Test Drive Impessions

[wfdTamar]

Yes, the diesel Mazda wagon is only in manual (I have the brochure here).

[spellbound]

Yes the first few weeks in the rs annoyed me with the drone , which is lack of sound deadening around rear wheel arches , my liberty wagon was much quieter .

How ever i dont even notice it at all unless back seat is down now , just part of the sportier feel of the rs wagon .

My petrol manual economy 90% city driving 8.5l/100 , when in rural areas about 6.4l .

For me it can only be a manual , i loved the dsg in the country but found it hesitant around town , and after the stupid 5 speed auto sport box on the liberty i was not going to risk it again .

Had mine 22 months now and still love it , although i checked out the new superb combi last friday , wow very impressed with quality and acres of space , no damn manual .

[Inego]

A couple of others have suggested the Scout for your needs - I've had one for 5mths, replacing an Outback. The Scout doesn't ride as well, but provides a sportier drive than the Outback (which was still fun on winding gravel/mountain roads. The diesel's taken a little getting used to but, once you start riding the torque it's great - tighter bends, where the 2.5 petrol was struggling between with 2nd just too high and first too low are happily hauled in 2nd. Still having AWD is nice too, and the boot is a much better shape.

I haven't noticed a drone from the back, but the poms have noted tyre noise being tyre make specific too - some who've really hated it have added deadening in the wheel well, but we actually have a spare there.

[TuNeS]

Interesting about the fuel figures you have posted? I get 7.9L per 100km towing my go-kart with the manual petrol! Maybe the salesman have been flogging the pants off it before you get into the car affecting the average. The road noise bothered me at first too, however I dont notice it anymore and I didnt want to buy the Passat due to the mega increased price that came with it for this extra feature. Skoda is the value brand!

I went through the same decision process as you did. I loved the look of the old liberty, however the new one looks terrible (instant write off to me) and the mazda 6 looks ok and drove ok, but it lacked any real character to me. Also the interior and plastics are a step down in comparison to the Octavia. I also like the fact that my RS 'goes like stink' as you put it when I want it to, yet it is lovely to drive as a grandpa when your feeling 'old'

Remember the Octavia is based on the golf chassis, so it is a smaller car than the Liberty and 6......although the usable space is brilliant so its easy to compare them in the same group. If you do end up buying a skoda, you will be pleasantly surprised.

[dodgey]

I would have suggested the Scout too. I had one on loan while waiting for my RS, and I thought it was brilliant. A touch noisier, but I put that down to it being a wagon rather than a liftback. The scout has greater clearance and 4x4.

There have been complaints overseas about the noise coming from the back and the lack of sound deadening, but you can put that on yourself

Going past 3,5k rpms on the diesel only gives you more sound, no more go as far as I can remember... Around 2k-3k rpms is best in almost any gear

[wfdTamar]

Another point in the Scout's favour is they don't seem to be selling as well as the others (they seem to have had the same one for ages here) so could get a good deal to take one off their hands. 1.8's seem to be selling (or at least in ads) starting in the mid $30k's, Scout's a few $1000's higher. RS's starting at $37k. So there's not a lot in it if you're happy to take what's on offer rather than special order one.

[4thchicken]

Perhaps you are looking at the wrong car? - I've an RS DSG petrol wagon and love it however from reading your comments, perhaps the superb wagon would suit your purposes more.

A superb ambition wagon would be about the same price as the RS and would have a flat floor and presumably a softer ride/better noise than the RS.

Partly depends on your budget as well but the RS diesel dsg wagon and the superb diesel dsg wagon (ambition trim) are the same price - and carry the same engine. Or if you were prepared to stretch a bit further, then the elegance models would undoutably be a better car.

[Antiplastix]

Mazda is even more powerful than the diesel RS (135Kw & 400Nm), but has some annoying things missing - i.e. an auto dimming mirror. I've put one in my Vectra and I wouldn't want to go without now.

This actualy amazes me, out of all the technology and features available, I thought this to be the most gimicky fitted, and over half of my driving is done at night.

[wfdTamar]

It's just one of those things that shows how good modern technology is, simple, cheap, so why not put it in? Otherwise we all might as well drive cars for $5000 with 1960's technology (mind you my first car - a 1966 Mark I Cortina GT was a beauty).

Have considered the Superb. It'll be interesting to see how cheap they get after the initial sales.

[K1W1]

I'm not sure about other makes but the Skoda auto dimming mirrors don't work if you have a tinted rear window. I guess there isn't enough direct light coming in to trigger them.
I've now turned mine off as it's simply not an issue since the window was tinted.