Golf GTD vs ŠKODA octavia Vrs vs focus ST(d)

[darren9]

I’m looking to replace my 2009 ŠKODA Octavia vrs.

I have a budget of about 15k and want to stick to a similar type of car.

We do between 25 and 30,000 miles per year. Mainly motorway to and from work and a bit of a and B road (we live in the country).

We have 2 children so a decent amount of space is needed and I’ll be sticking with diesel.

I think I’ve narrowed my options down to either a golf gtd (mk7) ŠKODA Octavia vrs (mk3 - estate as I don’t like the look of the hatch) or a focus ST3 tdci.

Has anyone experience of these cars or any alternate suggestions?

[ESD1711]

I guess the obvious alternate suggestion in keeping with the Golf / Octavia theme would be the Seat equivilant.

Leon in estate form probably ticks the same boxes....

[darren9]

I did consider the Leon but didn’t like the looks of them.

[Olas]

The Golf and Octavia share a floorpan, engine, gearbox and most other stuff except for badges, panels and trim. Choose the best example within budget.

Would you seriously consider buying a car badges as an STD? What’s next, the Vauxhall Herpes or the Porsche Gonorrhea?

[darren9]

The focus isn’t badged as an STd the only badges are ST but I’d be getting the tdci version.

I like them. My dad has the petrol version and I’ve been running it for about a month. Other than having to fill it with fuel often it’s been great.

[ESD1711]

Must admit I am finding myself more and more drawn to Focus's these days.

Currently in a 2014 A220 CDi, and i enjoy it. Good mpg, £20 a year tax, and enough go to stop me hating it every time i turn the key - but I do also find myself questioning its worth. The servicing / parts for it are crazy and all the 'luxuries' you get with it seem to be fairly common place in the likes of the Focus these days.

[Drive Blind]

I moved to a mk7 Golf GTD last year.
I was coming from a Leon so I knew what I was getting. Obviously very similar cars but the Golf is just that bit better in most areas. The obvious 2 are the superior Golf build quality – less squeeks and rattles – and the seats are much more supportive and comfortable.

I’m loving the heated seats and really impressed with the Golfs headlights. They have a proper cornering light function rather than the gimmick of a fog light coming on. It wasn’t something I was looking for but now driving through the winter they are really good. Also the same with the adaptive cruise – pleasantly surprised how good it works.

The only thing I don’t like about the Golf is the diamond cut wheels. Yes they look good when new but they really don’t suit our roads with the salt. Lots of the cars I viewed had corroded wheels. I’m currently running on a set of winter wheels in an attempt to keep the originals in good condition.

Also when looking for mine the majority of cars for sale where standard spec and black. Not a huge issue as the car is already pretty hi spec’d but I would have liked to have been given the choice of one in red, or with the 19’s or dsg or the upgraded stereo.

[Jamescrs]

I previously owned the Focus ST, albeit petrol version, my only, but significant issue was the fact that I'm 6ft 4 and with the drivers seat ina comfy position my 6yr old daughter was struggling for rear legroom behind me, we had a baby seat behind the passenger seat which restricted front legroom massively.

I sold it after one family holiday and bought a bigger car, may not be an issue for OP but something to consider.

[Shrimpvende]

I currently have a MK 3.5 Octavia VRS (although petrol) and love it. Huge boot and rear legroom so the estate will be even better - it would be a great family car! I also like that servicing at Skoda dealers is cheap and so seemingly are parts. I bust a wheel on a pothole and got a brand new 19" diamond cut alloy from a dealer for about £200 which was a welcome surprise.

The only thing I don't like about it is it's a little unrefined at higher speeds and it's quite a harsh ride. Might be better on 18's though?

[Pablo16v]

Sticking with the Octavia theme I can highly recommend the Scout model as an alternative to the VRS. It uses the same 184bhp diesel engine from the GTD/VRS models but has the added benefit of 4x4 and a more comfortable ride. I'm just about to hand back a leased one after 3 years and 44K trouble free miles and would easily have another.

[ahenners]

Another vote for Octavia VRS here. Have a petrol DSG which is coming up to 7 years old this year (63 plate) and it's been utterly faultless and a fantastic all round family workhorse. More than enough space with 2 young kids (under 4) and fun enough when on my own.

[ZX10R NIN]

My pick of your three would be the Focus in ST-3 185 form & you may be better off with the (it's the best steer) estate version as it sounds like the extra space would be useful, the only fly in the ointment for the ST is that it's manual only in estate form (you'll just get an Auto in hatchback form) & with your annual mileage you may want an auto:

ST-3 Auto

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Estate

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

Hatchback

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

A very good alternative to all of the cars you listed above is the 308SW GT 180 these come with a stiffer set up than standard but not to the same level as the ST but on par with the GTD:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

Or the hatchback version:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

If a hatchback is fine then take a look at the Infiniti Q30 & the nicest fit & finish of anything listed here:

Sport

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

Sport AWD

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Sport in Touch

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

Also don't forget the V40/60 with the D4 engine:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

60

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

Edited by ZX10R NIN on Friday 31st January 06:16

[darren9]

Drive Blind said:

I moved to a mk7 Golf GTD last year.
I was coming from a Leon so I knew what I was getting. Obviously very similar cars but the Golf is just that bit better in most areas. The obvious 2 are the superior Golf build quality – less squeeks and rattles – and the seats are much more supportive and comfortable.

I’m loving the heated seats and really impressed with the Golfs headlights. They have a proper cornering light function rather than the gimmick of a fog light coming on. It wasn’t something I was looking for but now driving through the winter they are really good. Also the same with the adaptive cruise – pleasantly surprised how good it works.

The only thing I don’t like about the Golf is the diamond cut wheels. Yes they look good when new but they really don’t suit our roads with the salt. Lots of the cars I viewed had corroded wheels. I’m currently running on a set of winter wheels in an attempt to keep the originals in good condition.

Also when looking for mine the majority of cars for sale where standard spec and black. Not a huge issue as the car is already pretty hi spec’d but I would have liked to have been given the choice of one in red, or with the 19’s or dsg or the upgraded stereo.

There does seem to be a massive amount of black/dark grey GTDs on the market - some with very high miles.
They look great in red though but much better in 3door than 5 door form and we’d need a 3 door. We have had a proper poke around one however and the wife didn’t like the “boring” dashboard and the seating position. So it looks like that’s our least preferred option at the minute.

Jamescrs said:

I previously owned the Focus ST, albeit petrol version, my only, but significant issue was the fact that I'm 6ft 4 and with the drivers seat ina comfy position my 6yr old daughter was struggling for rear legroom behind me, we had a baby seat behind the passenger seat which restricted front legroom massively.

I sold it after one family holiday and bought a bigger car, may not be an issue for OP but something to consider.

I’m 5’9” and it didn’t seem to be an issue for the month we borrowed one.

Shrimpvende said:

I currently have a MK 3.5 Octavia VRS (although petrol) and love it. Huge boot and rear legroom so the estate will be even better - it would be a great family car! I also like that servicing at Skoda dealers is cheap and so seemingly are parts. I bust a wheel on a pothole and got a brand new 19" diamond cut alloy from a dealer for about £200 which was a welcome surprise.

The only thing I don't like about it is it's a little unrefined at higher speeds and it's quite a harsh ride. Might be better on 18's though?

I have heard the ride on the ŠKODA isn’t the best apparently there’s not a lot of difference between the 18s and 19s. I’m struggling to find something local in my spec though (dsg, cloth seats, estate, low miles) those suggesting the scout. While I quite like them I think the vrs looks better both inside and out and I’d prefer the vrs for that reason.


Thanks for the comprehensive list. I hadn’t considered the Lexus or Volvo and I do like the volvos. They have an image problem with the wife who sees them as an old man car though.

Edited by darren9 on Sunday 2nd February 15:25

Edited by darren9 on Sunday 2nd February 15:26

[darren9]

Update;

Having gone round and round our options it turns out Mrs Darren9 was set on the focus.

Test drove one Tuesday night and we collect it Monday. It’s an 2016 ST3 hatchback in deep impact blue (like the old performance or imperial blues used on the mk1 and 2 FRS) with the optional 19” wheels. I think they’re the only options ticked. I’m

[ZX10R NIN]

Glad you got sorted.

[andy118run]

Little bit of a thread resurrection - but I'm in a similar position to OP.

Not so much thinking Golf as they are not popping up much in my searches on AT (up to 60k miles/below £14k/0-60 8-ish secs or less ).

But the Octavia VRS/Focus ST - both petrol/diesel and estate/hatchback seem plentiful and are very much of interest.

Other slightly different options if anyone has a view are -

BMW 320i (2013)
Astra 1.6t 200ps
Volvo s60 2.0 T4

[ZX10R NIN]

V60 come in some nice configurations:

V60 D6h

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202010024...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202009033...

D5h

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202008212...