Octavia VRs Estate
Discussion
I’ve always been a hot hatch owner, but a second child has forced me into a change… Fortunately this has a lot in common with a hot hatch, and indeed goes better than my tired old mk5 gti that made way for it.
First impressions are very positive. I’ve waited a couple of months to find a car in the right spec and location (gone are the days of travelling all over the country for a car). I even bought one in my preferred colour of Meteor Grey one last month, but it turned out to have been in an undeclared crash. Fortunately the dealership were honest, and once they discovered this whilst servicing pre collection, they immediately notified and refunded me.
The actual car is I believe a rare colour - Velvet Red, which is a Skoda exclusive colour (whatever that means!). There really aren’t many about in non monotone colours, and the odd red one you do see tends to be the non-metallic Corrida Red. Anyway, the Velvet red is lovely in the metal. It has my preferred options spec - manual, cloth seats, 18 inch rather than 19 inch alloys and the really rare digital dash. The only thing missing is a reversing camera, but we will have one added aftermarket.
As long as it’s as reliable as my two mk5 gtis have been it will certainly be a long term keeper. I’m looking forward to the ownership experience and plan to keep a record of it here. Bought with 47000 miles on the clock, I’m just waiting on the history to come through via email, I may need to chase Skoda up a bit.
First impressions are very positive. I’ve waited a couple of months to find a car in the right spec and location (gone are the days of travelling all over the country for a car). I even bought one in my preferred colour of Meteor Grey one last month, but it turned out to have been in an undeclared crash. Fortunately the dealership were honest, and once they discovered this whilst servicing pre collection, they immediately notified and refunded me.
The actual car is I believe a rare colour - Velvet Red, which is a Skoda exclusive colour (whatever that means!). There really aren’t many about in non monotone colours, and the odd red one you do see tends to be the non-metallic Corrida Red. Anyway, the Velvet red is lovely in the metal. It has my preferred options spec - manual, cloth seats, 18 inch rather than 19 inch alloys and the really rare digital dash. The only thing missing is a reversing camera, but we will have one added aftermarket.
As long as it’s as reliable as my two mk5 gtis have been it will certainly be a long term keeper. I’m looking forward to the ownership experience and plan to keep a record of it here. Bought with 47000 miles on the clock, I’m just waiting on the history to come through via email, I may need to chase Skoda up a bit.
Excellent car - I had a black 245 Challenge which sounds very similar spec to yours (digital dash, DCC, power/memory seats etc.). Mine was a hatch rather than the estate. I think the estates look better and are even more massive in terms of boot space. I had mine from 3yrs old and 34,000 miles to 5 years old and 62,000 miles. I don’t recall anything ever going wrong with it. The only two negatives for me were:
1. I bought and sold at the worst times and lost £9,000 in 18 months in depreciation, but that’s my own fault really.
2. I had 19in wheels which take 35-profile tyres. They’re hopeless for UK roads and you’ve got a much better setup there with 18s. More comfortable and cheaper tyres that are less likely to burst (as mine did annoyingly often - 3 punctures in 6 months at one point).
Oh and Velvet Red is a brilliant colour. I tried to find my current car (Enyaq) in that colour but there was only 1 in stock at the time and it didn’t have the option packs so I’ve ended up with Race Blue, which is also a decent Skoda colour. Enjoy the Octavia though - very nice!
1. I bought and sold at the worst times and lost £9,000 in 18 months in depreciation, but that’s my own fault really.
2. I had 19in wheels which take 35-profile tyres. They’re hopeless for UK roads and you’ve got a much better setup there with 18s. More comfortable and cheaper tyres that are less likely to burst (as mine did annoyingly often - 3 punctures in 6 months at one point).
Oh and Velvet Red is a brilliant colour. I tried to find my current car (Enyaq) in that colour but there was only 1 in stock at the time and it didn’t have the option packs so I’ve ended up with Race Blue, which is also a decent Skoda colour. Enjoy the Octavia though - very nice!
@bencollins - there aren’t many if you’re looking for a certain spec, no. The 18 inch wheels are common, but proper colours with a manual box certainly aren’t - I’m hoping it’s because owners tend to hang on to them! The specs are also a bit all over the place but fortunately they’re pretty good as standard. Mine was perfect really apart from missing the spare wheel - it’s got the tyre kit instead which are usually useless. Going to order a spare wheel and sort a reversing camera ourselves, plus some rubber mats for family duties! If you’re patient they do come up though!
Great cars. I have a manual Corrida Red 245 hatch on 18s. Love it. Bought at 11,000 miles and have now covered over 30,000 without it missing a beat. Was originally looking for an estate, but the hatch has an enormous boot and I have't really missed the extra load capacity. It replaced an B6 S4 Avant and the only time I've missed the Audi is if doing a rapid overtake on a greasy road, where the Skǒda struggles for traction at times.
Looks good in the optional Red OP.
I have to go against the grain and say I was really rather disappointed with mine from a few years back - uncomfortable seats with a lack of adjustment, poor ride on the 18's and apparent lack of sound deadening, most noticeable at motorway speeds.
I did try a different car of the same vintage and spec to see if mine was a lemon but it was essentially the same, all of the aformentioned meant that it didn't last long in my ownership.
I have to go against the grain and say I was really rather disappointed with mine from a few years back - uncomfortable seats with a lack of adjustment, poor ride on the 18's and apparent lack of sound deadening, most noticeable at motorway speeds.
I did try a different car of the same vintage and spec to see if mine was a lemon but it was essentially the same, all of the aformentioned meant that it didn't last long in my ownership.
Thanks all. A Few first impressions now it’s done some mixed duties. For driving fun it’s decent for a family estate. Feels quick and handles well for its size on my local country roads. It feels more assisted than my old mk5 gti, but it’s something I expected and I’ll get used to. I got 45mpg on a steady (70mph) but not careful motorway run to work, I reckon for those bothered you could get 50ish with some care.
I personally find the seats and driving position really comfortable. The tech is good and all seems intuitive.
Bit of a noise coming from the front, could be a tyre (doubt it, got 4 new pilot sport 4s on) or maybe a wheel bearing or something else. Will need looking into, but Arnold Clark have a 60 day warranty.
I personally find the seats and driving position really comfortable. The tech is good and all seems intuitive.
Bit of a noise coming from the front, could be a tyre (doubt it, got 4 new pilot sport 4s on) or maybe a wheel bearing or something else. Will need looking into, but Arnold Clark have a 60 day warranty.
Bit of an update. Had the noise I had been hearing declared as a wheel bearing, and also noticed a slight rattle from the front right wheel when the window has been open in all the hot weather. This turned out ironically to be an anti rattle clip in the brake. Both issues sorted by Arnold Clark in my 60 day warranty, so at least completely hassle free.
I did have an unusual incident the other week going through some roadworks where a strange piece of metal got stuck in the tread of the tyre and proceeded to make a mess of my rear arch. I was understandably annoyed and the damage will need professional paintwork.
Apart from these snags the car has so far proven exceptional, and it s up there as one of my favourites I ve had. Let s hope it continues!![](https://forums-images.pistonheads.com/477882/202506208463185?resize=720[/img]</a> <a href="https://forums-images.pistonheads.com/477882/202506208466691" Target="_blank" >[img]https://forums-images.pistonheads.com/477882/202506208466691?resize=720[/img]</a> <a href="https://forums-images.pistonheads.com/477882/202506208470239" Target="_blank" >[img]https://forums-images.pistonheads.com/477882/202506208470239?resize=720[/img]</a> <a href="https://forums-images.pistonheads.com/477882/202506208472413" Target="_blank" >[img]https://forums-images.pistonheads.com/477882/202506208472413?resize=720)
I did have an unusual incident the other week going through some roadworks where a strange piece of metal got stuck in the tread of the tyre and proceeded to make a mess of my rear arch. I was understandably annoyed and the damage will need professional paintwork.
Apart from these snags the car has so far proven exceptional, and it s up there as one of my favourites I ve had. Let s hope it continues!
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