Skoda Octavia/VW Passat/ Audi A4 ....which to go for?

Arequipa

Hi!

I am researching my next car. I think a 1.9TDi engine would be perfect for me: smooth and fast and economical.
My Dad drove a Skoda Octavia 1.9Tdi & I thought it was very solid & nice to drive.
I hear that Skoda use the same components: engines, chassis etc as Audi & VW.
But is there any difference between say a 1.9Tdi Octavia, 1.9Tdi A4 and a 1.9Tdi Passat?
Which would you consider as the better car in terms of build quality, reliability & roadhandling?

I was thinking a top of the range Octavia would be the same as an A4 costing up to 10K more!

I appreciate your advice!

Arequipa.

patakadarragh

I know you didn't mention it but my father swapped his 5 series for a Skoda Superb elegance in 2010 also a 1.9 TDI and he preferred it to the beamer and the price was a lot more favourable too, loved the car, might wanna throw that into the equation.

Ronnie Beck

Octavia is more of a golf with a boot. It's smaller than the A4/passat.

flazio

Ronnie Beck wrote: »

Octavia is more of a golf with a boot. It's smaller than the A4/passat.

Then where does the new Rapid fit in?

MrPoker

Sorry to gatecrash the thread. I am looking for the same type of cars as the OP. Cant make my mind up between Octavia VRS, A4, BMW 3-series and have ruled the Alfa 159 out which was my original fav as I may be emigrating late next year and its sure to depreciate heavily and seems a harder sell.

Leaning towards an Octavia VRS like the one below as it looks like a fun car to drive and also will probably be easier to sell if I need to. (seems to be a taxi drivers favorite) Anybody have any experience with the VRS? Heres just one I was looking at.

http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/skoda/octavia/skoda-octavia-vrs-4dr-200bhp-limited-edition-440-of-500/772891

Bpmull

Ronnie Beck wrote: »

Octavia is more of a golf with a boot. It's smaller than the A4/passat.

It's not smaller than an a4. I love the way everyone says the octavia is the same as the golf I'm 6 foot 2 and comfortably fit in the back of either of our octavia. There is no way I would fit in the back of a golf not enough head room or legroom. Passats are not that big either I was in a neighbours 2006 passat my head was touching the roof and my knees were bet into the front seat so I would love to see these huge passats that everyone goes on about.

Bpmull

MrPoker wrote: »

Sorry to gatecrash the thread. I am looking for the same type of cars as the OP. Cant make my mind up between Octavia VRS, A4, BMW 3-series and have ruled the Alfa 159 out which was my original fav as I may be emigrating late next year and its sure to depreciate heavily and seems a harder sell.

Leaning towards an Octavia VRS like the one below as it looks like a fun car to drive and also will probably be easier to sell if I need to. (seems to be a taxi drivers favorite) Anybody have any experience with the VRS? Heres just one I was looking at.

http://classifieds.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/skoda/octavia/skoda-octavia-vrs-4dr-200bhp-limited-edition-440-of-500/772891

My uncle has a vrs 2007 2.0 tdi. And he absolutely loves it and it is the first diesel he has ever owned he was a pure petrol head before he bought. I was in it a few times and they are seriously fast and great fun. Buy the vrs you will not regret it.

MrPoker

Bpmull wrote: »

My uncle has a vrs 2007 2.0 tdi. And he absolutely loves it and it is the first diesel he has ever owned he was a pure petrol head before he bought. I was in it a few times and they are seriously fast and great fun. But the vrs you will not regret it.

My thoughts exactly. They look to be fairly underrated performance car. Was also thinking 3-series but they just seem so common. S4 is a possibility also but may have to go back a few years to get one in my price range. Definitely seems you get a lot of car for your money with the VRS though.

Bpmull

MrPoker wrote: »

My thoughts exactly. They look to be fairly underrated performance car. Was also thinking 3-series but they just seem so common. S4 is a possibility also but may have to go back a few years to get one in my price range. Definitely seems you get a lot of car for your money with the VRS though.

The skoda octavia is an underrated car in general. We have 2 standard ones and they are so reliable and comfortable and the huge boot comes in very handy. In my opinion for the money 10k cheaper than an a4 or passat new they are an absolute bargain. Anyone that has an octavia loves it. It is only people that have never owned them who seem to complain about them. Believe me you will love the vrs to drive.

Nissan doctor

Bpmull wrote: »

It's not smaller than an a4. I love the way everyone says the octavia is the same as the golf I'm 6 foot 2 and comfortably fit in the back of either of our octavia. There is no way I would fit in the back of a golf not enough head room or legroom. Passats are not that big either I was in a neighbours 2006 passat my head was touching the roof and my knees were bet into the front seat so I would love to see these huge passats that everyone goes on about.

The Octavia IS the same as a Golf....it is exactly the same chassis/wheel base etc.


@OP, the Skoda superb uses the same platform as the Passat/A4 so would be the comparable model.

Bpmull

OSI wrote: »

I regularly have two lads in excess of 6" sitting in the back of my 3 door golf perfectly comfortably.

The Octavia is based on the same platform as the Golf and A3.

It may be the same platform. But obviously the boot is a lot bigger I know that is always said but the amount of stuff you can fit in it. I don't have against the golf or any vw but they are not the same as the golf if you compare the boots. The new model octavia is still a lot bigger than the old one. And the octavia is still 5k cheaper than a diesel golf. We bought a new octavia top spec with everything you could possibly think of on it 1.6tdi 105 even has sat nav we paid 21.5k and to me that is just a bargain. A poverty spec golf 1.6 tdi 90 bhp is a lot more than that. I just can't see why it cost so much more.

Bpmull

Nissan doctor wrote: »

The Octavia IS the same as a Golf....it is exactly the same chassis/wheel base etc.


@OP, the Skoda superb uses the same platform as the Passat/A4 so would be the comparable model.

It still a lot cheaper to buy than a golf new and if they use the same parts I can't see where the extra money goes.

Nissan doctor

Bpmull wrote: »

It still a lot cheaper to buy than a golf new and if they use the same parts I can't see where the extra money goes.

Your paying for the badge.... literally nothing else. All the mechanical and electronic parts are identical on the Octavia and Golf.

The Octavia has a bigger boot obviously, that's because its a hatch/saloon body as opposed to the hatch only on the Golf and the Saloon only on the Jetta(also the same mechanically)

Bpmull

Nissan doctor wrote: »

Your paying for the badge.... literally nothing else. All the mechanical and electronic parts are identical on the Octavia and Golf.

The Octavia has a bigger boot obviously, that's because its a hatch/saloon body as opposed to the hatch only on the Golf and the Saloon only on the Jetta(also the same mechanically)

I find it amazing how much extra people will pay for a badge.

Nissan doctor

Nissan doctor wrote: »

Your paying for the badge.... literally nothing else. .........

..... far better looking packaging too though, the Octavia wasn't bad looking back in the late 90s but 10/15 years on it's much the same looking except it's got a slap off the ugly stick several times.

MugMugs

Nissan doctor wrote: »

Your paying for the badge.... literally nothing else. All the mechanical and electronic parts are identical on the Octavia and Golf.

The Octavia has a bigger boot obviously, that's because its a hatch/saloon body as opposed to the hatch only on the Golf and the Saloon only on the Jetta(also the same mechanically)

Is the front suspension not inherently different across the Skoda and VW equivalents?

daaaycent boy

Gonna keep an eye on this thread. My friend as a '08 vRS from new and is getting a new one in March of next year. I've driven it a few times, was very impressed with the power output. Might think about buying one myself early next year.

Nissan doctor

MugMugs wrote: »

Is the front suspension not inherently different across the Skoda and VW equivalents?

There is sometimes differences in the dampening rates, depending on models/specs, but the components and fitment are all the same.

Nissan doctor

RoverJames wrote: »

..... far better looking packaging too though, the Octavia wasn't bad looking back in the late 90s but 10/15 years on it's much the same looking except it's got a slap off the ugly stick several times.

I agree that the basic Octavia looks pretty dull but no more so then the Golf which is about as dreary as it gets in base spec too.

Its all personal though, I think a well speced/coloured MK2 Octavia VRS looks much better then the equivalent Golf GTI.

Bpmull

Nissan doctor wrote: »

I agree that the basic Octavia looks pretty dull but no more so then the Golf which is about as dreary as it gets in base spec too.

Its all personal though, I think a well speced/coloured MK2 Octavia VRS looks much better then the equivalent Golf GTI.

The new model octavia is a bit of an improvement. The top spec is nice inside with the Sat nav screen and maxi dot display. But without a doubt the vrs is a lot nicer looking on the outside than the standard. The few extras really make it.

bazz26

What new model is that? The new Octavia hasn't been launched yet, the current model has been around since 2004.

TheBazman

Not one of your options but test drove a Kia Optima recently for my father and was seriously impressed with it - loads of spec, 1.7 diesel with around 135bhp I think.

Bpmull

bazz26 wrote: »

What new model is that? The new Octavia hasn't been launched yet, the current model has been around since 2004.

The facelift model in 2009 I know I ment facelift not new model I know the the basic shape is the same but I find the insides completely different on both the 2005 we have is complete and utterly different on the inside I can't think of anything the same on the inside maybe the vent covers but even they are slightly different the back outside on both is the same. The front is slightly different.

Bpmull

TheBazman wrote: »

Not one of your options but test drove a Kia Optima recently for my father and was seriously impressed with it - loads of spec, 1.7 diesel with around 135bhp I think.

Lovely car 36k euro I would expect them to be better than a 21k octavia. The optima is more of an Audi a4 standard I think. Also I'd imagine the op is going back a few years as the op mentioned 1.9tdi which is the older engine current engine is a 1.6tdi.

johnpawl

OSI wrote: »

I regularly have two lads in excess of 6" sitting in the back of my 3 door golf perfectly comfortably.

The Octavia is based on the same platform as the Golf and A3.

Two lads in excess of six inches in the back of your car?? I'm guessing you mean 6 foot (6'):D

..... unless :eek:

Arequipa

Thanks a mil for the replies!
So the Octavia seems just as good a car as Audi/VW?
It seems like brand loyalty...you are just paying for the AUDI or VW badge.
Seems Audi & to a lesser extent VW have more snob value!!
I would also be very interested in the VRs; the only issue would be tax, which could be quite high?

Is it worth getting a car in Nth Ireland or Uk as I could possibly get a higher spec?...but of course I would have to pay the VRT on arrival back in Ireland...

Sorry for all the questions...

Arequipa.

Bpmull

Arequipa wrote: »

Thanks a mil for the replies!
So the Octavia seems just as good a car as Audi/VW?
It seems like brand loyalty...you are just paying for the AUDI or VW badge.
Seems Audi & to a lesser extent VW have more snob value!!
I would also be very interested in the VRs; the only issue would be tax, which could be quite high?

Is it worth getting a car in Nth Ireland or Uk as I could possibly get a higher spec?...but of course I would have to pay the VRT on arrival back in Ireland...

Sorry for all the questions...

Arequipa.

My dad works in the uk and recons octavia's are making way more in the uk. His 2005 octavia he paid 4.5k for a few months ago and he says 2005 octavia are making 5k pounds in the uk before you clear it and the weak euro. Ireland is better value for octavia's anyway. The Irish vrs is actually a lot higher spec then the uk version.

PaulKK

patakadarragh wrote: »

I know you didn't mention it but my father swapped his 5 series for a Skoda Superb elegance in 2010 also a 1.9 TDI and he preferred it to the beamer and the price was a lot more favourable too.

I find this very hard to believe unless it was a base spec 520i. Saying a 1.9tdi is a better drive than any modern diesel bmw engine is hilarious to be fair.

I haven't driven the superb but I have driven a passat of the same vintage on which the superb is based, and while there is nothing wrong with it the power delivery is poor and the handing is boat like. A fine motorway cruiser but certainly no comparison to the handling balance and linear power delivery in a 5 series.

patakadarragh

PaulKK wrote: »

I find this very hard to believe unless it was a base spec 520i. Saying a 1.9tdi is a better drive than any modern diesel bmw engine is hilarious to be fair.

I haven't driven the superb but I have driven a passat of the same vintage on which the superb is based, and while there is nothing wrong with it the power delivery is poor and the handing is boat like. A fine motorway cruiser but certainly no comparison to the handling balance and linear power delivery in a 5 series.

Well he preferred it, each to their own I guess. Think a big factor was the money it was at he was able to get the highest spec all the bells and whistles.

lafors

bazz26 wrote: »

What new model is that? The new Octavia hasn't been launched yet, the current model has been around since 2004.

New Octavia....
Not released until early next year but here it is

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECFRMHubJXM

http://www.autoforum.cz/predstaveni/nova-skoda-octavia-iii-2013-nafocena-bez-spetky-maskovani/

Fairly dissapointed tbh. I had the Octavia II vrs (petrol) until recently and changed to the Yeti and would have considered changing to a Octy III vrs when it came out but I don't really like the look of this.
VAG is becoming boring, Most of audis models are just the same made bigger, so are the skodas with the rapid then this octy and the superb in late 2013 will probably look the same but bigger.

Sorry OP don't mean to derail the thread
BTW get a superb if in your budget, the newer 1.6tdi is as good/better imho as the old 1.9tdi.

Arequipa

No problem!
A few years back, lots of Octavias had a 1.9 Tdi engine ...has this been replaced by the 1.6Tdi: what sort of horse power does it produce?

R.O.R

Arequipa wrote: »

No problem!
A few years back, lots of Octavias had a 1.9 Tdi engine ...has this been replaced by the 1.6Tdi: what sort of horse power does it produce?

105bhp, which is the same as the old 1.9Tdi, and the same peak torque as the 1.9Tdi. It's much more fuel effecient and quieter, but the torque is a bit higher up the rev range and you can end up bogged down at low revs, more than you would be in the 1.9.

Arequipa

Thanks for that... I think I would prefer a proper 2 litre turbo diesel & more hp!
My Mother had an Octavia 1.6 Mpi: a lovely car: but I prefer more power...
Do you know what the engine options are on the current Octavia's?
I presume 1.4, 1.6.....

Arequipa.

MrDerp

OP, have you considered the SEAT exeo in that family? Is a bit better looking than an Octavia in my opinion, if a little dated itself and seems to come with slightly better equipment as standard.

Bpmull

Arequipa wrote: »

Thanks for that... I think I would prefer a proper 2 litre turbo diesel & more hp!
My Mother had an Octavia 1.6 Mpi: a lovely car: but I prefer more power...
Do you know what the engine options are on the current Octavia's?
I presume 1.4, 1.6.....

Arequipa.

Current octavia engine options
1.6tdi 105bhp 5speed exact same power as old 1.9tdi only a bit quiter.
2.0tdi 140bhp 6 speed
2.0tdi 170bhp vrs. 6 speed