My understanding is that of the Leon/Octavia/Golf/A3 cars only the Audi A3 completely escapes the economy rear suspension.

VAG always maintain some differentiation in an attempt to justify the extra prices of the "premium" brands...

Went ahead and bought a 2016 Octavia 3, despite reservations about downgrades compared with Octavia 3 - It was still the best match for my needs in this age range.

 

Most of the downgrades / dumber design have not been a big deal so far.

 

The lack of a RH footrest however becomes more annoying by the mile. Not using CC so much now - If there is nowhere to put your foot that is both comfortable and ready for a quick transition onto brake or accelerator, then it might as well be on the accelerator.

 

There does appear to be room for a rest, would just need the piece of trim re designed à la Octavia 2, would be nice to think they would manage this for the Octavia 3 FL but somehow I doubt that this will happen.

Only noticed the rear suspension hopping once on a bad bit of road. That said slow down to me. I've owned cars back to the early 60s and the Mark III is a great car at a great price. Yes a few minor items subjected to cost cutting.

One of the reasons why all countries should switch to LHD..

Went ahead and bought a 2016 Octavia 3, despite reservations about downgrades compared with Octavia 3 - It was still the best match for my needs in this age range.

Most of the downgrades / dumber design have not been a big deal so far.

The lack of a RH footrest however becomes more annoying by the mile. Not using CC so much now - If there is nowhere to put your foot that is both comfortable and ready for a quick transition onto brake or accelerator, then it might as well be on the accelerator.

There does appear to be room for a rest, would just need the piece of trim re designed à la Octavia 2, would be nice to think they would manage this for the Octavia 3 FL but somehow I doubt that this will happen.

Not many cars have RH footrests, think the Octavia II is the only car I've ever seen that has one.

Think you're being a bit harsh criticising the Octy 3 based on that. Whats wrong with just resting your foot on the floor or side trim?

I have to agree with the OP as regards the location of handbrake, boot release lever and foot rests. The Octy II had it down perfectly. They were doing proper RHD conversions when the Golf was skimping on the handbrake for years before it. 

 

Shame, too. For what is probably a very small cost saving. I admire the likes of Mazda and Hyundai for going to the effort of ensuring that an RHD conversion is done right. That said I don't think anyone could be worse than Renault and Citroen as regards conversions..

Edited 14 December, 20169 yr by foregonereality

I have to agree with the OP as regards the location of handbrake, boot release lever and foot rests. The Octy II had it down perfectly. They were doing proper RHD conversions when the Golf was skimping on the handbrake for years before it.

Shame, too. For what is probably a very small cost saving. I admire the likes of Mazda and Hyundai for going to the effort of ensuring that an RHD conversion is done right. That said I don't think anyone could be worse than Renault and Citroen as regards conversions..

Or Peugeot who leave the fusebox in the glovebox, so there isnt any space at all....

However you'd have to be mad to buy a French car.....

Whats wrong with just resting your foot on the floor or side trim?

What's wrong with just resting your foot on the floor?  Not so comfortable and not so quick onto brake or accelerator

What's wrong with just resting your foot on side trim?  I can hold my foot against side trim but not really rest it - unlike the Octy 2 where they just made the side trim foot rest shaped. Never know though they might do this for the Octy 3 FL.

I admire the likes of Mazda and Hyundai for going to the effort of ensuring that an RHD conversion is done right.

I imagine Mazda's designers have a reasonable incentive to get RHD cars correct given that they're Japanese.

I've had two mk2's and now have a mk3 vRS.

I can't say i miss anything the OP's listed.

Same rob, came from a MK2 FL and only really have positive things to say about the switch. None of those bits have bothered me.

Octavia progress – Do Skoda think no one is paying any attention?

 

Yes I know there has been some genuine progress, but what are VAG up to? I want to buy another Skoda but it seems they are going out of their way to put me off.

 

Mk2 All models IRS

Mk3 Only most expensive models IRS

(This is the really big one they should have been roasted for but much of the motoring press just snoozed through)

 

Mk2 Handbrake ideally positioned for driver

Mk3 Handbrake ideally positioned for passenger (RHD cars)

 

Mk2 Wide angle portion on driver’s door mirror

Mk3 No wide angle portion on driver’s door mirror

 

Mk2 Hot air routed through the door and directed right on to the side window glass beside the door mirrors

Mk3 No

 

Mk2 Two driver's footrests

Mk3 Footrest for clutch foot only (RHD)

 

Mk2 All models projector headlights (UK)

Mk3 Mostly back to reflectors

 

Mk2 Cooled storage in armrest

Mk3 No

 

Any more for the list?

 

 

Please no VRS owners with the “only enthusiastic, discerning drivers with powerful cars like me need IRS – Torsion beam is good enough for the rest of you, 99% of the time most drivers will notice no difference” – This is VAG sales patter, pure and simple.

 

Octavia progress – Do Skoda think no one is paying any attention?

 

Yes I know there has been some genuine progress, but what are VAG up to? I want to buy another Skoda but it seems they are going out of their way to put me off.

 

Mk2 All models IRS

Mk3 Only most expensive models IRS

(This is the really big one they should have been roasted for but much of the motoring press just snoozed through)

 

Mk2 Handbrake ideally positioned for driver

Mk3 Handbrake ideally positioned for passenger (RHD cars)

 

Mk2 Wide angle portion on driver’s door mirror

Mk3 No wide angle portion on driver’s door mirror

 

Mk2 Hot air routed through the door and directed right on to the side window glass beside the door mirrors

Mk3 No

 

Mk2 Two driver's footrests

Mk3 Footrest for clutch foot only (RHD)

 

Mk2 All models projector headlights (UK)

Mk3 Mostly back to reflectors

 

Mk2 Cooled storage in armrest

Mk3 No

 

Any more for the list?

 

 

Please no VRS owners with the “only enthusiastic, discerning drivers with powerful cars like me need IRS – Torsion beam is good enough for the rest of you, 99% of the time most drivers will notice no difference” – This is VAG sales patter, pure and simple.

Sell your car and buy one you like, simples

Sell your car and buy one you like, simples

simples? 

 

Post read post #27should clarify.

 

The thing about each and all of the points in the OP and quoted twice above is that it is very easy to debate whether they are a big deal or not, to argue that they are not backward steps or indeed that they represent progress or are 'simply clever' well that would be harder.... but if anyone can, then go for it.

 

I like my Skoda, just not so much of a fan that I am prepared to ignore or defend some backward steps.

 

Remember too that when any company promotes itself with the phrase 'simply clever' it does sort of set itself up for this sort if criticism.

Don't forget that the VW group have to differentiate their car makes in order to charge differing prices for what are basically similar cars.. Styling is, of course, one way of making the cars appear different but small differences in equipment are used to emphasise the difference in price. For instance VW Passats, Golfs and Skoda Octavias use the same floor pan, engines, suspension, brakes etc. but introduce small, but significant, differences. For instance a Passat has a hydraulic strut to hold the bonnet open, the bonnet release is on the drivers side (UK), the vanity mirrors are illuminated, there's an electronic hand brake, the stop start system is far more sensible than the Octavia's, etc. I recently had these differences pointed out to me by a VW dealer who was trying to convince me to buy a Passat instead of an Octavia.

For instance a Passat has a hydraulic strut to hold the bonnet open, the bonnet release is on the drivers side (UK), the vanity mirrors are illuminated, there's an electronic hand brake, 

 

 

.....there's an electronic hand brake, 

 

Always a bright side then - Would still rather a mechanical handbrake on the wrong side than an electronic handbrake.

Edited 15 December, 20169 yr by Octy0GG

.....there's an electronic hand brake, 

 

Always a bright side then - Would still rather a mechanical handbrake on the wrong side than an electronic handbrake.

 

me too, and I really don't see the big deal with the handbrake? I read all the comments about it before I got mine and when I eventually got it I wondered why all the fuss, it's a handbrake and it doesn't feel any more inconvenient than any other car I've owned!

 

people like to moan just for the sake of moaning..

What about the problem of changing a front indicator bulb in the MkIII compared with the simplicity of removing the headlight by undoing a white plastic nut, pulling a lever and sliding out the light on the MkII and changing the bulb on the bench.

 

On the MkIII, the headlight units cannot be removed without removing the whole bonnet (umpteen screws with two almost impossible to reach. Slitting the headlight unit in half because you can't reach the indicator bulb. Sticking the whole lot together again thus assuring that it will never be water tight again. Replacing the bonnet again without scratching it and hoping the headlight alignment is not too far out...............................Simply Stupid.

In defence of no IRS...

 

Has anyone complaining about it ever had to replace the bushes on the IRS set up on either the MK1 focus or Octy 2?

 

It's not cheap, not at all, so in terms of maintenance, the torsion beam should be cheaper to maintain as the car gets older.

90% of people wont notice the lack of IRS, and would rather the car be cheaper than have it.

It's like people who come on here complaining about the Canton stereo. If they want a stereo that good why are they buying a skoda?

Skoda's are budget cars.

If you want premium, buy a premium brand.

What some folk might not be getting from the original post is that I wasn't so much saying that these shortcomings are all that terrible in themselves, and if there had never been an Octavia 2 the post would not exist. However there was an Octavia 2, and while in some respects the 3 does represent progress, my expectation was that the 3 should better the 2 in some respects but as a minimum it should equal the 2 in all respects - I still don't think that is unrealistic. If you get it right once why choose to do it worse,even slightly worse, next time round?

Edited 15 December, 20169 yr by Octy0GG

90% of people wont notice the lack of IRS, and would rather the car be cheaper than have it.

It's like people who come on here complaining about the Canton stereo. If they want a stereo that good why are they buying a skoda?

Skoda's are budget cars.

If you want premium, buy a premium brand.

Unfortuantly some owners believe the skoda is a premium brand. Its a brand that wants to be but having noticed who run these cars it's clear the octavia sits in an niche whereby they are utilarian fleet cars. Either adorned with tradesman ladders on the roof bars or exhibiting some form of 'high viz' paint job.

Not premium then. Last time I looked Alan Sugar was getting driven around in a rolls and not octavia or Superb even.

As for the IRS, quite subjective. Torsion beam may be cheaper and after all the skoda is 'budjet', but a early generation standard ford focus with rear control blade suspension would run rings around the new octavias. So in that context little progress shown but do we need our cars to handle like go-karts?

Unfortunately some owners believe the skoda is a premium brand. Its a brand that wants to be but having noticed who run these cars it's clear the octavia sits in an niche whereby they are utilitarian fleet cars. Either adorned with tradesman ladders on the roof bars or exhibiting some form of 'high viz' paint job.

Not premium then. Last time I looked Alan Sugar was getting driven around in a rolls and not octavia or Superb even.

 

What then is the price level or badge level at which expectations become allowable?

Skoda have largely proved itself to the buying public that they have moved on from the Communist days products and that their vehicles have qualities that some appreciate above those of similar parent company products.

The need to go that 'extra mile' with regards to pricing and features that was obvious in earlier models is no longer quite so apparent in the mk3 which has been slightly compromised by the profit motive.

Some of the complaints such as hand-brake and indicator position as well as torsion bar suspension are obvious accountant inspired decisions which are disappointing but were not deal breakers for me in the overall sum up against the opposition as I was aware of them.

 

The thing that is an obvious and complete ****-up and mocks any 'simply clever' claim by the company is the bonnet release for RHD vehicles!.

It is unlikely to be a problem for most posters here who only retain the car for 3 years but for those considering more long term ownership, or second-hand buyers, it is more likely to be an issue. I'll probably engineer my own solution (not hard in the garage) as soon as the warranty runs out, just for peace of mind when we are out in more remote areas.

 

Skoda are on notice that my future spend on cars will, as always, be compared closely with other options on the market, so they had better make sure they don't get too greedy for profit.

 

The hand-brake position is not a real big issue for me, preferred to either auto-hold brakes or the foot operated versions beloved of our American brethren.

 

Note: Amusing my obvious 'fowl' comment was automatically asterix'd by the system. No discussion of hen breeding then :)

Edited 16 December, 20169 yr by Gerrycan

The thing that is an obvious and complete ****-up and mocks any 'simply clever' claim by the company is the bonnet release for RHD vehicles!.

+1

 

My driveway, where I park, is so narrow that I have to park with the passenger door mirror about 1/4" (6mm) from the neighbours house wall so there is enough clearance for me to get out the drivers door, so if the battery ever went flat we would have to push the car about 20 feet (6.5m) forward before being able to open the passenger door to reach the bonnet release lever before being able to charge the battery.

 

IMHO the bonnet release lever must always be on the drivers door side.

Unfortuantly some owners believe the skoda is a premium brand. Its a brand that wants to be but having noticed who run these cars it's clear the octavia sits in an niche whereby they are utilarian fleet cars. Either adorned with tradesman ladders on the roof bars or exhibiting some form of 'high viz' paint job.

Not premium then. Last time I looked Alan Sugar was getting driven around in a rolls and not octavia or Superb even.

As for the IRS, quite subjective. Torsion beam may be cheaper and after all the skoda is 'budjet', but a early generation standard ford focus with rear control blade suspension would run rings around the new octavias. So in that context little progress shown but do we need our cars to handle like go-karts?

 

And having had 2 MK2 Octy and a focus MK1 in the family, I can tell you the initial cost is not the problem, it's the hundred of pounds of bushes plus labour as the car gets older.

Not a problem if you change it a lot, but a problem if you don't.

 

The suspension on the MK1 focus and MK2 octy is basically the same.

Handles fantastically, but expensive as the car ages.

 

The MK1 focus was also a lot more reliable than the Octy in our experience.

 

So think about the Octy as a budget car, so people will often keep it and run it into the ground.

At that point things like that matter.

 

The wing mirror is awful, just cheap and dangerous.

The rear seat bench not folding on the estate is an joke.

The bonnet release on the wrong side is stupid

There are many many other stupid things they've done.

 

I'm just saying I can see the logic behind that one. I mean a CTR went back to beam suspension at least for a while if it isn't still.

 

Anyway, I'm confident this will be my last skoda, as the lights thing combined with a few other stupid savings is a step too far.

What's unfortunate for VWAG is it won't be one of their cars that replaces it, but likely a Jag or BMW.

 

The only other car that might work in the VW group is an RS6 Avant, but I wouldn't be buying one of those new, as the depreciation is more than a cheap new car.