Dislikes, in no particular order,

 

seats are awful.

stereo sound quality awful.

DSG is awful.

 

Likes,

 

cheap to run and service

space

 

Back to Volvo for me next.

Anyone else notice the headlight lenses get dirty on the inside?

I really love my VRS 230 estate but I agree with many of the comments already made. Biggest gripe is the stop/start on the DSG box as it cuts the engine at a roundabout and even when I am just about to go from D to R so I can reverse in my drive. Also the sound deadening is dire and I get a strange drone on the motorway but I think changing the tyres might help (it has 19" wheels). Other than that its got plenty of power being the TSI and a stage 1 remap took it from 241 bhp stock to 309 bhp, now thats serious bang for your buck even if you cant put the power down!

 

Oh and its not too good on fuel, best I can get is 32mpg on a run and it was pretty similar before the remap.

 

I have had it two years now and was thinking of changing it but nothing comes close to it for the same price.

63 plate 1.4 TSi SE Estate

 

In no particular order...

 

Likes: Sensible infotainment system, decent blend of efficiency and performance, massive boot (including the extra bit underneath), leg room front and rear, leather bits on seats, sport mode :-), 98,000 trouble free miles, auto dimming rear mirror, decent cup holders front and back, levers in boot to lay rear seats flat, reasonable looking alloys (unlike the latest models ), trip computer and driver info, bluetooth phone integration that imports pictures from your contacts, DAB radio, tyre pressure warnings, steering wheel controls, excellent tyre wear

 

Dislikes: looks a bit boxy (the new models are much nicer), headlamp washers that can't be turned off, road noise, SatNav takes a while to wake up, touchscreen generally (prefer a dial), touchscreen gremlins in the cold (has possibly been fixed by a new battery), there's not a single panel that doesn't have a scratch or a small dent (it's had a hard life)!

 

Will probably get another one but might consider a Golf or a Leon.

On 09/01/2022 at 22:10, GWoodhouse said:

63 plate 1.4 TSi SE Estate

 

In no particular order...

 

Likes: Sensible infotainment system, decent blend of efficiency and performance, massive boot (including the extra bit underneath), leg room front and rear, leather bits on seats, sport mode :-), 98,000 trouble free miles, auto dimming rear mirror, decent cup holders front and back, levers in boot to lay rear seats flat, reasonable looking alloys (unlike the latest models ), trip computer and driver info, bluetooth phone integration that imports pictures from your contacts, DAB radio, tyre pressure warnings, steering wheel controls, excellent tyre wear

 

Dislikes: looks a bit boxy (the new models are much nicer), headlamp washers that can't be turned off, road noise, SatNav takes a while to wake up, touchscreen generally (prefer a dial), touchscreen gremlins in the cold (has possibly been fixed by a new battery), there's not a single panel that doesn't have a scratch or a small dent (it's had a hard life)!

 

Will probably get another one but might consider a Golf or a Leon.

 

I believe the road noise is a bit less on the new model, though that could change at any point if they decide to cut costs.

On 09/12/2021 at 21:23, freddd said:

68 2.0 tdi se-l dsg

 

dislikes:

 

complete lack of soundproofing - noisy diesel, noisy road

poor sound system - again lack of soundproofing, horrible tweeters, no low punch. not looking for "loudness" just better quality

auto changing down from 2 to 1 when slowing requires adjustment in brake pressure or the car lurches forward (to fix i just knock to N when 6 mph or so then back to D when stopped)

auto start/stop is just downright dangerous in an auto car

seats are arse numbing after 2 hours, which is really bad

no visible cue/reminder that the heated mirrors are on, often forget i've done it and they stay on

no auto dimming side mirrors? rear mirror is done so why not sides? seems silly

 

likes:

 

mpg

boot space

boot side pockets and hangers, velcro thingys

good motorway performance

 

another to add:

 

cruise control is effectively useless. a tiny switch on top of indicator stalk makes it near impossible to cancel when required in a hurry. yes i know you could tap the brake, but who brakes on motorways? idiots, that's who.

no ability to prevent headlight washers when cleaning the screen

 

all these things have tipped me over the edge. after purchasing late August 2021 for 15250, I have sold to motorway.co.uk for 14651. i spent nothing on the car, so the 11k miles i did in that time cost 599. not bad.

 

probably will buy a cheap jag x type estate until 2nd hand prices recover.

 

ciao for now

 

One thing that annoys me about the cruise control is there is no speed limiter. That's a far more useful feature to have imo.

I dislike the small fuel tank (50 litres? should be 75) and the always-on 12 volt socket.

 

The boot (estate) is huge, the car is quiet, the DSG box virtually unobtrusive, the auto A/C very good, and if the trip computer is to believed, the mpg is excellent. 

 

2016 model.

2016 2.0 TDI DSG SEL (3.5 years old at purchase date). 

 

Some interesting comments in this. I'll say I'm pretty happy with my model. 

 

Likes:

 

2.0 TDI is a so easy on the pedal, effortless to overtake but then can take it real easy and just trundle along.  

£30 CAR tax. (for now anyway......) 

Economy is very good even with spirited driving at times (I got 62mpg brim to brim with smarter driving tactics in the fuel crisis)  and very comparable to my old 1.9TDI PD in a Seat Altea with a bigger fuel tank.

I really like interior which looks smart in Alcantara, and the dash layout is very clean compared to other competitors. Buttons and dials on the infotainment are, I'm sure, much more positive than touch screen in later MIB systems and easier to use. 

Boot space, and all the storage pockets,

Variable boot floor is superb. I have it half folded back for work equipment on that "shelf" with a net across to stop it flying about,  and then in the space in front of it PPE and plastic storage boxes, two types of hard hats, hang off the bag holders which is nice. For holidays I use it level with the boot lip and then sling loads of stuff under the first floor like waterproofs and shoes and even a clothes drier fits with ease. Its simply clever.  

 

Dislikes

 

DSG (but I wouldn't go back to manual now😄) took me a while to get used to and I don't feel its well paired with the TDI, you have to think in certain situations (swift exits and roundabout's etc). I've tried to read up on how to drive it more smoothly, but it bugs me a bit, so any offers of some DSG driving lessons appreciated! 

Rear suspension beam, would prefer the VRS suspension setup. 

Window switches too far forward, I always get the back...😆

No adaptive cruise on mine, yet it has Front Assist, seems cheap not to have both as standard on SEL. 

Headlights are dreadful even with better bulbs, OSRAM night breaker and Philips Extreme Vision. 

Be nice to have driver seat storage box as standard. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Forgot to add the road tax for the 1.6 diesel £0.00. Nice.

25 minutes ago, BionicJohn said:

Forgot to add the road tax for the 1.6 diesel £0.00. Nice.

If you are getting good consumption from your 1.6d then you should be able to get a fairly comfortable 500 miles from the 50 litre tank? A wish for a 75 litre tank seems overly ambitious.

Edited 15 January, 20224 yr by Gerrycan

I rarely get 500 miles from the tank. Low fuel warnings start at about 430.

 

My driving frequently includes 200 mile round trips. It means refuelling after two trips.  I find it annoying. My previous car (Citroen) had a range of over 650 miles with a 65 litre tank and produced a similar mpg if trip computers are to be believed.

15 hours ago, BionicJohn said:

I rarely get 500 miles from the tank. Low fuel warnings start at about 430.

 

My driving frequently includes 200 mile round trips. It means refuelling after two trips.  I find it annoying. My previous car (Citroen) had a range of over 650 miles with a 65 litre tank and produced a similar mpg if trip computers are to be believed.

 

Since you were used to a 65 litre tank vehicle I can understand why the Octavia seems small by comparison, but I am still surprised you only get 430 miles before warnings especially with the longer journeys you do. I'd be expecting your 1.6d diesel to be getting (far) better than 50mpg on a run

There use to be a few complaints from diesel Octavia owners that their warning light was coming on prematurely and that they could only fit 40 litres or so in. Is that happening to you? The tank is definitely rated at 50 litres and if filled to the second pump cut-off click is probably holding closer to 55 litres.

The Superb with a 66 litre tank might have been more suitable?

7 minutes ago, Gerrycan said:

 

Since you were used to a 65 litre tank vehicle I can understand why the Octavia seems small by comparison, but I am still surprised you only get 430 miles before warnings especially with the longer journeys you do. I'd be expecting your 1.6d diesel to be getting (far) better than 50mpg on a run

There use to be a few complaints from diesel Octavia owners that their warning light was coming on prematurely and that they could only fit 40 litres or so in. Is that happening to you? The tank is definitely rated at 50 litres and if filled to the second pump cut-off click is probably holding closer to 55 litres.

The Superb with a 66 litre tank might have been more suitable?

 

If they have a roof rack fitted they might only get 50mpg.

 

The warning light does come on around 40 litres. I think most cars are like that now - in Germany it's illegal to run out of fuel on the autobahn.

Hence my proviso about trip computers. 

 

It shows ~55mpg but I suspect it errs on the generous side. 

 

The speedo (and probably the odo as well) over reads by about 5% as well.

 

I expect you're correct that the low fuel warning comes on with 10+ litres remaining. It was about 6 in the Citroën, so time to fill up with another 60 litres.

Edited 16 January, 20224 yr by BionicJohn
Typo

16 hours ago, BionicJohn said:

Forgot to add the road tax for the 1.6 diesel £0.00. Nice.

I pay £20.00.  Am I being cheated?☹️

18 minutes ago, ords said:

I pay £20.00.  Am I being cheated?☹️

Hope not. I have a 1.6 81kW diesel with a DSG gearbox. Emissions are given as 99g/km.

4 minutes ago, BionicJohn said:

Hope not. I have a 1.6 81kW diesel with a DSG gearbox. Emissions are given as 99g/km.

Looking at my V5C, it's 102g/km and 77kW, also DSG.  Seems the higher output engine is cleaner.

1 hour ago, BionicJohn said:

The speedo over reads by about 5% as well.

That's normal. They're not allowed to under read.

1 hour ago, BionicJohn said:

I expect you're correct that the low fuel warning comes on with 10+ litres remaining. It was about 6 in the Citroën, so time to fill up with another 60 litres.

Mine comes on after I've used 43/50 litres. On my Mk1 1.6l petrol Focus it comes on after using 45/55 litres. Both cars will do 500 miles on a tank, but I have to try harder to achieve it in the Focus.

On 15/01/2022 at 14:58, mccririck said:

One thing that annoys me about the cruise control is there is no speed limiter. That's a far more useful feature to have imo.

I’ve only tried a speed limiter once, on a Mercedes I leased, and tbh it felt so unsafe, as if I had handed over control of the car.  Each to his own, I suppose!

 

But why not use the ‘warning at’ feature?  Isn’t this in effect a passive speed limiter?  According to the manual it gives an audible warning when a preset speed is exceeded, although I’ve never tried to find out....

Edited 18 January, 20224 yr by Baxlin

My last car had an electronic speed limiter. As you say, it takes time to get used to, but I found it extremely useful. I reckon it reduced fuel consumption too as the car would not unnecessarily speed up as it would on cruise control.

 

Flooring the accelerator over-rode the limiter.

 

The Octavia's speed limiter is just an audible warning.

Edited 18 January, 20224 yr by BionicJohn

My Octavia doesn’t speed up when cruise is active.  That’s the whole point of it, to maintain the set speed. Is “speed up” what you actually meant?

13 hours ago, BionicJohn said:

My last car had an electronic speed limiter. As you say, it takes time to get used to, but I found it extremely useful. I reckon it reduced fuel consumption too as the car would not unnecessarily speed up as it would on cruise control.

 

Flooring the accelerator over-rode the limiter.

 

The Octavia's speed limiter is just an audible warning.

 

Yeah I understand. The ol' fellas beamer has a speed limiter. Set to say 30mph and keep your foot on the accelerator and it stays at 30. But then mash the pedal to the floor and it will speed up.

 

Our CC is a set it and release the pedal affair. I don't mind it, but when you're on the motorway, I find my right ankle aching after a while because my foot is hovering over the accelerator pedal.

seats could be better! 

Pretty much like everything about my car, I love the DSG, but why at 30mph does it bounces between 4/5th so much, that's quite annoying.

Start/stop button on the steering column a bit rubbish, I know it's cheap to just put it there, but it should be on the dash somewhere.

 

I dislike the previous owner sprayed the extreme wheels all one colour 😄