back from the Cinema in very light traffic and didn't realise the clock was knudging (sp?) 100.

The 1.9 is remarkably capable,

Agreed

The only thing of any significance you will lose by dropping to an Elegance is the heated' date=' motorised leather seats.

1.9 is perfectly adequate for all driving conditions and will cruise happily at endorsment inducing speeds all day.

Sacrifice the trim levels, sacrifice the bigger motor, sacrifice your granny BUT get the DSG!!!![/quote']

I agree - I could see a very worthwhile value in getting the Elegance over the Ambiente, but little advantage in going on to the L&K

I wonder why Skoda chose to fit electric memory seats - I'm sure most people would prefer the xenons that the old model had = overall much more usefull and probably cheaper as well.

Thanks people!

So with regards to engine size, it seems a pretty split decision, but i guess DSG is the way to go

Try both engines but be sure to try each for a few hours. I was a bit dissapointed with both until I took them out for a decent run. In Pulp Fiction talk 'The 1.9 is good but the 2.0 is a f***ing madman!

Good Luck

Thanks, only problem is, that of all my 'local' garages, they have only got 1.9's available to test drive. Even worse choice in the estates where they only can seem to get hold of petrol engines. I was tending to prefer the 2.0 over the 1.9 with a laden estate, i thought it would have a bit more grunt.

Do what I did, order a 4x4 - 1.9 Tdi only and no DSG option = Problem solved!!! How much for your lease?? I'm paying

Do what I did, order a 4x4 - 1.9 Tdi only and no DSG option = Problem solved!!! How much for your lease?? I'm paying

Try both engines but be sure to try each for a few hours. I was a bit dissapointed with both until I took them out for a decent run. In Pulp Fiction talk 'The 1.9 is good but the 2.0 is a f***ing madman!

Good Luck

Believe me, i've tried, nobody seems to have a 2.0 TDI to try. I've tried 4 dealers, 3 localish to me (Forest Gate, Walthamstow and Chelmsford) and tried Great Yarmouth today on my travels. None of which have one. Nothing in estate format either.

Seems a pretty poor show by skoda, i think a lot of people who are openminded as to which estate they want would be put off enough not to buy one. The other car i was looking at was a mazda 6 estate, but they dont have estate diesels in til the new year, so i'm f&$"&! either way lol

Believe me' date=' i've tried, nobody seems to have a 2.0 TDI to try. I've tried 4 dealers, 3 localish to me (Forest Gate, Walthamstow and Chelmsford) and tried Great Yarmouth today on my travels. None of which have one. Nothing in estate format either.

Seems a pretty poor show by skoda, i think a lot of people who are openminded as to which estate they want would be put off enough not to buy one. The other car i was looking at was a mazda 6 estate, but they dont have estate diesels in til the new year, so i'm f&$"&! either way lol[/quote']

That bull***. You can be sure one of the salesmen has one for personal use somewhere and it shouldn't be a big deal to have a go in one. If any of the dealers yu've been to have another dealership anywhere within 50 miles they should be willing to get one over for you from there. You can't be the only customer wanting to test drive one. You could even ring Skoda and let them do the foot work in the interests of customer relations.

yeah i'm gonna tomorrow. made the mistake of tellin the first dealer that it was gonna be a lease car, and his interest level plumeted! wont be doing that again.

Apparently most people go for the 1.9 estate, hence the lact of 2's around to test

yeah i'm gonna tomorrow. made the mistake of tellin the first dealer that it was gonna be a lease car' date=' and his interest level plumeted! wont be doing that again.

Apparently most people go for the 1.9 estate, hence the lact of 2's around to test[/quote']

I wouldn't worry about testing the 2L estate mate. I test drove the 1.9 in an estate and the 2L in a hatch. The hatch and estate are very similar to drive in fact when I drove the 1.9 if forgot I was in an estate for a while. The estate loses out almost nothing performancewise to the hatch so test drive hatch in the 2L if that's all you can get.

regardless of which body type you try in the 2L, you'll find that it's a different beast to the 1.9 altogether.

Happy test driving. Don't forget 10mins is NOT enough to do these cars justice. That applies to both engines. Get an afternoon to test drive them.

cheers mate

I'm gonna take the 1.9 dsg for a spin up the M11 and back and see how it goes, should get my new quotes back in the next day or 2, they were for 40,000 miles a year, which is far too much for me, hopefully i'll get a reduced cost on the various models i submitted