@teescom09,  6 ft @ 110 kg and just drove 500 miles in 11 hours and am very comfortable.  but that still does not make the car roomy, 

as there is little space in the back.

I never actually compared it to a Mk3 Octavia so i was OT from the tread. 

@teescom09 you keep going on about the position of the engine and neglect to mention that exactly due to the position of it, the center console on BMWs is HUGE.

It is so wide that it actually offsets the pedals, meaning that the gas pedal is almost centered and in order to tap the brake, you need to cross your leg from the right to the left - as I type this, I realize that on a RHD car this problem might not be so obvious, but on a LHD car it is a real problem.

I honestly don't like the driving position on the 3-series (granted, once again, that I did not drive the current generation car - only the previous).

But hail variety - if we all liked the same the world would be a boring place.

10 hours ago, teescom09 said:

You need to try harder, don't think BMW will be panicking at a handful of biased options on here.  Lets me understand this, the BMW 3 Series is basically crap is what you're saying. The pedals are unreachable unless you sit sideways 

Seen how cheap a 10year old 3 series is? If they were more desirable they would surely be worth a lot more than a humble Skoda but they sell for the same money. 4 year old 4 series will have have lost at least £20,000 but a 4year old Vrs Octavia won't lose anything like that even though you say it's inferior quality.

7 hours ago, Offski said:

@teescom09,  6 ft @ 110 kg and just drove 500 miles in 11 hours and am very comfortable.  but that still does not make the car roomy, 

as there is little space in the back.

I never actually compared it to a Mk3 Octavia so i was OT from the tread. 

5 times in the last 3 weeks (covering more than 2,000miles) I have spent more than 5 hours per day driving my petrol manual Vrs and not once have I got out feeling tired or with backache. Must be the electric seats adjustment then as I hardly ever use cruise control to rest my legs.

Complete and utter *******s. The 3 series is far more comfortable, no fatigue unlike the Skoda where you have to crank your legs straight again,  if you didn't have to stop to relive the cramp. I know, did I mention I have one.....  10 year equivalent BMW worth far more 

 

As for room just look at the pictures! 

08 100k m sport 320  from about 5.5k  08 Octavia 90k VRS about 3.8k and thats the VRS, others are much much less.  Thats just under 50% more, much more than the difference new.  

4 hours ago, Jaco2k said:

@teescom09 you keep going on about the position of the engine and neglect to mention that exactly due to the position of it, the center console on BMWs is HUGE.

It is so wide that it actually offsets the pedals, meaning that the gas pedal is almost centered and in order to tap the brake, you need to cross your leg from the right to the left - as I type this, I realize that on a RHD car this problem might not be so obvious, but on a LHD car it is a real problem.

I honestly don't like the driving position on the 3-series (granted, once again, that I did not drive the current generation car - only the previous).

But hail variety - if we all liked the same the world would be a boring place.

 

Obviously in the RHD models this issue is reversed,  

 

This means although the footwell is narrow automatic models are not that bad.

 

But on manual models you do have to bring your left foot right of it's natural position to operate the clutch which is a problem for some including myself. After around half an hour mixed driving my back is agony. You body is straight your arms are straight but both your feet are over to your right meaning the base of your spine is twisted. 

 

The clutch pedal is pretty much central to the steering wheel and seat.

 

Edited 14 November, 20187 yr by logiclee

3 hours ago, Jaco2k said:

@teescom09 you keep going on about the position of the engine and neglect to mention that exactly due to the position of it, the center console on BMWs is HUGE.

It is so wide that it actually offsets the pedals, meaning that the gas pedal is almost centered and in order to tap the brake, you need to cross your leg from the right to the left - as I type this, I realize that on a RHD car this problem might not be so obvious, but on a LHD car it is a real problem.

I honestly don't like the driving position on the 3-series (granted, once again, that I did not drive the current generation car - only the previous).

But hail variety - if we all liked the same the world would be a boring place.

Who keeps going on about the position of the engine? Ive never mentioned it! Centre console is excellent and a BMW plus that few match apart from Audi, not just my opinion, also of the professional media. What offset pedals check the pictures, the skoda pedals are  offset especially the accelerator, but also about 3" towards the driver due to the firewall making the cabin foot well too shallow. The brake and accelerator are in almost identical positions within a few mm. You drove a an old car and that is relevant, compare that to the Mk1/2 Ocatvia. 

 

Keep slagging the 3 series off, up to now:

 

The large boot is tiny

The extremely comfortable seats cripple you

The pedals are not in range of your feet, almost same position of Octavia within mm. But many mm closer to driver.

No room in back, similar to Octavia Estate within mm

The seats rust away

i Drive recognized as the best system by far is crap

The free map updates don't exist

The touch screen auto zooming sat nav doesn't zoom for some reason

Ocatavias worth less are worth more 10 year old

The centre console is too big for whatever reason

The servicing at around £475 for 3 years is very expensive which also includes free top ups of all fluids and 1st 2nd mot cover

 

Must be more surely....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

13 hours ago, logiclee said:

 

 

I've had many VAG cars and have had issue but have always been treated fairly and my issues were sorted. I always got the impression from BMW that I hadn't paid £100k so I didn't really matter.

 

 

 

Think it’s subjective really mate - the BMW dealer I deal with in Newcastle is absolutely Superb (no pun intended). The people there always have a smile on their face and I always feel well looked after. Cost isn’t an issue to me as it’s just all dealt with via maintenance contract with the leasing company, but I know BMW dealers (or any dealers for that matter) aren’t cheap.

 

The worst offenders I think are Audi dealers - I've not been in one where ive ever felt they give a toss, and that’s even from a sales side.

 

Skoda has been a mixed bag - I’ve owned three, and my mum 2 and dealt with a couple of different dealers in the NE. One being great, the other being very poor (and I’m being kind).

 

Think the thread is getting a bit out of hand now...people make their own choices, and while one person may have a great experience with one particular car, others may not - you pay your money and make you choice.

 

I’m in a BMW now, but wouldn’t hesitate in owning another Skoda - just what I bought suited my needs at the time. 

27 minutes ago, logiclee said:

 

Obviously in the RHD models this issue is reversed,  

 

This means although the footwell is narrow automatic models are not that bad.

 

But on manual models you do have to bring your left foot right of it's natural position to operate the clutch which is a problem for some including myself. After around half an hour mixed driving my back is agony. You body is straight your arms are straight but both your feet are over to your right meaning the base of your spine is twisted. 

 

The clutch pedal is pretty much central to the steering wheel and seat.

 

Can't really see anything but I already posted pictures. What about your right leg further which is slightly to the right than in the BMW, is it only left legs effected, and what about the cramp from having your legs wrapped around the steering wheel which is surely much worse? The clutch pedal has been offset with  larger distance to the left, the brake is in a similar postion within 1/2" or so but 

3 minutes ago, GoneToBeemer said:

 

Think it’s subjective really mate - the BMW dealer I deal with in Newcastle is absolutely Superb (no pun intended). The people there always have a smile on their face and I always feel well looked after. Cost isn’t an issue to me as it’s just all dealt with via maintenance contract with the leasing company, but I know BMW dealers (or any dealers for that matter) aren’t cheap.

 

The worst offenders I think are Audi dealers - I've not been in one where ive ever felt they give a toss, and that’s even from a sales side.

 

Skoda has been a mixed bag - I’ve owned three, and my mum 2 and dealt with a couple of different dealers in the NE. One being great, the other being very poor (and I’m being kind).

 

Think the thread is getting a bit out of hand now...people make their own choices, and while one person may have a great experience with one particular car, others may not - you pay your money and make you choice.

 

I’m in a BMW now, but wouldn’t hesitate in owning another Skoda - just what I bought suited my needs at the time. 

 

I used Stratstone Derby and Sytner Nottingham. 

Stratstone are a joke allround, Sytner were great with the sales part and to be fair the salesman did sort me out with upgraded courtesy cars but after sales was very poor.

To top it all BMW finance messed up and gave all my details to a third party. This also lead to myself and another owner having our credit ratings merged. 

We both took legal action against BMW and they settled before court.

Just now, logiclee said:

 

I used Stratstone Derby and Sytner Nottingham. 

Stratstone are a joke allround, Sytner were great with the sales part and to be fair the salesman did sort me out with upgraded courtesy cars but after sales was very poor.

To top it all BMW finance messed up and gave all my details to a third party. This also lead to myself and another owner having our credit ratings merged. 

We both took legal action against BMW and they settled before court.

 

Can understand your frustration from a service side - that’s totally unacceptable! But again something that can happen anywhere. Way off topic, something similar happened to me with Scottish Power that I won’t bother to go in to, but I will never even dream of using them again, even if they were the cheapest supplier in the world!

6 minutes ago, teescom09 said:

 what about the cramp from having your legs wrapped around the steering wheel which is surely much worse? 

 

I don't have that issue, not sure how you have the seating position setup.

 

Have not seen reviewers complain about this in the numerous reviews of the Octavia/Golf7.

 

 

29 minutes ago, teescom09 said:

Who keeps going on about the position of the engine? Ive never mentioned it!

 

I find it interesting that going back on this thread, almost every single one of your comments is edited

...why might that be? I think you are just trolling, so I will stop feeding you.

 

But hey, you forgot to edit this one:

Exactly, I was replying to the other persons comment on the engine position and firewall. It's ok to try and condemn a 3 series compared to a Skoda because the pedals (illegibly) are offset and thats makes a world of  difference.  But nobody wants to accept or acknowledge the very compromised pedal position because of the flat pushed back firewall. A problem with a lot of transverse cars. Had dozens and always wear the clutch and brake pedal corners off because that is the only way to press them as my legs wont go under the steering wheel at 6-2.

 

I know this is a Skoda forum with the usual self justification in overdrive, but come on. Reminds me of the gut running away from the test drive 

 

Edited, well that is because I use an iPhone on the go most of the time that always manages to type what it likes. Sorry about that, Troll on.

 

 

40 minutes ago, teescom09 said:

You drove a an old car and that is relevant, compare that to the Mk1/2 Ocatvia.

 

Also to address this statement - I did not drive an old car... I drove an F30 340i, brand new at a BMW xDrive event. The car was a 2016 model...

 

You seem to not be able to accept any other opinions than your own. If you want to choose a less arrogant style of communication, we can have a discussion (and even different opinions, which opens dialogue).

19 hours ago, teescom09 said:

Free and done automatically with BMW connected. My free VRS updates expire soon. And they are a pain in the arse to do.

 

Updates are only free on the newer navigation systems.

I was charged €600 (or the leasing company was) to update the map data on my 3series too. There is no mechanism to do it yourself.

 

Skoda updates for the mk3 are free & dont expire. Yes they are not OTA but they are not that difficult to do.

 

1 minute ago, Jaco2k said:

 

Also to address this statement - I did not drive an old car... I drove an F30 340i, brand new at a BMW xDrive event. The car was a 2016 model...

 

You seem to not be able to accept any other opinions than your own. If you want to choose a less arrogant style of communication, we can have a discussion (and even different opinions, which opens dialogue).

It's a forum of opinions and works both ways,  my opinion is a counter argument against the attack on the BMW 3 series,  then me as you are now! So please refrain from personal attacks if you don't mind, I have not done that. If you make a comment against something (not a person without reason, thats trolling) expect recourse and have some proof.

 

The only issue that had me wondering if true is the pedal offset. I had never noticed this on 3 series or my A4's and 6's. Read about it in relation to my Audi's but always wondered what the hell they were on about, never an issue to me.  Always found them all by far the most comfortable cars I have had because I can stretch my legs out in total comfort, not so in most transverse cars, an achilles heal of them. It's ironic that the leg comfort was raised as that is my only real gripe with the VRS regarding comfort, the other is the trim quality. For the money £28k  pushing 3 years ago it's not that impressive. 

@logiclee when did you have a BMW F30 and what year was it?

3 minutes ago, Gabbo said:

 

Updates are only free on the newer navigation systems.

I was charged €600 (or the leasing company was) to update the map data on my 3series too. There is no mechanism to do it yourself.

 

Skoda updates for the mk3 are free & dont expire. Yes they are not OTA but they are not that difficult to do.

 

 

Which model/year was this? I was able to update my E90 LCI with CIC Pro Nav by downloading the map update to USB and obtaining an activation code from an eBay seller for about a tenner. Not free, but not far off either.

2 minutes ago, Gabbo said:

 

Updates are only free on the newer navigation systems.

I was charged €600 (or the leasing company was) to update the map data on my 3series too. There is no mechanism to do it yourself.

 

Skoda updates for the mk3 are free & dont expire. Yes they are not OTA but they are not that difficult to do.

 

I don't know when it became free, probably about same time as Skoda's did. The 3 series has BMW Connected which is effectively a phone built in, this does all sorts of fancy stuff including updates, and scary stuff like sending logs of all parameters at BMW's will, this is going to come to all cars not just premium. We are being watched! But yes you can also download them, however the maps are huge only 30gb.  I was told my updates expire with the cars warranty, hence why I am keen to update soon. Great if they don't. 

11 minutes ago, CWARD said:

@logiclee when did you have a BMW F30 and what year was it?

2013

@logiclee Was it a 2013 F30 model too or an older E90 that you had in 2013?

Edited 14 November, 20187 yr by CWARD

Updates are all free (either by WiFi / cellular data or USB) for a all Professional Nav systems, MY17 and later. 

58 minutes ago, CWARD said:

@logiclee Was it a 2013 F30 model too or an older E90 that you had in 2013?

 

My car was actually an f20 that ended up in the dealers for a while. I was given a f30 manual. After two weeks i took it back as it was crippling me.

They swapped it for an f30 auto which I was OK with.

Edited 14 November, 20187 yr by logiclee