Hi Folks,

I'm new here and don't have an Octavia, yet! I'm hoping to order a petrol vRS in the next couple of weeks. What initially attracted me to the Octavia was the luggage capacity. I have a Focus estate at the moment, and it's great for lugging stuff around, but it's still a little small when heading off for a weekend with the family and all the buggies, travel cots etc etc. I also just want a change and having borrowed a Golf mkV gti for a couple of weeks, the idea of having the same engine with lots of luggage space is more than a little appealing!

Anyway... looking at the specs, there is very little difference in luggage capacity between the combi and the hatch if the back seats are up (and most of the time they will be!). There's only 20 litres in the difference. I'd be swaying towards the hatch in that case as resale might be easier. What I am wondering about is why there is 200 litres in the difference with the seats down ? Is it a mistake in the spec sheets ?

Also - a question for the Irish members ... is there any difference in the standard spec between the vRS in Ireland vs. the UK ?

Thanks

Hugh

Personally going from the hatch to the estate - I wouldnt go back. Having the estate means you can get squarer more bulky things in without having to have the back seats down. Ive fitted things into the boot of the estate probably around three times in the last month that would have needed the seats down in the hatch - a real problem if you have occupants there!

On the other hand the hatch is about as good as it gets from what Ive seen for the boot size in this class of car compared to others.

From what I understand estates will hold thier price better than hatches - especially diesel estates.

Thanks for the replies. Personally I do like the look of the estate, but the local dealer made the point that most people going to him looking for a used vRS would want a hatch. That's probably true in Ireland, as sport estates would not be that popular here.

Thanks for the replies. Personally I do like the look of the estate, but the local dealer made the point that most people going to him looking for a used vRS would want a hatch. That's probably true in Ireland, as sport estates would not be that popular here.

Hugh,

would your local dealer be Trevor. ??? ( The Storyman as he's known in the trade )

I had a race blue Vrs tdi hatch and now have a VRs TFSI combi. I have a 3 yr old and 3mnth old twins.. so i have a lot of crap to bring around. I would go for the Combi.. but not in diesel until the Common rail comes in ( no matter what any dealer tells you or promise you).

I know of a race blue diesel hatch thats for sale if you really want a diesel and I also know of a race blue petrol combi ( both second hand )

Cathal

I believe that there is only a 20 litre difference with the seat up because they only count the boot space below the window/cover level. That will mean it will be almost the same as the hatch. The reason it then jumps up to 200 litres with the seats down is because I think they can then count the volume of the entire boot to the roof level.

go for the estate, they are excellent load luggers and really look the part!

Thanks all. No my local dealer is in Navan. In fairness he had none of either in stock, and I'm thinking of buying new for delivery in 2008 so I'd say it was his honest opinion. I wouldn't say he has sold many RS's though!

Cathal - do you notice a big difference in how much you can carry with the seats all up compared to when you had the hatch ? I'm not really considering a diesel, but will definitely be going with black in either the combi or hatch. Also, any comments on the Irish standard spec - does it match what is stated in the brochures and website ?

PSM - that might make sense about measuring below the window. I know the roof is a little higher above the back seats in the combi, but I didn't think it was high enough to make 200 litres of a differfence!

I'm leaning towards the combi again now, nobody seems to have a bad word to say about it :-)

All depends on your 'lifestyle' and needs.

IMHO the hatch has the neater style and sharper spoiler, I don't need the ultimate capacity and its £850 cheaper; you can spend that on useful things like xenons and parking sensors.

Hi i have the mk1 estate (combi) i can not see there being much diff in load space should even be a bit better, but my boot is very large and offers 548 litres of luggage storage space with the rear seats upright. With the rear seat down this increases to 1,512 litres. The rear seats also fold separately with a 60/40 asymmetrical split for ease of loading bulky items whilst retaining some seating in the rear,i would say go for the estate just for practical reasons, and its just as fast as the hatch, and holds its money better.

All depends on your 'lifestyle' and needs.

IMHO the hatch has the neater style and sharper spoiler, I don't need the ultimate capacity and its £850 cheaper; you can spend that on useful things like xenons and parking sensors.

I can understand this view tbh but I personally think the estate is the better looking car (obviously a personal thing) and with the optional spoiler looks sporty and smart without being too in 'yer face.

Lee

I can understand this view tbh but I personally think the estate is the better looking car (obviously a personal thing) and with the optional spoiler looks sporty and smart without being too in 'yer face.

Lee

I appreciate that it is each to his/her own, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder; shall we let the people decide? Here my 'hatch';-

Estate or Hatch?

The combi look get the thumbs up from me

I'm not sure why. Possibly because it's not that easy to make an estate look good, but Skoda have done a good job with the vRS Combi...

The combi look get the thumbs up from me

I'm not sure why. Possibly because it's not that easy to make an estate look good, but Skoda have done a good job with the vRS Combi...

Spot on - for something that shouldnt look so good - its more of a result when it actually does look that good.

Lee

Personally opinion of course but the combi does it for me, something about that spoiler on the hatch I just don't like too. Plus of course, the extra load capacity... Each to their own.

Thanks all. No my local dealer is in Navan. In fairness he had none of either in stock, and I'm thinking of buying new for delivery in 2008 so I'd say it was his honest opinion. I wouldn't say he has sold many RS's though!

Cathal - do you notice a big difference in how much you can carry with the seats all up compared to when you had the hatch ? I'm not really considering a diesel, but will definitely be going with black in either the combi or hatch. Also, any comments on the Irish standard spec - does it match what is stated in the brochures and website ?

PSM - that might make sense about measuring below the window. I know the roof is a little higher above the back seats in the combi, but I didn't think it was high enough to make 200 litres of a differfence!

I'm leaning towards the combi again now, nobody seems to have a bad word to say about it :-)

Hugh,

As i said.. with the familly I have, I would notice the difference. The last trip to the outlaws in Donegal meant I had

two travel cots

Double buggy

single Buggy

two large suitcases

a 3yr old's entire car collection ( taking after his old fella)

Everything else goes in the roof box

Recently purchased a Touran for the SWMBO and it now has become the tour bus.. but to be honest the boot sapce is the same in both.. which shows the Vrs as been impressive

Cathal

I've never found the hatch lacking in space and we have a 6 month old little girls who comes with lots of stuff!

I like the look of the estate though and perhaps my next car may well be one...

Combi for me every time!

I think I prefer the combi - the lack of spoiler and the even more stealth looks.

I have a Ocatvia hatch (not a VRS), but I think the Octavia looks better as an estate all through the range and to be honest, that's how I used to think of the Mk1 Fabia, hence why I had two estates.

Some cars look awful in estate range, but the Skodas solid looks suits it.

But I am happy with my hatch by the way and it swallows everything we throw at it and thats quite a lot with a 3 year old and a 1 year old in tow.

I personally think the estate looks better, hence we bought one!

For the slight difference in cash its a no brainer!

I think I prefer the combi - the lack of spoiler and the even more stealth looks.

Quite

It's a tough one, we have a black estate and a race blue hatch outside and they both look good in their own right, when you see them back to back like that it's a tough choice.

It's all down to personal preference at the end of the day.

Good luck

It's a tough one, we have a black estate and a race blue hatch outside and they both look good in their own right, when you see them back to back like that it's a tough choice.

It's all down to personal preference at the end of the day.

Good luck

And needs

Estate all the way