Hi all,

I found you guys a few weeks ago on the internet and have to say that thanks to you I have found answers to most of my questions...

It all started about a month ago when I found out the Skoda were launching a Diesel version of the Vrs...I ran down to my local dealer to get some more info but he had not much to say apart from that they should be receiving a demo version in a few weeks...

By the way I live in Spain and dealers down here still have a long way to go regarding location, service, customer service, etc...

I have also signed up to attend the official launch tour Skoda Spain are doing (mid-November).

I let you know my thoughts after that.

In the meantime, I wil have many questions for you...Only 2 for today...

1. In the Octavia Estate, do the seats fold flat to give a flat loading bay or do you have to remove the seat cushions?

2. 17 or 18 inch rims??? What are your opinions

Thanks,

2. 17 or 18 inch rims??? What are your opinions

Thanks,

I drove 16' and 17'. Skoda doesn't recommend 18' because they would be too noisy and suspention would suffer to much as tyres transfer too much to shock-absorbers. Also you can forget about confort with 18'.

I have had Avensis with 16' and people with 17' were complaining so much about confort and road noise. Now, Skoda has done great job on Sport Edition, for example. Mine is 2.0 TDi Sport and should arrive tomorrow. (If doesn't, I will kill somebody, I'm walking for 3 days now, no car, mine was sold). I drove Test Drive Octy 2.0 TDi Sport with 17' and sport suspention and let me tell you, it's more confortable and less noisy then my previous Avensis 1.8 VVTi with 16' and non-sport suspention.

But 18'? Looks great but I wouldn't go for it.

Cheers

Thanks Bosnjo

I've encountered the same issues on My Megane. Got 16 inchers and comfort & noise are fine. Drove one with 17's and found it only a little less comfortable.

It's just that I'm looking at the Vrs option list and, here in Spain at least, upgrading from the standard 17's to the 18's is priced very reasonably...

Before considering 18s, consider what quality the roads are like in the area of spain you are. Roads full of potholes are not kind to big wheels, and the 17s would be the better option.

I have driven round most of southern spain, from Murcia, throught the C del sol, right up and into Portugal and found the road quality varied depending on the locality of the ayuntamiento.

1. In the Octavia Estate, do the seats fold flat to give a flat loading bay or do you have to remove the seat cushions?

The seat cushions fold up (actually they first move forward a bit, then fold up) to give space for the backrest part. That way you get a flat floor. You can also detach the seat cushions, if you need a couple of inches more space lenghtwise. Or, you can leave the seat cushions down and you get quick-but-not-flat floor.

Mannyo, I live & work on the CDS around Marbella and as you say roads can vary greatly...I'll test the Vrs on 17's and see how it go's. My enquiry for 18's was mostly based on looks...

Jcase, thanks for the info. Thats exaclty what I needed to know, The boot on the estate should be big in enough most of the time...

17s look too small on the RS thanks to the lines of the car, the ride height and the style of the Zenith rims.

I have 18s and the ride is better than a MK 1 on 17s. The suspension set up is not all-out sport. My friend's new Civic (equiped with 18s and exacly the same tyre size) is a much harsher ride, for example.