If you're not bothered about space, also look at the Leon with the 2.0TSI 190. It's probably cheaper than either the Superb or the vRS.

I ended up with one as a courtesy car last year and it was both surprisingly quick and frugal, doing nearly 50mpg with what would have been hot hatch performance 10 years ago.

Annoyingly, it's not possible to get the 2.0TSI 190 in the Octavia, despite on paper it being a good engine for that car.

Other thing to think about is whether you want an auto or manual. The Octavia vRS is available with a manual gearbox, as is the Leon, but not the Superb which only comes as an auto.

"Both are poverty spec versions though with tall profile 205/55 r16 tyres"

In my view, that is not poverty spec. It's sane spec.

There is a current fad for plusher variants being fitted as standard with low-profile tyres which have a harsher ride, shorter life, and get damaged more easily. In most cases, there is not even an option to switch to higher profile tyres.

So if you buy a new car, you can pay lots more for a variant with fancier trim and added comfort and more toys ... but it will be wrecked by a jarring ride. Bonkers.

This fad is only about 20 years old. How long until it passes?

I am no fan of the Range Rover Evoque, and this is exactly the type of car I'd expect to have wheels of an enormous profile with 'elastic band' tyres. But one of my customers has one, and a neighbour of another has one too. Both have relatively small diameter wheels with tyres sporting an unfashionably deep sidewall. Going by what I read, the Evoque rides pretty well anyway, so with tyres like these, it must be very cushy!.