New Octavia ....when? How Much?

[GTR27]

That's a flawed argument though, What other mid sized wagon can be had for 24-25k?

Cheapest Mazda 6 that's new is 37990 on car sales (2014, < 150ks were the only search options). Hyundai i40 wagon cheapest is 36590, Mondeo wagon cheapest is 32990.

So it's missing a few, cheap options (most of which are fixed by 1500 travel pack) which still mean it's 8-9k cheaper than the cheapest direct competitor. 11-13k cheaper than the other two.

This is why I hate car reviews, they claim to be unbiased, but come up with nonsensical points to mark cars down on.

Realistically, the elegance is the direct competitor, and the level of equipment smashes then out of the park. Comparing top spec, (fully loaded rs) and it's criminal beating over the others.

But anyway, I like having a less popular car, makes us unique. Let the plebs have the others.

[KWICKS]

Price remains a big factor in my decision. To get what I wanted in a car at this price it was new Octavia RS of into the second hand market.

[brenno]

That's a flawed argument though, What other mid sized wagon can be had for 24-25k?

More to the point, which mid-sized wagon, or even sedan, is available without cruise control?

So it's missing a few, cheap options (most of which are fixed by 1500 travel pack) which still mean it's 8-9k cheaper than the cheapest direct competitor. 11-13k cheaper than the other two.

Cruise control is standard on a 16K Polo, and probably more to the point, is standard on arguably the Ambition's main competitor, the cheaper Golf 90TSI.

This is why I hate car reviews, they claim to be unbiased, but come up with nonsensical points to mark cars down on.

Whilst not a review, their argument comes across as pretty solid. How could a car based on such a capable chassis be tuned so poorly? I realise they are exceedingly cheap, but the Ambition really could have been specced more appropriately. Really, how much would cruise control cost to spec for a modern engine?

[GTR27]

Again you are comparing cars in a smaller class. With travel pack specced, it address's all those issues, and is still many thousands cheaper than its competitors. Who would cross shop a micro or small car with a medium? Most people who buy a medium sized car, want a medium sized car, not a small or a micro sized car. The price point it is at, really caters for the people who don't want those extras, and just want the car as cheap as possible. With the travel pack it is similar to a comfort line, but cheaper.

Likewise to your argument, Skoda offer xenon's and adaptive cruise. Only the Mondeo offers adaptive cruise, and only the Mazda 6 offers xenon's (and those are inferior low beam only, and on top spec model). No one else offers manual transmission on anything but the base model, if at all. No one else offers multiple engines at different price points. Why can't they offer them, yet the cheaper Octavia can?

We could go round and round in circles here, but comparing to out of class cars is not apples to apples comparison.

[brenno]

I did. I cross-shopped the Golf and the Octavia. I simply wanted a Golf with a bigger boot. I didn't realise I was getting a Golf with a not-so-Golf like ride.

Xenons and adaptive cruise are wonderful options that should only remain options - I really despise xenon headlights.

Cruise control quite simply should have been standard on the entry model. Wheels Magazine seems to agree.

[muli]

No one else offers multiple engines at different price points. Why can't they offer them, yet the cheaper Octavia can?

I think this is more the case or problem depending how one looks at it in oz as the mondeo is available in europe in the 1.6/2.0 ecoboost engines, and 1.6/2.0 and 2.2 Duratorq diesel engines and the atmo 2.0l engine.

Its same across a lot of cars, even corolla's/yaris/2/3 all have multiple variants of engines to cater to potential buyers.



As far as cruise control goes, should be a simple matter of changing the control stalk and possible enabling something in the VDCS

[GTR27]

I did. I cross-shopped the Golf and the Octavia. I simply wanted a Golf with a bigger boot. I didn't realise I was getting a Golf with a not-so-Golf like ride.

Xenons and adaptive cruise are wonderful options that should only remain options - I really despise xenon headlights.

Cruise control quite simply should have been standard on the entry model. Wheels Magazine seems to agree.

Maybe the golf should offer more space/room for the money? Sure it had cruise, but it's also smaller inside, with a boot just shy of half the size, with a worse engine.

Agree the Octavia doesn't ride as well as the golf, but it's not bad. It's similar to an i30 IMO. If it really bothered you, you can easily fix damping. A set of springs/aftermarket dampers would make a massive difference for ~1k.

Buying a car is about balancing what you want, with the models available. The more you want, the more it will cost. I buy the best starting base, then make a few modifications to get it where I want.

Not sure why you dislike xenon's, they are the best thing since sliced bread! I don't think I'll own another car without them having owned one now they are that good.

If you think the golf is that much better, then buy a golf. I've driven both, and the golf is maybe 5% nicer in a few areas. Ride and interior materials mostly. But it's completely useless as a family car, by the time you stick a pram in the boot you can barely fit groceries in. You couldn't pack the kids up, with a bike suitcases, pram and some bedding for a trip away and fit it all in the boot. You can in the Octavia.

Only you can decide if that space is worth it for you. If I was a single man, or just had a partner, then I'd probably buy the golf. But with kids, it's not even in the same ball park. The golf is just too small.

[Gerrycan]

The travel pack addition to my Ambition wagon manual included 17 inch alloys, cruise, rear sensors, centre armrest with rear vents and upgrade to 8 speakers for what was $1400. A no brainer decision really.
I have not read the Wheels mag but the above reported rejection for harsh ride and boom factors is yet another example of the Jeckell and Hyde ride (love/hate) reported for the torsion bar version from the press and owners. I believe the torsion equipped versions of the Golf suffer similar variations so I can only guess that the quality control from the supplier to VAG for the shocks is very poor.
Personally I think my car is great from (almost) every perspective, so I don't really care whether it wins or not.
I am not keen on too many gadgets in my car from a couple of perspectives, they are something else to go wrong and they would distract me from my enjoyment of driving the car, and it is really enjoyable to drive.
If I need devices to keep me in the correct lane, warn of vehicles in the 'blind' spot or park it for me, then either I should not be driving or I bought the wrong car. That is a personal view but the Octavia can be loaded up to the gills with gadgets if that rocks your boat and another reason why it really is a winner because all requirements are catered for (as long as your shock absorbers are good).

[GTR27]

I think what I'm trying to get at, is it doesn't matter that some things aren't included std because the starting point for the car is so low compared to other cars of its class, you can easily tick that option and still be below the price others start at. Skoda could have included them and had a higher starting price, but I'd prefer they give you that option, rather than forcing it on you.

Like Gerrycan, i dislike forcing all the automatic don't care 'safety' options on people, it makes them lazy drivers. But again, at least Skoda allows that option.

Having a manual option for the car, to me, is the best thing they have done. With the exception of the Renault megane wagon, no other manufacturer offers manual on anything but base spec. Golf wagon isn't available as a manual at all which is an instant fail for me.

[brad]

The Octavia has been eliminated in round one of this year's Wheels COTY citing the poor ride, poor equipment levels and the acoustic boom. Bit of a shame given that on paper it should have been everything last year's winner has (Mk7 Golf), and more.

Interesting & a bit of a statement on the Skoda ownership experience IMO.

Not much you can do about equipment levels, they are what they are but I wonder whether the journalists were actually aware of a lot of the features / equipment of the vehicle as I always thought they had more toys than most other vehicles.

Poor ride - makes me wonder how well the car was prepared. Has someone, yet again, left the delivery chocks in the springs? What pressure did the tyres have? What tyres were they? And did anyone at PD check the wheel alignment?

Acoustic boom - Skoda is aware that some cars have this issue. You'd think they'd make sure the press fleet vehicle was a good one.

Perception is reality. If they chucked it out in round 1 then there's obviously an issue.

Any links to the article?

[99Reza]

I always feel that my rs is doing a good job mimicking the ride of a merc c-class (I have one park next to the RS). Even my wife who doesn't really care commented it as well. She prefer to ride in certain cars as she get pretty bad motion sickness, talking about high maintenance... .

As a testament to how settle the ride on the rs is, two weekends ago we were doing some photoshoot in QUT carpark under the freeway. My sister has placed her ipad on the roof of the skoda with one side resting against the passenger side roof rail. We forgot about the ipad until we have parked in a different location in the city. To our surprise the ipad still remained in the original spot. I drove normally and there was plenty of speedbump getting out of QUT carpark. I think that was awesome.

[GTR27]

Interesting & a bit of a statement on the Skoda ownership experience IMO.

Not much you can do about equipment levels, they are what they are but I wonder whether the journalists were actually aware of a lot of the features / equipment of the vehicle as I always thought they had more toys than most other vehicles.

Poor ride - makes me wonder how well the car was prepared. Has someone, yet again, left the delivery chocks in the springs? What pressure did the tyres have? What tyres were they? And did anyone at PD check the wheel alignment?

Acoustic boom - Skoda is aware that some cars have this issue. You'd think they'd make sure the press fleet vehicle was a good one.

Perception is reality. If they chucked it out in round 1 then there's obviously an issue.

Any links to the article?

To me that is a bigger issue you have hit the nail on the head. Why wouldn't they check that a press car was perfect? It shows they must not really care about these awards to let simple things like that slip through.

Agreed earlier cars could have the booming issue (mine thank goodness is fine) and the cars certainly aren't without flaws. But journos obviously have their own agenda/ideas of what should and shouldn't be included. I think lack of isofix mount points should be an instant fail, but that's because I'm a parent. A journo that doesn't have kids might not look at features like that as important.

[RedBen]

Isofix here is a joke anyway. You still need to us the anchor straps by law. We bought our second car with Isofix at the top of the list and, because of the stupid car-seat regulations, didn't bother getting an Isofix seat.

I chose the RS because a similarly spec'd Euro car would cost me twice as much, ie A4 with 220+hp and the same equipment. If the R Wagon was available I may have looked at it but value for money, the RS is unreal.

The only wagon they seem to class as close here is the SV6 Sportswagon. No competition as far as I'm concerned.

[brenno]

Interesting & a bit of a statement on the Skoda ownership experience IMO.

Not much you can do about equipment levels, they are what they are but I wonder whether the journalists were actually aware of a lot of the features / equipment of the vehicle as I always thought they had more toys than most other vehicles.

The text didn't put the Ambition model in a particularly good light, and I can certainly see their point. It *could* have been the breadwinner for Skoda, and there's enough 90TSI Golfs around to support my theory. There was reference to the more up-spec models representing greater value though.

What they also highlighted was the lack of rear air vents if you don't up-spec with the ridiculously named travel pack. I can't recall anything mentioned in the brochure about that!

Poor ride - makes me wonder how well the car was prepared. Has someone, yet again, left the delivery chocks in the springs? What pressure did the tyres have? What tyres were they? And did anyone at PD check the wheel alignment?

Unfortunately, that's just how they are even with recommended pressure. Tyres with Skoda/VWA are a random affair - you get whatever is laying around at the time. Wheels had three cars to assess - an Ambition, a TDI Elegance wagon and a VRS. I don't think even Skoda, with the reputation for hilarity they have unfortunately earned over the years, would even manage to deliver three press cars without a full delivery being complete.

Any links to the article?

Paid article I'm afraid.

[bbcrowdog]

New Octavia ....when? How Much?

Agreed earlier cars could have the booming issue.

I drove an MY15 RS manual hatch recently that was afflicted by what I assume was this issue. Boom isn't probably the right word - hard to tie down if it is a noise or pressure thing.