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Just returned from the UK where I drove/rode in a few different vehicles and I have a tendency to compare with my car.
Main driving car was a Ford Focus Estate with the 3 cylinder turbo (think it was Euro engine of the year a couple of times).
The Estate (or wagon if you prefer) is not available here but is actually pretty good and would have been a strong contender when I was buying last year if Ford had the vision to allow it.
Focus internal space is down, of course, adequate for average size people but the Focus seats are far more comfortable front and rear.
Focus radio with DAB was very clear and the sound excellent with good tight bass even at low volumes. Lot better than my Octavia with 8 speakers.
External visibility was a lot better than I thought it would be, especially for reversing (missed the sensors on my Octavia though).
The engine was interesting, remarkably smooth for a 3 cylinder but any sort of reasonable progress required a lot of accelerator pedal movement.
Definitely more potential for economy than the Octavia 1.4 but the reality of driving in UK traffic meant a similar mid 40's mpg similar to what I achieve with mine in Aus even with the bigger car and bigger engine. Ditto on an extended run.
Not a fan of the auto stop/start feature especially in stop/start traffic when it wanted to stop when I wanted to start, but it could be easily switched off.
The 6 speed manual gearbox was incredible, longer throws than the Octavia but buttery smooth with absolutely no notchiness - loved it!
The clutch however was very light and the bite point seemed indeterminate so not as good as the Octavia.
Focus ride. handling and steering were well suited to English roads and compared well to the Mk3, which it should considering it has a multi link rear suspension. Mk2 had better steering than both IMO.
Other cars I drove were a Rover 75 diesel estate manual. Fitted with the best ever leather armchairs and a real mile muncher. Clutch was amazingly heavy though and so was a chore around town. Otherwise for an older car it had a fair blend of comfort, performance, economy and space.
Totally irrelevant but the other car I spent some time driving around English country lanes was a restored open top Triumph TR6.
No steering assistance, but just add a bit of power through the bend and the lightness and accuracy was remarkable. Parking was bit more strenuous.
Memorable experience driving it on a warm summer's day drive to my old gliding airfield which is now a centre for historical aircraft restoration and happened to see a privately owned Merlin engine Spitfire land. Heaven on a stick!
Passenger experiences: new Fiesta rated as very cramped, old Yaris (our Echo) rated as ballroom space by comparison.
Now back in Aus and driving the Mk3 I just thank VAG that they give us the estate (sorry wagon) versions of their cars.
The easy performance and economy available from the 1.4tsi is quite remarkable even if my wife driving it on a large number of short 2 km journeys during my absence has killed the economy figures somewhat.
The Octavia does have a lot more competition in the UK (not just within its own group) but there is not much here to compare to its combination of space, ride/handling/steering, performance and economy for the price.
Main driving car was a Ford Focus Estate with the 3 cylinder turbo (think it was Euro engine of the year a couple of times).
The Estate (or wagon if you prefer) is not available here but is actually pretty good and would have been a strong contender when I was buying last year if Ford had the vision to allow it.
Focus internal space is down, of course, adequate for average size people but the Focus seats are far more comfortable front and rear.
Focus radio with DAB was very clear and the sound excellent with good tight bass even at low volumes. Lot better than my Octavia with 8 speakers.
External visibility was a lot better than I thought it would be, especially for reversing (missed the sensors on my Octavia though).
The engine was interesting, remarkably smooth for a 3 cylinder but any sort of reasonable progress required a lot of accelerator pedal movement.
Definitely more potential for economy than the Octavia 1.4 but the reality of driving in UK traffic meant a similar mid 40's mpg similar to what I achieve with mine in Aus even with the bigger car and bigger engine. Ditto on an extended run.
Not a fan of the auto stop/start feature especially in stop/start traffic when it wanted to stop when I wanted to start, but it could be easily switched off.
The 6 speed manual gearbox was incredible, longer throws than the Octavia but buttery smooth with absolutely no notchiness - loved it!
The clutch however was very light and the bite point seemed indeterminate so not as good as the Octavia.
Focus ride. handling and steering were well suited to English roads and compared well to the Mk3, which it should considering it has a multi link rear suspension. Mk2 had better steering than both IMO.
Other cars I drove were a Rover 75 diesel estate manual. Fitted with the best ever leather armchairs and a real mile muncher. Clutch was amazingly heavy though and so was a chore around town. Otherwise for an older car it had a fair blend of comfort, performance, economy and space.
Totally irrelevant but the other car I spent some time driving around English country lanes was a restored open top Triumph TR6.
No steering assistance, but just add a bit of power through the bend and the lightness and accuracy was remarkable. Parking was bit more strenuous.
Memorable experience driving it on a warm summer's day drive to my old gliding airfield which is now a centre for historical aircraft restoration and happened to see a privately owned Merlin engine Spitfire land. Heaven on a stick!
Passenger experiences: new Fiesta rated as very cramped, old Yaris (our Echo) rated as ballroom space by comparison.
Now back in Aus and driving the Mk3 I just thank VAG that they give us the estate (sorry wagon) versions of their cars.
The easy performance and economy available from the 1.4tsi is quite remarkable even if my wife driving it on a large number of short 2 km journeys during my absence has killed the economy figures somewhat.
The Octavia does have a lot more competition in the UK (not just within its own group) but there is not much here to compare to its combination of space, ride/handling/steering, performance and economy for the price.
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