I wonder if anyone can help, I'm interested in getting a second hand Octavia and interested to know more about what they're like on a long distance run (Dorset to Suffolk). Specifically, how comfortable are the seats, and what are the general noise and ride characteristics? My budget is about £2000. Could be diesel or petrol.

Would I better off getting an (older) Golf or even A3 do you think? Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

I might be able to help here.....

I have a mk2 pre-FL 1.9tdi estate. And do a run from Norfolk to Devon twice a year. Used to go from Suffolk and drive non-stop I'd say its comfy for a long run, road noise can be a problem on these but ive not felt it was too bad (but then again, ive had a 30 year old ford Capri and a skoda fabia, so to me anything is quiet).

Personally I found the octavia seats push your shoulders forward a bit and the lumbar support isnt great, but if you can get a L&K model with the leather seats they have electric adjustment which I found helped my back a lot. (had one for a week on loan, was lovely!).

I'm not sure at which spec it comes in at, but if you can get one with cruise control it will make the journey a whole lot nicer.
I usually do 2-4 hours a day of driving in mine, and the good thing is it isn't one of those cars that make you feel tired at the end of a journey.

Thanks very much, that's very helpful. Do you think the noise levels would be any better in a petrol engined car, or a 2.0 diesel?

The general consensus here I believe is that its down to road/wind noise rather than engine noise. I've never really noticed it being the engine, just that in general the car as a whole is "loud" at motorway speeds compared to some cars. Best bet is to find one for sale and see if you can get it onto a dual carriageway to check it for yourself.

I sold my MK2 due to backache due to the seat backs being far too short. Im 6'4" and the headrest on max came to the base of my skull.

In my experience of the past 4 years of owning my mk2, I have taken it from home in Wiltshire to mother/other family's homes in Tyneside and Northumberland (350 miles +) without issue. Including driving up one day and back the next.

After suffering with two slipped discs and subsequent surgery, I dont have any problem driving either the Octy or my other car (Fiat 500) such distances. I've even driven the Fiat to Disneyland Paris!

Unfortunately I cannot say the same for our 2014 Ford Focus hire car at work. I drove to Kent and back (~240 miles) and was in agony for two days due to leg pains!

I have a mk2 vrs from new (2009) with leather seats and I find it really good on long journeys. I live down near London and have been up to Scotland, lakes a few times, down to Brittany in France, over to Devon and Cornwall in the summers etc etc. Road noise is fine with quality tyres and the petrol engine is smooth and not too noisy on long runs. I'm doing 180 mile round trips to a client site at the moment and have no issue - suspension is firm and can clatter a little on crap roads but I suspect a non vrs will be more forgiving. Can't comment on the diesel as I haven't driven one.

I have taken a 2.l TDI Octavia Estate MkII to Austria and back 5 times, 10-13 hours non-stop in both drivers and passenger seats the ride, noise and seats are great and I wouldn't even consider buying a different type of car!