We have sold the golf but not until next July! My wifes sister is buying it when she turns 25!

Trying to suss out our next car.. So far on the list is:

Skoda Octavia 2.0T vRS Estate - Race Blue with a few goodes probably new

Audi A4 Avant 2.0T S-Line - Phantom Black hopefully with a few toys but up to a year old

I'm swaying towards the Audi at the moment. Does anyone know of any decent audi forums that would cover info on the A4 Avant? The S-line is a great looking car and if we can find a nearly new version of the special 220PS I would be happy!

Convincing arguments for either model on a postcard please!

I know it's a long way off but we have had the Golf for 4.5 years and the longest I have ever had a car privately is 2 years before this so I'm quite excited about the change...

Will be really sad to see the Golf go as I still really love the looks and the mods but at least it will be going to a good home!

Hi golfturbo

You have 2 very good cars to choose from. Here is my personally opinion. I went from an Audi A4 Avant 1.8T(tuned) Quattro Avant 2004mod to an Octavia vRS 06mod because of the much better space in the vRS( i was single then i byed the A4:rolleyes: , and have to say both cars is damn good, but if i was single i would buy the A4 again BUT not without quattro, here in North-Norway quattro is an "must have", because of the winter 6 months a year:( . Then you mention the 220hp A4 do you mean the DTM version?

And good luck with your choice

They are currently offering the s-line with the DTM tuned engine!

I'd take the year old Audi over the Skoda for sure - if for no other reason than its an Audi, has awesome road presence, looks great on the drive, far superior interior quality and feel (Although the Octy has a lovely interior, its not up to the standard of the Audi)... and a more powerful engine. Dare I say it will be more reliable due to the better build?

Audi.

Dare I say it will be more reliable due to the better build?

I'm pretty sure the last What Car reliability survey had Skoda several places above Audi.

I'd go with the Audi you mention or an A3 sportback 2.0T S-line quattro.

I'm swaying towards the Audi at the moment. Does anyone know of any decent audi forums that would cover info on the A4 Avant?

I'm in a similar position as I have two on my shortlist for when we change our Freelander next year. They are Octavia 4x4 Scout and A4 Avant Quattro. The best forum I have found for Audi is: Audi forum

I would also be interested in hearing thoughts on the Skoda/Audi choice. I can see both have their merits as the Skoda is cheaper to buy but the Audi has better residuals, this means that the cost to change is about the same after 4 or 5 years of ownership.

I think the Audi looks more plastic inside, But the outer style makes up for that.

Cetainly a better car to look at but not by much. And then you will have to get over the Skoda badge thing. I did and I'm glas I did, As with VW/Audi you will pay a premuim price, I would hazard a guess at more toys for your money with the Skoda. Same engine range. The chioce is yours....

I personnaly Think that my sport looks very similar to an A4 in a lot of regards, as long as the Octy has body coloured bumbers (sports body kit) I think I would go for the octy every time.. Audi's are far too common and expensive

What car/top gear etc usually show Skoda as having better reliability a mate of mine had lots of problems with the A4;Skoda will save you money overall?

but is it a badge thing.:confused:

My thoughts: The Audi interior is a nicer place to be and it has a nice badge on the front. I found the steering and pedals very light though and the S-Line suspension is very stiff. The Octavia is bigger (the boot especially so) and servicing costs at the main dealer are more reasonable.

A chap at work has an A3 Avant S-line Quattro (2.0 D ) with loads of toys on a 55 plate.

I must say it's not the car I thought it would be

He chopped his 04 plate A4 2.5 diesel quattro for it and regrets the 7K he lost dearly

As a layman I think I would prefer a new Octavia 2 VRS diesel, with more toys, better residuals and less money.

Or buy a 3 year old A6 that has lost 40% of its purchase price and is a big boys car.

golfturbo

Maybe this could help you, hope you understand more German than i do

http://www.autobild.de/test/neuwagen/artikel.php?artikel_id=12122&artikel_seite=1

As a layman I think I would prefer a new Octavia 2 VRS diesel, with more toys, better residuals and less money.

I have done some comparisons on an Audi A4 and Skoda Octavia using several different price guides as well as the Whatcar.com depreciation calculator. They all come to the same conclusion and that is that the Audi has better residuals.

According to What Car, the Audi has better %age residuals, but the true cost of ownership is £4k higher than the Skoda and over 4 years you'll lose far more money overall. Different if you're buying one secondhand and the other new, of course.

Depreciation indexes (indices?) here:

http://www.whatcar.co.uk/depreciation-index.aspx?RT=702&ED=46560

http://www.whatcar.co.uk/depreciation-index.aspx?RT=665&ED=48052

Hi Sporky

I used the diesel variants to get my figures which come out as:

Audi A4 Avant 2.0 TDI 140 SE 5dr New

Fair enough - I was going by the models golfturbo had listed in his opening post.

Audi.

Having said that,the dealers got right up my nose.

Most of the dealers up here in the Highlands get up your nose! The only way to get a good deal is to travel down south.

Fair enough - I was going by the models golfturbo had listed in his opening post.

Sorry Sporky! I was only thinking about the models I was considering, although they would have to be the four wheel drive versions anyway, but they were the nearest available online at whatcar.com so I used those.

It's a big difference in depreciation between the petrol and diesel Audis!

Chap at work has an S-Line A4 1.8T. I'm unsure about the interior - it's ok, and is plusher than my Fabia (unsurprisingly) but the actual build quality of it seems dodgy - the seats squeak a lot and there are assorted creaks from the dash.

Got a test drive in an A4 Avant 220ps S-Line SE later this morning, should be fun!

Well we have driven both cars today and the clear winner was the vRS.

Now we are looking for an up to a year old Race Blue with all bells and whistles if anyone knows of one let me know!

Well we have driven both cars today and the clear winner was the vRS.

Now we are looking for an up to a year old Race Blue with all bells and whistles if anyone knows of one let me know!

I had a similar decision to make only I was looking at the A4 2.0T Sline saloon. To cut a long story short, the A4 is cramped for room inside IMO and doesn't drive as well as the VRs. The VRs drives like a Golf GTi - probably not quite as nimble but given the extra space you are getting it it is a fair trade off.

Well we have driven both cars today and the clear winner was the vRS.

Now we are looking for an up to a year old Race Blue with all bells and whistles if anyone knows of one let me know!

• Search Skoda's website and ignore the 'sticker' price
  
• Be prepared to work hard to get a good offer on a car you might not even want (ie wrong colour, not quite to your desired spec)
  
• When you have a good offer phone dealers who have the car you really want and lay your 'good' offer on the table. - don't be surprised if they take all your details and call you back later that day - say you prefer their Blue car because of the colour but have a cracking deal on a black/silver/ red one that you want them to match.
  
• Be prepared to Travel, I've bought loads of cars over the years - the further you're prepared to travel the more choice you'll have and much better potential for a great deal.