new octavia- how much better?

[harrylime]

I have a 2007 Octavia 1.9 tdi Elegance, which I bought as a daily driver around five years ago. It has been outstanding in terms of reliability etc., never missing a beat (having been on several forums for a good while now I do not take this for granted, so the car has been impressive). I am now looking for something a bit more refined and comfortable. Before the Octavia, I had a brand new Octavis Scout TSi, but quickly sold it, as the road noise was horrendous. I wanted rid of it  before I lost any more money.

 

The 1.9 has no dpf, which is great, but I do value refinement and smoothness as top priorities.. I drove a mk 2 Superb 140 last week and was less than impressed. I thought the engine was quite noisy, and the handling around corners a bit ponderous. It was just Ok and I want a bit better than that. I'm also not sure I need teh Superb's size, most of the time

.

I also drove a BMW 320d ES and a Mercedes C250d, both 2015 models. The BMW was disappointing, with a gruff engine. The Mercedes was more refined but the salesman (mercedes in Doncaster) was downright odious. He was an Asian chap who clearly disliked the fact that I preferred that my wife sit in the front with him in the back. The body language was that of a moody six year old, as he practically laid down in the back and did not even give me directions, or chip in when I was trying to sort out what controls did what.  I have never had a decent experience at a mercedes dealership, which is enough to put me off the brand. If the buying experience is not good, things are unlikely to improve if problems arise later. Neither the BMW or the Merc had a spare wheel and no space to put one and the more I research this, the more it confirms my belief that this strategy is just stupid, inviting unnecessary hassle, expense  and stress at some point. It is purely  to save manufacturers money. The claim that it saves weight does not stack up. I would prefer to have a spare wheel than electric motors ito open the boot to save me lifting the boot lid with gas struts. Of the premium brands, I would like a Lexus .My classic car is a 1999 LS 4 litre V8 and it is incredibly good, almost completely silent, and perhaps the best engineered car ever made. However, it is not ideal as a daily car. I would be looking at a used Lexus if they did a hatchback or estate that did not cost the earth, even used..

Anyway, having been disappointed with the premium brands so far, and against all the odds, I have been thinking about trying an Octavia mk 3. For those who have moved from a mk 2 to a mk 3, or even from another car, just how much of an improvement are they in terms of refinement, road noise etc? I would also be interested in anyone who has changed from a Mondeo or Insignia, as these are on my radar. I am thinking of something about a year old. The VRS appeals to me, but I value comfort and the roads in South Yorkshire are shocking. I also intend to look at the Mondeo and Insignia, but although I am lucky in being able to look for a newer car, making that choice is not easy. (it's a shame that Top Gear do not do real comparisons of cars that real people drive, even as a small part of the new programme.).

[London Les]

I had 07 and 60 plate diesel Octavias and now have a 64 plate TSI VRS. It is a good improvement in terms of ride quality in my mind, but it is still firm in comparison with more comfort oriented brands, even with 17" wheels. The road noise is still an issue especially on concrete and tar bound chippings. I think road noise is very much affected by personal preference so it is worth getting a test drive organised - if possible with a stretch at motorway speeds. My car is still on the original continental sport contact 2 tyres - I'm sure other brands would be better.

[DravenSteel]

I can't offer you any specific info but I did find the "real world" Honest John reviews really helpful when I was choosing between cars

[ahar]

I;ve just moved from an '09 petrol VRS to a new 2016 Petrol VRS and the difference is pretty big.  I prefer petrol engines so didn't look at the Diesel.  The differences are pretty stark but some of the improvement could be down to swapping a car with 80k miles to a brand new one..  

 

The cabin is a very nice place to be - I chose leather seats and am pretty pleased so far.  The kit available is fantastic in comparison, but that's a function of 7 years of tech improvement

 

Power for the petrol is 220 vs 200 from the '09 car.  I ddn't think I would feel much difference, but I was wrong.  More urgent at speed and smoother delivery through the range and quieter than the previous TSi (once I had turned off the engine noise generator!).

 

Fuel economy is fine, and better than the '09 as you would expect.  Not brilliant, but if you want good fuel economy you don't buy a 2 litre manual petrol  As an example, I got 34mpg on a 90 mile run mostly on the motorway with 'spirited' driving, then 40 mpg on the same run driving to save fuel (eco mode etc).  Also go 34.5 mpg with the family in the back and bikes on the roof on a 100 mile run on Sunday afternoon, again mostly on the motorway but with slow traffic in places.

 

Handling is much much improved, but hard to remember what the '09 was like new as I suspect some of the improvement is new rubber and suspension that hasn't done 80,000 miles.  On crappy urban roads the handling of potholes is good, with lovely control when going round the twisties with smoother tarmac.

 

I actively chose the Skoda over a BMW, Merc or Audi equivalent (3 series, A4 or C class) as they just didn't have anything extra that justified the additional cost.  Yes, the Audi cabin is nicer, but not that much nicer and half of the engines available are the same as it uses the VW common platform.  BMW I;ve always thought is a bit 'meh', and I resent the number of options I would have had to add to get the gadgets I wanted.  Merc was nice but would have to go for the AMG to get a nice petrol engine

 

That may or may not help

Edited 7 June, 2016 by ahar

[ahenners]

I;ve just moved from an '09 petrol VRS to a new 2016 Petrol VRS and the difference is pretty big.  I prefer petrol engines so didn't look at the Diesel.  The differences are pretty stark but some of the improvement could be down to swapping a car with 80k miles to a brand new one..  

 

The cabin is a very nice place to be - I chose leather seats and am pretty pleased so far.  The kit available is fantastic in comparison, but that's a function of 7 years of tech improvement

 

Power for the petrol is 220 vs 200 from the '09 car.  I ddn't think I would feel much difference, but I was wrong.  More urgent at speed and smoother delivery through the range and quieter than the previous TSi (once I had turned off the engine noise generator!).

 

Fuel economy is fine, and better than the '09 as you would expect.  Not brilliant, but if you want good fuel economy you don't buy a 2 litre manual petrol  As an example, I got 34mpg on a 90 mile run mostly on the motorway with 'spirited' driving, then 40 mpg on the same run driving to save fuel (eco mode etc).  Also go 34.5 mpg with the family in the back and bikes on the roof on a 100 mile run on Sunday afternoon, again mostly on the motorway but with slow traffic in places.

 

Handling is much much improved, but hard to remember what the '09 was like new as I suspect some of the improvement is new rubber and suspension that hasn't done 80,000 miles.  On crappy urban roads the handling of potholes is good, with lovely control when going round the twisties with smoother tarmac.

 

I actively chose the Skoda over a BMW, Merc or Audi equivalent (3 series, A4 or C class) as they just didn't have anything extra that justified the additional cost.  Yes, the Audi cabin is nicer, but not that much nicer and half of the engines available are the same as it uses the VW common platform.  BMW I;ve always thought is a bit 'meh', and I resent the number of options I would have had to add to get the gadgets I wanted.  Merc was nice but would have to go for the AMG to get a nice petrol engine

 

That may or may not help

 

Sorry OP don't mean to hijack the thread, how much of an improvement is there in mpg between the 09 and your new one? 

[Sheldon.Cooper]

I went from an 06 Mondeo ST TDCI to a 2.0 TDI 150 Elegance. The ride was better in the Mondeo, the engine was punchier but there is just as much space in the Octavia with a lot more toys. I get to drive a different car just about every week and can compare the Octavia to quite a few others. A C class Merc is a nicer place to sit but you really pay for it. A new Mondeo is a better car all round but again, you pay a alot more for it. The Insignia is not as nice in any area. A Mk7 Golf has better build quality but is 's smaller and more expensive.

ultimately for the size and money nothing can touch it.

I'm at the end of my 3 years with the Octavia. I looked at a BMW 330e to replacd it but in the end a lovely Mk5 Golf GTI Edition 30 now sits outside my house!

Edited 7 June, 2016 by Sheldon.Cooper

[FlyingGecko]

...My car is still on the original continental sport contact 2 tyres - I'm sure other brands would be better.

 

 

Same on the back, but Bridgestone Potenza S001 on the front. Road noise bad from both ends. Michelins soon.

[swordstoke]

Recently made the change from a manual Mk2 VRS cr (12 plate) to a MK3 VRS dsg.(diesel)

 

Car is and feels much larger and a little quieter than previous model. Fuel consumption not as good (to be expected as its a DSG).

 

You do feel more secure in new model and the seating is much improved (had leather in both).

 

Taking a while to get used to DSG it has to be said.

 

Overall I'm pleased with the upgrade but for me would say its a mild one.

[SimonD316]

I went from a 2013 CDTi Insignia SE Nav to a new TDi VRS.

Spec wise the VRS is better. The seats are much more comfortable, and it has Xenons, parking sensors, bluetooth and Start Stop as standard which my insignia didn't. I fitted parking sensors and had the OEM bluetooth retrofitted.

The Amundsen sat nav is much better than the Navi 600. The touch screen works really well and the DAB radio is miles ahead. Some people complain about it but i'm happy with it, and last week a friend who has an Audi S5 with a Bose sound system asked where the sub woofer was!

Although the Octavia is slightly shorter overall there is more leg room and the boot is longer, wider and deeper. We went camping during half term so tested this out!

Initially I experienced the booming and pressure issues others have mentioned but now I've driven about 4,000 miles its not noticeable any more.

I do quite a lot of small trips around town with 20 mile trips 2-3 times a week. I'm currently averaging 43mpg which is slightly higher than the insignia, and I expect it to improve as the newness wears off.

Overall the Octavia seems like a much better car, and I've not regretted the change at all.

[Orville]

I moved from a 3-year old (2011) 320D to a VRS two years ago. The Octavia is far more spacious, and both my wife (5ft 3") and I (6ft 4") find the driving position far more comfortable. That's about it for the positives.

 

Negatives

*My VRS has suffered from rattles since day #1. New rattles appear on a monthly basis. The BMW was rattle-free after 3-years

*The fake leather is poor quality. It shows stretch-marks, frayed stitching and uneven shininess. The 320D leather looked new when I sold it.

*Within the first 1000 miles my water-pump failed

*After a further 200 miles the replacement water-pump failed.

*The sound generator had to be turned-off after ~4000 miles because it started rattling terribly.

*After a few thousand miles the drivers seat mechanism began to jump out of position whilst driving. It only occurs rarely, but Dealer could not find the cause.

*At 15K miles my clutch began to slip. There appears to be an obvious manufacturing fault with the pressure-plate, but Skoda refuses to cover under warranty so I will take legal action.

*I have experienced one helpful Skoda Dealer (Preston Motors - now closed down), and one not-so-helpful Dealer (Essex Auto Group - now avoided).

*Quality of lower-level interior plastics, carpets, and boot-floor is very poor. I guess you get what you pay for.

*Skoda paint (Race Blue) chips and scratches far too easily.

*On the motorway the 320D was far more refined. Around-town refinement is pretty even.

 

In summary, apart from space and driving position I find the Octavia to be a huge down-grade when compared to my 3-Series (which was not my favorite car or brand). My ownership experience has been the worst of any new or used car I have owned. My high-mileage 1985 Escort XR3 was far more reliable, and that really was a piece of crap. As a teenager and in my early twenties I abused the XR3 for 105K miles before the clutch needed replacing. Later in life I took a Mondeo to 160K miles on it's original clutch, and it was still going strong when I sold it. Poor reliability and POOR Service means I will not buy another Skoda. 

 

I admit that I am in the minority here and that many people are extremely happy with their Octavia's. Bizarrely the most reliable new car I have ever owned was a Fiat Puntu. It was the only car that never needed to return to the Dealers for anything other than annual servicing.

Edited 8 June, 2016 by Orville

[Gabbo]

For me refinement & comfort only come with the price you pay.

Even a €5000 car will drive & handle pretty well these days.

 

The Octavia is a very cheap car for the Platform & engine base you can choose from.

Therefore, you have to expect it wont be as quiet, smooth or refined as a cars in a higher class (Passat, Mondeo,) not to mention the premium brands like (BMW, Merc, Audi).

 

Concidering the list price between the Mondeo, Insignia, 320d, C250 & Octavia I would expect it to be the worst of your selection in terms of refinement.

 

 

Having said that, given the price I am completely satisfied with my Octavia.

It has a great engine, is more than quiet enough for me (we have great roads in Switzerland), seats & driving position is comfortable, has great easy-to-use technology & the space in the back has never been insufficient.

 

My other car is a BMW 320d & given its original price was 22,000CHF higher than the Octavia I can't understand why anyone would pay this much for this car.

It is heavy, cumbersome to drive around town, the engine sounds really aweful & the runflats make the road noise fairly loud.

Even if they were the same price I would choose the Octavia.

However, one thing you can appreciate in the BMW is the material quality is much better & more much solidly assembled.

My Octavia has many rattles after 2 years (65k km) which don't really bother me but I can understand why this would not be good for other people.

 

 

My advice would be to drive an Octy yourself on a selection of roads & speeds to compare with your other expériences.

[slicendice]

I'm afraid I can't really add anything informative but I am following this thread with some interest as I'm also in the position of pondering an upgrade. I'm currently on an '07 vRS TFSI and whilst it has been a really good car, there are a few niggles (due to its age rather than anything inherently wrong with the car, that is). So I'll be very interested to know what your final decision is and why...

 

I like the look of the new Mk3 Octavia and have cast more then a few glances at the vRS...although it would be second hand, not new. My driving tends to vary quite a lot though so I'm in the midst of the old petrol/diesel dilemma...sometimes I work away and therefore do quite a lot of motorway miles, but other times I can be based locally and so don't do many at all. 

 

I've also cast a few sidelong glances at the A4 and C220 but they seem to be noticeably more ££...and until I become the next Mark Zuckerberg, price will always be a heavy influencer! 

[FlyingGecko]

...

 

I've also cast a few sidelong glances at the A4 and C220 but they seem to be noticeably more ££...and until I become the next Mark Zuckerberg, price will always be a heavy influencer! 

 

 

Dunno about the Audi, but Mercs tend to not have folding rear seat backrests, certainly in the last generation. And they're not on every trim level in the new model either. Truly, one reason why I didn't go for one 18 months back.

 

That and the cr@p attitude of the sales staff.  OK, I wasn't looking to buy a fleet, but still willing to wave a cheque for £19k. Too busy setting up a lunch date with the receptionist I caught him with later.

[old newbie2]

I had 07 and 60 plate diesel Octavias and now have a 64 plate TSI VRS. It is a good improvement in terms of ride quality in my mind, but it is still firm in comparison with more comfort oriented brands, even with 17" wheels. The road noise is still an issue especially on concrete and tar bound chippings. I think road noise is very much affected by personal preference so it is worth getting a test drive organised - if possible with a stretch at motorway speeds. My car is still on the original continental sport contact 2 tyres - I'm sure other brands would be better.

I moved from Conti 2's to Goodyear EfficientGrip, much quieter & economy has improved a little too.

Same tyre size as a new vRS, but on a petrol Superb, so the ride & sound insulation is already better than vRS 2 or 3.

 

We went from SWMBO's '11 plate vRS 2 FL to a Golf R after trying-out various versions of the vRS 3, all petrol DSG.

 

I think that we may not have made the right choice, ( we got a very good deal on the R & the residuals will a lot better than a vRS, but it's a bit harsh to drive. )

Which is why I've kept the Superb for long trips & when I want a more relaxed driving experience. 

 

If you value comfort, especially on poor roads & you don't find the Superb 3 suitable, then I would suggest looking at a youngish Mondeo.

Ford Direct, either online or via your local dealer can find you quite a good selection of ex Ford Management cars, including rare 240 ps petrols at good prices.

 

 

DC

[JohnMorr]

We chopped our 2006 L&K 2.0 TDi estate down to our son and bought a new L&K estate 1.8 TSi (petrol) with 7-speed DSG. Apparently an unusual combination - the only available demonstrator was in Scotland and we're in Canterbury! Still the 1.8 + DSG got rave reviews in India, so we took a punt. Options chosen were space-saver spare @ £100 (assume it's there - I've never looked and hope never to have to) metallic paint (Rio Red is fabulous), panoramic sun roof (a joy even at £1100) and reversing camera (not sure it was worth £300, but since I ran over my grandson's bike while camping in the old car it seemed useful insurance).

 

The Mk3 L&K (can't speak for other variants) is a joy. The engine is virtually inaudible even under load and the gearshifts imperceptible - you have to look at the display (the colour maxidot is fantastic) to see if you've changed gear. Much more space than the Mk.2 and lots of thoughtful touches - the rear seats now fold with a single pull of a handle in the boot. The Canton sound system in the L&K is excellent and all my iTunes tracks (160MB) transferred easily to a 256MB card in the second slot in the glove box (the first is for the satnav maps).

 

Drawbacks? Well, you might want to keep the following in mind:

 

• The ride is firm on 18" wheels but not crashy. The L&K estate benefits from an independent rear suspension - lower models have a beam rear axle. The standard tyres are pretty noisy on rough surfaces but, hey, move to France!
•  
• The satnav is pretty basic - I've given up trying to navigate to a postcode and just use my old faithful (and much more intuitive) TomTom.
•  
• The Alcantara seats are comfortable but you can't squirm around on them as you could on leather - get your position right before you set off, as you're not going to be able to change it without an inordinate amount of heaving around.
•  
• Storage is skimpier than on the Mk.2 - teentsy cupholders, small glove box and door pockets. There are holders under the front seats for hi-vis jackets, but ours won't nearly fit.
•  
• Fuel consumption: obviously a 1.8TSi petrol isn't going to come anywhere near a diesel, but it all depends on your annual mileage. The Octavia gets 26mpg around town and 42mpg on longer journeys, which I find quite acceptable since we only do 8K a year on long trips. In any case we use our Smart around town, which gives us 41mpg urban.

 

But overall I think the Mk.3 Octavia - in L&K guise at least - is a terrific car. I can honestly say it is smoother and quieter than a Mercedes 500 and BMW 730 I once owned. It'll see us out.

[ahar]

Sorry OP don't mean to hijack the thread, how much of an improvement is there in mpg between the 09 and your new one? 

 

Yes, but only done around 600 miles so far.  On my 90 mile each way commute (mostly motorway ) I do a couple of days a week I'm getting 5ish mpg better for the same driving style.

[harrylime]

I moved from a 3-year old (2011) 320D to a VRS two years ago. The Octavia is far more spacious, and both my wife (5ft 3") and I (6ft 4") find the driving position far more comfortable. That's about it for the positives.

 

Negatives

*My VRS has suffered from rattles since day #1. New rattles appear on a monthly basis. The BMW was rattle-free after 3-years

*The fake leather is poor quality. It shows stretch-marks, frayed stitching and uneven shininess. The 320D leather looked new when I sold it.

*Within the first 1000 miles my water-pump failed

*After a further 200 miles the replacement water-pump failed.

*The sound generator had to be turned-off after ~4000 miles because it started rattling terribly.

*After a few thousand miles the drivers seat mechanism began to jump out of position whilst driving. It only occurs rarely, but Dealer could not find the cause.

*At 15K miles my clutch began to slip. There appears to be an obvious manufacturing fault with the pressure-plate, but Skoda refuses to cover under warranty so I will take legal action.

*I have experienced one helpful Skoda Dealer (Preston Motors - now closed down), and one not-so-helpful Dealer (Essex Auto Group - now avoided).

*Quality of lower-level interior plastics, carpets, and boot-floor is very poor. I guess you get what you pay for.

*Skoda paint (Race Blue) chips and scratches far too easily.

*On the motorway the 320D was far more refined. Around-town refinement is pretty even.

 

In summary, apart from space and driving position I find the Octavia to be a huge down-grade when compared to my 3-Series (which was not my favorite car or brand). My ownership experience has been the worst of any new or used car I have owned. My high-mileage 1985 Escort XR3 was far more reliable, and that really was a piece of crap. As a teenager and in my early twenties I abused the XR3 for 105K miles before the clutch needed replacing. Later in life I took a Mondeo to 160K miles on it's original clutch, and it was still going strong when I sold it. Poor reliability and POOR Service means I will not buy another Skoda. 

 

I admit that I am in the minority here and that many people are extremely happy with their Octavia's. Bizarrely the most reliable new car I have ever owned was a Fiat Puntu. It was the only car that never needed to return to the Dealers for anything other than annual servicing.

That's a pretty balanced response, thank you for that. Out of interest, which have been your favourite cars in the recent past? (please do not say Fiat Punto)

[harrylime]

For me refinement & comfort only come with the price you pay.

Even a €5000 car will drive & handle pretty well these days.

 

The Octavia is a very cheap car for the Platform & engine base you can choose from.

Therefore, you have to expect it wont be as quiet, smooth or refined as a cars in a higher class (Passat, Mondeo,) not to mention the premium brands like (BMW, Merc, Audi).

 

Concidering the list price between the Mondeo, Insignia, 320d, C250 & Octavia I would expect it to be the worst of your selection in terms of refinement.

 

 

Having said that, given the price I am completely satisfied with my Octavia.

It has a great engine, is more than quiet enough for me (we have great roads in Switzerland), seats & driving position is comfortable, has great easy-to-use technology & the space in the back has never been insufficient.

 

My other car is a BMW 320d & given its original price was 22,000CHF higher than the Octavia I can't understand why anyone would pay this much for this car.

It is heavy, cumbersome to drive around town, the engine sounds really aweful & the runflats make the road noise fairly loud.

Even if they were the same price I would choose the Octavia.

However, one thing you can appreciate in the BMW is the material quality is much better & more much solidly assembled.

My Octavia has many rattles after 2 years (65k km) which don't really bother me but I can understand why this would not be good for other people.

 

 

My advice would be to drive an Octy yourself on a selection of roads & speeds to compare with your other expériences.

I will drive an Octy when I get the chance. I agree that you get what you pay for, very true with cars. I do have the option of paying more, or alternatively buying a year or two older to get the right car

[harrylime]

Thanks for your responses to date. I went to look at Mondeos today. I didn't drive one but looked at a Vignale estate which was stunning inside (although I will never pay 32k for a Ford. In a weak moment I also sat in a new Mustang 5 litre V8, before returning to reality

[Orville]

That's a pretty balanced response, thank you for that. Out of interest, which have been your favourite cars in the recent past? (please do not say Fiat Punto)

My favorite car was a Subaru Impreza. It was pretty basic inside and out, the trim was cheap and the body panels felt like they were made from thinned-out Coke cans, but the engineering (the parts you cannot see) was awesome and the car had real character. I quite liked my second Mondeo for comfort and have very fond memories of an '89 Fiesta XR2. My MK4 Cortina (a multi-colour rust bucket) provided many fonder memories than my VRS, but that's down to the Skoda Dealer and Skoda Customer Services being so abysmal and ruining an otherwise okay car. The Subaru wins it easily. Even my wife grew to love it despite it's ugliness. She absolutely detests the Octavia (due to Skoda CS rather than the car itself). Never again will I be allowed to buy another Skoda - that boat has sunk.

 

I have never suffered from brand loyalty and simply buy whatever best suits my needs and my budget at the time. I have two kids, a dog and a demanding wife so space and practicality was important. We only drive 8000-9000 miles PA and I wanted something mildly sporty so the VRS TSI fitted the bill perfectly. With hindsight I probably should have purchased the missus' first choice Mazda CX-5. Form personal experience Japanese reliability trumps any of the 4x new VAG cars I have owned, although the Octavia is the only one to have suffered major component failures (water pumps x 2 plus clutch).

Edited 8 June, 2016 by Orville

[octavianestate]

I cannot for the life of me see why people buy skoda time after time after time.

Never before has any car I have owned either new or used spent so much time at a dealer.

Ive had

6 panels resprayed

3 replacement tailgate struts

2 airvent modules

Door card removed and securely attached

Now the leather (or whatever they call leather in chezh) is wearing off the seat.

All in 18months and after a measly 8000 miles. Would I buy/lease one again..NO.

The brand is still a joke as was 20/30 years ago.

[Gromle]

I cannot for the life of me see why people buy skoda time after time after time.

Never before has any car I have owned either new or used spent so much time at a dealer.

Ive had

6 panels resprayed

3 replacement tailgate struts

2 airvent modules

Door card removed and securely attached

Now the leather (or whatever they call leather in chezh) is wearing off the seat.

All in 18months and after a measly 8000 miles. Would I buy/lease one again..NO.

The brand is still a joke as was 20/30 years ago.

Your must have a powerful curse cast on it :p

My seats still look new after 13months and 16000km, its rattle free and the only thing that has needed a warranty job was a headlight washer that didnt retract all the way after use.

[octavianestate]

Your must have a powerful curse cast on it :p

My seats still look new after 13months and 16000km, its rattle free and the only thing that has needed a warranty job was a headlight washer that didnt retract all the way after use.

I have to agree with you on that.

I have asked the dealer to show me an octavia of similar age/miles so I can compare the seat wear.

Glad Im not keeping this car or bought outright. I would loose even more money selling it private considering how things are wearing and already looking 'tired'

I guess there is a reason after all why it's below SEAT in the VAG food chain.

[Gromle]

Is seat really above Skoda in the foodchain?

Im asking because I havent seen a Seat in several years. Seat Norway went bankrupt, and no one wanted to take over, so its atleast 10 years since a new Seat was sold in Norway.

Edited 9 June, 2016 by Gromle

[harrylime]

My favorite car was a Subaru Impreza. It was pretty basic inside and out, the trim was cheap and the body panels felt like they were made from thinned-out Coke cans, but the engineering (the parts you cannot see) was awesome and the car had real character. I quite liked my second Mondeo for comfort and have very fond memories of an '89 Fiesta XR2. My MK4 Cortina (a multi-colour rust bucket) provided many fonder memories than my VRS, but that's down to the Skoda Dealer and Skoda Customer Services being so abysmal and ruining an otherwise okay car. The Subaru wins it easily. Even my wife grew to love it despite it's ugliness. She absolutely detests the Octavia (due to Skoda CS rather than the car itself). Never again will I be allowed to buy another Skoda - that boat has sunk.

 

I have never suffered from brand loyalty and simply buy whatever best suits my needs and my budget at the time. I have two kids, a dog and a demanding wife so space and practicality was important. We only drive 8000-9000 miles PA and I wanted something mildly sporty so the VRS TSI fitted the bill perfectly. With hindsight I probably should have purchased the missus' first choice Mazda CX-5. Form personal experience Japanese reliability trumps any of the 4x new VAG cars I have owned, although the Octavia is the only one to have suffered major component failures (water pumps x 2 plus clutch).

Again, that is interesting and you seem to think the way I do about cars. I test drove a 1989 XR2 and it was a terrific car, but I could not afford it at the time. I have been leaning towards a vrs tsi, simply because of the good experience with my 1.9 tdi. I have also looked at Subarus but the relative scarcity of dealers and reports of delays waiting for spare parts put me off. That's a while ago, so I may take another look. The best car I have ever owned overall (beating my new XF 3.0 Portfolio and a new bmw 330d estate) was my 1989 Audi 90 2.2, bought at a few years old and kept for 10 years. It felt as if it was hewn from granite, the 5 cylinder engine was utterly brilliant, the gearchange was sweet and the ride more comfortable than the vast majority of new cars. It also returned 32 mpg, which was great for a 2.2 , and which manufacturers still do not seem to have improved on, if you ignore their ridiculous official figures. It was also relatively simple and could be fixed by an actual mechanic without a laptop. I will be looking at a Mazda CX- 5, as I was reading Honest John's review last night. The engine problems are a bit offputting , including the one my local garage was rebuilding at quite a low mileag (and that was a petrol engine, not the much reported diesel). It's been said that there's no such thing as a bad car now and I think mainstream cars have closed the gap with "prestige" cars. I'm even looking at the Peugeot 508, which I never thought would be a possibility. From what I've read it's a case of being lucky, or unlucky when buying a car, regardless of brand.