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The golf does demand a bit of a premium though!
I'm not sure it actually does command that much of a premium - when you compare like with like the VAG cars seem fairly similar - one might be a bit pricier but with a better finance deal, or - what really gives the appearance of the pecking order - certain brands get more powerful engines, DSG as standard etc.
One of my riding buddies wend from '08 plate 325d M-Sport touring to an Octavia VRS '10 plate, as he wanted a bigger car (the 3 series touring is tiny!).
I was interested to see his thoughts on it, as we were looking for a new estate at the time too. As a passenger, I would say it felt noticeably cheaper inside than the 3 series. He really didn't get on with it and it was gone in 6 months & replaced with a '10 plate A6 Le Mans, which was much nicer (dash looks a bit dated in it though?).
Anyway, all relevant to me, as I was toying with all 3 of the above & an F11 5 series estate.
Ended up with the 5 series - It felt better than all of the above, by a big margin. The boot for sure isn't as big as the Octavia, but it's a much nicer place to be.
I think my wife's old 56 plate A3 feels better screwed together than the Octavia that was half its age 😕
10 plate is a mk2 Octavia.
The mk3 is a big step up in quality.
Ended up with the 5 series - It felt better than all of the above, by a big margin. The boot for sure isn't as big as the Octavia, but it's a much nicer place to be.
I think my wife's old 56 plate A3 feels better screwed together than the Octavia that was half its age
When it boils down to it, I doubt there's much tangible between an Octavia and a Superb - ones bigger, ones smaller - I would bet if you bought the right/wrong one you could have a 'plusher' Octavia and a more 'utilitarian' Superb.
Sorry to keep banging on about it. You need to compare the interior of the Superb not the Octavia to a BMW for the OP. They really are quite different. A five year old Octavia would be the previous model anyway
I should have mentioned - I did look at the Superb, but it was a bit to (please don't take offence) 'old man' for me.
The current one looks better inside, but the 2012 cars I was looking at was pretty hideous.
renton - MemberRenton is your car really 2 different colours ?
Don't know what you mean ? It's quartz metallic grey and has a bit of flip in the paint.
A simple remap from REVO on my Octavia would take it to around 308bhp and save me around 7k over the Golf r estate.
I think they were referring to the first pic, it's a trick of the light but it looks like the middle of your bonnet and the roof is almost purple.
I've driven a few Mercs & BMW's from work, the base model Superb estate they currently have really is an absolute pleasure to drive, & be driven in.
I'd happily own one, & probably will when they come down in price a bit.
Must be just my eyes, the sides look almost Matt grey and the bonnet and roof etc metallic Royal blue
Shite phone camera is all.
All Manufactures offer large fleet discounts and would give their back teeth to provide the fleet for any of the emergency services, Skoda aren't alone in that at all.Perhaps a better question is why so few of them use Vauxhall or Ford considering their fleet prices are about half RRP for the likes of the big rental companies.
All depends on which manufacturer wants their business. Ford and Vauxhall are the biggest sellers in the UK, so don't tend to make such an effort as they don't need to. New entrants / smaller players make more effort. Skoda had a whole program for the Emergency services, big discounts, dedicated conversion service (which also put the cars back to original spec so they could be sold 2nd hand after the Police etc had finished with them).
the 3 series touring is tiny!)
I bought a 120d MSport becuase its what I could afford at the time. A week ago I parked it next to a 3 series - its only 30cm bigger than mine. The Octavia is 10cm shorter than the 3 series.
Not sure I want upgrade TBH, the not so little 120d is a cracking car!
The 1 series hatch has really grown on me, if I could justify swapping my wife's car for a 135 i'd be all over one like a rash 🙂
Mine is a 13 plate 520d...
Isn't that a bit of a sheep in wolf's clothing (to quote the Madison MD when he got his)?
I think my wife's old 56 plate A3 feels better screwed together than the Octavia that was half its age
My colleagues '06 A3 felt full of unnecessary bells and whistles when compared to my old '03 Octy vRS, which was far more fun to drive.
But horses for courses eh? 😉
Pimpmaster - it's the best selling model in range and as it's a company car it's a no brainier tax wise. It is plenty quick for an old duffer like me 😀
I think Beemers must have massive body shells cos they are huge on the outside and small on the inside. I have a yeti it's got more useable room than a x3 and has a much smaller footprint or seems smaller to look at anyway. I really like the look of the new superbs so will look to see what deals are on Dsgs next year. They are using new 7 sp wet clutches now that are supposed to be much more reliable. Next car will be an Auto so we'll see what the reviews say.
I think Beemers must have massive body shells cos they are huge on the outside and small on the inside.
I took the door liner off my Passat's driver's door the other day. There's another skin inside that holds the window and whatnot in, but the cosmetic one still takes up three or four inches of space. Car felt absolutely massive, and was still entirely functional. Lot of wasted space in cars like these.
Totally skimmed this thread so feel free to shot me, but...
When buying a car do you care about any of the things below, I'll reverse the order for the stupid 😉
1, Image
2, Value
3, Comfort
4, residuals
(feel free to rearrange the above)
*, Some idiots that can't distinguish between what they want to what they want to pay
5, the car to be a nice drive before the above
If the answer is 5 then the BMW, if it's * then I give up, any above that then ask a forum 😉
A car has to get me safely, comfortably and reliably from A to B, I spend the minimum required to acheive that.
Buying into brands is for suckers.
Renton
A simple remap from REVO on my Octavia would take it to around 308bhp and save me around 7k over the Golf r estate.
No it doesn't as the Golf R is 4x4. Almost as fun as RWD. I thought VRs is FWD which would be a deal breaker for me (not that I'm in the market-I'll run my '09 325i touring into the ground).
Hob Nob - Member
The 1 series hatch has really grown on me
Likewise. It's basically in this shape a 3 series touring front end inside with a slightly - and only slightly - smaller boot. I've carried bikes around inside, driven 200 mile journeys in comfort and never got less than an indicated 55mpg also. Plus the 2.0d in this car is quite spirited in sport mode and carries a chunk of torque for mway overtakes. It's quite underrated, I suspect becuase the MK1 was such a pup.
Our last one grew on me but it was still pretty ugly but our new current model 1 series is much better. I like the look now, it doesn't hurt my eyes. Lovely car to drive as well.
Mikertroid is 4x4 worth 7k ? Not to me it's not.
With 308bhp ID say it's quite important...?
It's basically in this shape a 3 series touring front end inside with a slightly - and only slightly - smaller boot.
A 3 series touring front end would just be a 3 series front end, and make no mistake, the 3 series isn't massive but it is significantly bigger and more comfortable (for those of average size and above) than a 1 is. The 3 series touring in efficient dynamics spec has to be one of the most versatile and best value vehicles out there. The last one I had returned 60mpg even with old leadfoot here driving it!
It depends what you're after but 300bhp through the front wheels sounds like misery to me!
Either get 4wd or a rear driven car then at least it'll go where you put it!
Some on here are quite close to 300bhp and they do ok without 4wd.
4x4 is likely to come to the petrol VRS as some point, but obvs it'll be impractical to retro-fit.
The fancy diff on the 230 is what attracts me to it rather than the extra 10ps - I believe it's similar to the one on the Sirroco R which is also 300ish PS.
Either way, FWD isn't really a barrier these days, only followers of his holiness Clarkson should think "err front wheel drive".
Some on here are quite close to 300bhp and they do ok without 4wd.
But I bet they are quite heavily engineered with that power in mind. Your Octy probably isn't.
A 3 series touring front end would just be a 3 series front end, and make no mistake, the 3 series isn't massive but it is significantly bigger and more comfortable (for those of average size and above) than a 1 is. The 3 series touring in efficient dynamics spec has to be one of the most versatile and best value vehicles out there. The last one I had returned 60mpg even with old leadfoot here driving it!
As I said you're understating it. I'm almost 6ft not skinny adult, and there's loads of room for me. Part of the 20cm loss to the 3 series is in the back seats, a couple of cm in the front and the rest on the boot granted but I'd fit with my own front seat adjustment no problem. They are very different to the original shape. I wouldn't say it's significantly bigger - I test drove several. I'd say it's marginally bigger.
Octavia's aren't bad cars at all, provided you have never owned a 3 series. Tick the 'just as good as' and 'same engine as an Audi but £4k less' boxes when you order it to ensure your a hoot at dinner parties.
Well I'm a similar size to you, and I was in agony after an hour in a 1 series. It's narrower as well as shorter (as you would expect) and 360L boot space is really tiny.
It's a good little car, but a decent alternative to a 3 it is not.
I'm sure they've great acceleration and have all sorts of gizmos to torque vector the hell out of the nightmare but I'll stick with nice and simple RWD thanks.
I had the misfortune to test drive a V50 T5 Polestar (Basically a previous model Focus ST/RS? Estate) and after 200 metres I knew that decent horsepower through the front wheels wasn't for me. Awful car.
I would, however, be interested in a 4wd VRs in the future or even the 1.8TFSi 4wd which was rapid; I think they've discontinued that model sadly. I'm no badge snob, just I've discovered nice-to-drive cars in my middle age.
It does say it needs a clever diff from the 230 but the chassis copes well with it.
Ha no chance. I find it fast enough as standard.
Bit late to this...
I've got a diesel vRS as a company car and it's really good but very dull but in my mind no duller than the diesel BMW's Audi's etc that were an alternative. It's good because it's brisk enough, is really big, pretty well specc'd etc. It's a competent car and is pretty comfy. The quality is fine and is a big step up from my previous Ford but I don't think it feels as solid as our 330. I've got the hatch and it's pretty vast although I wish I'd got the estate because I think it's better looking.
It's not fair to compar an Octavia to a 5 series because they're a different class of car. A chap at work has just gone from an Octavia to a 520d and keeps trying to do the same...trouble is one was £23k and the other £42k. The Superb is a big step up for the Octavia but is bloody vast. I can't believe how big they are.
As for space, BMW are the masters of the reverse tardis (massive on the outside and diddy on the inside). I'm a big fan but struggle to get excited over the four pot engines. Their big deli you point for me was the six pots. I'd struggle to choose a X20 over the alternative VAG car. However the X30/5 is a no brainer for me. The current 8 speed gear box is rather impressive too.
If you go into the change with your eye open, then there'll be no disappontment. There will be cost savings because it's a cheaper car (although BMW do this too if you look hard enough and the nine M Sport cars have some pretty nasty leather on the steering wheels and gear stick).
@wrecker it's 200mm shorter and only 50mm narrower. Harder a huge decrease, it's not the tiny hatch you are making it out to be which is the common misconception from those stuck with the mk1 in mind is my point to others reading the thread.
I wanted and would still quite like a 3 series, but my point was the surprising relative practicality of my car has made it less of a rush.
Anyway, each to their own of course.
Test drive in Superb SEL Estate booked for this week coming.
Need to then decide - 4x4 Superb estate (SEL 150 diesel) or another 520d Tourer. The cost difference isn't so vast now as BMW are chucking a load into PCP deals as it's an outgoing model next summer...probably less than £45 a month between them....
Not sure if I posted this here but we had Superb Estate as a taxi and it was very nice, leather interior, quiet at motorway speeds, big boot and very comfortable in back.
Now that being said £45 more for the BMW I would go for that assuming it drives ok with a 2 litre with the caveat that I generally like 4x4 for winter/snow grip. Depends if thats a factor for you
We've just been doing a major trawl of the local car supermarkets looking for a replacement for our focus. Contemplated an Octavia or Superb, but the Octavia was disappointing inside and the superb was just too big, do you need that amount of space?
We ended up with a 320d ED, it was the only £10k 3-4 year old car that the interior still felt fresh in consistently. I'd go for a 5 or a 3 tourer if I was having a company car (320d ED would be tax efficient!) the 3 is smaller than the Golf estate et al but it's big enough unless you're regularly lugging big loads (fnar)
I went from a BMW (saloon) to a Jaguar X-type (saloon). All I can say is that the Jag makes the Beemer seem like a tractor - and not even a nice tractor!
I would imagine there would be a similar comparison between the estates - and since they seem to be similarly priced on the second hand market, it might be worth a look.
The new Superb 280 4x4 looks a nice option. Nice and stealth too unlike the VRS which looks like they've been to Halfords to bling it up.
^^^ yeah ! I'd be going for the sensible 150 diesel though 😀
