Currently looking to replace my Accord 2.0 Exec (MY2003) SS Auto with a Octavia 2.0 TDi need a bigger boot and the Octavia appears to have best in class and a hatch. I was looking to go for the DSG as I currently drive an auto but some of the comments on this site have worried me a little. Am I making something out of nothing or would a manual be a safer bet, and less car tax.......

Cheers

there was one recent thread where one person was less than happy, otherwise the vast majority speak highly of DSG.

I have DSG on my car (a 1.9tdi) and think it's a fantastic box. The correspondent mention above complained about a jerky gear change but I certainly would not agree with that - it's soooooooooo smooth!

Reckon he has a fault on his car and even then i've heard very few complaint from other VAG users.

I tested BMW, Mercedes, Audi, VW etc. on returning from abroad and looking for an automatic with good performance and high reliability and quality ratings. Chose an L&K estate with 2.0 Tdi and DSG box. Have just completed 10,000 miles with NO problems, averaging 47.6 mpg and the smoothest auto box I have driven. The DSG is brilliant in that it manages perfectly smooth changes with "only" a 2 litre engine; frankly most of the time the changes are so smooth you only know its changed by glancing at the maxidot indicator.

Other reasons for buying Skoda were that it was well built with solid feeling interior and came with all the niceties - heated leather seats, bleeping reversing aid, auto dipping mirrors, auto lights, and a nice touch is that the passenger door mirror can be set to automatically adjust to show the kerb when you select reverse - surprisingly useful ferature! Competitive cars to match the Skoda spec cost thousands more. Only downside is if you are badge conscious because the Skoda badge does not have the kudos of BMW etc. and tends to attract people who wanted a BMW or Audi but couldn't afford one!! If you can get past that then not only will you get a great car and save money but it shows maturity - despite what Jeremy Clarkson might say!!.

Currently looking to replace my Accord 2.0 Exec (MY2003) SS Auto with a Octavia 2.0 TDi need a bigger boot and the Octavia appears to have best in class and a hatch. I was looking to go for the DSG as I currently drive an auto but some of the comments on this site have worried me a little. Am I making something out of nothing or would a manual be a safer bet' date=' and less car tax.......

Cheers[/quote']

I could only run to the 6 speed manual but i'd have gone for the DSG if I could. Reliability seems to be very good but i'd think carefully before going for the DSG if you do any serious towing or plan to modify the car for increased peferformance. There's the odd report of the box overheating when sitting for long periods in traffic and clunky changes but these complaints are very rare from what I gather.

Get the DSG - it's awesome. Avoid the Xenons - they're rubbish

Only downside is if you are badge conscious because the Skoda badge does not have the kudos of BMW etc. and tends to attract people who wanted a BMW or Audi but couldn't afford one!! If you can get past that then not only will you get a great car and save money but it shows maturity - despite what Jeremy Clarkson might say!!.

Just be aware that safety features such as ESP (this should be standard on all cars IMO), active head restraints (std on L&K) and curtain airbags are optional extras on the Octavia but all of these are standard on cars such as BMW, Audi and VW. Safety can be a personal thing but I wouldn't want to drive a car without these features. You may wish to budget for the above features if you consider them important.

BTW when are NCAP going to test the New Octavia with all available safety kit? The Octavia test on the NCAP site scored 4 out of 5 stars for crash safety. There are now plenty of cars in the same class with 5 stars, shouldn't 5 stars be the minimum allowed safety standard these days?

Have a 1.9 Octavia hatch DSG no problems at all in fact totally an auto box man now.Would recommend it.

Just be aware that safety features such as ESP (this should be standard on all cars IMO)' date=' active head restraints (std on L&K) and curtain airbags are optional extras on the Octavia but all of these are standard on cars such as BMW, Audi and VW. Safety can be a personal thing but I wouldn't want to drive a car without these features. You may wish to budget for the above features if you consider them important.

BTW when are NCAP going to test the New Octavia with all available safety kit? The Octavia test on the NCAP site scored 4 out of 5 stars for crash safety. There are now plenty of cars in the same class with 5 stars, shouldn't 5 stars be the minimum allowed safety standard these days?[/quote']

I agree. I was dead set on the 2.0TDI and had some money left over for options. My priority list was:-

1. Curtain Airbags

2. ESP

3. Maxidot

3. DSG

After adding the essential curtain airbags and ESP, I couldn't afford to stretch my budget to DSG so i spent the money left over on:-

1. Maxidot with multifuction steering wheel

2. Tyre Pressure Monitor

3. Light Assist

My monthly lease payment is still only £6 more than a Golf Sport 1.9 TDI without options.

Absolutely agree! ESP, curtain airbags are essential on a modern car and could well save your life. I certainly specced all the safety measures on my L&K Estate but the price I paid (18.5k) was still 1,000's below any competitor I tested. I intend to keep the car for 10+ years.

You won't regret it I moved from a Accord 2.0 Executive 2001 on a Y Plate to a 2.0TDi in December 2004 and was and still am well pleased with the move. Loads more rear leg room and the boot is massive.

Thanks for all your comments, Steviec I traded up from the previous Accord model to the new one and it's alot better, the problem I have is boot space. The Octavia is massive.

I will look at all the options.

Thanks again

Hi Sturgi, I've also looked at the Accord as I have to replace a BMW 320d SE Tourer. For me the Accord falls short of the Octavia on safety grounds - you can't specify active head restraints on the Accord but you can on the Octavia. As the majority of RTA incidents are rear-end shunts (I've been hit twice just sitting stationary, waiting to enter a roundabout) it makes sense to me to have some means of reducing potential whiplash injuries.

I have to say that build quility and finish on the Accord is very impressive but although I haven't yet driven the Octavia I've sat in one and I couldn't complain about the finish for the price.

The other big saving I can see is on servicing, I cover a high annual mileage (45,000 miles p.a.) and the Octavia set to variable servicing will require (hopefully) just 2 services p.a. The Accord diesel needs at least 3 services over that distance. My car is a company motor but the cost spreadsheet we are supplied with indicates Honda servicing costs to be considerably more than those with Skoda.

In fact looking at the contract hire spreadsheet it is apparent that servicing costs make the biggest impact on choice of car within budget for our company. We can have a high-spec Skoda, Peugeot or Citroen. Mid-range spec VW, Toyota or Vauxhall. We can have a mid-range Audi A4 whilst there is a special offer on from Audi but NO extras allowed. No BMW 3-series or Merc C-Class allowed but we can move down to 1-series, A-Class or B-Class. With the Accord we can only have the 2.2 CDT-i Sport saloon, the servicing costs appear to push the Estate (I prefer an esate) beyond the budget.

Must say I'm very tempted by the vRS Diesel Estate, I just need to get a test drive.

I don't care what the figures say IMO the Accord does not have the same in-gear grunt as the Octy. I know because I test drove both for an hour on the same day before making my mind up. The Accord is silky smooth in comparison with the Octy and has the edge on fuel economy but it was the performance that made me opt for the Octy.

Also a few things really bugged me about the Accord.

1. No autolocking (anti-hijack) or window control from the remote.

2. Trip computer was rubbish.

3. No cover on cam belt :eek:

4. Parking sensors are a dealer fit option only. Yes thats right some 12 year old with a drill attacking your new car before you even get it.

5. Why couldn't it have been a hatch?