Looking for a new car....

[Bigred]

I am stuck between the Octavia tsi118 and the Mazda cx7 classic. I know that these are totally different car in style, its the cost that is limiting my choice.

Any way am looking for advice about owning an Octavia. The good and the bad.

Is the fuel consumption correct or are they blowing smoke with their figures?

Does the Octavia have to be run the premium unleaded? What damage if it's run on normal unleaded?

This is my first post and thanks in advance.

Bigred

[K1W1]

Welcome.
There are a lot of former Mazda and Subaru owners here so that may tell you something.
I compared the diesel 6 with the vRS TDI and the Skoda won hands down. One thing I hated about the 6 was the really plastic look of the interior and for me at least uncomfortable seats. I think the 6 may have had a slightly nicer gearbox (manual) but there is nothing wrong with the Skoda one and of course comparing the DSG with a old style Mazda auto really isn't a fair comparison.
You will be amazed about how much stuff you can fit into the Skoda. From a practical point of view the luggage space is huge.
I can't comment directly on the TSI fuel economy but everything I have heard and read says it's very good.
Mechanically you shouldn't expect any issues with either car so what it really boils down to is which you prefer driving and the deal available. Skoda dealers will deal.

[anthony]

Personally I would go for the Mazda...

[K1W1]

Spoken like a true VW owner.

I'm guessing that around here VW owners are just like BMW GS owners on ADV bike forums.

[woofy]

To be honest, I'd go the normal 6 classic over the CX-7, they are a lot smaller, use a tonne of fuel, the diesel variant seems to have weird/expensive servicing as well. If you do around 15k/yr you'll be better off with servicing costs with the Skoda. Fuel wise, they use less than a Mazda 6, definitely less than a CX-7.

[gerhard]

Why do people who are considering a CX7, which drinks fuel like a sailor on leave, express concern that a Skoda requires premium fuel.

A litre of premium is much cheaper than a gallon of regular, after all.

[bobski]

Why do people who are considering a CX7, which drinks fuel like a sailor on leave, express concern that a Skoda requires premium fuel.

Agree, its probably around the same based on the claimed usage if its the classic with the 2 litre engine. You'd probably tire of having to pedal it hard wherever you go to maintain momentum, while the TSI is syrupy smooth. If you are talking about the classic sports with the turbo though, the fuel consumption in those is astronomical, so I don't think fuel type would matter.

[Bigred]

Why do people who are considering a CX7, which drinks fuel like a sailor on leave, express concern that a Skoda requires premium fuel.

A litre of premium is much cheaper than a gallon of regular, after all.

I know what you mean about the fuel. What am really looking for is value for money when buying a new car. Both of the said cars come with a good spec as standard and there is one of each for a good price in WA. But I can feel myself sliding closer to the Skoda now.

Thanks for the depots from everyone.

[Bigred]

I know what you mean about the fuel. What am really looking for is value for money when buying a new car. Both of the said cars come with a good spec as standard and there is one of each for a good price in WA. But I can feel myself sliding closer to the Skoda now.

Thanks for the depots from everyone.

Sorry iPhone thinks it knows what I want to write. It was meant to say reply not depots.

Cheers

[GTR27]

I was looking at M6 Diesel wagon, cx7 diesel, subaru forester diesel/XT....pretty much anything that had a decent wagonish boot.

Bought a Octavia vRS TSI - its the best thing i've done.

The Mazda 6/CX7 diesel did feel slightly gutsier than the skoda diesel but, have a google about mazda 6 diesel issues......

The mazdas and the subarus PALED in comparison to build quality of the skoda it is seriously light years ahead.

As for economy - i have been driving it to work the last few weeks - a little bit of traffic, but otherwise 14k of 80kph speed limits, against the flow of traffic. I'm averaging ~7L/100 which is freaking awesome. Have done ~530k on the tank so far and have around a 1/3rd of a tank left.

Who gives a toss if it needs premium (i fill all my vehicles with 9 - performance/economy is great.

The subaru was slightly more practical (interior), but also more expensive! and HIDEOUS interior quality....seriously solid plastic dash felt like it was made of melted down lego bricks - and the diesel was dead set gutless!

[Jake02]

Personally I would go for the Mazda...

Yeah you would!

If you wanted a CX-7 Diesel I'd say look at it but the turbo petrol has shocking lag and consumption and the normal Mazda6 wagon is pretty much identical to CX-7 Classic with the 2.5L petrol and FWD drivetrain. The Octavia has a bigger boot, a much higher quality interior, a much better engine set-up and it's better value. The advantage of a CX-7 is that it's a Mazda, meaning you get the great resale and you get the reliability (because you said the Classic and not the Diesel).

RE fuel economy. In my RS TSI manual today we drove from Sydney to Coffs Harbour on just over half a tank (450km) and at 130km the trip comp said another 810km was to be had. Highway driving yes, but I was very happy! Around town I get about 600km out of a tank which is more than I expected and the fam are certainly not light-footed!

[Gnat]

What am really looking for is value for money when buying a new car.

Thats why I bought it couple months ago, it was amazing value for a "sports hatch". I was looking at/test driving and researching the MPS3, 2 Renaults and XR5. The vRS i'm VERY happy with. Just on 40k for all the bits in my signature. Heaps cheaper that everything else.
I still love the "You bought a what!?" lol
Then put them in the passenger seat and watch their eyebrow raise and crooked grin develop.

Both of the said cars come with a good spec as standard and there is one of each for a good price in WA.

Love my european cars (still got a Renault and a Vectra), just about all the fruit comes standard.
Just the simplest things put a smile on my face, like the clear plastic "clip" on the windscreen pillar to put parking tickets in!

I'm a lead-foot, just clocked up 2000km and I'm impressed how little fuel it uses. When your just cruising at 80 or so in 6th gear, the real-time consumption is a bloody small number.
One thing though, it probably won't ride a soft as some of those you're looking at. Its a harder, drivers car.

But I can feel myself sliding closer to the Skoda now.

Hope to see you as another Perth Skoda convert

[brad]

I am stuck between the Octavia tsi118 and the Mazda cx7 classic. I know that these are totally different car in style, its the cost that is limiting my choice.

Any way am looking for advice about owning an Octavia. The good and the bad.

Is the fuel consumption correct or are they blowing smoke with their figures?

Does the Octavia have to be run the premium unleaded? What damage if it's run on normal unleaded?

This is my first post and thanks in advance.

Bigred

I have a 118tsi manual. Over 62,000km I have averaged 6.8L/100km. It would be lower but I have made some changes (wheels/tyres/engine tune) that weren't kind to fuel consumption. Up until then (30,000km) I was getting 6.6L/100 & it was still improving. The factory figures should be achievable for most drivers unless you are constantly driving in Sydney's Eastern Suburbs or Inner West. The worst single tank I've achieved was 7.8L/100; best 6.1L/100.

You should run the 118tsi on PULP98. The fuel consumption benefits make it only about $200 more per year to run expensive fuel than cheap stuff. Anything e10 will cause a noticeable increase in fuel consumption. You will also notice a definite decrease in low-end torque if you run ULP92 as the engine will sense the detonation, wind back timing, decrease turbo boost & inject more fuel. Just don't do it - you are paying ~$32k for the car, 25,000km worth of PULP98 per year will cost you just under $2500, which isn't much in the scheme of things. Maybe if you can't afford PULP, buy a CR diesel & make your own biodiesel or buy a 90tsi for $28k & use the savings to pay for fuel?

CX7 is a bit of a guzzler in real life isn't it? A mate had one & sold it because of excessive fuel consumption (I'm sure he could have bought a lot of fuel with the depreciation hit he took after 12 months ownership).

The bad: Servicing. The dealers seem intent on bending you over & don't know much about the brand. I can't think of anything else too foul except i should have paid for xenon headlights.

The good: One of the most pleasurable tourers i have ever owned (this is about car #30). I look forward to driving it every day.

[stevebucknor1]

There are a lot of former Mazda and Subaru owners here so that may tell you something. I compared the diesel 6 with the vRS TDI and the Skoda won hands down. One thing I hated about the 6 was the really plastic look of the interior and for me at least uncomfortable seats. It is really amazing and outstanding.

[K1W1]

How do you report a spammer to Mods around here?

stevebucknor1 is a spammer if ever I have seen one (read the posts and check where the link in his sig takes you).

While I'm about it. Transporter your in box is full. I can't send you a PM about this.