Anyone heard any word of that being introduced? Currently have diesel 4x4 which is great but next car will be petrol and would be seriously concerned about traction (lack of). Perhaps too close to other VW/Audi products or will we have to wait for new Octavia in 2020?

No plans for the Mk3.

5 hours ago, SC03OTT said:

No plans for the Mk3.

Sadly.  But, yes, too late for Mk3 I think.  

 

Fingers crossed for Mk4, or just head over to the Superb part of the world - 276bhp petrol 4x4.

 

 

 

 

The updated pricing and specs document which came out before Christmas does include petrol 190 4x4 estates in SE L spec though.

(And L&K but mysteriously it says from stock only, even though that engine/ transmission combo didn't exist in the previous version of the spec document.)

Obviously not a VRS but perhaps it's an alternative?

https://az749841.vo.msecnd.net/sitesengb/alv1/730c2aa1-4671-4fb3-bd2e-efe6ecbcee8d/SKODA_OCTAVIA_Pricing_and_Spec_DEC18.df8770c3fa0c655c7bbc1ca6b6bb73c5.pdf

Edited 1 January, 20197 yr by DavidY

10 hours ago, cambuscat said:

Anyone heard any word of that being introduced? Currently have diesel 4x4 which is great but next car will be petrol and would be seriously concerned about traction (lack of). Perhaps too close to other VW/Audi products or will we have to wait for new Octavia in 2020?

Is there actually more traction in everday normal driving with 4x4? 

11 hours ago, FrankLK said:

Is there actually more traction in everday normal driving with 4x4? 

 

Yes .....

 

For me the most noticeable thing is pulling away from roundabouts / side roads  etc in the damp /wet.  The system sorts everything out for you and no loss of traction.

Interesting that Diesel Vrs and 4x4 have reappeared on the configurator. My annual mileage has now dropped from 20k+ to 7k so no longer require a diesel. As above, traction and stability is far better. No wheel spin out of corners where friends 150bhp car suffers. 

12 hours ago, FrankLK said:

Is there actually more traction in everday normal driving with 4x4? 

 

4x4 is for life, not just for Christmas 

The petrol 4x4 mk3 has always been available (and in RHD), however Skoda UK have consistently refused to import it. that continues to surprise me given Dieselgate and the fact that running a diesel for short trips is getting more onerous by the day, especially as most are now running adblue.

 

The 1.8 180 (and now the 2.0 190) is not going to set the world on fire but it is a very capable machine. Having a light engine up front combined with the longer wheelbase over the Golf it is surprisingly balanced and you do feel the effects of the 4x4, bends, roundabouts, and the fact you can pull out of a junction with no wheel scrabble.

 

Can't see whose toes it is treading on, no-one really has a mainstream smaller 4x4. if I did not have this there is not another VAG car I would have in direct comparison.

For wheelspin also big impact has tyre type, skodas use haldex 4x4 so rear wheels are active only when front start slipping, to have 245hp on front axle is for sure a problem. My 180hp with proper tyres has wheelspin only when I floor it from standstill.Torsen 4x4-quattro is reserved only for top price VAG models. 

1 hour ago, FrankLK said:

haldex 4x4 so rear wheels are active only when front start slipping

 

No the Haldex V is more active than the previous versions. It pre-emptively sends drive rear before any front slip in many situations including start from standstill. It is a big improvement over the Haldex III (and to a lesser extent, HaldexIV) which I also have. Haldex (and haldex-type) systems are finding themselves in higher performance vehicles as time goes on. Bugatti and Lamborghini for example.

12 hours ago, flybynite said:

The petrol 4x4 mk3 has always been available (and in RHD), however Skoda UK have consistently refused to import it. that continues to surprise me given Dieselgate and the fact that running a diesel for short trips is getting more onerous by the day, especially as most are now running adblue.

 

Maybe that's why petrol 4x4s (albeit not VRS) have now appeared in the UK spec document (dated December) and configurator?

10 hours ago, DavidY said:

 

Maybe that's why petrol 4x4s (albeit not VRS) have now appeared in the UK spec document (dated December) and configurator?

 

Had not seen that, but to be honest I'm still not interested in a facelift, so haven't been looking. Wouldn't hold your breath though as they have changed their mind at this point before.

 

Makes sense more than ever now, as I said above, so it may happen. Turbo swap and it would make a nice sleeper.

*cough* Cupra *cough*

On ‎02‎/‎01‎/‎2019 at 16:03, FrankLK said:

For wheelspin also big impact has tyre type, skodas use haldex 4x4 so rear wheels are active only when front start slipping, to have 245hp on front axle is for sure a problem. My 180hp with proper tyres has wheelspin only when I floor it from standstill.Torsen 4x4-quattro is reserved only for top price VAG models. 

Only 245bhp try putting down 336bhp without lighting up the TCS takes a lot of control with the loud pedal.

Edited 10 January, 20197 yr by shyVRS245
spelling mistake

You’d think you were the first person to ever mod a car. 

People easily forget that pulling from the stand-still and near stand-still aren't most important for such a high performance car. Sometimes additional traction is welcome, but 99% of the driving 4x4 is additional weight, price, fuel consumption and performance loss.

 

It's a bargain between facts and needs - 4x4 is not a priori a better choice, as it comes with a price. Let's not forget that less traction is more fun, not the other way around, plus the performance benefits of FWD. BTW, 300HP cars are very successful on the race track. I took mine on the track and there you don't need 4x4, only better tires, more grip, better brakes, and probably a better driver.

 

Some have all the gear, all the power,

launch control that any idiot can use and then some Budget warm estate costing lots less does just as well off the line with just FWD no launch control and 180ps.

 

Its just the same at the traffic light Grand Prix's.  People with all the power and cars bogging down because they left TC on.

 

 

 

Edited 10 January, 20197 yr by Skoffski

On 02/01/2019 at 17:03, FrankLK said:

For wheelspin also big impact has tyre type, skodas use haldex 4x4 so rear wheels are active only when front start slipping, to have 245hp on front axle is for sure a problem. My 180hp with proper tyres has wheelspin only when I floor it from standstill.Torsen 4x4-quattro is reserved only for top price VAG models. 

 

Haldex-5 sends 10% as a minimum to the rear wheels at all times. And in my opinion (who has driven a lot of different systems) the H5 is hands down the best one of the pump/clutch ones, and resembles the T3 torsen in terms of rear wheel feel during winter.

 

And your last statement is not true at all - its based on space. Torsen is only used on cars with longitudinal mounted engines where Haldex is used on transversal. VW Passat 3BG used Torsen and many models from Audi uses both Haldex and BorgWarner.

 

Both systems have pro and cons.

1 hour ago, BGB said:

 

Haldex-5 sends 10% as a minimum to the rear wheels at all times. And in my opinion (who has driven a lot of different systems) the H5 is hands down the best one of the pump/clutch ones, and resembles the T3 torsen in terms of rear wheel feel during winter.

 

And your last statement is not true at all - its based on space. Torsen is only used on cars with longitudinal mounted engines where Haldex is used on transversal. VW Passat 3BG used Torsen and many models from Audi uses both Haldex and BorgWarner.

 

Both systems have pro and cons.

Not true but still true, which new Vag model with longitudinal engine is a bargain? 

Yes, space is a problem on transversal engines so Haldex steps in. 

Like nidza says: if it is only for normal street use is it worth extra money, more service and extra fuel consumption?

7 minutes ago, FrankLK said:

which new Vag model with longitudinal engine is a bargain?

 

What is a bargain is subjectively and up for debate. But to give an answer the A4 is relatively cheap car.

 

10 minutes ago, FrankLK said:

if it is only for normal street use is it worth extra money, more service and extra fuel consumption?

 

It depends where you live and how you drive. But I for one like how a 4x4 acts not only in winter but in the summer as well. A fwd would be just fine here in Norway for the most part but I would never daily one.

I drive mostly in dry conditions by the coast, snow very rare, and also mostly city drive. 

9 hours ago, SC03OTT said:

You’d think you were the first person to ever mod a car. 

Happy New (trolley) Year always nice to get positive, constructive, happy, useful content from yourself. You're in my top 10 favourite Briskodians.