Skoda Octavia Wagon or Golf Wagon

[K4neX]

To avoid any confusion; the Twincharged 1.4ltr engine is not being put in new model vehicles.

The Golf comes with 90TSI (1.4T) and 103TSI (1.4T); the Octavia comes with 103TSI (1.4T) and 132TSI (1.8T).
All of the 1.4T engines are the same, just with different software.
They all come with the DQ200 7-speed dry clutch DSG which has a torque limit of 250Nm. As such, the 1.4T and 1.8T all have a torque limit of 250Nm.

Is your wife wanting a manual, or a DSG?


EDIT: Sorry, 90TSI (1.4T) Golf only has 200Nm

DSG / Auto

[spud75]

It is not just Australia that there is a long wait for Octy's. It is the same in Europe. The new model upped the ante and is being snapped up everywhere. Skoda cant build enough at the moment.

Personally, I like the look of the Octy over the golf. I considered for about 3 mins looking at the golf, then seeing as there was no RS equivalent, that went out the window. Having driven a Mk7 golf, I find they have 'cheapened' the brand and finish to get the price point, whereas Skoda has improved. Have a look at the front guard panel behind the front door when the door is open. Skoda fill in the gap, the VW is open and crude.

The layout of the interior is more user friendly that the golf.

Golf you will pay more, purely as it is a golf. Ironically the golf is always to compared to Mazda 3, corolla, Hyundai i30, Focus, but never Octy.

Put this in perspective, if Skoda didnt exist, we would probably be driving VW, but Skoda exists, and everyone one here has gone the Skoda route. Why is that?

The mk3 Octavia is a gem, much better driving dynamics than mk2 and has some great user features. In many cases teh Skodas are more reliable than the VW.

Go drive the golf, but I bet you will feel better and more inclined the Skoda after driving the Octy. FWIW, I had a good close look the new RS and std Octy wagon at a dealership 2 days ago whilst mine was in for 12mth service.

[Mountainman]

I have not test driven the Golf as yet but for those who have driven both, do you think the 90TSI will be a bit behind the 103TSI in terms of going uphill and carrying load?

Look at the specs - 90kW/200Nm v 103kW/250Nm - and you'd think there should be quite a difference between them, yet in the March edition of "Wheels" magazine they tested a Golf TSI 103 DSG back to back with a Golf TSI 90 manual (and two Mazda3's) and there was not much between them performance wise and the 90 was a fair bit more economical (which also contradicts VW's claims). The Golf's advantages of multi-link rear suspension & higher retained value need to be weighed up against the Octavia's extra room also as well as differences in equipment and which interior appeals to you the most. I don't reckon you could go wrong with either.

[Legion]

You should be buying used What's your actual budget?

[iamthestig]

Have been considering a RS TSI Wagon but sanity seems to be prevailing so I may get a Ambition Plus Wagon instead. I would prefer a manual and don't want leather so that rules out the Elegance, but the downer is standard AC not dual climate - arrrggghhh...

Looked at the Golf but no manual availability and the inferior SatNav system plus price and space makes the Octavia my choice out of the two...

[brenno]

I dont think there are any manuals in australia are there? I havent seen any, and dealers dont seem to be sharing stock. If There was a manual ambition+ wagon in oz, i'd buy it now!

Damn skoda and their stupid long wait times...

A couple of manual wagons have popped up on Carsales listed as being in stock, although I suspect it is a dealer being a little deceiving and listing cars that they don't actually have in stock, but are en route to Australia

2014 Skoda Octavia NE Ambition Plus 103TSI MY14

2014 Skoda Octavia NE Ambition 103TSI MY14

[K4neX]

Test drove the Golf Wagon 90TSI Comfortline trim and the Skoda Octavia Ambition Plus hatch with Tech Pack (the dealer didn't have that in wagon). My thoughts

1. Engine: Feels quite similar but need to find a good hill to see if there is much difference, and also need to have rear passengers next time.

2. Have the driver seat setup to my usual driving position, I have got more knee room in the back seats in the Octavia, almost a palm's length. Only half a palm in the golf

3. The Golf is quieter, ride is a bit more sporty and composed.

4. Dashboard. The one in golf is a bit like a wall, it is flat and has lots of empty panel space that makes the touch screen really small lol, though it has the same screen as the Octavia. And the golf dash board is quite plastic. Octavia is more classy, yes it is plastic too but because there is no big empty panel space around the screen, doesn't feel as plastic.

5. Interior: Apart from the dash, no soft touch material, all hard plastic on the door trims in the Octavia. Golf is a bit nicer. BUT, in the dealer's golf already some scratch marks on the soft touch surface.

6. Boot: although with the seat up, the golf should have a bigger boot, but it seems a bit smaller than the Octavia (when compare to the Elegance wagon that the dealer has), it was because the Octavia has a wider opening. No reversible boot mat in the Golf, Octavia does

7. Reverse camera on the Golf has a pretty low resolution, everything is a bit smudgy lol, it is handy but i found myself having my eyes glued to the screen.

Overall, a tough choice, it really depends on price deals and availability.

[Terryible]

Thanks for the review k4nex.
i think we will buying the golf just due to the wait on the Octavia is far too long

[dArK5HaD0w]

i think we will buying the golf just due to the wait on the Octavia is far too long

Beecause of the wait times on skodas, vw aus have done well to protect their own, knowing that ppl r going to end up buying a vw cause there r plenty of stock on hand.

[KWICKS]

I don't know that VW Aus could get the Skoda's any quicker if they had wanted. (Opinion not fact).

[SS01]

Not too many manuals around, mine is due to dock on the 13th May, with an expected delivery end of that month.

There are some in the system, but you will have to go chasing for them. Mine is:

Skoda Octavia Ambition Plus Wagon:

Brilliant Silver
Manual
Tech Package
Auto Tailgate
Tint

Looking forward to getting my hands on this baby .
I had to forego the Alaris 18's in the end, but I'll upgrade the wheels at a later stage.

[K4neX]

Not too many manuals around, mine is due to dock on the 13th May, with an expected delivery end of that month.

There are some in the system, but you will have to go chasing for them. Mine is:

Skoda Octavia Ambition Plus Wagon:

Brilliant Silver
Manual
Tech Package
Auto Tailgate
Tint

Looking forward to getting my hands on this baby .
I had to forego the Alaris 18's in the end, but I'll upgrade the wheels at a later stage.

Hope you will get it sooner!

Just a question, did you pay extra for tinting? I thought it comes standard.

[brad]

Just a question, did you pay extra for tinting? I thought it comes standard.

They might have thrown it in "for free" but ultimately he paid for it. When I bought my barina the sales person said "You can have the tint for free or I can knock $200 off the price".... WTF?

Most Australian delivered cars have come standard with tint windows for the last 20 years. It's usually only about 95%VLT so not visually noticeable.
Privacy glass on the rear doors & window has been fairly common on the range topping models for about 5 years(??) Unfortunately privacy glass doesn't block UV to any great extent so if you wish to block UV you need to add aftermarket clear film. Also, IMO, privacy glass + 95% VLT front windows looks pretty stupid so the lines of the vehicle flow better if you get the fronts matched as close as possible to the privacy glass with aftermarket film.

You can usually tell what OEM tint level the glass is by looking for an etched symbol on the glass with a number inside it. The number is the level of tint.

[SS01]

Unfortunately you will always pay, even when its thrown in, it just means they had the margin to do so. I should know, up until a week ago, I was working at a Volkswagen Dealership as a Salesman.
I cant wait, if it comes in sooner, I will be ecstatic, but until then, I will be patient haha.

[MJKooLio]

Buy the RS!