Any Octavia 4x4 Estate owners? Other Leon ST replacement recommendations welcome..

Torsion beam is fine, and it usually means you get more room in the boot. Cheaper to maintain too. I have a 2015 Passat estate and the ride and handling don’t feel significantly better despite the independent rear suspension. 

4x4 doesn't effect mpg because it's permanent FWD unless the front wheels slip.

I wouldn't choose an estate car based on the rear suspension layout.

I'm not set on going against torsion beam, just that I feel in the current car its the weak point and I don't want to end up in the same situation if its realistic to improve this element. 

I know the independent setup encroaches into the boot on the Octavia a bit more but its still a decent sized boot from what I can see.

I also know the Octavia isn't regarded as a sporty drive hence asking for other options. If I could get a 23/24 plate Leon I probably would but not sure I can even get a drive in a diesel if I ended up considering ordering new..

The VAG 4x4 haldex platforms do have a small impact on fuel economy compared to the 2wd equivalents, they are up to 150 kg heavier and have slightly lower gearing. I have driven an Octavia 4x4 estate- I really liked it.

Edit: I should have said that I test drove an Octavia 4x4 but ended up with a Superb 4x4 Tdi which was, well, Superb

You can tell this forum is dead. Someone started a thread about Octavia's and there's no one here.

It's the most ominous sign yet.

If the torsion beam hasn't failed or caused you any issues, is it worth moving it to a would-be-nice list rather than a would-prefer list?

Been over 20 years since I drove a Leon, but it was a brilliant car at the time.

Octavia does seem a very good car, I think the Superb would give more carrying capacity, but is probably a more expensive purchase.

The standard Octavia with torsion is being considered, but the limited test drive yesterday was up and down dual carriageway, so hardly showcasing any handling flaws.. The Octavia is already considered a bit floatier than the Leon and the Superb even more so from the reading I have done. As you say, bit more money for a Superb but it could be an option.

Any other recommendations from estate owners? The more reviews I read about the Octavia the more I feel its maybe not going to be as competent on the country roads as I'd like.. 

Focus estate? I think that seems to have a decent carrying capacity and seems a decent place to be.

Not driven one though...

I’m not sure what competent on country roads means? You mean good handling? Or somehow fun to drive?

Best handling BMW 3 series, most comfortable my old Volvo v60

" the 150 diesel only restarted production in 2024 so there are zero used examples around. A new one would be £27k"

Assuming the current Leon is still running OK why not keep it for a year until 24/25 diesel Leons are on the second hand market. Or save a year of car payments and up your budget to a new Leon in a year.

I think the Superb is a great estate but it isn't a car for pushing on down twisty roads.  I have the 1.4Tsi. 2018 model.  Aside from consumables like tyres, brakes etc nothing has broken until this year when the water pump started leaking.

Vast boot. Ample legroom for 4 6ft occupants.  Over 50mpg on A road trips. High 40s on the motorway.

I bought mine new for £18k Great  value.

The Focus is always the one that gets mentioned for handling. I don't think they make a diesel now, the ones they did are either a 118 BHP or a 276bhp. Not sure either of those is really right for the car and my wants..

I'm aware that an estate is never going to be a sports car handling wise but my Leon is pretty composed most of the time. I don't crave massive improvement but now that i'm spending twice what I did in 2016 to buy it for a similar car I want to make sure I buy a good fit for me. 

I don't want to go smaller space wise which the 3 series is, a 5 series i'm not sure will be in budget but I will look. 

Posted by: irc

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Assuming the current Leon is still running OK why not keep it for a year until 24/25 diesel Leons are on the second hand market. Or save a year of car payments and up your budget to a new Leon in a year.

I could/would.

Mine will probably need a clutch (the slave is a bit slow/sticky at times and i've been told you may as well do the clutch when its all apart). 

It will need a battery before next winter and the suspension will probably need a bit of tlc. All pretty routine but the car has a PX value of about 2.7K and the above's probably 1.4k worth of work.

I would buy a late/low mileage 184 version of mine but it would still be a six year old car at £12/13k which I paid for mine at 11 months old..

We had a 1l focus estate and it was nice enough, generally composed and not as slow as the 1l status suggested. 

We swapped it for a petrol Octavia it's a shorter wheelbase so feels a bit nippier and I've noticed it more pushing it round corners but overall it's quieter, comfier and all round fancier than the focus 14 plate  replaced with a 73plate

Some of the more recent Superb’s have adjustable dampers which make quite a difference to the ride and handling in sports mode. Whether you can find one with it fitted is another matter 

L+K (£32k-35k second hand) for 2023 on gets you the adjustable dampers, or its an option on Sportline +. But as you say, finding one might of those might be tricky.

Suspect there will be compromises to be made with this purchase!

"Mine will probably need a clutch etc"

A likely £1400 of work versus the certainty of £2k depreciation per year as soon as you buy a £24k car.

Don't get me wrong. Newish cars are nice but if your particular flavour of Leon isn't available for a year or two £100 per month on repairs for the current one is cheaper than a car loan.

Golf R estate, surely? 4x4 and basically the Leon in a different guise? No idea if good to drive or the right price.

Posted by: A cyclist in London

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Golf R estate, surely? 4x4 and basically the Leon in a different guise? No idea if good to drive or the right price.

We looked at Golf R's and Octavia VRS's side by side and the Mrs preferred the VRS for the bigger boot. Also the best insurance quote for the Golf was 3 times the price at over £1500. As if to prove why, the week we were buying, my mates Golf got swiped off his drive and that made our minds up.

We've got a 2020 VRS245 with the 7 speed dsg and it's fine. I didn't want the newer version with the full tablet dashboard and the owners groups were full of reports of electrical gremlins. Couldn't be bothered with it.

Posted by: Sharkattack

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We've got a 2020 VRS245 with the 7 speed dsg and it's fine

What don't you like about it? Petrol?

Posted by: rockthreegozy

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What don't you like about it? Petrol?

There's nothing I don't like about it really, it's the perfect family car. Yes it's a petrol and it's got a bit of turbo whoosh when you want it. It's got the same e-diff from other fast VAG's so that it doesn't spin the wheels everywhere. It's not 4x4 but our last car was and there was never a single occasion when it was useful. We never saw a snowflake in 2 years of driving it.

We regularly have the boot filled to bursting point transporting kids up and down the motorway. We've got a removable towbar for the bike rack.

It corners pretty flat and doesn't wobble around. I drove a couple of Superb's and they were like hovercrafts in comparison. This one has 19" wheels and I was prepared to switch to 18 if it was too uncomfortable but it's fine.

We looked at the newer model but lurking on the owners groups put me off. Lots of people had cars that were back and forth to the dealer all the time or otherwise paralysed by electrical faults.

I think this one will be around for a while.