S 1.2 TSI DSG 5dr Estate

Estate is hard to beat for space & value

After 20 years of BMWs and Audis and some expensive repair bills, I chose this car initially on price and value. At the time of writing for around £10k you can buy a 9-12 month old base model at a main dealer. At this age it will probably be ex-rental or ex-fleet and if you care about this then ask exactly who the previous registered keeper was (in my case Europcar).

These ex-rental cars typically have reg plates beginning "F" and they are all over the VAG group dealer network (not just Skoda) - usually at good prices - but beware of the odd greedy dealer who prices them up as equivalent to a nearly-new demonstrator. VAG group salesmen tend to call these cars "ex Head Office" or "ex Management" - verging on misrepresentation but since I already knew where most of these cars come from I was prepared to be misled if the deal was good enough.

Anyway for £10k I've got a 10 month old estate with as much room in the back for the dogs as a Mondeo. In the boot and from the driver's seat it feels like a MUCH bigger car than an A4 Avant or BMW 3 Touring both of which I've owned. This seems strange as the Octavia is based on the Golf/A3 underpinnings, therefore it pulls off a neat trick space-wise.

The 1.2 TSI is an amazing petrol engine with 105 bhp and surprising torque. It doesn't feel that different from my previous Audi 130 bhp diesel. I get 44 mpg. There are no problems with the DSG auto box so maybe this hesitancy issue widely mentioned is now fixed? Mine is great.

Downside at this rock-bottom price is quite basic spec - i.e. manual aircon instead of climate, no cruise control, no rear speakers therefore tinny sound, and most surprisingly central locking but not remote locking. i.e. you use the key. Of these only the speakers and the remote locking bother me and I'm having them retrofitted (but not by Skoda who won't do the remote locking job according to my dealer).

For more money you can have SE or Elegance with more normal gadget level. If you go too far up the range you'll get bigger bling wheels and harder ride (it's a bit firm anyway). I tried the VRS and found it horribly jittery.

If you buy one check the aircon is blowing nice and cold, mine wasn't but is now fixed.

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