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Skoda Octavia 1.4t SE / SL Automatic - dazzabeezer

Hi

Following some excellent information on this forum wheni sought advice on an SUV, following some research I think the Skoda Octavia would best suit me.

I am looking a 2020 or 2021 SE or SL auto. Can I have some feedback please? For reference I currently drive an Astra 1.4t auto.

Skoda Octavia 1.4t SE / SL Automatic - RT

My son has a 2015 Skoda Octavia SE-L Estate 2.0 TDi - he still drives like a young hooligan but hasn't broken anything yet, in 150,000 miles

Skoda Octavia 1.4t SE / SL Automatic - badbusdriver

My son has a 2015 Skoda Octavia SE-L Estate 2.0 TDi - he still drives like a young hooligan but hasn't broken anything yet, in 150,000 miles

You don't say whether or not your sons car is an auto, and that is (IMO) the biggest risk with the Octavia the OP is looking at. Even if your sons car is an auto, being a 2.0TDI would mean it has the stronger wet clutch version. Not 100% sure, but I think the 1.4TSI would use the dry clutch version. The 1.4TSI is a great engine, punchy, efficient, and reliable - with a manual gearbox.

Maybe the OP didn't read all the answers in the last thread, but SLO did mention that this type of transmission, the dual clutch automated manual (referred to as DSG by VAG and DCT by most others) can be fragile. They can be reliable but they don't tolerate abuse well, so you are very much taking pot luck that the previous owner/s drove with a degree of mechanical sympathy.

With your budget, a far safer bet (as an auto) would be the (hybrid, self charge, so no plugs needed) Toyota Corolla estate (ST) or its Suzuki twin, the Space (which can only be had as an estate). This, again, was mentioned in the OP's last thread by Big John, along with the mid 60s MPG he gets from it. Of course it being described as a small estate may have been slightly off putting. In reality, as an estate (the Corolla ST sits on a longer platform than the hatchback), there isn't a lot between them in terms of size, actually the Corolla ST/Swace has longer wheelbase than the Octavia.

Skoda Octavia 1.4t SE / SL Automatic - RT

My son has a 2015 Skoda Octavia SE-L Estate 2.0 TDi - he still drives like a young hooligan but hasn't broken anything yet, in 150,000 miles

You don't say whether or not your sons car is an auto, and that is (IMO) the biggest risk with the Octavia the OP is looking at. Even if your sons car is an auto, being a 2.0TDI would mean it has the stronger wet clutch version. Not 100% sure, but I think the 1.4TSI would use the dry clutch version. The 1.4TSI is a great engine, punchy, efficient, and reliable - with a manual gearbox.

Maybe the OP didn't read all the answers in the last thread, but SLO did mention that this type of transmission, the dual clutch automated manual (referred to as DSG by VAG and DCT by most others) can be fragile. They can be reliable but they don't tolerate abuse well, so you are very much taking pot luck that the previous owner/s drove with a degree of mechanical sympathy.

With your budget, a far safer bet (as an auto) would be the (hybrid, self charge, so no plugs needed) Toyota Corolla estate (ST) or its Suzuki twin, the Space (which can only be had as an estate). This, again, was mentioned in the OP's last thread by Big John, along with the mid 60s MPG he gets from it. Of course it being described as a small estate may have been slightly off putting. In reality, as an estate (the Corolla ST sits on a longer platform than the hatchback), there isn't a lot between them in terms of size, actually the Corolla ST/Swace has longer wheelbase than the Octavia.

It's a manual.

Skoda Octavia 1.4t SE / SL Automatic - dazzabeezer

This is very helpful. Thank you

Skoda Octavia 1.4t SE / SL Automatic - Adampr

When I sold my DSG Karoq to a Skoda dealer, the sales manager did a series of hard accelerations from low speed to check the kick-down functioned correctly. I assumed that was a standard Skoda dealer check to ensure that the mechatronic unit is still functioning correctly. The 1.4 will have the dry clutch.

Skoda Octavia 1.4t SE / SL Automatic - Big John

My son has a 2016 1.2tsi manual Octavia hatch and that tugs along rather well and is very refined even at speed (60mph = 2000rpm) so the 1.4tsi will be rather lively. On a run his mpg is usually 50+ and he doesn't hang about. The hatch has a huuuge boot as well. A 2020/2021 model could be the new model and it will be the 1.5tsi - check you like the touch screen. I can't comment re DSG auto gearbox except I know quite a few people who have them with no issues except a Dual Mass Flywheel failure at high mileage. There is one advantage of the Octavia re the way things like the doors close - a proper "thunk". Good car.

If the controls had been different re heating adjustment on touch screen I might have bought a new/nearly new Octavia myself but the genie is out of the bottle now for me and I really like the Toyota based hybrid gubbins and it has buttons! If you consider something like the Corolla TS estate or Swace please note the increase is power circa 2023.

Edited by Big John on 09/11/2024 at 21:27