I'm soon to take delivery of a 18 plate 2 litre TDi SE-L Octavia. My only concerns on the test drive was the increased road/tyre noise compared to my present car a 15 plate 1.6 TDi S Passat saloon.

I understand the Passat is built on the lines of the Superb, multi link rear suspension and 16 inch tyres on the Passat as opposed to 17 inch lower profiles on the Octavia.

Has anybody concerned with the mentioned noise tried different brands of tyres or extra sound proofing.

Regards

Try search and you’ll find every single opinion under the sun.

15 minutes ago, benterrier said:

I'm soon to take delivery of a 18 plate 2 litre TDi SE-L Octavia. My only concerns on the test drive was the increased road/tyre noise compared to my present car a 15 plate 1.6 TDi S Passat saloon.

I understand the Passat is built on the lines of the Superb, multi link rear suspension and 16 inch tyres on the Passat as opposed to 17 inch lower profiles on the Octavia.

Has anybody concerned with the mentioned noise tried different brands of tyres or extra sound proofing.

Regards

It would help to know what 225/45 tyres are fitted because some brands are worse at generating tyre noise than others.

Off  the top of head  Good year  max? Some xxx in the type I think. Sorry just looked at the tyre wear and for any alignment issues. 

@benterrier

I guess you never adjusted or checked the tyre pressures before taking a road test or while out with the car.

Makes a difference, and i bet the salesperson had no idea what they were at or even if at a safe pressure.

10 minutes ago, benterrier said:

Off  the top of head  Good year  max? Some xxx in the type I think. Sorry just looked at the tyre wear and for any alignment issues. 

Wife's Karoq has Michelin Primacy 3 which seem very quiet when you get around to changing your tyres. Sure other suggestions will come along. One of my work colleagues has just traded in his 24,000 mile 67 plate Citigo Auto for a 27,000 mile diesel Octavia Estate SEL DSG with the 17" alloys but I haven't asked him about tyre noise or which tyres are fitted yet as he has only had the car 2 days.

The beam rear end will be noisier than the multilink system on vrs or other models. I'm having new upgraded shocks installed this week. Will let you know if noise is reduced.

16 minutes ago, benterrier said:

Off  the top of head  Good year  max? Some xxx in the type I think. Sorry just looked at the tyre wear and for any alignment issues. 

 

Perhaps Dunlop Maxxx - that's factory supplied on my Octavia 17".  These are actually one of the better tyres for noise.

 

As per above, if you read the forum you'll see this is a common issue with the Octavia. I've read many threads where people have tried to soundproof their cars, I'm not convinced it's been worthwhile. As you say, the SE-L does not have multi-link rear suspension but that's not the issue (many cars don't have multi-link and don't suffer the same).

 

It's quite an easy answer - the Octavia doesn't have the same build quality as others in the VW group - there's a lack of soundproofing all round. There's a reason why Octavia is cheaper than a Superb / Passat.  

Just been out to check the type of Michelin tyres the Passat has ..... Energy saver, haven't had cause for concern with them but not exactly a hard driving enthusiastic. 

Just wished had got the Passat in 2L and not 1.6.  Not the only reason I'm passing it on,  in S model very poorly equipped. Probably a result of the VAG bean counters. It isn't the only car with noise problems I've tested.....  Civic, Mazda 3 also suffer.

The clue is in the 'S'.  Been that for years, it never stands for 'Special' or Sport but 'Scrimp'.

eg  Budget bottom of the range transport, nothing more basic available.

Most honest badge you get on cars IMO.

 

S-line is kidology, like ST-line with Ford.   Sportline can be better than vRS if actually not a Sport-line with show and no more go.

Edited 2 March, 20197 yr by Skoffski

Yes, S for scrimp . 

38 minutes ago, benterrier said:

Just been out to check the type of Michelin tyres the Passat has ..... Energy saver, haven't had cause for concern with them but not exactly a hard driving enthusiastic. 

Low rolling resistance normally results in a hard tyre compound which is good for economy and they last longer than a sportier softer tyre compound.

10 minutes ago, benterrier said:

Yes, S for scrimp . 

Or S for SOD ALL.

There’s lttle you can do that will make a material difference, Ben.

 

Lower powered Octavias have a cheap back end and that extends to bushing and the lack of sound deadening as well as the one-piece torsion beam. So noise will be an issue, especially in the rear seats.

 

I tried a thick rubber bootmat at one stage, but all it seemed to do was deepen the sound!

 

Alternatively...pump up the volume

 

 

 

 

1 minute ago, MorrisOx said:

There’s lttle you can do that will make a material difference, Ben.

 

Lower powered Octavias have a cheap back end and that extends to bushing and the lack of sound deadening as well as the one-piece torsion beam. So noise will be an issue, especially in the rear seats.

 

I tried a thick rubber bootmat at one stage, but all it seemed to do was deepen the sound!

 

Alternatively...pump up the volume

 

 

 

 

Planet Rock on 11 works for me. Spinal Tap moment all the time.

Does the 2 litre golf of similar speck have a beam axle.

Don’t know the answer to that, but torsion beam Golfs are generally more refined than Octavia equivalents because the components are a grade or two up. I’m honestly not sure that it actually rides better, but the noise is certainly reduced - partly because it’s a different type of bodyshell. The Octavia has had issues with both basic noise transmission (which relates to spec) and boominess caused by internal air pressure movement.

 

But...perfectly decent car & much better than non-Skoda drivers think/realise. Bargain-basement it ain’t, good value it is.

 

Comes down to personal preference in the end. I switched to a Superb because it’s a stretched Passat platform & rides noticeably better.

On 02/03/2019 at 09:20, KevC_Derby said:

Try search and you’ll find every single opinion under the sun.

Hi 

Yes, I've been reading a posting on the forum about Low frequency booming noise of some 56 pages about the Octavia 3 and 2. People have been tearing their hair out because of this problem. Didn't notice this on my test drive only the road noise. My partner is picking up the car tomorrow. I haven't told her about this frequency booming noise so she won't be looking out for it. Her journey home will take in a variety of road surfaces....  M4, concrete sections on the Vale of Neath road to mixed surfaces down to Hay on Wye. Hope I won't receive a phone call saying your new car so noisy!! 

We have a Passat with 235/45x17 Eagle f1's and Octavia with 225/45x17 Eagle F1's.

 

At speed the Passat is far more refined, less wind noise, tyre noise and suspension noise.

 

Don't get hung up on the Torsion beam, yes this does introduce a little more suspension noise but the 4x4 and vRS models I've driven are just as bad for tyre and wind noise.

 

The Ocatvia does not have the insulation that the Passat/Superb has.

 

The booming problem I'm lucky not to have on either of our Octavia's but the poor refinement on the Mk3 is a disappointment. Most people agree the Mk2 was more refined.

 

Lee 

The 15 plate Passat I'm trading in is certainly quiet and comfortable to drive, bit of a annoying roar under hard acceleration from the slightly week120ps 1.6 engine. The reason for my change to the Octavia are

•  Downsizing and I find the Octavia easier to get in and out of ( I'm a young at heart 65 year old)
•  Practical Hatchback as opposed to saloon. I can get a Dog transport box in the Octavia
•  More bells and whistles, a 2.0l VAG diesel engine in a smaller car but alas not the finish of the Passat.

Hope I'm going to be able to live with it.  

3 minutes ago, benterrier said:

The 15 plate Passat I'm trading in is certainly quiet and comfortable to drive, bit of a annoying roar under hard acceleration from the slightly week120ps 1.6 engine. The reason for my change to the Octavia are

•  Downsizing and I find the Octavia easier to get in and out of ( I'm a young at heart 65 year old)
•  Practical Hatchback as opposed to saloon. I can get a Dog transport box in the Octavia
•  More bells and whistles, a 2.0l VAG diesel engine in a smaller car but alas not the finish of the Passat.

Hope I'm going to be able to live with it.  

I think overall it's a more enjoyable car to drive having had a 2.0litre TDi Jetta courtesy car I couldn't wait to get back into my 138bhp Superb Elegance with all the toys compared to the S Jetta which was even devoid of rear parking sensors (on a saloon where you couldn't tell where the rear bumper was).

On 02/03/2019 at 10:17, benterrier said:

Not the only reason I'm passing it on,  in S model very poorly equipped. Probably a result of the VAG bean counters.

 

The result of VAG bean counters?  Seems a bit of an odd statement that.

 

VAG will sell you a whole range of level trims on the Passat so surely it isn't a result of VAG bean counters but rather the bean counting purchaser?  Which begs the question, why did you buy 'S' trim if you thought it very poorly equipped?

Edited 3 March, 20197 yr by Guest

1 minute ago, Scot5 said:

 

The result of VAG bean counters?  Seems a bit of an odd statement that.

 

VAG will sell you a whole range of level trims on the Passat so surely it isn't a result of VAG bean counters but rather the bean counting purchaser?

Lower the trim level the lower the monthly PCP. Important to some on a tight budget, hence the choice.

On 02/03/2019 at 09:13, benterrier said:

I'm soon to take delivery of a 18 plate 2 litre TDi SE-L Octavia. My only concerns on the test drive was the increased road/tyre noise compared to my present car a 15 plate 1.6 TDi S Passat saloon.

I understand the Passat is built on the lines of the Superb, multi link rear suspension and 16 inch tyres on the Passat as opposed to 17 inch lower profiles on the Octavia.

Has anybody concerned with the mentioned noise tried different brands of tyres or extra sound proofing.

Regards

It's the difference between a Passat and Octavia. They are cheaper for a reason and refinement with trim quality is the difference. If it has GoodYear tyres then depending on the version they are as quiet as tyres get.

 

17" is not low profile these days, more a standard profile. 16" is a tractor tyre on a car this size.