so after 6 years and 70k+ miles, I'll probably be replacing my diesel Octy vRS this year.

 

I'd like to move to petrol - in terms of fuel economy the diesel is not really suited to my commute, and I only really got it because it was (at the time) such a good deal.

I want a bit of oomph to help with the steep hills and multiple roundabouts/"take-your-chances" junctions on my commute

I don't need the "whole hog" of a 245 vRS Octy, so was considering the newly added 190 Petrol engine

 

trying to thing of an alternative to pit it against, I've been leaning towards the new Focus estate, with the 182 engine.

I was wondering if anyone has experience of either of these engines? 

In terms of comparing the cars, there's the obvious difference that the Octavia will have a bigger boot, but these days that's becoming less important. 

The Focus can be had with a manual gearbox, which I'd prefer, but the Octavia is DSG only.

 

I'm waiting for our local Ford Dealerships to get Estate versions in order to have a proper look at them. I'm waiting to hear back from our local Skoda dealership group (they have the 3 nearest places to me) if they have a 190 for having a test drive - but I'm in no rush

 

And is there an another alternative I should be thinking about ?

The 1.5 TSI is fairly impressive and economical, unless you need the extra power of the 190, it might be worth giving it a look? It should be noticeably better on fuel than the 2.0.

25 minutes ago, ahenners said:

The 1.5 TSI is fairly impressive and economical, unless you need the extra power of the 190, it might be worth giving it a look? It should be noticeably better on fuel than the 2.0.

Definitely worth test driving the 1.5TSI though - many owners (not only with Skoda but other VAG vehicles too) have posted of having problems with the engine revving higher than seems necessary when pulling away leading to some kangarooing.

1 hour ago, Wet Kipper said:

 

I want a bit of oomph. 

I need the "whole hog" of a 245 vRS Octy.

 

Fixed that one for you.

I had a Focus for years and they are a great handling car. Better than the Octavia in that respect. It never put a foot wrong in 8 years and it took some abuse. Like the Skodas they are not the cheap car they used to be either in price or quality. Specc'd to the hilt it was still cheaper than the equivalent Octy

 

I was looking at the older generation of the 180 ecoboost estate and was very impressed. it was certainly lively and handled well. The deal breaker for me was being able to get 4x4 (no thanks to Skoda UK) The Octy I have is a very, very capable car, but the balance and handling is not a patch on the Focus. Thankfully I have always had other machines for that.

 

For me, If it were like for like, the Focus would win every time.

For the first time the new Ford Focus Wagon (sorry, Estate) 1.5L turbo 3 cylinder is going to be sold here in Australia and there have been a couple of on-line reviews published.

Interestingly it is not far behind the Octavia wagon for internal capacity and at the price being sold here offers a stepping point between the lower spec Octavia (1.4/1.5) and the vRS editions.

The Focus will only be offered here with an automatic 8 speed torque converter transmission but the three cylinder engine has dual direct/manifold) fuel injection and the estate has  multi-link rear suspension so a fairly good spec for the local price.

 

The downsides:

No manual box option.

Really high gearing in top gear so that at our max speed limit (110 kph) it is not even in its torque band and reviews complain of incessant  gear changing  on the slightest incline.

Claimed local consumption is a fairly average 6.5L/100 (we are still NEDC based) which reviews got nowhere near, but that is sort of normal.

Usual overstyled rising rear window line and drooping roof so rear door windows are small and rear window is not great. Rear cameras and electronic warning gear are essential equipment.

 

I'll concede that Focus do normally handle/steer well but I remember a local comparison review included the then current 2.0 NA i30 and equivalent Focus with near identical power/torque/weight and they got identical times in the acceleration tests (unsurprisingly) but in the circuit race times they were also identical which did surprise me.

I had driven a couple of hire versions of the i30 and thought it was a rubbish handling/steer and the Focus a relative pleasure so I was perplexed that the perceived difference was not more obvious.

 

I'll finish with my usual recommendation that you try and get a long term test before any purchase.

There are a couple of newish Focus Estates in our street and they look good and the steering/handling is usually fine, but the interior quality is where they fall down for me, like they are built to a lower budget than a Skoda. The new Ecoboost 1.5 engine is probably quick enough for most but I know someone who rented a Kuga with this engine and they told me the fuel economy was horrendous. If the Octavia estate was the same price as the Focus the Skoda would get my vote.

Heavy fuel consumption issues with Fords have always been my experience from Ford Anglia to 1.0tsi Focus, the exception being a local 4.0L Falcon AU that drank like a sailor on shore leave around town but gave low 40s on a run.

 

Too many factors to determine what my current 1.4 Octavia replacement will be. 

Cannot believe we are going on our first interstate trip in the 2014 Octavia this week. Usually fly 

5 hours ago, shyVRS245 said:

the interior quality is where they fall down for me, like they are built to a lower budget than a Skoda.

 

+1 on this. The new Focus is a big improvement over the outgoing model, but the ST Line X I sat in recently still felt like a step down in build quality and materials.

 

Will now await to be told I'm wrong, and that I'm biased because I'm posting on a Skoda forum, as per the last time I made similar comments on Octavia VS Focus interior quality... 

I have both brands. 

 

The Octy is a very competent car if just a little boring. It's bigger so if that matters its an easier choice, but 90% of the time maybe an Aygo would have too much spare space for the majority? The extra size advantage is not always an advantage, it's also disadvantage and the Focus Estate will likely be more than adequate for most gear luggers, like me. The drive in a Focus (I have last version) is vastly superior as you said, makes you want to just pop out for a spin, never really had that level of interest in the VRS. 

 

General quality of materials seem better/tougher in a Ford than a Skoda especially in relation to wear and the design to me anyway far more stylish, at least the mk3.5 is.  Some elements like the dash trim finish and carpets are poorer quality in the Skoda.  Scratch and wear scarily quickly. They look good new but soon show their real quality, the piano black is just not fit for purpose, mine scratched first time I dusted and are horrible now.  Cabin noise (apart from sound imposer) is more suppressed in the Focus and the ST at least has far superior seats. The Octy needs more cabin sound proofing. That said the ST's "Sound Imposer" is really awful as is the VRS one, I unplugged it in the VRS, but not found a way to shut the Ford one up, it is through speakers, does ruin it when you hoof it, so childish.  And I am far more comfortable in the Focus than the VRS. Not just the (firm) Recaro's I also cannot get the driving position 100% right in the Octy, not enough leg room with the steering wheel gear lever in right position and steering wheel feels off to one side for some reason after I get out of the Focus.

 

As for economy, I have a 250 hp ST and an original PFL 230 hp VRS. Probably producing around 260 and 250 in reality (ref-superchips pre tune dyno, online) There is nothing in it. The Focus has averaged 36.3 in 7k and the VRS just under 36 in a lot more k .  Thats even though Officially the Ford is 41.5 and the Skoda 45 ish... VW numbers of course. 40+  out of both isn't difficult especially in summer.The focus has much more torque at normal driving speeds and feels slightly quicker revved out, although it is a hatch. The Ford gearbox is smoother and slicker, almost perfect. The Ford handbrake is where it should be, next to the driver not on the other side. Ford burns zero oil, VRS a very small amount, negligible. My Octy suffered a turbo failure at 40k and its not uncommon. Never had a failure like that with any other brand as long as I can remember. The Skoda has been back for 3 faults in total only the turbo has been fixed, the others are still present and I just live with them, gave up reporting it. Electric window one shot intermittent and the seat memory storing intermittent. No faults at all on the Ford yet. Oh and the disc hubs on the VRS turned to thick rust within months, plus alloys have slight corrosion spreading under the lacquer from the edges. Everything like that still looks brand new on the focus. 

 

To many the new focus has lost its sharp looks compared to the mk3.5 and the interior is like marmite, especially that lcd screen glued to the dash. I think its just a bit boring compared to the old model, clocks reminiscent of a mk2 mondeo. I reckon the estate will look better and the 2.3 approx 280hp ST is imminent.  I, like many do not like the current front end of the Octy. "Simply Ugly" springs to mind. I bet new model front end looks nothing like that.

 

Unless the Octy is cheaper than the equivalent Focus, it's a no brainer to me, otherwise it would be between a Golf and Focus and I would still have the Focus ! Lets face it, apart from extra space on some, but doubt that is decision maker, we probably buy a Skoda because it is cheaper than a golf, for good reason but less so these days.

23 minutes ago, teescom09 said:

The Octy is a very competent car if just a little boring. It's bigger so if that matters its an easier choice, but 90% of the time maybe an Aygo would have too much spare space for the majority?

As I own both an Octavia and a C1 (Aygo with different badges!) I think I can comment on that.

 

The narrower width of the Aygo means that there is normally "competition" between driver and passenger for the elbow space between the front seats, so around town the passenger has to keep their arm on their lap to avoid getting in the way of the driver changing gear or applying the handbrake. Not comfortable after a while...

 

And don't get me started on the VERY limited boot space when out shopping with a "professional lady shopper"!

 

The C1/107/Aygo are OK for single person commuting, but given that I got the same mpg (mid-40s) when commuting in the M27 rush hour in the C1 and the Octavia, I'd would have taken the extra space, comfort and "toys" of the Octavia any day - if SWMBO allowed! But when I wanted to just drive for fun the C1 won - why? It's a small basic, chuckable car that you have to "drive" (in the old fashioned sense of the word where synchronising all the controls gives rewards in smoothness and A-to-B smiles and speed).

1 hour ago, PetrolDave said:

As I own both an Octavia and a C1 (Aygo with different badges!) I think I can comment on that.

 

The narrower width of the Aygo means that there is normally "competition" between driver and passenger for the elbow space between the front seats, so around town the passenger has to keep their arm on their lap to avoid getting in the way of the driver changing gear or applying the handbrake. Not comfortable after a while...

 

And don't get me started on the VERY limited boot space when out shopping with a "professional lady shopper"!

 

The C1/107/Aygo are OK for single person commuting, but given that I got the same mpg (mid-40s) when commuting in the M27 rush hour in the C1 and the Octavia, I'd would have taken the extra space, comfort and "toys" of the Octavia any day - if SWMBO allowed! But when I wanted to just drive for fun the C1 won - why? It's a small basic, chuckable car that you have to "drive" (in the old fashioned sense of the word where synchronising all the controls gives rewards in smoothness and A-to-B smiles and speed).

 

1 hour ago, PetrolDave said:

As I own both an Octavia and a C1 (Aygo with different badges!) I think I can comment on that.

 

The narrower width of the Aygo means that there is normally "competition" between driver and passenger for the elbow space between the front seats, so around town the passenger has to keep their arm on their lap to avoid getting in the way of the driver changing gear or applying the handbrake. Not comfortable after a while...

 

And don't get me started on the VERY limited boot space when out shopping with a "professional lady shopper"!

 

The C1/107/Aygo are OK for single person commuting, but given that I got the same mpg (mid-40s) when commuting in the M27 rush hour in the C1 and the Octavia, I'd would have taken the extra space, comfort and "toys" of the Octavia any day - if SWMBO allowed! But when I wanted to just drive for fun the C1 won - why? It's a small basic, chuckable car that you have to "drive" (in the old fashioned sense of the word where synchronising all the controls gives rewards in smoothness and A-to-B smiles and speed).

Tongue in cheek? 

2 minutes ago, teescom09 said:

 

Tongue in cheek? 

 There you go as requested.