Hi All,

I'm in the market for an Octy 1.9TDI estate (budget around 10k) so have been checking out the prices of the various different model options.

Using the Skoda web site used car search this is a summary of age/mileage/trim/cost:

Milage Age Trim Price

14283 Jan/2007 classic 9285

15991 Dec/2006 classic 9290

11258 Jan/2007 classic 9395

38521 Jan/2006 ambiente 9995

18443 Dec/2006 ambiente 10490

50600 Mar/2005 elegance 10995

18282 Mar/2005 elegance 11689

So, as you can see currently there are muliple low mileage 'classics' for around 1.2k less than similar ambiente (which are over 1k less again than elegance)

The current price of 'classics' looks like a bargin - so my questions are:

1. The current brochure suggests the different specs are trim level and toys - engine/brakes/air bags/steering are identical - or am I missing something vitally important?
   
2. Does anyone who lives with a classic wish they'ed gone for a higher model? - what do you miss on a daily basis?
   
3. If it was you're money would you go for a 14 month old low mileage classic or go for a car a year older with better trim?
   
4. Have people had problems selling on 'classics'?
   
5. Are all classics ex hire cars that have been abused and so should be avoided?
   
6. Any other thoughts and comments welcome - please help me decide!!!

Thanks

First of all, welcome to the forum :wave:

I must say I'm suprised to see such a price difference!!! But in mu opinion, go for a spin and try out a Classic... if it has all the toys you want, then its surely worth a punt!!!

I do however think the price reflects that the Classics are harder to sell, and this will also be the case when you want to pass it on... over the long term you may be better off financially with the Elegance due to resale values... worth thinking about.

Personally, I think theres room for discount on those Elegances. An Ambiente might be the safest bet, and out of that little lot I'd go for the Dec 06 Ambiente

Just to add, looking at Skodas current brochure, the Ambient comes with CD changer, alarm, rear electric windows, remote central locking, trip computer and alloys over the Classic.

I understand early Classics didn't have air con either!!

I'd struggle to spend £10k on a car that didn't have alloys or remote central locking, personally.

The December 06 Ambiente looks the best option on that list of choices.

The Classic is too basic for my liking and will be harder to sell on.

Mechanically though , there aren't any significant differences between trim levels

Go for the Ambiente.

I've just got a 1 year old 1.9 tdi Ambiente estate to replace my classic hatchback. The Classic was fine but the extras in the Ambiente are definately worth it. The seats are better, you get rear speakers and rear electric windows and a 6 cd changer. For a 1 yr old car from Skoda dealers I looked at a classic estate with 5k miles for £11.5k, Ambiente with 12k miles for £11.5k, or Elegance with 20kmiles for 13k. No contest - I liked the Elegance but would be paying £1,500 for cruise control and climatronic air con. Thats my ten cents worth on it anyway.

Ambiente isn't a bad choice ......still got enough toys and the price isn't bad either.......I've got one

The Ambiente is a good spec, probably better than the elegance which has a few more toys which are likely to go wrong, such as the cruise, climate etc.

Deffo go for the Dec 06 Ambiente. Aren't the wheels bigger on an Ambiente as well?

they are 15's on the ambiente

The Octavia Classic is the mincabbers weapon of choice and will be a proper pain to shift in the future.

The Elegance has miles more kit than the Ambiente so the price difference is justified.

If it was my money I would opt for an Elegance purely because I like my creature comforts and that model has them in spades.

The lower mileage Elegance would be my choice in that list even though it's £1600 over budget it will pay dividens come resale time.

If you like toys on a car you will be tempted by it, if you are after a newer car with a decent warranty the Ambiente will be your best bet.

I would dismiss the Classic and take a test drive in both an Ambiente and an Elegance and see which one suits YOU best.

Good luck and keep us posted

I went for an Ambiente hatch, more than enough toys for me and it was the right price paid £8500 for a 1.9 Tdi 55 plate with 30K on the clock. I looked at a Classic same year but half the miles, but was too basic no painted door handles and mirrors no aircon etc, I had a classic Fabia before and wanted a step up

Hi All,

50600 Mar/2005 elegance 10995

18282 Mar/2005 elegance 11689

1. The current brochure suggests the different specs are trim level and toys - engine/brakes/air bags/steering are identical - or am I missing something vitally important?
   
2. Does anyone who lives with a classic wish they'ed gone for a higher model? - what do you miss on a daily basis?
   
3. If it was you're money would you go for a 14 month old low mileage classic or go for a car a year older with better trim?
   
4. Have people had problems selling on 'classics'?
   
5. Are all classics ex hire cars that have been abused and so should be avoided?
   
6. Any other thoughts and comments welcome - please help me decide!!!

Thanks

Should be able to get a good discount on those elegance prices I would think. In Jan this year I got my 55plate for less than either of them with 22k miles on it.

That said it was Jan and they were quiet.... Busy time of year for the dealers.

Go for the Ambiente, I had the Elegance before and had no end of trouble with the over complicated climate control and it's eight or so motors!! Also had the rear parking sensors fail and had to have the rear bumper removed to repair. So far no problem with my new Ambiente 2.0 Tdi PD (except for windsceen delamination, but I had that on my previous Octavia)

Ambiente isn't a bad choice ......still got enough toys and the price isn't bad either.......I've got one

I'll second this! When I chose my car the Ambiente came with 15" steel wheels with Avantgarda plastic trims. I opted for the lovely Sirius 16" alloys, although, I understand these are no longer available as an option.

I also chose the small leather pack (a leather rimmed wheel, handbrake and gearknob is so much nicer than plastic), plus cruise control.

I had an Ambiente but had sports suspension and pegasus alloys on it, sometimes missed cruse control but that can be added if need be.

Depends if you want to have a flat floor in the boot. Not all variants have the variable boot floor feature. Loading large/long items in the boot is quite difficult without it.

I love my Elegance. Have had no problems with anything. I did buy it brand new and added a few more extras too it.

I actually went for a test drive in the classic and yes, it was basic, but the drive and feel of the car won me over.

The elegance just added to the overall appeal of teh car.

The Ambient does look a decent bet though.

ambient is a good choice, have heard of a few people who have bought the ambient and bought the sports pack on top.

I think the classic is a great car. I have a 56 plate tdi classic estate. it has aircon,cd,electric and heated mirrors and it covers nearly 600 miles on a full tank. have had 615 out of it on a long run. Its great for a new family car but the seats show every mark and are hard to clean.

Go for the classic and spend the extra £1000 on a nice holiday

havent read it all so sorry if its a repeat but the classics lack alarm / immoblizer

of the ones listed id go with the dec 06 ambiente.

As this thread was started in March, I'm guessing the original poster has bought a car! :P

I looked at all 3 trim levels when buying my new Octy. I don't think I could live without the alloys and remote locking of the classic. (The salesman said he had never actually ever sold a classic) I was going to go for an Ambiente and add Cruise as an option as I do a fair bit of motorway driving, but after pricing it up the price difference was negligible between the Ambiente and the Elegance as the dealer was able to offer me a better discount on the higher spec car. This was buying new however so I don't know if this is the same with a used car.

I don't regret spending that little extra as I think I would have only regretted not buying the higher specced car.