Octavia Scout or Superb Outdoor

[Gerrycan]

Reviews

Skoda Octavia Scout 2015 Review – Car Reviews, News & Advice - carsales.com.au
Skoda Octavia Scout first drive review

Gerrycan - why do laptimes matter - LOL. Buy an RS?

It is like on Topgear (R.I.P.) when they make all their subjective comments on how good/bad a car goes/handles, then the Stig sets a lap time that either proves them right or more often wrong.
I just think that figures are more accurate than a driver's guestimate.

[brad]

I can't quite see why you'd cross-shop an SUV (CX-5, etc) with an AWD wagon. The natural competitors are the Outback, Passat Alltrack, Superb Outdoor, Holden Sparx (really!) and... (Do Volvo still do something similar?). To think SAAB, Holden and a few others all had something available in this space.

On a brighter note, the Craptiva leaves our driveway next week. My wife looked at the Passat Alltrack and liked it but decided she wanted another 7 seater for the next 2 years then she'll get a 5 seater. Honda Odyssey vti-L arrives next week. I'm sure it will be nicer than the Craptiva.

edit: I can't see the basic Scout selling big numbers because the bulk of Aussies don't buy manuals (they aren't even licensed for them) & are still scared of diesels. I'm glad there's a manual in the offering though rather than disregarding the niche buyers.

[woofy]

Odysseys seem pretty nice, we almost got one instead of the Santa Fe, but the drivetrain in the diesel Santa Fe is pretty nice and potent, not something I'd describe the Odyssey as. The Odyssey in all other respects is a better car though with the usual Honda fit and finish, but it was either very basic or had everything and from what I hear the new divide is bigger. Saw a low kms demo locally for $38k driveaway in the vti-L spec. I'm guessing you have a lot of kids to want a 7 seater? We have only two, but all my family live interstate so were sick of having to take two cars with all the kids seats taking up so much room. The Man diesel intrigues me but the DPF does not, it will be fine for me, but my wife does such short trips these days we would have to take it on freeways to burn off all the time. I was told by Hyundai our Santa Fe had one, but can be forced into burnoff mode, turned out when we picked it up that the Oz delivered R series left it out, just the UK ones used it.

Not surprised these are close to the RS in price, they were last time. I think with these potent engines people will be happy with either.

[brad]

Odysseys seem pretty nice, we almost got one instead of the Santa Fe, but the drivetrain in the diesel Santa Fe is pretty nice and potent, not something I'd describe the Odyssey as. The Odyssey in all other respects is a better car though with the usual Honda fit and finish, but it was either very basic or had everything and from what I hear the new divide is bigger. Saw a low kms demo locally for $38k driveaway in the vti-L spec. I'm guessing you have a lot of kids to want a 7 seater? We have only two, but all my family live interstate so were sick of having to take two cars with all the kids seats taking up so much room. The Man diesel intrigues me but the DPF does not, it will be fine for me, but my wife does such short trips these days we would have to take it on freeways to burn off all the time. I was told by Hyundai our Santa Fe had one, but can be forced into burnoff mode, turned out when we picked it up that the Oz delivered R series left it out, just the UK ones used it.

Not surprised these are close to the RS in price, they were last time. I think with these potent engines people will be happy with either.

Just 2 kids (tall teenagers) but the inlaws live outside of Sydney so on the rare occasions they come up we tend to chauffer them around as Sydney traffic freaks them out a bit.

Plus we tend to take the kids friends with us.

Plus if we go out we often pick up our own friends so they can have more than one drink.

Plus wife does site visits with her staff / supervisors.

So the 3rd row gets used maybe 20 times a year. It's a "nice to have" rather than a "must have" but whenever we've drifted back to a 5 seater the absence of the 3rd row has been noticed.

We've tried mini-vans twice (Toyota Avensis Verso) and SUVs 3 times (Craptiva - early build, Mitsu Outlander & Craptiva recent) and the mini-van style works better for our uses.

I have no idea what it cost - company car. She was told she can spend $55k and it had to be on the NSW State Gov't fleet list (but she doesn't work for state gov't).

edit: based on past experience, fully maintained company cars with fuel cards go really quick.

[Gerrycan]

I can't quite see why you'd cross-shop an SUV (CX-5, etc) with an AWD wagon. The natural competitors are the Outback, Passat Alltrack, Superb Outdoor, Holden Sparx (really!) and... (Do Volvo still do something similar?). To think SAAB, Holden and a few others all had something available in this space.

On a brighter note, the Craptiva leaves our driveway next week. My wife looked at the Passat Alltrack and liked it but decided she wanted another 7 seater for the next 2 years then she'll get a 5 seater. Honda Odyssey vti-L arrives next week. I'm sure it will be nicer than the Craptiva.

edit: I can't see the basic Scout selling big numbers because the bulk of Aussies don't buy manuals (they aren't even licensed for them) & are still scared of diesels. I'm glad there's a manual in the offering though rather than disregarding the niche buyers.

That is my point, the CX5 and Scout should be cross shopped more and I would like to know what compromise a high riding SUV makes in terms of safe handling as reflected in either a lap time or slalom course.
By the way I thought that a car driving license covered both auto and manual versions?

[brad]

By the way I thought that a car driving license covered both auto and manual versions?

not in NSW.

Automatic vehicles
P1 licence holders who passed their driving test in an automatic vehicle (including vehicles with an automatic clutch actuator) will be restricted to driving automatics. This condition remains until you are issued with a provisional P2 or unrestricted licence. To remove the condition earlier, you must pass a driving test in a manual vehicle.

It opens up your options when you get an unrestricted licence but so many have no interest (or capability) in using a manual gearbox.

Apparently in QLD, you are stuck with Auto only forever unless you re-sit the test! Can any QLD folk confirm?

[aslsw]

Not surprised these are close to the RS in price, they were last time. I think with these potent engines people will be happy with either.

It's why I'm comparing the TDI132 with the RS. I loved my old RS and I think any massive downgrade in performance would make me miserable. If paddle shifts were available as an option in the Scout, then there would be no debate at all.

[aware]

It opens up your options when you get an unrestricted licence but so many have no interest (or capability) in using a manual gearbox.

Leave them in an auto - if they can't be bothered to do it at that point, then the likelihood of giving a damn in the future is minimal - perhaps until they have a mid life crisis and buy a 'sports' car.

I can count the number of people that I know who are my age that can drive a manual on one hand. It means that no one will borrow my car though! At least Skoda still gives you the option to get the manual.

[Gerrycan]

South Australia licenses do not differentiate between auto or manual so you can pass your test in an auto and teach yourself on an manual straight away.
I expected both my kids to drive manuals. I taught them as they said I was more patient than their Mum (first and last compliment from either).
While checking on the internet about the facts I have become aware of how totally f'ing stupid the varying license requirements are between the individual states.
They could not organise a proverbial p### up in a brewery. If you have half a mind to enter politics then you are obviously over qualified!
Sorry rant over...gross stupidity annoys me.

I am thinking more about that manual diesel Scout than I should...Jeez that looks a good value buy to me.

[woofy]

Back in my day if you didn't get a man license (mid 90s) in QLD you could not drive one without doing the test again. Used to b the same in NSW so most learnt in manual. Most driving instructor cars were man as well. I was surprised in Vic they could teach themselves after their ps.i found some friends to be pretty dangerous drivers when swapping to man, some for years.