I'd not realised the MPS were so picky about fuel. The Octavia would be happy with normal petrol, right?

If I could justify the extra petrol, extra insurance and extra finance, it'd be a 3MPS but then I am biased . Complete sleeper, even with the aero kit.

The 3 is, externally, surprisingly large but you don't benefit in the same way as the octy with the huge boot. And a lot of the non-oily working bits are shared with the focus/c-max/volvo s40/v50 which you say you've tried some of.

Also you probably won't get as many toys as you could in the octy :(

I liked the V-50 but not the (1st generation) Focus, which probably just means I have no idea what I'm on about.

And I did think the Octy better 'round corners than the V50.

It's also worth considering that most of the motoring hacks are agreed that the MKV Golf GTI is one of the finest drivers cars available today. And in all the comparisons, the MK II Octy vRS comes a very very close second.

Hi There,

Another 2 pennies worth from me.

From everything your saying, for the fact it's got VAG build quality, and that the fuel consumption isn't too rude, the Octy vRS sounds like the one to go for. It is worth noting however that the new focus is a completely different drive to old one, and that a "zetec" will have a different right to an "LX".

I's agree that a Impreza saloon attracts way to much attention with it's looks, but the estate IMO is much more humble. See the pic below. But, at the end of the day, the Octy still has the biggest boot by a mile! Good luck.

It's also worth considering that most of the motoring hacks are agreed that the MKV Golf GTI is one of the finest drivers cars available today.

One of the finest driver's car available?!

Chris

What rubbish, every one on here knows that Scooby Chris's Mondeo is the finest, best drivers car in the world.... How they can even suggest a VAG car is good to drive is beyond me

;-)

Having driven a few driver's cars and a Golf MkV GTi I can honestly say that imho there is no comparison Where the Mondeo comes in to that, I'm not sure :confused: Being good to drive is completely different to being a "finest driver's car"....

Chris

The Golf is a good car to drive around town etc. but it understeers far too easily when you push it hard.

Perhaps the one I drove had the wrong tyres?

Hurrah!

Another VAG-bashing thread.

Great.

Is anyone VAG bashing ?:confused:

No, of course not. You were just saying how great the Golf is.

Octy vRS Combi will be just a nadgers slower than the hatch, you'd never notice the difference TBH, everything else is the same, so handling should be the same too.

A more fun car that will still be as effortless as the Fabia when touring. It just depend on how much more "fun" you want it to be.

Otherwise you're looking at supermini's or supermini estates again, I'd say Suzuki Swift, they are fun to drive, but I think the boot will be too small for you (seats fold though) and they don't do an estate :(

Ford Focus - yes, Golf - yes, Mazda 3/6 - yes

TBH, both of you go car-testing for a week you'll soon find the car thats right, try marques that you'd not previously thought of (Hyundai Coupe?) and you might get a nice surprise

I had a PD100 and plugged in a little resistor in a box tuning thingy. Seemed to make the engine a bit more lively without being OTT. I still have it and you are more than welcome to it if you would like to have a go with it for a few weeks. It didn't display any error messages on either the dash or VAG-COM on my PD100, apparently some of the cheap ones do.

One of the finest driver's car available?!

Chris

Ok maybe I should have said one of the finest 2.0l four cylinder turbocharged engined hatchback vehicles with front wheel drive and space for five adults made by a German manufacturer that has checky seats and a dimpled gearnob.

Either way it gets good reviews. As does the Octy.

Ok maybe I should have said one of the finest 2.0l four cylinder turbocharged engined hatchback vehicles with front wheel drive and space for five adults made by a German manufacturer that has checky seats and a dimpled gearnob.

Either way it gets good reviews. As does the Octy.

I'd have said finest drivers cars in its class.... along with the Octy