My wife and I are considering buying a new Octavia Estate. We like the 17" alloy wheels (appearing all pictures) but I am not sure if we would like the more rigid "sport" suspension. We often go on long trips with our 6-year old and we are afraid the long rides won't be as comfortable. Is this correct? Anyone who has experience with the 17" wheels on the new Oct Est?

For a family car I'd stick with the normal suspension. It still handles ok. Also, you've got slightly less chance of curbing the wheels because of the bigger tyre profile and you'll save a decent amount when it comes to new tyres.

I assume you are looking at an Ambient or Elegence specification Octavia.

Certainly, the option of 17" wheels with sport suspension will be firmer, as far as I know/remember it is the Sport spec - but it is not as stiff as the vRS setup which IS firm and sporty, although not excessively so AND I think the plain 5 spoke Pegasus wheels are better looking than the 5 twin-spoke Zenith on the vRS. Of course you can't get a Sport Estate!

However, you can get 17" wheels on their own as a Dealer Accessory in a good style and they will sharpen the handling/cornering a degree with their /45 profile tyres without the firmness of the sport suspension.

You could though just buy the car with standard 16" wheels and look out for a set of vRS 17" ones on eBay from someone upgrading to 18" ones!

the suspension is not that hard with the sport suspension. if you brought the wheels as dealer fit, you would be looking at more than £800 overal (however much for the wheels plus at least 4x£80 for decent tyres). I personally do not like the normal suspension and find it wallows a bit too much for me, and think the sport suspension is perfect. try to drive a car with it, and a car without too make your own mind up, but at £400 in elegance and £600 in ambiente it's still over £200 cheaper than doing it via the dealer.

edit, the wheels are around £125 each, so £500 + (4x£80-100)= £820-£900 :eek:

Would recommend the sports suspension, does not bother both of my girls 5 & 8.

They like going in daddy's fast car.

Standard suspension on 16" wheels is far too hard for a family hatchback as far as i'm concerned. "Sport" suspension must be agony and there's really no need for it on a car like this.

Although as has been said, drive both and see which you prefer.

Standard suspension on 16" wheels is far too hard for a family hatchback as far as i'm concerned. "Sport" suspension must be agony and there's really no need for it on a car like this.

Although as has been said, drive both and see which you prefer.

Everything is relative! (As someone once said). I find the 2.0FSI Elegance's softer suspension a comfort after my Mk1 vRS but to be honest it only really notices a lot on things like the dreaded speed bumps.

Also, you've got slightly less chance of curbing the wheels because of the bigger tyre profile.

That is very true - a few times I thought I'd scraped the alloy rim but found only the tyre slightly scuffed.