Hi just received my new octavia combi.. its the worst handling car I think I have ever driven.!! Go round a bend is a nightmare! Now I know skoda are known for being soft but this is ridiculous, just nothing but body roll and lean. Really like a boat... Is there anything than can be done maybe lower profile tyres and rear arb?

Any help be greatly appreciated..

I doubt it rolls as much as a Renault 12.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renault_12

 

Edited 30 March, 20215 yr by Carlston

44 minutes ago, Cole said:

Hi just received my new octavia combi.. its the worst handling car I think I have ever driven.!! Go round a bend is a nightmare! Now I know skoda are known for being soft but this is ridiculous, just nothing but body roll and lean. Really like a boat... Is there anything than can be done maybe lower profile tyres and rear arb?

Any help be greatly appreciated..

Hi,

 

Agree with you that the Octavia is a bit of a softly sprung beast, comfortable at slow speed (car parks), but a bit of a nightmare at higher speeds. 

 

On start up I go through my checklist, selecting Drive Mode - Custom Setting - Sport Suspension and Sport Steering. Helps a bit with mine, although you may not be able to select this depending on what spec you have.

 

Cheers.

 

55 minutes ago, Cole said:

Hi just received my new octavia combi.. its the worst handling car I think I have ever driven.!! Go round a bend is a nightmare! Now I know skoda are known for being soft but this is ridiculous, just nothing but body roll and lean. Really like a boat... Is there anything than can be done maybe lower profile tyres and rear arb?

Any help be greatly appreciated..

Normally to make car firmer on bends, better sway bars helps.

If you are talking about regular octavia, sure it is not as hard as RS, but still it should handle ok, i suggest you arrange check at your dealer.

Edited 30 March, 20215 yr by janis

52 minutes ago, Carlston said:

I doubt it rolls as much as a Renault 12.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renault_12

 

Oh that brought back memories. Had a Renault 12 as a company car way back in the 70s. You are so right, it certainly did roll! Just about kept it upright though. 

16 hours ago, MuddyFunster said:

Hi,

 

Agree with you that the Octavia is a bit of a softly sprung beast, comfortable at slow speed (car parks), but a bit of a nightmare at higher speeds. 

 

On start up I go through my checklist, selecting Drive Mode - Custom Setting - Sport Suspension and Sport Steering. Helps a bit with mine, although you may not be able to select this depending on what spec you have.

 

Cheers.

 

Don't have that option I'm afraid .. just have middle range 🥲

16 hours ago, janis said:

Normally to make car firmer on bends, better sway bars helps.

If you are talking about regular octavia, sure it is not as hard as RS, but still it should handle ok, i suggest you arrange check at your dealer.

It's brand new.. it is very comfortable on motorways its just on secondary roads its just so soft and has so much body roll that around bends it's a joke... was thinking sway bar might be the cheapest thing to help with it?

@Cole. What tyres are on the car and what size?   Also, what pressure where they at when you got the car and what pressure are you trying them at now?

Owning RS from previous generation with DCC and on 19", together with "civilian" O4 on 17", can't say latter handles like a boat, as you described. Pretty normal, for such a car. It does look a bit more comfortable then O3 Style we replaced it with. 

 

Maybe it is somehow tire related in your case, or trunk is full? I've felt a bit discomfort in direction change when we were very full for winter holidays, even I've put 3,5 bar on the rear as advised, but nothing seriously to be worry about.

 

 

My previous car was a Seat Arona, there was a spate of these being delivered with wildly overinflated tyres so it worth checking.
Even moving from the eco to the standard inflation made a difference, though it was more to road noise. 

Changing the tyre profile will not really affect body roll much

The body is moving on the suspension

tyre wall deflection will be fairly minor part of the movement 

 

Which engine do you have, the lower power versions usually have smaller anti roll bars, as those who choose lower power engines don’t normally choose to drive like a race car 

 

Of course, if you chose the combi, then drive it with no load, the rear suspension is fairly unweighted

 

Edited 31 March, 20215 yr by SurreyJohn

It is handy to be told what engine the car has and with what size wheels / tyres.

It sounds like the OP has a small engined softly sprung version with 225 tyres. This will be a recipe for disaster, as the tyres have loads of lateral grip which will cause too much body roll through the corners.

 

The answer is simply.

 

Change the 225s to standard 205s, which is what the entry level suspension will have been designed for.

 

Even 20" wheels won't turn a Skoda into a Ferrari

 

Edited 31 March, 20215 yr by Carlston

Yes, but 75kmh is a respectable result for such a huge SUV. This huge vehicle handles well, but this is completely different topic. 

Highly impressive when you consider that the driver to respect the test conditions made no attempt to correct the oversteer, he kept the steering wheel pointed where he wanted the car to go, it was the stability systems that did all the corrections and I doubt that few if any drivers could get through that slalom quicker driving the vehicle without any electronic stability aids.

 

And if the average motorist were to do the same (no oversteer correction) in that vehicle without the stability systems they would at best spin, more likely roll over.

I've put a set of ST lowering springs under my 1.0 estate. 

 

In my opinion one of the better handling cars I've owned.

(Owned about 10 MK3's 2.0tdi, 1.6tdi, 1.0tsi, 1.4tsi and 1.5tsi, some manual, some DSG)

 

Previous car was a Seat Ateca, a nightmare to drive!

 

My mk4 now being a 1.0, lacking power, I throw it around every roundabout, playing with its balance, love it!

@VAGProf what tyres and what size are on your car?

16 minutes ago, e-Roottoot said:

@VAGProf what tyres and what size are on your car?

 

I'm driving on the basic 205/55R17 tyres

Sorry Wasn't on for a few days. Tyre size 205/55/17.

Its the 2.0 tdi 110 bhp.

Never checked the pressure as was thinking its more suspension issue like very soft springs. Will check it later.

It has all work gear in boot so it has weight in it. But not massive weight. 

On 02/04/2021 at 09:35, VAGProf said:

I've put a set of ST lowering springs under my 1.0 estate. 

 

In my opinion one of the better handling cars I've owned.

(Owned about 10 MK3's 2.0tdi, 1.6tdi, 1.0tsi, 1.4tsi and 1.5tsi, some manual, some DSG)

 

Previous car was a Seat Ateca, a nightmare to drive!

 

My mk4 now being a 1.0, lacking power, I throw it around every roundabout, playing with its balance, love it!

Did you notice a massive difference on body roll when you changed the springs? 

@Cole. It is not a surprise how many criticise a vehicles handling having never checked tyre pressures.  Even talking about modding a vehicle.  That is not only new owners it is professional roadtesters like motoring journalists, bloggers, vloggers and floggers like car salespeople.   Bloody dangerous risking you and others safety to someone you have never met setting tyre pressures on vehicles you are going to drive.   The TPMS will need resetting if tyres pressures are changed.  Needs checking anyway.

Edited 6 April, 20215 yr by e-Roottoot

29 minutes ago, Cole said:

Never checked the pressure as was thinking its more suspension issue like very soft springs.

Well, the first answer is always to check the tyre pressures are as recommended (usually a sticker on the back of the fuel filler cover on a Skoda), and in particular that you've not been delivered with one tyre soft of over-hard.

On 30/03/2021 at 20:41, Cole said:

Hi just received my new octavia combi.. its the worst handling car I think I have ever driven.!! Go round a bend is a nightmare! Now I know skoda are known for being soft but this is ridiculous, just nothing but body roll and lean. Really like a boat... Is there anything than can be done maybe lower profile tyres and rear arb?

Any help be greatly appreciated..

 

The problem of soft rear Octavia springs started on 06.03.2006 when a switch was made to softer rear springs.

 

Here's an example.

 

Until 05.03.2006, Octavia MK2s with build codes 1JA+0YD were fitted with 1K0511115BF rear springs.

 

From 06.03.2006 Octavia MK2s with build codes 1JA+0YD were fitted with 1K0511115BD rear springs.

 

Now 1K0511115BD rear springs are two weight ranges softer than 1K0511115BF, which is about 10% softer...or to put it another way, until 2006 the rear springs were about 10% stiffer.

 

(1)

1K0511115BF

coil spring 1 paint mark 3 paint marks D >> - 05.03.2006

white yellow Model data: PR-1JA+0YD

 

 

(1)

1K0511115BD

coil spring 1 paint mark 1 paint mark D - 06.03.2006>>

white yellow Model data: PR-1JA+0YD

 

http://www.oemepc.com/skoda/part_single/catalog/sk/markt/CZ/modell/OCT/year/2006/drive_standart/419/hg_ug/511/subcategory/511001/part_id/2561497/lang/e

 

The problem has continued with Octavia MK3s and MK4s.

 

So to correct the problem, simply change the rear springs to 1 or 2 weight ranges stiffer. However, if you've got your eye on comfort, I suggest you don't go more than 1 weight range stiffer.

 

Cars that came with factory fitted towbars will already have rear springs 1 weight range stiffer.

 

There's no need to fit lowering springs, as simply fitting 10% stiffer springs and keeping the ride height the same will enable better cornering...at the expense of a harder ride.

 

Most people prefer the more comfortable ride, hence the softer springs Skoda started fitting in 2006.

 

Edited 6 April, 20215 yr by Carlston

On 06/04/2021 at 17:11, Carlston said:

 

The problem of soft rear Octavia springs started on 06.03.2006 when a switch was made to softer rear springs.

 

Here's an example.

 

Until 05.03.2006, Octavia MK2s with build codes 1JA+0YD were fitted with 1K0511115BF rear springs.

 

From 06.03.2006 Octavia MK2s with build codes 1JA+0YD were fitted with 1K0511115BD rear springs.

 

Now 1K0511115BD rear springs are two weight ranges softer than 1K0511115BF, which is about 10% softer...or to put it another way, until 2006 the rear springs were about 10% stiffer.

 

(1)

1K0511115BF

coil spring 1 paint mark 3 paint marks D >> - 05.03.2006

white yellow Model data: PR-1JA+0YD

 

 

(1)

1K0511115BD

coil spring 1 paint mark 1 paint mark D - 06.03.2006>>

white yellow Model data: PR-1JA+0YD

 

http://www.oemepc.com/skoda/part_single/catalog/sk/markt/CZ/modell/OCT/year/2006/drive_standart/419/hg_ug/511/subcategory/511001/part_id/2561497/lang/e

 

The problem has continued with Octavia MK3s and MK4s.

 

So to correct the problem, simply change the rear springs to 1 or 2 weight ranges stiffer. However, if you've got your eye on comfort, I suggest you don't go more than 1 weight range stiffer.

 

Cars that came with factory fitted towbars will already have rear springs 1 weight range stiffer.

 

There's no need to fit lowering springs, as simply fitting 10% stiffer springs and keeping the ride height the same will enable better cornering...at the expense of a harder ride.

 

Most people prefer the more comfortable ride, hence the softer springs Skoda started fitting in 2006.

 

Wow that's a lot of info there.. fair play.. so you reckon order 2 springs from early 2006 model should sort alot of body roll cornering issues..?

I've checked tyre pressures and all are same as what's recommended..😐