RE: Skoda Octavia vRS 230

[liner33]

The 19" wheels are in the current brochure , think they have to be ordered with the black design package

[Crafty_]

Speed_Demon said:

Cheaper

Not much though, the Leon is around the same price and the A3 saloon or Golf isn't too much more, probably with better residuals.

When the vRS stuff was closer to 20k and the other VAG stuff 25k or more they made sense, not sure they do now.

[stumpage]

Crafty_ said:

Those wheels are grotesque. The skoda configurator doesn't show the 19" or the engine upgrade yet but you can currently pick an alternative wheel.

I'm not quite sure what the USP of this car is vs all the other VAG cars

I want a brand new Golf GTI that can carry a family of 4 (2 adults and kids 6 and 4) plus all their luggage etc for a weekend camping and costs about £25k. Other than the Focus ST Estate this was the only option when I got ours. So that's the USP compared the other VAG cars.

[kambites]

Crafty_ said:

I'm not quite sure what the USP of this car is vs all the other VAG cars

I think the Octavia has a far stronger USP than the Golf, A3 or Leon; at least it's a significantly different size.

In fact even looking at the market as a whole, what else do you buy if you want a reasonably priced hatchback with a decent sized boot which isn't the size of an oil tanker like the Mondeo and Insignia?

[Crafty_]

I suppose you are correct, I was going along the "its just the same as an Audi/VAG but cheaper innit" mentality, its no longer that much cheaper, so said people are likely to pay a grand or so extra to have the badge (whereas it used to be several thousand).

Edited by Crafty_ on Sunday 22 February 13:39

[kambites]

Yeah, the new Octavia seems to sit pretty much half way between the Golf and the Passat (which, lets not forget, is also MQB based) in terms of dimensions. I think comparing it directly to the Golf is a bit unfair.

[Bladedancer]

Don't you get the feeling that VAG is trying really, really hard NOT to make a truly good hot Octavia?
I think they don't want to. Who would buy a Golf if they did?
If you could choose between Golf and Octavia with the same drive train and similar handing how much would that VW badge be worth to you?

And so poor Octavia is bound to trail behind Golf GTI and even Seat Cupra.

I do have to say interior look really nice and they have done a really moderate, nice looking exterior.

[kambites]

Bladedancer said:

Don't you get the feeling that VAG is trying really, really hard NOT to make a truly good hot Octavia?
I think they don't want to. Who would buy a Golf if they did?

I certainly can't see them giving it the very top spec engines. I think people will always buy the VW for the badge but it would truly screw SEAT.

[Triumph Man]

Butter Face said:

Triumph Man said:

Reminds me of the Family Guy dolphins and the balls. What will they randomly put together next? An Up! and the 2.5 litre 5 cylinder with Haldex AWD?

Manatees. They were manatees.

And it was South Park about Family Guy

Damn they were manatees!! Christ knows where I got dolphins from! Yeah I knew it was the South Park spoof don't worry

[Antj]

The skoda was always the sensible mans choice, nearly a VW with a lot lower price tag. But now the prices are so close it makes little sense to take the lower spec car. Also The way Skoda have just dropped the Fabia VRS because it outsold the GTI and Cupra equivalents combined makes no sense.

[liner33]

Antj said:

The skoda was always the sensible mans choice, nearly a VW with a lot lower price tag. But now the prices are so close it makes little sense to take the lower spec car. Also The way Skoda have just dropped the Fabia VRS because it outsold the GTI and Cupra equivalents combined makes no sense.

They dropped it because it only sold in UK , not on the continent

[rob.e]

Shame its not the 280PS engine that was spotted at nurburgring last year, but i guess more power + diff is always welcome, plus it'll be cheaper than the Cupra i expect.

Any idea on the price hike yet?

Will this be offered alongside the "standard" vRS, like with the gti and the performance pack?

[marcosgt]

USP of the Octavia over other Golf based models - Cheaper and bigger and, if my Mk1 was anything to go by, better to drive (although that might have been an accident on VAG's part that they subsequently put right!).

I really liked the Mk1, it looked good, was practical, could 40MPG on a run and was still fun to drive. The Mk2 lost me, it was fatter and a bit melted in appearance.

That said the new model is a good looking car, I think, maybe I should get a test drive...?

It's SEAT's that I don't get - They should be sportier than a Skoda and the same price or less, but they're not. Of all the VAG brands they seem to be the one who's lost their way a bit...

M

[new666uk]

stumpage said:

new666uk said:

I was sat behind one of these the other day. Oddly the rear twin chrome exhaust ports are dummies - only the nearside had a pipe I could see and that ended well short of the nice chrome trim.

A little gripe I know but it's attention to detail that distinguishes a 'cheap' car from a more expensive one. Besides that, not a bad looker really, somewhat more masculine than before.

You were behind a the TDi model. The TSi has a pipe on both sides.

Cheers Stumpage. Hadn't looked at the badge after seeing the poorly aligned exhaust / trim.

[kambites]

new666uk said:

Cheers Stumpage. Hadn't looked at the badge after seeing the poorly aligned exhaust / trim.

I don't think the petrol and diesel models are badged differently anyway.

[Bladedancer]

kambites said:

I certainly can't see them giving it the very top spec engines. I think people will always buy the VW for the badge but it would truly screw SEAT.

Buying VW for the badge... how times have changed that VolksWagen is a "premium" brand and something to brag about...