VW Group platform sharing...

[Stevoraith]

In shock news, even I am not convinced that the Octavia has been positioned correctly - yes I'd like one very much but in some ways I think it's too much money for where it is supposed to sit in the VW foodchain.

I'm as much of a Skoda convert as you Campbell, having bought two brand new vRS', however I agree with you.

When we bought ours we added a lot of optional extras (Xenons etc).
To spec an A3 to the same level cost about £7k more and the Golf GTD specc'ed to the same level was about £8k more!

To be fair that's because Skoda were running the 'no VAT' offer at the time so you saved about 20% but they had been running that permanantly for about 2 years.

Now with the discounts gone and the price increase taking it to within a couple of k of a Golf I'm thinking it's unlikely we'll have another one.
As much as I love my Skoda, I do prefer the looks of the Golf and the interior is definitely a bit nicer so there needs to be a decent saving to offset that (and the badge snobbery of course!)

[Fluoxetine]

Slight thread drift, but recently I was surprised to hear of rust issues on the Mk5 Golf.

i.e. - This style



Aparently the inner front wings have a habit of making contact with the top of the outers, and there's a handy* sponge-like pad in there which retains water.

This, plus the damaged stone chip / underseal, leads to the wings rotting from the inside out.

Sills can also be suspect:





These are from a 2005 car...

In theory the corrosion warranty should cover this - But it's not what you'd expect from a 'premium' VAG product...(!)

[j2 lot]

- But it's not what you'd expect from a 'premium' VAG product...(!)

Its not what you would expect from any manufacturer in this day and age, I though rusty motors were something that stopped happening from around late 80's on
You really dont see it now unless there are exposed scratches or stonechips.

[Fluoxetine]

There's a thread on PH about it - http://tinyurl.com/odjfnca

Seems to be a design flaw...

Sure the Mk 6 -> is fine, but if you own a Mk5 it's probably worth checking out.

(Apologies again for the thread drift! )

[StiflerMR2]

I was just reading about the Mk5 issue the other day. The day after I just bought a GTI actually!

Something to look out for I guess.

Rossy, I'm not a fan of the Mk7, I do like the mk6 GTI however, so if it doesn't have to be new I'd be looking at a mk6 GTI (or R) and save myself some pennies.

[campbell]

Now with the discounts gone and the price increase taking it to within a couple of k of a Golf I'm thinking it's unlikely we'll have another one.

Steve and Campbell in desertion shocker!

Which is precisely why I'm looking to sort out the in-car functionality for ours, other than that, it's still spot on for what we need

[GBOBM]

I see Seat have stopped selling the EXEO (previous model A4 with a seat badge)
The original sold in bucketloads yet a rebadged almost-identical version didn't sell even though it's the same car.

I'm going to wait a year or so and get a used one. No doubt the Seat badge on it will mean that they depreciate to about £5k for a fully loaded one.

[woody]

Now with the discounts gone and the price increase taking it to within a couple of k of a Golf I'm thinking it's unlikely we'll have another one.

Steve and Campbell in desertion shocker!

Which is precisely why I'm looking to sort out the in-car functionality for ours, other than that, it's still spot on for what we need

Has the Rapide not effectively replaced the last Octavia in the range though?

It's beginning to in the Taxi ranks around here anyway.

[Stevoraith]

Slight thread drift, but recently I was surprised to hear of rust issues on the Mk5 Golf.

It's not just the mkV, the mkIV Golf is well known for the exact same problem. VW will replace/repair for free on cars up to 10yrs old.

As for the Rapid replacing the old Octavia- not quite. They've gone to a strange model line-up with the Rapid being slightly smaller than a Golf whereas the USP of the Octavia was always that it was a slightly bigger Golf for slightly less money.
Add to that the fact that the Rapid doesn't come with any interesting engine or trim options.
If they released a Rapid Spaceback vRS with the 180hp Diesel that could be interesting.....

[woody]

Slight thread drift, but recently I was surprised to hear of rust issues on the Mk5 Golf.

It's not just the mkV, the mkIV Golf is well known for the exact same problem. VW will replace/repair for free on cars up to 10yrs old.

As for the Rapid replacing the old Octavia- not quite. They've gone to a strange model line-up with the Rapid being slightly smaller than a Golf whereas the USP of the Octavia was always that it was a slightly bigger Golf for slightly less money.
Add to that the fact that the Rapid doesn't come with any interesting engine or trim options.
If they released a Rapid Spaceback vRS with the 180hp Diesel that could be interesting.....

Well, that's probably more accurate, they've replaced 1 model with a larger one and a smaller one. Agree on the Spaceback VRs.

[neil]

Slight thread drift, but recently I was surprised to hear of rust issues on the Mk5 Golf.

It's not just the mkV, the mkIV Golf is well known for the exact same problem. VW will replace/repair for free on cars up to 10yrs old.

It's not just the Golf either. I've got an 05 Passat as my winter shed and it's got the same problem.

[Gareth]

Yup Ross....it's a dilemma for sure.....!

[rossybee]

Rossy, I'm not a fan of the Mk7, I do like the mk6 GTI however, so if it doesn't have to be new I'd be looking at a mk6 GTI (or R) and save myself some pennies.

Buying new is far more affordable

G, slightly different level of vw platform sharing

[rossybee]

Hahahaha....

Due to a potential change in my work situation, my car buying situation has now shifted, and all the Skoda fanboys may now shower me in adoration

0% finance is no laughing matter btw

[rossybee]