55 minutes ago, The Zee said:

Hi, I intend to keep the Mazda anyway, was looking for something with a bigger boot due to change in life requirements. I have been with Skoda since the days of the Favorit, so about thirty years in all. The Mazda is returning the middle forties from a two litre petrol auto.

There is always a compromise, the Mazda is a very engaging car to drive, you feel part of it. it's not fast but that is not what I am interested in. In fact the Karoq is quicker off of the line.

So what is the answer? 

If I had to have just one car it would be tricky.

With the Karoq I would gain the boot space but lose the dynamics

With the Mazda I have the dynamics but not the boot space.

I suppose I should look at the Kodiaq and hope that has the feeling that the Superb did.

I can't get rid of the Mazda it's such a bloody good car.

 

BMS X3/5 range? Will cost you but 50/50 distribution with great driving dynamics, new will set you for £40k > i think

59 minutes ago, westie38 said:

If you like the dynamics of the Mazda, but need the space, have you tried the CX5? It was on my (very) short list when replacing my Kuga. 

Yes the CX-5 is a great car but they don't do a petrol automatic, and that is a must for me.

26 minutes ago, vadimo said:

 

BMS X3/5 range? Will cost you but 50/50 distribution with great driving dynamics, new will set you for £40k > i think

The thing is I want to go back into a Skoda. So will hope the Kodiaq has the same feel as the Superb.

It’s always very personal when it comes to choice and taste...that’s why we are all different and there are different vehicles to have...all good!

 

We had an interesting experience recently when choosing:

 

We wanted something not too big/wide and not too small, Petrol auto, light interior (including facia)

 

list started as:

Xc40

epace

evoque

cx3/5

karoq

 

The e pace and evoque were quickly ruled out due to the fact they are too wide for our garage (also pricey!)

Cx5 too big and black inside

cx3 too small and black inside

leaving the Skoda and Volvo to test drive.  As there is over 10k in difference  between their prices I was expecting to be very impressed with the xc40

 

(current cars are a Octavia vrs and a Volvo v70 perhaps flavoured our choice too!)

 

Took a while to find a Petrol of either to drive but first had a drive in a karoq 1.0 se dsg.  Was very impressed with the refinement and ride quality-less impressed with the interior ambience.  30 mins later we drove a xc40 and we overwhelmingly disappointed with the very harsh ride and noisy engine and gearbox...wasn’t expecting that!!

 

so bought a karoq Edition with a nice cream interior which fits our needs perfectly!

Hi Lborob16,

It sounds like I am walking the same path you did in more ways than one. A few years ago I was settled on a particular car which was too wide for the garage so we had the garage widened. Also the xc40 was a disappointment. by the way both the CX-3 and the CX-5 can be had with the Ceramic pack which is an off white interior, one of the reasons I bought the CX-3 as I fancied a move away from black.

I saw a Kodiaq in the showroom with pale interior and it looks really brilliant.

Maybe I will re-visit the Karoq when I am in a different frame of mind. I was expecting the feel of the Superb which probably was the wrong way to go about it.

I am pleased you are happy with your choice, I so want to get a Skoda back on our drive.

11 hours ago, vadimo said:

i find our Karoq being a well balanced car, Skoda did great job, its not too stiff and very little body roll.

 

we purchased this SUV for the practicality and comfort

 

looking at VAG SUVs for sportiness is going to be disappointing experience

 

Yes, Ateca looks sporty but i believe its just the looks combined with stiffer suspension otherwise its same car

There are VAG SUVs that may fill your need for speed, I moved over to a Q3, for other reasons than speed, my Q3 Black Edition is no slouch, or dare you try a RSQ3 !

 

M

45 minutes ago, ktm690rr said:

There are VAG SUVs that may fill your need for speed, I moved over to a Q3, for other reasons than speed, my Q3 Black Edition is no slouch, or dare you try a RSQ3 !

 

M

 

I must admit wasnt thinking of Audi when said VAG, was more of Skoda, Seat and VW.

10 hours ago, The Zee said:

Yes the CX-5 is a great car but they don't do a petrol automatic, and that is a must for me.

 

We have looked at the CX5 twice now, last time when we changed the car but I was car sick on a very short motorway journey, then husband looked at the new one before buying the Karoq.  I have to say I think Mazda are missing a trick, when he looked we knew we didn't want  a diesel and he wanted to stay with an automatic.  It also seemed that unless you bought the 2l diesel most of the gadgets are not available on the petrol version, all the things he was used to in his more expensive car, so the Mazda was off our list for that reason.

 

Quote

9 hours ago, Lborob16 said:

30 mins later we drove a xc40 and we overwhelmingly disappointed with the very harsh ride and noisy engine and gearbox...wasn’t expecting that!!

xc40 was on our list too, we watched the launch live on youtube and it seemed from the marketing it may be just what we were looking for but getting any info on it back in Jan seemed so hard, about all we could find out was that it was going to start at over £40k, we had already decided we didn't want to spend that much otherwise we would have stuck with Lexus and got the RX.  What was the back seat like? Our son is 16 and over 6ft tall so it has restricted a number of our choices due to SUVs often having cut off roofs in the back

3 hours ago, ktm690rr said:

There are VAG SUVs that may fill your need for speed, I moved over to a Q3, for other reasons than speed, my Q3 Black Edition is no slouch, or dare you try a RSQ3 !

 

M

I don't have a need for speed, this is not the issue I have. Nobody could accuse the CX-3 of being a sporty or fast drive, it's just that it's very responsive through the steering and engaging to drive, you feel part of the experience. This is what is lacking with the Karoq in my opinion. I am sure they can sharpen the handling without the need for more power. Mazda have cracked it, sadly it's a bit too small in the luggage area.

Every review I have read (and I have read a lot), about the Karoq says it is set up for comfort over handling - you will have to look elsewhere for your engaging handling I'm afraid. 

7 hours ago, The Zee said:

 

Maybe I will re-visit the Karoq when I am in a different frame of mind. I was expecting the feel of the Superb which probably was the wrong way to go about it.

 

 

Er - that's kind of what I said to myself after I test drove the Karoq. I found it OK to drive but the best way of describing it - everything seemed a compromise. The engine was OK but seemed somehow held back (1.5tsi - however only 125miles on the clock though), it was quiet but a bit noisier than my Superb(wind, engine and road noise), rear leg-room was a disappointment especially with those blooming tables and whilst the boot was OK you had to be careful which model and spare wheel option you selected (2wd spacesaver was OK).

 

I eventually do need a compromise when I down size to possibly one car between us but maybe not just yet. Overall I did like it especially the Elite (bit pricey at the mo) and the SE tech

 

At the moment to get the biggest discount you have to take out a PCP which I don't really want (Yes I know it's been reported that you can settle early, but....). It's almost as if car makers don't want cash buyers!

 

 

Edited 31 May, 20188 yr by bigjohn

Womanokent - Petrol auto xc40 starts at 35k.   Seat room in the back was fine and head room (with glass roof) a bit tight for me (6’2”)

 

i was deeply unimpressed possibly fuelled  by all the media hype about how good it is...then I suppose journalists don’t buy the cars the like the look of!

 

The other really annoying thing was that the infotainment system was soooo slow.   

The Zee... yes the cx3 is a nice car but it I wasn’t keen on the off white interior option...not that I ever saw one in the flesh...so it might be better looking! 

 

At the end of the day you have to feel right about the car you drive...hope you get something that you like in the end!

Hope it will be a Skoda as I am a fully paid up Freedom member and hate wasting money.

1 minute ago, The Zee said:

Hope it will be a Skoda as I am a fully paid up Freedom member and hate wasting money.

 

Likewise - and I'm from Yorkshire as well (the land of the deep pockets and short arms)

2 minutes ago, bigjohn said:

 

Likewise - and I'm from Yorkshire as well (the land of the deep pockets and short arms)

...and my wife is Scottish.

Know what you mean about feeling connected, I feel that with the Yeti even though it's the low powered one.

 

I haven't driven the Karoq yet, I'm  leaving  it nearer to when I'm looking to change.

 

There's been mention of a more sporty Karoq, VRS maybe, perhaps that would fit the bill better?

On 30/05/2018 at 17:47, Nicky_P said:

Get yourself a Golf R estate if you want feedback and excitement 

 

If you think a Golf R gives feedback and excitement, don't drive a Caterham, you might not survive the experience !

On 30/05/2018 at 21:00, The Zee said:

Hi, I intend to keep the Mazda anyway, was looking for something with a bigger boot due to change in life requirements. I have been with Skoda since the days of the Favorit, so about thirty years in all. The Mazda is returning the middle forties from a two litre petrol auto.

There is always a compromise, the Mazda is a very engaging car to drive, you feel part of it. it's not fast but that is not what I am interested in. In fact the Karoq is quicker off of the line.

So what is the answer? 

If I had to have just one car it would be tricky.

With the Karoq I would gain the boot space but lose the dynamics

With the Mazda I have the dynamics but not the boot space.

I suppose I should look at the Kodiaq and hope that has the feeling that the Superb did.

I can't get rid of the Mazda it's such a bloody good car.

Why didn't you get a CX-5 . Very good car too.

You need a bigger boot than the one on the Superb?

 

Have you thought about getting a caravan?

Exactly the Superb seemed to me that don't give any feeling when driving it.

Even if it was a 2.0 tdi 190 CP, so pretty powerfull, I was not tempted at all to drive it fast 

Karoq I liked it more.

Choosing a car depends a lot on your needs and on your expectations. I think that I had too high expectations on Super, taking into account how good the interior and exterior look like, and that it was not the car that I wanted.

 

7 hours ago, TonyTonic said:

Why didn't you get a CX-5 . Very good car too.

No petrol auto I'm afraid, only diesel auto.

3 hours ago, Jonno said:

No petrol auto I'm afraid, only diesel auto.

Really??

Petrol auto cx5 is available in rhd Australia since release and a best seller here.

6 hours ago, Gerrycan said:

Really??

Petrol auto cx5 is available in rhd Australia since release and a best seller here.

Yes really

They have never released one here in the UK.

Interesting. It would be virtually impossible to buy a new manual car in NZ.  The Karoq is DSG only. I suspect as high as 80% of drivers under 30 would not have driven a manual.