Auto Express have voted the new Octy VRS in 3rd behind the Golf & Focus. Overall, I feel the Octy was hard done by and as they rightly said, it's up against probably the best competition in the world. I still think it's agreat car.

what sopec were the other cars? I asume the ST3 and GTi Golf ?

what sopec were the other cars? I asume the ST3 and GTi Golf ?

Yes.

what sopec were the other cars? I asume the ST3 and GTi Golf ?

ST-2 actually. put a thread in the new octavia section about this article, wondering if skoda upgraded the engine in the demo car...

Well, I have to say that i agree with them. It comes last in the Phil Gooch test drive report too

Oh well.Can't win everything I suppose:)

Well, I have to say that i agree with them. It comes last in the Phil Gooch test drive report too

For arguments sake, lets say all three were fully specced with every option, is the Octavia

My opinion is based on "you're only young once" thinking The Golf recaros are IMO much nicer than the Ocatvia ones, the Golf looks nicer, its smaller and feels a little more sprightly than the Octavia.

I agree it is hard to see where the extra £5k is but it's the littl ethings that count I just prefer the Golf.

The Focus is a bit to "ASBO" for me.

If I wanted an ugly executive barge with a big engine, nice gearbox, an interior that is a pain to keep clean and standard wheels that dont look right then I would go for the Octavia.

My opinion is based on "you're only young once" thinking The Golf recaros are IMO much nicer than the Ocatvia ones, the Golf looks nicer, its smaller and feels a little more sprightly than the Octavia.

I agree it is hard to see where the extra

Still don't think it is a hot hatch.The Golf and Focus are.

Octavia is a grown up, quick,big family hatch that is cheap with a few sporty touches and a room for everything in the boot.I like that.

I'm old though and poor so I will buy a year old one next year.

(should be tested against quick mondeos,vectras and lagunas,not little cars)

I think the Focus is great... the Golf i would never have purely because its a Golf and is overpriced. I think the Octavia is visually tame but the interior is better than the Foucs.

Found the article to be totally biased in a badge snobbery kind of way and have emailed autoexpress the same. Its funny how other mags testing the same cars found the exact opposite (What car etc), Also reading the article for every positive fact the tester found a subjective fault, too big a gear stick to use, too small a speedo to read, felt noisier????????????? for crying out loud the bloke writes balderdash. Yes I am biased, but at least I have driven the car, not sure he has!

Thats before we mention the digs he has at the badge in the second paragraph. just my biased view of the article!!!

Yes I am biased, but at least I have driven the car, not sure he has!

How did you find it compared to the Focus and the Golf?

Chris

I walked right past an octavia VRS last night, in AutoSales Cannock. I diddnt even notice it unitl I was back in the car, driving off the premisis and took a look back at a nice lady in the showroom

Even with Mondeo ST's I think "hmmm, nice wheels" (or similar) - the Octavia is just plain old boring.

Don't claim to have tested either the golf or the focus, but then on the other hand I am not commenting on their positive or negative traits. I do not have a problem with articles concluding that a dearer car or any car is better but would prefer Objective reasoning. It was just the way this article was written with inconsistant comments that make no sense, well not to me, that got my goat. If I was a VW fan then I would be equally perturbed as this article on the Golf is all praise apart from two "minor quibbles" and yet the Ford wins. For instance regarding the Skoda and the Ford: "Tremendous brakes round things off. The ST doesn't stop quite as quickly as the Skoda, but the 320mm front brakes are better to use" Personnally when I brake I use front and back at the same time and am happy to stop in the shortest possible distance!

There's no denying the Skoda Octavia vRS is great value for money - especially considering the space and performance on offer. So why doesn't it win? Because once you remove the cost advantage, you're left with a car that doesn't quite tick every box in the hot hatch brief.....etc

Once you remove the cost advantage? What does that mean? The cars tested were valued at

when i trade vrs in all 3 of these will be on my list,if the focus has resonable economy i think iwould have to go for it.that 5 cyl engine would seal it for me.