Skoda Octavia Mk2 VRS Estate

[StevieB]

I've been thinking for ages what a terrific all round family wagon these are and getting very cheap compared with the Mk5 Golf GTI. In fact for my next family car, Ive gotta say I cant see they have many drawbacks being quick, understated and reasonably economical,. with bags of space..

Anyone got one, or want to give any feed back on them..?

[zb]

Lots of good info over on www.briskoda.net if no one can chip in on here.

[cheadle hulme]

Theres very little usable space over the hatch. Estates look better though.

[bga]

StevieB said:

I've been thinking for ages what a terrific all round family wagon these are and getting very cheap compared with the Mk5 Golf GTI. In fact for my next family car, Ive gotta say I cant see they have many drawbacks being quick, understated and reasonably economical,. with bags of space..

Anyone got one, or want to give any feed back on them..?

The interior is cheap and nasty compared to the GTI (which in itself is a bit rattly) but more importantly the Skoda is a much bigger car inside than the Golf. My Octavis is much closer in space to my old 5 Series than it is to the Golf.

[Sam_68]

cheadle hulme said:

Theres very little usable space over the hatch. Estates look better though.

I'd disagree with this, though I suppose it depends how you use your boot. The're plenty more volume in the back - we used to carry 4 gundogs in ours, and I wouldn't have wanted to try that in the hatch!

I did around 100K miles in a little over 3 years in mine (petrol, manual), driven ruthlessly a lot of the time, and it was literally faultless (well, except for a couple of headlight bulbs). The only slight complaint I could level against it is that the pale grey 'alcantara' bits of the seats tended to get a bit grubby and down-at-heel.

The handling isn't the sharpest, but it's very safe and predictable and the suspension is a hell of a lot more comfortable and compliant that the equivalent Audi.

I wish I'd got another one, instead of downsizing to the Fabia to save tax...

[blearyeyedboy]

Well, I'm delighted with my hatch. I'd disagree with the volume comment unless you need to carry dogs or wardrobes.

I've had a double mattress and the flatpack IKEA double bed to go with it in the boot of my hatch. When I needed to move a wardrobe, I called my brother with his Pug estate, but other than that the Skoda's swallowed massive items up til now.

It's a bit heavier than a Golf GTi, but only by the weight of a small adult woman. The extra weight is at the rear, which you notice the differences from a Golf GTi while cornering (which is ever so slightly less sharp) and through dips/crests (where it pitches ever so slightly more). But you have to be really concentrating and driving the cars back-to-back to notice. To be honest though, the examples of Golfs at similar prices are usually more borked, so a tidy Octavia is usually the better car anyway.

I'd buy mine again in a heartbeat.

As I've mentioned in another thread, if you could give it RWD and a straight six I'd have my ideal "Moon-On-A-Stick" car. But in the real world, there's nothing really to touch it.

Edited by blearyeyedboy on Saturday 24th December 11:07

[nick heppinstall]

Octavia Scout here and no complaints. It's my 4th Skoda in a row. Fancy the Superb 3.6..... 4 wheel drive and 260bhp.