Octavia vRS - Up Close & Personal

[brad]

Superb AWD with aftermarket +25mm springs? Get the springs done +30% springrate & should be all good

[Jake02]

I agree entirely that VAG are unlikely to make the Superb Scout, but that doesn't help me at all, and could even push me back into the hands of Subaru in a couple of years. $110k+ for an A6 Allroad, if they're still making it then, is just over the odds.

What is the ground clearance on the Superb? I just remember the mess of the underfloor on my Golf, and don't think I should head back there.....

By then there'll hopefully be the new generation Octavia which I heard is going for head of the medium-sized class. Eg, they're adding a bit of room to the car (which is the only thing needed IMO). My dad's 6.2 and I'm currently 6.0 and sitting behind him I have no problems.

[CanberravRS]

Superb AWD with aftermarket +25mm springs? Get the springs done +30% springrate & should be all good

You would need extended Shocks and change the swaybars, lengthen the lower control arms, lengthen the driveshafts etc.. its not as easy to raise a car as you think.

[brad]

You would need extended Shocks and change the swaybars, lengthen the lower control arms, lengthen the driveshafts etc.. its not as easy to raise a car as you think.

I don't think you would for 25mm but each case has to be thought about individually. Let's face it, when you jack up the car off the body, the suspension has about 100mm (?) sag in it before the tyre comes off the ground, so there's a bit of room to play with there.

I guess it depends how adjustable the front & rear camber is, as that will tend to go +ve as you lift the normal ride height.

I've lifted the bum/incresed spring rate on a few Libertys. Also looked at doing a mates Brumby once. +50mm body kit was pretty common & didn't require any of the items you mentioned. BTW, you forgot flexible brake lines, which sometimes get a bit stretched when you go upwards too far (plus gear linkages, tailshaft angles/slipshaft length & a few other bits & pieces)

I've also done a few Holden wagons & 1 tonners, a couple of Fords, a few Valiants, a few Hiluxes, lots of Taragos, etc (the last three are easy - torsion bar suspension up front - just wind it up & reset the geometry). Sure - most of them are live axle rear but there's usually a fair bit of room to play with. If you can lower 25mm-50mm without issue, you can usually go up a bit too.

Even if you just increase the spring rate so the car doesn't sag as much when there's a couple of passengers & a boot full of gear, that can help (HELLO! GEN4 Liberty, can you hear me?).

The other thing I looked at on Subarus was shim plate (4-6mm thick) between the strut tops & the body - simply using up the full length of the strut top bolts. Also, i started designing a big spacer (25-40mm) that was slightly eccentric (for camber correction) but shelved that idea when i decided an Outback wasn't my cup of tea.

Not boasting or anything, just trying to convey that I didn't just pull the idea out my bum - but you are right, you need to get the vehicle up on the hoist & have a coke & a smoke & a look around & make sure you aren't creating a rod for your own back. And of course, the moment you fit aftermarket springs (up or down), warranty for associated systems is in jeopardy.

[K1W1]

Brad I would have thought that if you had done lifts on Brumbys you would know the problems with lifting front drive vehicles and how quickly you kill CV joints. Sure the suspension sags when you lift a car up just like it compresses when you hit a bump but the drive train is not designed you run for tens of thousands of kms at the upper or lower end of the suspension travel. It's designed to work at the factory ride height. Holdens, Fords, Toyota Hiluxes and Valiants are entirely different beasts with completely different drive trains and suspension set ups from modern all independent, front drive oriented car style vehicles.

I'd love to see an Outback or Scout style AWD Superb Wagon I think it could be a good seller in Australia but seeing as the AWD is only offered as the premium product in the range I can't see Skoda suddenly putting it on the diesel variant with a lower spec level which is where most of the potential sales would be.

[brad]

Brad I would have thought that if you had done lifts on Brumbys you would know the problems with lifting front drive vehicles and how quickly you kill CV joints. Sure the suspension sags when you lift a car up just like it compresses when you hit a bump but the drive train is not designed you run for tens of thousands of kms at the upper or lower end of the suspension travel. It's designed to work at the factory ride height. Holdens, Fords, Toyota Hiluxes and Valiants are entirely different beasts with completely different drive trains and suspension set ups from modern all independent, front drive oriented car style vehicles.

I'd love to see an Outback or Scout style AWD Superb Wagon I think it could be a good seller in Australia but seeing as the AWD is only offered as the premium product in the range I can't see Skoda suddenly putting it on the diesel variant with a lower spec level which is where most of the potential sales would be.

yeah, the CVs die a bit quicker, but these guys that wanted lift were killing lots of other things as well.....

Let's face it, Skoda offer -15mm (125mm clearance) as a factory option on the base Octavia (140mm clearance). The Scout is +40mm (180mm clearance) isn't it? I really doubt there are any changes beyond springs & strut housings. LCAs, CVs, etc would be the same between the scout & the (now discontinued in Australia) 4x4.

I would still be happy adding +25mm springs with an uprated spring rate.

I think a Superb "Scout" would have all the bells & whistles & still be a V6 - a luxury SUV.

[CanberravRS]

I think a Superb "Scout" would have all the bells & whistles & still be a V6 - a luxury SUV.

I'd rather hope they don't do that, as it would detract from what the car is.. a wagon! 96% of all SUV owners never go offroad and just want to be king of the road towering over everyone.
I seriously think a Scout version would detract from the fact that its a luxury car, not an off roader.

[K1W1]

96% of all SUV owners never go offroad a

Are you trying to say that 4% actually do go off road?

[CanberravRS]

HAHAHAHA well, random figures from motoring associations web sites there.

[brad]

I'd rather hope they don't do that, as it would detract from what the car is.. a wagon! 96% of all SUV owners never go offroad and just want to be king of the road towering over everyone.
I seriously think a Scout version would detract from the fact that its a luxury car, not an off roader.

We've had a few SUVs. Got them because we wanted 5+2 seating & stupid Gov't list only had 7 seaters in SUV bodyshape - or a Toyota Avensis, which were great when they first came out (had 2 on the trot) but they didn't keep up with safety improvements. SUV was great down the snow & on the road to Wombeyan Caves, etc. We had a Commodore at one stage & it scraped it's belly all the time. Giving "normal" cars another go come December as we have managed with 5 seats in the last 9 months. Trying a Mondeo wagon. Asked if we could get a Skoda but it was too "out there" for the Fleet Manager.

[K1W1]

Asked if we could get a Skoda but it was too "out there" for the Fleet Manager.

One of the NZ Govt departments is a big Octavia wagon buyer. I think it might be Forestry.

[Inego]

I think I've posted before that NSW Ambulance has at least one Scout, down in Goulburn.

Not meaning to hijack the thread ( ) but I've realised over the years I want increased clearance but not a dumb SUV, as 99% of the time the car is nowhere near a gravel road. The Outback has grown over the years and is now the hieght of a small SUV (CX7 etc), with 220mm clearance - where's the point of the boxer engine if you're bumping up the CoG with roof and ride height?

The boys might just have to squeeze into the next series Scout? (not too much of a squeeze - my wife is 5'9" and I've been happy sitting behind her for short trips in the current Scout)

[selurs]

I'm about to do a 4000k round trip to adelaide in the VRS, so I'm looking forward to comparing experiences with the XR6 turbo I had. I have a feeling the fuel economy will be the main win for the VRS - I'm not sure where the comfort will stand, the ride is a bit more firm - the falcon was on helluva a good mile eater. I suppose I'll know when I get out of the first 6 hour stint!

Wow...this thread moves fast - sorry to drag up a post from all of yesterday!

Anyway, I can vouch for the RS's long distance cred - did Perth-Carnarvon (and back again) over Easter this year...that's over 900kms in a day and I've never felt fresher getting out of a car - it handles driving distances incredibly well. Just effortlessly eats up the kilometres.

That said fuel economy wasn't great for such a long distance (around the 7-7.5l/100kms mark), but the outside temperatures weren't exactly cool, and it is a turbo-charged engine after all.