I am thinking of changing my Mk3 non FL and the Mk4 could be a contender, I would probably go for a well equipped 1.5tsi not a diesel due to low mileage. If the Mk4 will still have torsion bar rear I may well go elsewhere, perhaps I am lucky as my Octavia does not seem to overly suffer from booms, wind noise or suspension crashes, just general 'noise'. I would like a smoother ride though so if IRS will only be available on the VRS models then it will probably be time to move on. I note the mk4 seems to be on sale in the EU so, any can EU buyers out there answer that question?

On 14/02/2020 at 17:24, ajw1100 said:

If the Mk4 will still have torsion bar rear

No previous Octavia has had torsion bar rear suspension.

Beg to differ but the Mk3 except for vRS models has bar or beam rear suspension as the above thread on the Octavia Mk3 forum.

7 hours ago, KenONeill said:

 bar 

Pedantic & unnecessary 

On 14/02/2020 at 17:24, ajw1100 said:

I am thinking of changing my Mk3 non FL and the Mk4 could be a contender, I would probably go for a well equipped 1.5tsi not a diesel due to low mileage. If the Mk4 will still have torsion bar rear I may well go elsewhere, perhaps I am lucky as my Octavia does not seem to overly suffer from booms, wind noise or suspension crashes, just general 'noise'. I would like a smoother ride though so if IRS will only be available on the VRS models then it will probably be time to move on. I note the mk4 seems to be on sale in the EU so, any can EU buyers out there answer that question?

2.0 tsi will have IRS for sure, dunno the price point though

Edited 17 February, 20206 yr by themanwithnoaim

You're absolutely right that Ken O'Neill's post is pedantic, but there is in truth a big difference between torsion bar and torsion beam rear suspension.

 

In the latter the whole beam acts as the torsion bar, whereas in the former the bar(s) is/are separate from the beam.

 

Either way the torsion beam rear suspension is very very much inferior to the IRS - having driven both I would NEVER buy an Octavia with torsion beam rear suspension if you care at all about handling and roadholding.

Thanks for the posts, and knowledge of Bar and Beam suspension, my next car will hopefully have IRS. Not sure what that car might be yet, there are still many estates out there. That is 'Estate' cars, not property estates, must be correct. Having watched many YouTube car reviews it is clear some reviewers have not got it right.

As they say you learn something new every day. This may not apply to some though and us lesser mortals can only aspire to being so perfect.....

Edited 18 February, 20206 yr by ajw1100
Spelling and technical references.

I imagine the same logic for the Mk3 will follow into the Mk4. Less than 150PS, torsion. Over 150PS, IRS. 

Google translate of page 41 of the German brochure confirms torsion bean rear suspension.

 

Brochure

1 hour ago, match14 said:

Google translate of page 41 of the German brochure confirms torsion bean rear suspension.

 

Brochure

Torsion Beam Suspension

For the brochure covering the 150PS and 115PS models...

On 18/02/2020 at 19:57, SC03OTT said:

I imagine the same logic for the Mk3 will follow into the Mk4. Less than 150PS, torsion. Over 150PS, IRS. 

Your definition excludes 150ps.

Another reason to avoid it perhaps?

Engine powers are going down to save CO2s, so more of the range will be beam suspension.

 

Negatives - Poorer handing and noisier (I think)

Positives - Simpler and cheaper to service when the bushes start to go etc.

 

I guess it depends on what you prioritise, for many fleets, I imagine the second is more important.

Edited 25 March, 20206 yr by cheezemonkhai

I believe it's confirmed that 1.5l and below gets torsion beam and over 1.5l gets IRS. It's a big shame IMO, and might be a deal breaker for me. I was hoping to get the 1.5l eTSI with IRS, but doesn't even look like eTSI will be available for a while.

It seems odd that they would develop 2 types of rear setup. Just having irs would seem the obvious choice. Even the mk1 focus had irs across the range and that continued for low power bottom of the range  up to high power models right up the mk4 where the low power models got shafted with a torsion bar (another daft move by Ford). 

Edited 22 May, 20206 yr by caprixpack

Cost. The torsion bar will be very much cheaper to produce. If you spend more on the car there is more money in its purchase price to pay for a more complex setup.

 

And presumably they think that people who choose to buy a lower power model won't be bothered that the handling isn't as good. Also it's one way to get enthusiastic owners to buy higher spec models.

 

To be clear, for normal speeds the torsion bar is OK. If you like driving faster than that it makes the car less fun to drive; but it's not unsafe, just much less enjoyable.

Edited 22 May, 20206 yr by nickcoll

I get that but surely it will cost more to develop 2 setups than it would to develop just the one. 

Not significant when amortised across maybe 10 million cars a year!

 

Don't forget that MQB underpins pretty much all the VWs, SEATs, Skodas and Audis apart from the smallest and biggest ones.

Edited 22 May, 20206 yr by nickcoll