Quick question. My reason for asking is I can't get hold of a combi local to me to test out. Has anyone done any back to back driving or a VRS hatch and combi, or perhaps owned both?

I'm considering swapping to a combi at the moment. My concerns are extra noise and ride quality. I know they're not exactly whisper quiet anyway but is the combi noticeably worse compared to the hatch?

I can't comment on the hatch/combi comparison but I can however tell you that the combi noise, specifically from the rear is pretty 'boomy'. A noise I feel is definately not a noise you would get from a hatch. Load cover, seats and all combi related interior parts are all squeak and rattle free though.

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Ive only ever owned Combi Octavias (both mk2 and 3) as not mad on the look of the hatches.

I dont think there is a great deal of difference between the two....in fairness the boot doesnt get soaked every time you open the combi in rain and the spoiler doesnt delaminate....and its that bit more practical.

If youve only just recently purchased the hatch i wouldnt bother though....likely little benefit for financial outlay.

I have access to both, my VRS Combi and two work pool cars. With the windows closed there is no real difference between them. However if you drive with any windows open the Combi's vertical back window creates a hell of a lot more noise.

I've had a hatch and now have a Combi, both on 18" rims, but not vRS so with the beam rear suspension. The Combi has the Sports suspension option, the hatch didn't.

 

The Combi is quieter and the ride is 10 times better than the hatch - I put the ride down to the tyres though, the hatch had the awful Dunlop Sports on that may as well have been made of concrete. The Combi has Bridgestones on and they soak the bumps up a lot better. The Dunlops were VERY loud as well.

I can't comment on the hatch/combi comparison but I can however tell you that the combi noise, specifically from the rear is pretty 'boomy'. A noise I feel is definately not a noise you would get from a hatch. Load cover, seats and all combi related interior parts are all squeak and rattle free though.

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That's good that the bits in the back don't squeak - my MK2 vRS drove me insane with the noises the back seats made. I thought it would be a little boomy alright.

 

Ive only ever owned Combi Octavias (both mk2 and 3) as not mad on the look of the hatches.

I dont think there is a great deal of difference between the two....in fairness the boot doesnt get soaked every time you open the combi in rain and the spoiler doesnt delaminate....and its that bit more practical.

If youve only just recently purchased the hatch i wouldnt bother though....likely little benefit for financial outlay.

 

Hatch will be 12 months old when I do the swap, so I would need to order in the next month or so. The space is becomming more and more of an issue with the dog. I will be commuting about 1.5-2 hours each way and it looks like I will be bringing the dog with me and dropping her off near work to be looked after. There's been a spate of dog thefts in the area so I'm not taking the risk of leaving her in the garden! The cost to change isn't as bad as I had initially thought it would be either...and I always wanted a Rallye Green Combi.

 

I have access to both, my VRS Combi and two work pool cars. With the windows closed there is no real difference between them. However if you drive with any windows open the Combi's vertical back window creates a hell of a lot more noise.

 

I love air con so should be fine!

 

I've had a hatch and now have a Combi, both on 18" rims, but not vRS so with the beam rear suspension. The Combi has the Sports suspension option, the hatch didn't.

 

The Combi is quieter and the ride is 10 times better than the hatch - I put the ride down to the tyres though, the hatch had the awful Dunlop Sports on that may as well have been made of concrete. The Combi has Bridgestones on and they soak the bumps up a lot better. The Dunlops were VERY loud as well.

 

Tyres make a huge difference, I'll probably stick a set of goodyear efficient grip performance tyres on it immediately.

 

Thanks for the feedback.

I've had a Combi on 18s and now 19's, previous car was Mk2 vrs on 18s. I don't find the noise any worse on Combi.

Maybe it's the amount of crap I have around the spare wheel. Lol

I can't comment on the hatch/combi comparison but I can however tell you that the combi noise, specifically from the rear is pretty 'boomy'. A noise I feel is definately not a noise you would get from a hatch. Load cover, seats and all combi related interior parts are all squeak and rattle free though.

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sorry pal had my estate for six months now. No boom whatsoever, so don't agree. Before buying I test drove two estates and two hatches. One hatch had the dreaded "boom" due to the hatch alignment. There was nothing between the other three. Like I say, my estate is no noisier than other cars I've had and in fact is quieter than a few hire cars I've driven, particularly insignias.

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In the enormous "boom" thread, the noise has been reported on both hatchbacks and estates with no pattern that anyone has been able to find.

Hi Rodge, thought that the alignment of the hatch / boot lid had been identified as a primary culprit on that thread. With the tweaking of the rubber spacers put forward as a solution. Could be wrong. But that was what I took from the thread. However I am fortunate enough not to have had this blight my VRS ownership so have not had to look too closely into it. Agree that that it affects "combis" and hatches alike though.

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I've had a Combi on 18s and now 19's, previous car was Mk2 vrs on 18s. I don't find the noise any worse on Combi.

Maybe it's the amount of crap I have around the spare wheel. Lol

I think a diesel Combi on 19s in meteor grey would be what I'd go for. I'm in a slight limbo at the moment where it will either be the commute or a much smaller one altogether...in which case I might pull the trigger on a 230.