13 minutes ago, SurreyJohn said:

Do you need the 4wd system (and just look at the extra weight in the brochure, its like adding a few bags of cement and carrying it around all year), or do you simply need different tyres to what Skoda UK will supply  (my recommendation for all year use is Goodyear Vector 4season Generation3 or Continental all season contrct)

 

The handling of the 4x4 is excellent in both dry and wet conditions and as discussed throughout the post above it doesn't suffer from the compromise of trying to get all the power down through the tyres that are also doing the steering. Also well known is the better stability through standing water of 4x4 as opposed to FWD. All of that means the car is great to drive and very safe in all weather conditions. And it will still do 55mpg and even close to 60mpg when I want to be economical or am on a long run.

 

To put it in perspective two bags of cement or 50kg is about half a person and only 3.4% of the car's weight. The whole concept of driving around in a car weighing well over a ton to transport a person weighing 80kg is anti-environmental and illogical but that's what we all do. I am prepared to suffer that 3.4% penalty for the benefits of 4x4 which are valuable and important to me. Not necessarily to you though, and that is absolutely fine.

Edited 15 January, 20215 yr by nickcoll

9 minutes ago, nickcoll said:

The handling of the 4x4 is excellent in both dry and wet conditions and as discussed throughout the post above it doesn't suffer from the compromise of trying to get all the power down through the tyres that are also doing the steering. Also well known is the better stability through standing water of 4x4 as opposed to FWD. All of that means the car is great to drive and very safe in all weather conditions. And it will still do 55mpg and even close to 60mpg when I want to be economical or am on a long run.

 

To put it in perspective two bags of cement or 50kg is about half a person and only 3.4% of the car's weight. The whole concept of driving around in a car weighing well over a ton to transport a person weighing 80kg is anti-environmental and illogical but that's what we do. I am prepared to suffer that 3.4% penalty for the benefits of 4x4 which are valuable and important to me. Not necessarily to you though, and that is absolutely fine.

 

I understand your requirement, and preference

but regarding weight penalty, the only 4x4 and non 4x4 in same spec is vRS TDi and the difference in weight is 120kg for hatch, or 99kg for estate (which is same as 4-5 bags of cement), not 50kg as you suggest.  And your over a ton should be over 2 tons as only estate with 4x4 is now 2141 kg

Edited 15 January, 20215 yr by SurreyJohn

Sorry, I was basing my 50kg on your suggestion that it was a couple of bags. I didn't check - my bad!

 

Amazed that the kerb weight of the Octavia 4x4 estate is now 2141kg - the brochure kerb weight of mine when new was only 1380kg. Either way it is a lot of metal to be moving around for one human being...

17 hours ago, Carlston said:

If previous years are anything to go by, I expect Skoda will fit bigger tyres to the MK4 Octavia Scout.

The Skoda configuration in CZ supplies the Scout with 18" rims