New Octavia ....when? How Much?

[vEnOm_oz]

Do you have a link for the US store? Thanks.

I asked the supplier (UK) and they said to purchase from the US as its cheaper. You can get them from the US for about USD28 shipped. Bugger that the dollar has gone down though. [emoji20] Either way, I'm getting one, cause they look like they have good coverage of the rear area.

[daMama]

Here is a copy, (in part) of the email that was sent to me:
Thanks for your interest in RGM RearGuards. We are RGM's North American distributor. Your information was provided to us as postage from the USA to Australia is FAR less expensive.

You can purchase the Octavia guard from our website: Rear Paint Guards (RPG)

USPS Priority airmail service to Australia is only $28usd per guard.

NOTE: Only Fedex express service can accommodate the parcel size of the
RearGuards from the U.K. The approx cost for 1 guard sent to Australia
from the U.K is 120.00 GBP.

Just hope the Aussie dollar goes back up again soon.

[Buckers]

I'm also keen on getting these bumper protectors.

Noooooo. Group buy anyone? They seem a lot better than other bumper protectors

[GTR27]

Is everyone else getting it because they know their wife will drag stuff across the bumper (shopping etc) ?

[Byron Jetta]

Dumb question: Can I downgrade wheels & tyres on an Octavia Elegance?

I want a diesel, I want leather and I want Columbus, but I really don't want 18" wheels with 45 profile tyres. I live in a region with notoriously bad potholes and I'd be happier running the car with the 205/55/R16 and steel wheels that come with the Ambition. I'd keep the 18's in the garage until it was time to sell.

Alternatively, where can I buy 16" wheels with right stud pattern for Octavia?

[woofy]

look like 18" gemini's and black pack.

Very horn! One day i'll own a black car. When I dont have kids/dog touching it all the time, and have hours every weekend I can spend keeping it looking good.

Congrats!

It's not kids or dogs, we have had always had one black car since birth of my oldest (6.5 now). Its stone chips, carparks and little old ladies who use other peoples cars to touch park or rest their trolleys on. Birdpoo is one to always watch out for. I have had toughseal on all cars as insurance and keep a bucket of soapy water with a chamois in my garage at all times for quick cleans. No issues with etching. Just any little scratch shows up in the clearcoat. This will be our last black car, all blue from now on.

[GTR27]

Dumb question: Can I downgrade wheels & tyres on an Octavia Elegance?

I want a diesel, I want leather and I want Columbus, but I really don't want 18" wheels with 45 profile tyres. I live in a region with notoriously bad potholes and I'd be happier running the car with the 205/55/R16 and steel wheels that come with the Ambition. I'd keep the 18's in the garage until it was time to sell.

Alternatively, where can I buy 16" wheels with right stud pattern for Octavia?

I'm sure you could buy some off an ambition as the brakes are the same.

Only issue with keeping your 18s in storage is the tyres will go hard. I'd use them till they are bald, then change.

[Buckers]

Yes - there is already one little scratch on the back bumper due to this...

Is everyone else getting it because they know their wife will drag stuff across the bumper (shopping etc) ?

[sixfignig]

I would go the Octavia. My Superb was a hatch rather than a wagon (pre-dated the wagon), but also bought an Octavia hatch for my wife. I have just bought an RS wagon. It is difficult to sell a Superb (been trying to 6 weeks). The Octavia is a lot better size for general public and looks better. I loved my Superb, but regretted not getting an Octavia wagon.

I ask because a dealer has offered me a Superb Wagon for effectively the exact price of a stock Octavia Ambition Plus Wagon.

[roshea]

Alternatively, where can I buy 16" wheels with right stud pattern for Octavia?

They come up on eBay from time to time, e.g.:

16 Inch Genuine Skoda Superb Octavia VW Golf Jetta Tiguan Passat Alloy Wheels | eBay

You could ask on the Parts for Sale part of this forum:

http://www.vwwatercooled.com/forums/f24/

Wheels from later a model Golf / Passat / Jetta (others?) should also fit, but again there are different sizes.

[vEnOm_oz]

What tint shade - 35%, 50%, 70%, did you choose for the windows? Did you use the same for both front and rear windows, asking because rear already has privacy glass. How is the visibility at night especially the rear. Thanks.

Added the Rearguards bumper protector. Carbon Effect which actually looks like a reasonable facsimile of carbon.

[vEnOm_oz]

I just checked that website, the rearguard protector is listed for USD $148.10 and shipping to Australia was estimated at USD $42.17 and handling USD $13.68. You get a 10% discount as a Facebook follower of their page. Didn't see any mention of the USD $28 shipping.

So the total with the discount comes to USD $189.13.

Here is a copy, (in part) of the email that was sent to me:
Thanks for your interest in RGM RearGuards. We are RGM's North American distributor. Your information was provided to us as postage from the USA to Australia is FAR less expensive.

You can purchase the Octavia guard from our website: Rear Paint Guards (RPG)

USPS Priority airmail service to Australia is only $28usd per guard.

NOTE: Only Fedex express service can accommodate the parcel size of the
RearGuards from the U.K. The approx cost for 1 guard sent to Australia
from the U.K is 120.00 GBP.

Just hope the Aussie dollar goes back up again soon.

[Byron Jetta]

I'm sure you could buy some off an ambition as the brakes are the same.

Only issue with keeping your 18s in storage is the tyres will go hard. I'd use them till they are bald, then change.

Thanks for the tip. I might just flog the tyres on Gumtree then. I'd like to keep the wheels in good condition because a few months driving around here and I'm bound to end up with bent rims.

I've asked dealer if he can supply wheels/tyres from an Ambition.

[Byron Jetta]

They come up on eBay from time to time, e.g.:

16 Inch Genuine Skoda Superb Octavia VW Golf Jetta Tiguan Passat Alloy Wheels | eBay

You could ask on the Parts for Sale part of this forum:

http://www.vwwatercooled.com/forums/f24/

Wheels from later a model Golf / Passat / Jetta (others?) should also fit, but again there are different sizes.

Cool. Thanks.

[brad]

Dumb question: Can I downgrade wheels & tyres on an Octavia Elegance?

I want a diesel, I want leather and I want Columbus, but I really don't want 18" wheels with 45 profile tyres. I live in a region with notoriously bad potholes and I'd be happier running the car with the 205/55/R16 and steel wheels that come with the Ambition. I'd keep the 18's in the garage until it was time to sell.

Alternatively, where can I buy 16" wheels with right stud pattern for Octavia?

it's the same stud pattern as a Golf or Passat - just keep an eye on forums, gumtree & ebay or your local tyre place can do something for about $120-$150 per wheel.

If you stor ethe 18"s the rubber will go off after about 3 years so you are better off trying to negotiate a downgrade with the dealer.

What size brakes does the Elegance have as 312mm is the largest you can go with 16"s.

i thought the Elegance had 17s standard?

edit: cheapest wheels you'll get will be 16x7.5 Audi A4 rims. People can't give them away. I just sold a set for $170 & thought I did well. I've seen them sell for $100. 7.5" will give you a nicer stance than the OEM 6.5"