Octavia VRS Replacement

[whiteyB]

With a budget of £30k, I'm looking for slightly more fun to drive replacement for my diesel Skoda Octavia VRS estate. It was perfect for what I needed at the time, but now I'm doing less miles (to the point where I could go for petrol instead of diesel) and want something a bit more engaging to drive. Still need the practicality of an estate, and would like it to be relatively new. I did the financially savy (at least at the time) thing and sold it during lockdown as I wasn't using it, paid off the PCP early, bought a shed to run around in, and still had money left over.

At £30k I'm looking at the usual culprits of A4/C Class/3er, but my worry is that for the money I'd be getting one at the lower end of the spec range, and so the difference might not be that noticeable over my Octavia. I feel that my budget might not get me what I really want, so I might be better just spending less and settling. I realise this is probably the worst time to be buying a nearly new car with prices what they are, but that's the position I'm in.

Am I over thinking this, or would I be better saving some money and looking at something cheaper, maybe not quite as nice to drive, but well specced and reliable? My heart says former but my financial head says latter. Thanks

[Defcon5]

What shape Octavia was it?

[whiteyB]

It was the mk3 pre face lift.

[ahenners]

I'm in a similar boat, perhaps with a slightly smaller budget and it's hard because the Octavia is still a decent all rounder. Mine is a petrol pre facelift but with a very good spec.

30k should get you a new MK4 VRS TSI with discounts etc. and have a very good standard spec if that's what you wanted, though factory lead times are into early next year and there have been a few issues around infotainment and bugs with these cars.

Top of my list currently is a Superb Sportline, ideally with the 280/272ps engine. £30k will just about get you into a new shape 3 series touring but only at the 320i/320d engines. Well specced and decent engined B9 A4s are going for 25k or so at 4-5 years old in the current market which seems crazy to me. Closer to 30k I think the new 3 series is a better buy than the now nearly ready for replacement A4.

30k is a decent budget for a pre facelift 5 series current shape (G21) and you may be able to get a 530i if it must be petrol. Otherwise 530d examples should be available under £30k.

[ninjag]

The quad tail piped CUPRA Leon looks pretty smart as does the CUPRA Ateca, although I think they are pushing about £32k+.

[Canon_Fodder]

How about one of these bad boys?

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108136...

[Theoldguard]

The logical / financial head thing to do is keep the shed for another 18 months and wait for the used market to correct.

People paying so much for used vehicles at the moment that when prices correct they will see big drops in value when normal service resumes, I.e Normal depreciation plus market correction, I am sure there will be something better you can pick up for similar money as many will either try to get out before prices bottom or will be trading in their vehicles when they realise that what they bought and overpaid for whilst bored in lockdown is not really practical for when return to the office resumes.

Edited by Theoldguard on Monday 16th August 17:08

Edited by Theoldguard on Monday 16th August 17:26

[ZX10R NIN]

whiteyB said:

With a budget of £30k, I'm looking for slightly more fun to drive replacement for my diesel Skoda Octavia VRS estate. It was perfect for what I needed at the time, but now I'm doing less miles (to the point where I could go for petrol instead of diesel) and want something a bit more engaging to drive. Still need the practicality of an estate, and would like it to be relatively new. I did the financially savy (at least at the time) thing and sold it during lockdown as I wasn't using it, paid off the PCP early, bought a shed to run around in, and still had money left over.

At £30k I'm looking at the usual culprits of A4/C Class/3er, but my worry is that for the money I'd be getting one at the lower end of the spec range, and so the difference might not be that noticeable over my Octavia. I feel that my budget might not get me what I really want, so I might be better just spending less and settling. I realise this is probably the worst time to be buying a nearly new car with prices what they are, but that's the position I'm in.

Am I over thinking this, or would I be better saving some money and looking at something cheaper, maybe not quite as nice to drive, but well specced and reliable? My heart says former but my financial head says latter. Thanks

The thing with the cooking models is the depreciation the 2.0T cars will suffer, I'd look at alternates that have done their depreciation or go for the 3/C Class/A4's etc with bigger engines that are more desirable & depreciate slower:


If you want an engaging steer for around half your budget take a look at the Insignia VXR they come well spec'd with better NVH levels than the Octavia & you'll also get a proper performance car:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202104050...

V60 Polestar not quite as engaging but a cracking car nonetheless:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107295...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108065...

If you can live with a smaller estate then the CLA45 is one hell of a car

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107094...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202106214...

C43 with the Premium Plus package it's the best option in this segment but it's not as engaging as the 340i below but overall I think it's the better package:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107265...

340i M Sport the best steer so far but I feel the C43 edges it on everyday usage

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107315...

If you don't mind a diesel the 335d makes a compelling case for itself:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108096...

[whiteyB]

Thanks for all the suggestions so far, will have a lot of browsing to do! I like a few of them but mpg is less appealing (always a trade of for something 'fun' I guess!). Unfortunately the shed is breaking itself and me (I can't comfortably drive it longer than 30 minutes) so it's just not working. Of course there is always the option of just getting another run around until prices drop.

[ZX10R NIN]

If fuel is a concern then I'd say look at the 335d I listed above or the 3.0d XF Estate:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108136...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107145...

[whiteyB]

ZX10R NIN said:

If fuel is a concern then I'd say look at the 335d I listed above or the 3.0d XF Estate:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108136...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107145...

Yeah that 335d is looking pretty appealing!

[georgeyboy12345]

Screw the mpg if you are doing fewer miles, get something special! This is pistonheads after all!

Audi S4 Avant
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107064...


BMW 340i Touring
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202105122...


Ford Focus ST
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108136...


Mercedes C300 AMG-line
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202108025...


Mercedes CLA45 AMG
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107275...


Seat Leon Cupra 300 4Drive
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202106113...


VW Golf R
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202106153...


Volvo V60 T6 Polestar
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107275...


If you really want to be economical, and you have somewhere to plug it in, then PHEVs can be super economical

Peugeot 508 SW
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107145...


Mercedes C350e
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107205...

[Fiisch]

I had a pre-FL mk3 Octavia vRS TDi saloon in green from new for three years, which I sold in 2017.

Since then I've owned faster, less practical cars, but the vRS is a car I always look back and think I should have kept. It was a superb all-rounder - just about enough performance to be fun, well equipped, comfortable, and an excellent family car.

In the current market, if I were you I'd be sorely tempted to hang on a bit longer... If you really can't wait, and want something a bit crazy, for the money I don't think you can do much better than an FK8 Civic Type R.

If an estate is an absolute must-have, Golf R is the obvious choice, but the difference in how fast it feels between that and the vRS is not nearly as much as the performance figures would have you believe...

[whiteyB]

Fiisch said:

...but the difference in how fast it feels between that and the vRS is not nearly as much as the performance figures would have you believe...

And that's the crux of my issue (and what I'm really trying to figure out). The VRS was a cracking car, and performance-wise I feel like it was about 90% of the car I really want (in terms of useable performance on our roads), but I'm not sure I can really make meaningful dent in that final 10% without either a) spending more money or, b) getting an older, higher mileage car

[ninjag]

whiteyB said:

And that's the crux of my issue (and what I'm really trying to figure out). The VRS was a cracking car, and performance-wise I feel like it was about 90% of the car I really want (in terms of useable performance on our roads), but I'm not sure I can really make meaningful dent in that final 10% without either a) spending more money or, b) getting an older, higher mileage car

If sticking with a diesel there's also the Jaguar XF Sportbrake. You can pickup a 2018 with 18k miles for £28k and it's the top spec 3.0d V6 Portfolio. At almost 300bhp it's got plenty of power but it's the 700Nm of torque which makes it incredibly useable in real world driving. It's EURO 6 as well unlike the previous gen if that matters.

The boot is big, the cabin is refined and quiet and the steering is very precise and the sound system is excellent. I had the previous gen and somehow Jaguar managed to make it glide over bumps yet still handle with precision when doing the twisties and I believe this gen has been improved even further.

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202107315...

[SDarks]

Some of the prices at the moment are mad.

I was looking to tickle the fast estate itch this time last year and for the £30k mark you could have your pick of mid millage C63 Biturbo estate and even sneak into 60-70k millage 2012-2013 RS6 Avants.

[jdizz]

Leon Cupra R estate

[whiteyB]

Well after spending hours and hours looking at my options and speaking to some dealers (that quite frankly didn't seem that interested in selling me anything), I've decided to go with my head and sell the current shed and get shed 2.0 that will hopefully be a bit more comfortable (part of the issue is I'm 6'5). Then maybe next year prices might have calmed down a bit and I can get my fast estate again. Really appreciate all the advice and options, got plenty of ideas now for when the time is right.

[Theoldguard]

whiteyB said:

Well after spending hours and hours looking at my options and speaking to some dealers (that quite frankly didn't seem that interested in selling me anything), I've decided to go with my head and sell the current shed and get shed 2.0 that will hopefully be a bit more comfortable (part of the issue is I'm 6'5). Then maybe next year prices might have calmed down a bit and I can get my fast estate again. Really appreciate all the advice and options, got plenty of ideas now for when the time is right.

Same here, I have the model and spec I want. Been watching prices climb over the past 6 months, so have a price in my head for when I will dip my toe back in, for now happy with the wife's hand me down as doing less travelling.

Never a good time to buy when dealers hold all the cards. I am sure it will return to a buyers market, if not only price but just a better selection of vehicles.