Golf R / R wagon vs GTI vs Skoda Octavia RS - purchase decision

[tigger73]

Haha, not a bad setup! But not for me. Tig is about to be replaced and I'm not sold on SUVs as a body shape, I need my cars to handle. But if I was, this would be a cracking option.

Fair enough on the old model - I'd have to agree with you that it has to be MQB platform or nothing. Pity the new Passat engine choices are a little uninspiring. I looked at the Octavia for a while when I was shopping for new cars early this year, but the 2 things that I saw as a downside was FWD and the resale. Given I swap cars every 3 years I couldn't afford to get the Octy unless I got it at a significant discount... and I wasn't about to sign up for the battleship grey just to save the extra $5k. I reckon you'd lose it on the other end trying to offload it.

[afterdarker]

Golf R / R wagon vs GTI vs Skoda Octavia RS - purchase decision

I am biased - as I have 2 kids and a furniture business. Had 2 Octavias (wagon and sedan) Golf and and a Yeti. Current Octavia RS wagon. You will be glad you got the Skoda every time the family gets in the car. With the Golf you will sometimes be cursing yourself, why didn't I get the Skoda? Serious. The Skoda fits all the **** and kids = lots of junk to cart around (besides the actual kids themselves ha ha) and their mates. You are going to be a family taxi driver for the next 10 years - do it in style - get the Skoda vRS.

My kids think it is an awesome car by the way; they love the sound system, love the space, having mates in the back is never a problem. And I love to drive the thing. Exhaust note? Come on, that is nothing to fix and if you are a keen driver you can put a chip and an exhaust on it and boost power by easily 10% so I am told. But I would not bother as it has excellent performance as is.

[Antiplastix]

I traded my 2009 vRS Wagon in 2014 on a new Elegance TDI Wagon and got $20 k back. That was 50% after 5 years, but I'm pedantic about my car and it still looked new.

[bobski]

Mate, I'll buy it off you for $14k in 3 years. They are ripping you off, sell it privately. IIRC, for my 2010 RS I got nearly 40% of the purchase price after 5 years and 93000km.

As for the choice, drive them back to back. But don't fall into the trap of being told what the resale value will be to secure "good finance". Do the sums from start to finish, good upfront usually means dodgy back end.

[dArK5HaD0w]

or maybe wait a bit longer and get the new, soon to be released, 2016 superb awd
same cracker engine as the golf r. i'm surprised the new passat doesn't get this engine!!
wagon or liftback option with more space than the octavia.
probably b alot cheaper than the golf r wagon.

unfortunately it won't hit our showroom floors untill next year!!

[donweather]

unfortunately it won't hit our showroom floors untill next year!!

Why are VAG taking so long to bring it to our shores? Don't want it to over-shadow the new release of the Passat B8?

[bobski]

Why are VAG taking so long to bring it to our shores? Don't want it to over-shadow the new release of the Passat B8?

Supply perhaps? My wife loves her Superb, but misses the pazing of the RS. 206 killerwasps would definitely solve that issue. Perhaps I should chip the superb without telling her and see if she notices.

[woofy]

Yeah I was going to suggest the Superb, but you mentioned the R36 would be too big. From what I know you can order them now, they will be hitting the showroom around March. I thought about it but the RS Octy wagon suits us better.

[hobbie2k]

Have you considered an Octavia RS230? I heard it was coming to Aus and should have the extra noise and performance you want without dropping an extra $20k on a golf r.

[GTR27]

SUV is a sham with kids. You only lift kids in when they are very young. This also means they are very small/light.

From about 2yo kids will want to climb in themselves and sedan/wagon kills an SUV in this respect. The boot size (sedan or wagon) is the Easy sell. You can chuck everything in and more. Unless you buy a gigantic SUV you won't come close to fitting the same amount in the boot. Then you will have the problem of harder to park. The Octavia feels just like a golf with a slightly longer rear end.

From a performance perspective a mk3 Octavia rs will be faster than your 3 door gti anyway. It's not a golf r, but it's also lots more practical with better cabin room and a larger more usable boot. Resale isn't as bad as they have scared you with, it's barely worse than a vw. You don't buy a new car if you're going to turn it over frequently unless you like pissing money away, regardless of make.

IMO for a family, the Octavia rs is a bargain with nothing else in a similar price bracket offering MANUAL gearboxes and sportiness.

If you are cool with auto, look at a new Mondeo, but it will be 10k more

[dArK5HaD0w]

SUV is a sham with kids. You only lift kids in when they are very young. This also means they are very small/light.

From about 2yo kids will want to climb in themselves and sedan/wagon kills an SUV in this respect. The boot size (sedan or wagon) is the Easy sell. You can chuck everything in and more. Unless you buy a gigantic SUV you won't come close to fitting the same amount in the boot.

my exact thoughts - SUVs are fad these days. people buy them cause its the latest craze, and say kids/room/practicality - pffftt i say!!
the octavia, even in liftback form, can carry a lot more stuff than most of the SUVs out there
....and that's with the seats up.

[tinto]

That's some solid confirmation bias lads.

You're missing the point of the SUV though. Some of it is psychological.
It's usually not a car you *love*... That makes it perfect for young kids and family harmony.
Get a car you love and you'll be the ******* parent telling their kids not to eat in the car, feet off the seat etc.
All that at an age (up to around 2) where they haven't got a clue what they're doing wrong. That makes for a bad day out.

I have a R36 wagon and I wouldn't want it as the family car... Because I like it too much. Plus alcantara.
I'm also a bit of an ******* when stuff inevitably gets spilled, crumbs distributed and yoghurt squelched.
And it won't take a pram and a kids bike without belting the hell out of the interior.

Having kids means you just want to get on with life and not spend time preening your only car like a peacock.
One or both parents are walking dead for the first year so you want to take the space nearest to the mall door, with two beaten holdens on either side and a huge kerb that would rip off a normal car's lip, not park away from everyone else and drag all the kid crap with you. Plus it's a long walk when you're a zombie.

An SUV accomodates this pending apocalypse with a range of scuff-happy plastics and fat tyres protecting the wheels.
...do they still sell the scout?

I'm not being critical of the Octavia (I'll be looking at one when the kids are older), but practicality and reality goes beyond boot space.

[GTR27]

So what your saying is you buy an SUV because you dont like it, don't care if it's damaged or trashed and horrible plastics is the best redeeming feature? Surely an old falcon or commodore is both cheaper to buy, cheaper to repair and with more space than a brand new SUV??? Yet will serve exactly what you want above?

If you're going to torch money on a new car (SUV or not) why not buy the one you like that is more practical? If it's going to get damaged, then it will be damaged. SUV or not. Might as well enjoy the better space, safety, economy & handling that a sedan/wagon provides over an SUV. If you need a higher vehicle but not an all out off roader, then a scout or liberty outback Is still a better choice than any of the SUVs out at the moment.

[Gerrycan]

Someone has obviously seen too many adverts like that for the Cruze where the kid spills everything in the back of his dad's car while bemoaning he is not allowed in this uncle's 'cool' Cruze. Or the X-trail ad where it goes 'off-road' while the kids are eating and drinking in the back.
I think we may be talking parenting skills not driving skills?

I cannot really see any case for a 2WD SUV and my only criticism of a Scout (which I would love) is the lack of real ground clearance.
Would have to consider an Outback at current pricing if more mild off-road driving was in the mix.
I have done the whole 'high, wide and handsome' bit and have far more satisfaction and utility driving my Octavia.
SUVs are a fad and fads will pass, like flared trousers did

[woofy]

That's some solid confirmation bias lads.

You're missing the point of the SUV though. Some of it is psychological.
It's usually not a car you *love*... That makes it perfect for young kids and family harmony.
Get a car you love and you'll be the ******* parent telling their kids not to eat in the car, feet off the seat etc.
All that at an age (up to around 2) where they haven't got a clue what they're doing wrong. That makes for a bad day out.

I have a R36 wagon and I wouldn't want it as the family car... Because I like it too much. Plus alcantara.
I'm also a bit of an ******* when stuff inevitably gets spilled, crumbs distributed and yoghurt squelched.
And it won't take a pram and a kids bike without belting the hell out of the interior.

Having kids means you just want to get on with life and not spend time preening your only car like a peacock.
One or both parents are walking dead for the first year so you want to take the space nearest to the mall door, with two beaten holdens on either side and a huge kerb that would rip off a normal car's lip, not park away from everyone else and drag all the kid crap with you. Plus it's a long walk when you're a zombie.

An SUV accomodates this pending apocalypse with a range of scuff-happy plastics and fat tyres protecting the wheels.
...do they still sell the scout?

I'm not being critical of the Octavia (I'll be looking at one when the kids are older), but practicality and reality goes beyond boot space.

Yeah you gave up early, I have had a 2008 RS Octavia since new with the leather/alcantera and had a 9mth old when we got it. It's never been parked in the pram parks. The seat is the back is fine, kids aren't idiots and my parents cars were fine with us, whereas friends cars are just abused badly. They all said it's not possible. I also have a Sante Fe and it's in pristine condition. Prams are no bother in them, there is not a mark as my wife is just as careful. Our kids have eaten, but some common sense prevails, nothing sticky and no drinks but water. Our oldest is almost 8 now and has only just had the child lock turned off knowing that she has to be careful opening the door. If only adults had the same rules.