Having driven Ford

If you're only doing 8K per year, have you looked to see whether there are any petrol models which might suit as well?

And welcome :wavey:

Ambiente trim was upgraded to include alloys a while ago which is why you see some with and some without. When this happened exactly i'm sure someone will know.

Not really seriously. I suspect the only one I could live with would be the 2.0FSI. I need to compare running costs v’s capital outlay and depreciation.

I must say that having driven the “new generation” diesels, and experienced the torque (it took me a couple of weeks to adjust my driving style) I might end up disappointed?

Rgds and thanks for the warm welcome.

I could have sworn that the Ambiente on the Mk2 always had 15" five spoke alloys.

The elegance has 16" alloys as standard , and while it probably won't feel quite as sharp handling as the focus it's still a very nice car to drive.

There is a factory upgrade to 17" wheels with sports suspension available which is quite common on the Elegances as it was nice and cheap. This does improve the handling but is going to make it feel firmer. If you are on badly surfaced roads you might not be so keen on this.

The bonnet shouldn't be a problem when driving or parking - it's long enough but easy to tell where it ends. Going backwards was always more of a challenge in the Mk1 but the Mk2 has standard parking sensors on the Elegance which is very handy.

I'd see if you can get a decent length test drive out of one of the dealers. You need a few hours rather than a few minutes to be able to make a sensible decision

I gave up gasoline cars because of high torque you can feel with higher spec diesels with turbo.

Between Octy1 and Octy2 difference is big, especialy in handling, the thing you are interested about.

As I can see you don't want to go to "Sport" spec (sport suspention and 17'-225 tyres), the one I own.

So, if you realy want to be hapy and safe in Octy, here is my advice:

Octy2, Elegance, 2.0TDi, 17' wheels.

If you could just drive one like mentioned above you would forget Focus, trust me.

Alex, thanks.

I’m seeing more steel than alloy in this second hand area. Just wandered if it was an import indication? Is yours on 16” or 17”? I’m beginning to conclude 17” will be just too aggressive for my style?

Test Drives are always a difficult area. There is only one dealer near (15m). The rest are in England circa 50-60m ish. I’ve been to see them, and they are friendly and very helpful, but at the end of the day, and comparing prices, stock and availability elsewhere, I have absolutely no chance of leaving my hard earned with them.

Call me old fashioned, but If I consciously know I’m not going to buy from them, something inside tells me I shouldn’t lead them to suspect otherwise, and perhaps be seen to take advantage. After all I’ll need them for any ongoing service issues, being the only one in the area, so no point in winding them up unnecessarily.

Rgds

With such a low mileage, you'd probably save money with a petrol engined Octavia overall, if this is important....

I have a 2.0 TDi at the moment since I do 35K miles pa, but IMHO, all diesels are dreadful, noisy polluting things, and I hate their low-revvy-ness; it's not really that interesting to have a mass of torque for only 2000+ rpm range.

Having said that, it is true that a lot of my miles are on motorways, and at speed you really don't care about it being a diesel, and the short-lived but big torque is no problem; relaxing in fact. Around town, it's like being a minicab driver though, and I miss country lane fun that you get in say a 2.0 TFSI or GTi, where the wide power band suits big variations in speed, and you really get the benefit in terms of acceleration.

As for for trim, you don't seem sure whether you want Amb or Eleg, or even hatch or estate....

I was originally looking for an estate but when I checked how much space there is in the hatch, I realized it was plenty unless I absolutey needed to move washing machines, or something similar, with the boot closed.

Trim wise, if you're buying used, unless there are toys you have to have, go for whatever vehicle is the best overall deal on the day. You may take the reasonable view that extra complexity generally adds more sources of unreliability (check out any site explaining MTBF calculations).

In my case I was looking for an Amb, but ended with Eleg, and for my 2005 car, this adds things like cruise, dual zone climate, auto-dim mirrors, tyre pressure warning, rain-sensitive wipers and maybe more. As it turns out I like these features but could live without them. The rain sensitive wipers are probably the most useful thing and work well.

All Skodas radios are utter rubbish (except if you have no experience of quality), so you may want to put some money aside for a 3rd party upgrade (quite involved unfortunately these days, and if you use the radio, CD or MP3 much, and really care, it may be a reason NOT to buy a Skoda).

As for handling, don't be mislead by the masses of internet & magazine disinformation. With all reasonable cars in this class the ride/handling qualities are very good. It's like listening to HiFi systems - yes you can tell one from another but it's difficult and VERY subjective to pick the best all-rounder...

It's all very well trying one car against another when the tyres are smoking going round a test track but back in the real world there's not much to pick between an Octavia and a Focus - IMHO the skoda rides better even if the (never-used) on-the-limit handling is not quite as good. The Octavia steering feel is not great, but these days very few affordable cars (especially 4 seaters) have decent steering, with absolutely clear straight-ahead feel, and a "directly connected to the wheels" feel. Like many cars, the Oct steering wheel is too big, and the rack gearing is not fast enough (but this would likely reduce feel further of course).

Generally ride will get worse (and often steering feel) if you go mad on big wheels and lo-pro tyres - the 16" alloys/ 205-55 trres on mine are about the right compromise, but the Turenza tyres are a bit less than optimum (poor on noise and turn in).

Hope this helps your choice!

Steve

I could have sworn that the Ambiente always had alloys but I could be wrong about earler cars. Certainly I don't remember spotting any with steel wheels.

I have the standard 16" alloys on my elegance. I wanted them rather than the 17s for a few reasons. Partly it was a cost thing - I was spending enough on the car without the upgrade then more expensive tyres.

Secondly I live on an estate with a lot of speed humps and I didn't want anything too harsh over them. I don't have to slow to a crawl as some cars seem to , though I do have an annoying creaking noise. That's a separate issue though

Finally , most of my driving is on motorways and I preferred the comfort of the softer suspension. It's very comfortable to drive for long periods.

That said I do enjoy enthusiastic driving at times and don't have any complaints about the handling. It's a reasonably large car with a big heavy engine up front but it can be chucked round quite easily and I don't ever feel that it's struggling.

I know what you mean about test drives and exploiting dealers. It does feel a bit wrong to take the **** too much if you are sure that you aren't going to buy there.

Where exactly do you live? There may be another Briskodian local who would be happy to take you out for a drive.

I still think that the MK I focus shows up the MK II Octy in terms of handling.

Sure the octy II is close and much softer ride, but the focus is just plain better handling as it leaves the factory.

If you are after comfort, and reasonable handling then you will like the Octy II a lot i would think.

Having drive an Octy II with sports suspension and a MKI focus TDCI estate, i would say that even with sports suspension the octy has a softer set up than the ford.

I still think that the MK I focus shows up the MK II Octy in terms of handling.

Sure the octy II is close and much softer ride, but the focus is just plain better handling as it leaves the factory.

If you are after comfort, and reasonable handling then you will like the Octy II a lot i would think.

Having drive an Octy II with sports suspension and a MKI focus TDCI estate, i would say that even with sports suspension the octy has a softer set up than the ford.

All fair points, but I suspect HWNTW will end up with a Focus Mk2 rather than a Mk1 for the money he is spending, and I think the Mk2 is softer. Besides, let's be honest, the Mk1 Focus feels a cheaper quality bit of kit than an Octy Mk2, handling aside.

However, I would not want him to get the impression that softer inherently means less good handing, even if the Focus does have better handling. In fact depending on road quality you can often get better traction, and better rut/bump stability with softer suspension (so long the body control is good, and it is in an Octy). It's always best to try one if you can.

BTW I haven't tried 6 speed boxes in a Focus yet, how are they? I can say that the 6 speed in my Octy is usable, but is a long way short of the change quality of my 5 speed Mk4 1.8T GTi....

Ambiente on steel wheels.

Autotrader - SKODA Octavia 2.0 TDi PD Ambiente

I remember steel wheels being specified when I was looking at buying mine, year and a half, two years ago.

I think you will be very dissapointed with the Skoda build quality and trim quality coming form a Ford, I've just gone the other way (Skoda to Ford) and the Ford is miles ahead in terms of trim and build quality.

I think you will be very dissapointed with the Skoda build quality and trim quality coming form a Ford, I've just gone the other way (Skoda to Ford) and the Ford is miles ahead in terms of trim and build quality.

From memory you have a fairly high spec Mondeo??

The opposite is true if I compare the plastics in my GF 56 Reg Ford Fiesta Freedom to the plastics in my Octavia, obviously the Octavia is a more expensive car but I wasn't expecting the hard cheap plastics in a recently facelifted Fiesta.

I have the optional 17's and sport suspension, with regards to the ride it is firm but i like that. As for handling a mate in a mk1 Focus st 170 could not shake me off on a cross country blast.

The Ambiente started with steel wheels I think until the 06 model year came in.

As for the toy factor i don't feel hard done by, things like cruse can be retrofitted same as parking sensors. As for hatch vs est, the boot of the hatch is very big so unless you need serious space it should be engouh. Saying that a nice coloured Est with alloys and roofrails do look nice. ^^^

If your in North Wales and get anywhere near Ellesmere Port, Mitchells have a few pre-registered cars. Skoda wanted to hit target sfor the year so offered some good incentives for the dealers to get registrations!

In the brief time that I

I've got the 2.0FSI [though in the Elegance model] and I love it. No doubt you rev more in the gears than a diesel but for a "family" hatch it handles fine - does everything properly and the engine feels great on fast roads.

Go to a reputable main dealer and ask for an extended test drive you may get one for a day i managed 1/2 day when i asked. Im now on my 3rd octavia company car just over 3 years i change them at 80,000 miles which is about 18 months.

Ive had a 90 tdi old shape and a 130 tdi ambiante se old shape and im now on a 105 pd tdi. I do miss the power of the 130 and the 6 speed box but the handling of the new shape car is superb. I do motorway and back lanes and it does it all with ease.

Ive only had this one 2 months and am a bit down on my usual milage but its done 6000 with no problems.

The only items that went on the other cars over 160,000 between them were a drivers seat belt and a pair of anti roll bar bushes.

If you speak with Fred Arnell or Rickhard Macklin at Mitchell's I'm sure they'll organise a 24 hour or more test drive for you. Tell them Steve Shepherd from The Entertainer sent you!

Many of the pre-reg won't be on the site yet as they only did this last week.

If you speak with Fred Arnell or Rickhard Macklin at Mitchell's I'm sure they'll organise a 24 hour or more test drive for you. Tell them Steve Shepherd from The Entertainer sent you!

Thanks, will do.