Estate or hatchback? (newbie question)

[monkeychops]

Hello

I'm going to get a 2nd hand (probably 2 or 3 years old) Skoda Octavia Elegance TDi. My friend has 2 Octavias, an estate (W reg 90BHP version) and a hatchback (W reg, 110 BHP version) which I test drove at the w/e.

I had previously assumed that the estate boot would be much bigger than the hatchback, but it's not that much different, volume wise. It's certainly the same length anyway as I measured it.

Does anyone know what the main differences are between the 2 apart from the shape of the back of car? I know on the Elegance estate you can lower the back part of the boot for easier loading. Is that really useful though?

Thanks in advance for your help. Great forum by the way

[Goochie]

The variable height boot floor isnt actually that useful. It is only variable by removing what is, essentially, a box on the floor.

Without the "box" fitted you'll have a step down from the boot sill to the boot floor. With the "box" fitted you dont have this step. Also, with the rear seats fully folded down, you have a perfectly level load area with the box fitted.

However, it is very useful for storing stuff as it covers the entire boot space and is around 4-5 inches tall. I've never ever removed it from my car as it is far to useful.

The Elegance estate has a 12v outlet in the boot that you can use for a fridge when camping etc. It also has some nice chromed eyes for tying stuff down to if required.

I went for the estate version because I needed to get a dog in the back and the hatch had no curtain to hide things if I'd removed the shelf to get the dg in. I personally prefer the look of the estste too.

If you've got any further queries on the Elegance estate please feel free to ask me.

[monkeychops]

Thanks Goochie for your swift reply. I didn't realise that was how the boot worked on the Elegance estate. So the level of the boot is raised up, so in theory you are losing some boot space volume?

I think I prefer the shape of the estate too, although my wife prefers the hatchback...

I have a couple of other questions. The main differences between the Elegance and the Ambient appear to be the engine power, the climate control/air conditioning, and the stereo. I think the difference in engine power is enough to make me want the Elegance over the Ambient, but are there any other differences between the 2?

I quite like the idea of modifying the Elegance for a bit more power without any fuel economy loss. I see that are are some solutions for a few hundre pounds. I don't suppose there is some magic device that I can plug into the car for less than £100 that can be easily removed when it's servicing time?

Oh, and lastly, I read on some other site that it was difficult to get the wheels off the Octavia. This might have been because this was some other, different version for a different country, but has anyone had any issues with this when changing wheels?

Thanks in advance, sorry there are so many questions!

[Stuart_J]

We have an estate & a hatch, the estate is definately a better family car & yiou can get a lot more in the back with the extra height.

The 110 can be re mapped to 160 ish bhp (ours is 164) & will max at about 135 indicated. Check the year etc as there are I believe different spec 110 engines which can map to diferent levels

As for wheels coming off, never had a problem. with many wheels they tend to stick if not removed for some time, a coating off copper slip behind the wheels stops this happening, alternativly a large kick normally suffices. If you are on the road side & its stuck put the nuts back on & tighten to about 2 turns off the wheel, then lower the car & rock it

[Fabia 12v]

Originally Posted by monkeychops

I think the difference in engine power is enough to make me want the Elegance over the Ambient, but are there any other differences between the 2?

My mum had Ambient Estate before getting Elegance (4x4 though, but ignoring that) there isnt to much difference between them but things like the roof rails, sun roof, flippy key, light washers, alloys etc etc all finish off the package very nicely.... imho the estate looks better than the hatch.

Good luck in buying

[JRHartley]

Originally Posted by monkeychops

Oh, and lastly, I read on some other site that it was difficult to get the wheels off the Octavia. This might have been because this was some other, different version for a different country, but has anyone had any issues with this when changing wheels?

Thanks in advance, sorry there are so many questions!

I had a similar dilema myself. I was looking for an estate Octy but when I went to the dealers and saw the hatch in the flesh, there didn't seem to be enough extra space in the estate to warrant getting it over the hatch so I got the 110TDI Elegance hatch. IIRC there are more differences between the Elegance and Ambiente than you mention..you might still be able to get a list of the specs on skoda.co.uk for the octy 1.

The problems with removing the wheels is the traditional issue with Alloy wheels on an iron hub, not just applicable to octys..Galvinic corrosion (?) fuses the wheel to the hub requiring the use of a variable pressure applicator (big f*ck off rubber hammer) to remove the wheel if they have not been off for a long time (did mine last week to rotate the tyres and had to give 'em some welly to get 'em off). Some light use of Copper ease around the rim of the hub and mating surface of the wheel avoiding the bolts/holes prevents it from sticking.

[Goochie]

Never had a problem removing the wheels on my car.

The Elegance is well worth the extra (small ammount of) cash over the Ambiente. If only for the sunroof and climate control. Once I'd looked at both specs it was a no-brainer really. The Elegance is the superior car. The headlamp washers are suprisingly effective too - so long as you done let them get too dirty before trying to use them.

The combination of electric sunroof AND climate is something often unavailable on many cars (often one or the other), let alone standard fit.

I have a Jabba custom remap on my Elegance, you can see the figures on my signature below. I've taken my car to the dealer 3 times since having it done and they've not said anything - though I did once chuckle when I saw the service manager giving it some serious welly.

Incidentally, I do wish I had waited/saved a little longer and found a 4x4 estate. There are many occasions when I've sun the wheels or had problems getting off the mark - but then my car is the 1.8T not a diesel.

[monkeychops]

Thanks for your replies. A difference of opinion over the boot size. I suppose you can't really argue with comparing them with your own eyes. I think I like the idea of the 'box' that raises the level semi-permanently. I keep changing my mind though ;-)

I've read a little about 're-mapping' (mostly on this site). It seems to cost around £300 though. Which I suppose isn't that bad for such a big increase in power. Are there any cheaper solutions that raise the Elegance TDi BHP to a more modest level (say 130BHP)?

[andy2407]

I considered both the estate and the hatch before deciding on the estate.
A few thoughts.......
1. There are some diagonal bracing struts just behind the back seat on the hatch - I guess to give the car extra stability. I just thought they wud be a pain if I ever wanted to transport something big with the rear seats down.
2. The second problem is one which I'm sure I've read about on here - that when you open the hatch boot when its raining, water runs in. Can anyone confirm this, or is it just rumour?
3. I've had estates in the past and had a set of Thule cross bars that also fit the Octy estate - I guess the longitudinal rails are a similar profile on most estates. so I avoided the expense of a new roof rack.
4. Someone mentioned the 12V outlet in the boot - I find this useful for my bluetooth GPs receiver, which works with the Tom Tom mobile software on my Nokia fone.

Not sure how many of these will apply to you, but hope its some help!

[Lummox]

Originally Posted by andy2407

...
1. There are some diagonal bracing struts just behind the back seat on the hatch - I guess to give the car extra stability.!

Only on the vRS hatch. These bracing struts are also part of the reason why vRS estates run 16" wheels as they dont have them.

[Dr Zoidberg]

Originally Posted by andy2407

2. The second problem is one which I'm sure I've read about on here - that when you open the hatch boot when its raining, water runs in. Can anyone confirm this, or is it just rumour?

Very much true.
If you open the boot lid half way and shake it most of the water runs off safely but if you forget it pours onto the speakers.

[Graham Pollitt]

Originally Posted by monkeychops

Hello

I'm going to get a 2nd hand (probably 2 or 3 years old) Skoda Octavia Elegance TDi. My friend has 2 Octavias, an estate (W reg 90BHP version) and a hatchback (W reg, 110 BHP version) which I test drove at the w/e.

I had previously assumed that the estate boot would be much bigger than the hatchback, but it's not that much different, volume wise. It's certainly the same length anyway as I measured it.

Does anyone know what the main differences are between the 2 apart from the shape of the back of car? I know on the Elegance estate you can lower the back part of the boot for easier loading. Is that really useful though?

Thanks in advance for your help. Great forum by the way

go for the estate better residual value, easier to park, you can just chuck stuff in I think its dead handy. Back of car seems to get real dirty though. Good luck with your search