Hello everyone,

This is my first post following several days of reading and learning how to select a new Octavia Combi model from most of your previous discussions.

I read with great interest your views on both TDI engines, and on the main weakness of the current 4x4 1.9 TDI that I test drove last week. After 1 1/2 hour I much liked everything with the car, but the lack of power under about 1,900 rpm together with the short gearing of 1st. Yet, the Octavia's overall "presence" and amazing corner holding - rough track capacities blew me. (I come from Series Land Rover, Discovery (hated it), and two 1970's Rangies, the last one did 200,000 miles all in Kenya, best world car ever)

Most of you seemed to long for the 4x4 2.0 litre model with practical sense, and someone pointed at the Skoda websites in Sweden and Germany. I visited both and was conquered by the argument made for the stronger engine - 4x4 combination.

This lead me to return to my dealer here on the Continent and demand that he enquires on the possible ordering of a 4x4 in its new 2.0 TDI version right now.

So did he. A fax was immediately sent to the Czech Republic two days ago. And hey presto a positive answer came back yesterday. I returned to the dealer and ordered it. I agonized over the narrow choice of colours, this being only related to personal taste, and decided for the new anthracit grey (replacing the graphite grey that was 'too blue' for my taste) against the ubiquituous silver grey, or the Not-so stone grey. I also chose for the standard 15 inch. alloy wheels, figuring more height in the rubber was perhaps preferable for dirt track driving and on-road comfort. Not sure though. Production is to take place on fourth week of September and delivery two weeks later.

I must say now that you collectively helped secure my choice from major components to minute but important details.

Thus I wish to thank all here on your forum.

Cheers

Manoli

Does that mean the UK will get a 2.0 tdi 4x4?

Sounds interesting, where in the world are you?!

Belgium

Does that mean the UK will get a 2.0 tdi 4x4?

I wouldnt get too exited TBH. There are more options and configurations available in the OctyII in the LHD model that we don't get here in the UK. This development is a glimer of hope though.

I have noticed that Skoda are advertising the 4X4 a lot on TV at the moment. Lets hope that they are trying to push the 1.9 unit before they bring in the 2.0 4X4 soon (finger crossed).

Kent,

I did not realize, until I visited the UK Skoda website, that the 4x4 is only available with a petrol engine for now. Hence I now better understand the comment above yours on the inequality options between LHD and RHD.

In Belgium, the state favours less powerful engines. While some complain here that if you choose an engine above 100 KW output, the taxes are seriously hiked, they fail to recognize that the Belgian base purchase prices is usually one of the lowest in the whole of Europe. Moreover, there is a popular tradition of serious negotiation with dealers when ordering, resulting in significant rebates if one's good at it. The car market is very competitive in Belgium. For instance this tdi model is about £ 1,000 cheaper than in Germany, and the dealer accepted to shave another £ 1,000 in rebate and added other in-kind benefits.

On an another note, could someone comment on the hill start assist capacities and convenience? I was thinking about it for an off-the-tar usage. Does anyone have experience on how this device would react on loose surfaces ?

The dealer said it is "a gadget", and advised against it. But I felt he did not know how the system functions, and mentioned that the Octavia would feel as if going reverse before moving up-hill.

Thanks,

Emmanuel