On 7/2/2017 at 22:43, Orville said:

I am trying to think of other mainstream manufacturers who have completely split the main headlights on their cars. Here's the only recent one I can think of.

 

 

Here's what was surely the FL's inspiration....

 

 

Funny because MB seemed to borrow the Octy 2 FL headlights for this C class:

Edited 11 July, 20178 yr by juan27

Carwow make some observations about the new headlights at the start of their 2017 Octavia review below.

 

 

I just can't get over how much they have uglified the Octavia. It had a very clean and tidy front end before, but now it is really messy with no coherence to it at all. Everything clashes. Worst re-design ever! By far.

3 hours ago, nickcoll said:

I just can't get over how much they have uglified the Octavia. It had a very clean and tidy front end before, but now it is really messy with no coherence to it at all. Everything clashes. Worst re-design ever! By far.

IMHO inoffensive is the best you could say about the pre FL O3. Whilst more conventional it is certainly not a thing of beauty. I like the new front now particularly on the VRS. 

Worst redesign ever? Nah

If the FL headlights had been fitted to the Classic Mk3, and the new FL had received the Classic headlights, we'd all be saying what a good job Skoda had done with the refresh.

 

I have now seen a few FL's in the flesh, and to my eyes the lights are far from falttering. It's like having a reasonably pretty girlfriend with a hairy wart on her nose. Yes, the rest of her may be fine, but the thing you notice most is that wart. I bet the lights are re-worked for next year's refresh.

Not a chance. That's it until the Mk4. 

I don't mind the headlights, but i don't like the blacked out bit in the middle of the grille. Looks like a moustache from a particularly evil historical figure...

Isn't the radar for collision avoidance (or whatever it is called) hidden behind shiny grill nose? I think Skoda moved it higher because it kept getting knocked out of alignment/busted by stones and minor parking kisses when it was housed within the front spoiler. It may also be more accurate/reliable when position higher.

47 minutes ago, Orville said:

Isn't the radar for collision avoidance (or whatever it is called) hidden behind shiny grill nose? I think Skoda moved it higher because it kept getting knocked out of alignment/busted by stones and minor parking kisses when it was housed within the front spoiler. It may also be more accurate/reliable when position higher.

Oh I see, that would explain why they needed to redesign, but I think still it looks a bit pants as it is. Mind you, if there are good deals on the 245 when my PCH deal ends next July then it's not bad enough to stop me

3 hours ago, Orville said:

If the FL headlights had been fitted to the Classic Mk3, and the new FL had received the Classic headlights, we'd all be saying what a good job Skoda had done with the refresh

 

That's exactly like the Yeti facelift that made it more boring, surely?

I think in a year when every second taxi is a O3 FL we will honestly wonder what the fuss was about. They have finally given the O3 some character. But I am biased of course.....

The 03 FL isn't that bad to live with I've had my new FL vRS about a month now and it grow on you and I like it now it looks good on the vRS 

2 hours ago, juan27 said:

I think in a year when every second taxi is a O3 FL we will honestly wonder what the fuss was about. They have finally given the O3 some character. But I am biased of course.....

Charachter and looks are two different things. My Misses could dye her hair green, tattoo her forehead, and cover her face with piercings. She would certainly gain charachter, but to most people she would look uglier.

 

The original Mk3 may have gone under the radar (perhaps some would call it bland), but it certrainly did not cause offense, or look unbalanced and google-eyed. I prefer under-stated, inconspicuous, plain or just a bit boring to odd / quirky.

 

Granted, I have never been known for my exceptional taste or fashion sense. I think of myself as conservative / middle of the road.

https://youtu.be/oK9JX_Ef0Ws

Edited 14 July, 20178 yr by juan27

I cannot locate it at the moment, but I am certain that soemone within the motoring press commented that the new Octavia FL had a front-end that "only a mother would love".

 

Should have given the FL new Supurb-like headlighs that look err superb, or just kept the old inoffensive ones.

 

Edit: I located the comments within Autoevolution. Quote: "While Mercedes were widely praised for the W212 facelift costing a billion euros, the exact opposite happened when Skoda revealed the 2017 Octavia facelift with dual headlights. It looks like cosmetic surgery gone wrong, with features that only a mother could love. Not since the Bentley EXP 9 F have we seen such a severe reaction."

 

I actually think the FL lights look better than the Bentley's, just.

Edited 14 July, 20178 yr by Orville

I've had my FL for a whole week now!  

 

From some angles I quite like the lights, others not so much. I do particularly like the effect of the drl's in the reflections of car boots as I approach in traffic. I like the headlight stripes along the bottom, but I believe the pfl had these also and in  fact looked better. (not the light strips, but the effect on the Base of the lights, where lines come outwards) 

 

Overall, it really isn't enough to have stopped me buying one. I think I'll make my grill surround black instead of chrome and that will help some too. 

 

 

A black grill makes a big improvement to my eyes, and of course the front-end is the only marmite update to the FL. The centre console displays are a nice improvement, as are the minor power and spec enhancements on some models. The lights do not make the Octy a bad car, but such debates could have been easily avoided if Skoda has remined more conservative.

Haven't seen one yet I may see one when my new !.4TSi DSG is delivered early October and is on my drive.

7 hours ago, YMe said:

Haven't seen one yet 

I'm amazed! I've seen quite a few and there isn't a Skoda dealer within 15 miles of here.

14 hours ago, Orville said:

I cannot locate it at the moment, but I am certain that soemone within the motoring press commented that the new Octavia FL had a front-end that "only a mother would love".

 

Should have given the FL new Supurb-like headlighs that look err superb, or just kept the old inoffensive ones.

 

Edit: I located the comments within Autoevolution. Quote: "While Mercedes were widely praised for the W212 facelift costing a billion euros, the exact opposite happened when Skoda revealed the 2017 Octavia facelift with dual headlights. It looks like cosmetic surgery gone wrong.

 

To be fair that's quite an old article from around the time the first semi-official pics were released and Autoevolution is hardly part of the European mainstream motoring media. 

This thread is after all about "Have you got used to...." rather than can you find the most negative press reaction from last year. 

 

I think we get that the look hasn't grown on you and that's absolutely fair enough of course.

 

It is all opinion. I know someone who will not countenance owning a recent Alfa Romeo purely because the front numberplates are not mounted centrally whereas for me that's just not an issue.

 

Here's another quote from Autoevolution:

 

"The third generation Skoda Octavia got a refresh in 2017, which mainly changes the way it looks. The most obvious change is the addition of split headlights which makes it look more premium"

 

 

They could just gave it superb lights and everybody would be happy.

Perhaps FL Superb owners are feeling jealous and thinking - why couldn't we have had twin headlights loo? Maybe next time....

Starting to be many FL octavia's here in Norway too. One day I like it, the next day I don't. Would I buy one? Probably not. Though it is improved in many ways, I would have wanted more gadgets like the golf has, the digital instrument panel.  Will live with the 230 for a while longer. Was tempted by a 245, But the depreciation is too much the first year on the 230. 

 

Local Salesman(usually trustworthy) said the FL has 198 improved things compared to the previous 03. Dont know if it's true though.