Audi A3 > VW Golf > Seat Leon > Skoda Octavia

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Ed

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I've always thought this was the case but a recent discussion has shed light on the possibility that actually, the A3 is no better than the Skoda Octavia due to their similarity based on the common platforms and the components they share.

Perhaps others with more insight into this would care to share their thoughts. Maybe you've spent your hard earned and asked the question, why the Audi over the Skoda or Seat?

:)
 
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Siliconslave said:
its about the quality... interior build quality, quality of materials, service (ie quality of buildings, staff & facilitys) and badge
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So chassis dynamics, braking and acceleration are identical on a like-for-like model?
 
I cannot believe you considered the Octavia at the bottom of that list!
I shall be picking my Octavia vRS up on Saturday.

It realy is a lovely car and the build quality is second to none.
If some people insist on living 10 years ago and consider the Skoda badge bad then so be it.
I however know I've made a damn good decision.
 
stoofa said:
I cannot believe you considered the Octavia at the bottom of that list!
I shall be picking my Octavia vRS up on Saturday.

It realy is a lovely car and the build quality is second to none.
If some people insist on living 10 years ago and consider the Skoda badge bad then so be it.
I however know I've made a damn good decision.
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Where would you place it in the list?
 
The SEAT Leon goes one step further IMO, given that it shares the interior with the A3, as well as the chassis/engines/suspension geometry.

Other than the doorcards, which are a different shape, sit in a MK1 Leon and a MK1 A3, and you'd be hard pushed to notice a difference.

 
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My friend has a Skoda, I have had a Seat and on my 2nd Audi now.
Personally Skoda gives excellent value for money, aside from my Lotus Elise my Seat Leon Cupra R was the best value for money car I have ever owned. With Audi you do pay for the badge, no doubt, and I wouldnt say the service was better than Seat or Skoda, but the build quality does seem better. Might not be that much its worth paying the extra, but I like it.
 
paradigm said:
The SEAT Leon goes one step further IMO, given that it shares the interior with the A3, as well as the chassis/engines/suspension geometry.

Other than the doorcards, which are a different shape, sit in a MK1 Leon and a MK1 A3, and you'd be hard pushed to notice a difference.
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What intellectual property do Seat and Audi apply to their respective competing models to differentiate them in the market place?

Just for reference: I know this particular thread highlights cars with very slight variations of the same platform. I'm just forming a picture here.
 
Ed said:
Where would you place it in the list?
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Ah tough one :)
As I'm buying the Octavia I should put that at the top.
I do have reasoning though.

The Audi is nice - there is no way I can say it isn't.
Solidly built, but you do pay for that badge.
Take an equally specced Octavia to an Audi and although similar that badge will certainly increase the cost.

I feel that the Golf has lost its way in previous generations.
The Mk5 is OK, it grew on me, however those leaked pics of the Mk6 do nothing for me.
I really cannot comment on the Seat because I've not been inside one or driven one.
If I had to put them into some kind of order I would say:

Octavia & Audi side by side - you either want that badge or your willing to sacrifice that for overall cost.
Then I'd put the Seat in - I may not have driven one, but I do think they look stylish and are well priced.
I'd put the Golf last - not so much on the build quality, but it just doesn't seem so stylish and they seem high cost for what you get.

Octavia=A3>Seat Leon>VW Golf
*Awaits the flames* :)
 
Ed said:
What intellectual property do Seat and Audi apply to their respective competing models to differntiate them in the market place?

Just for reference: I know this particular thread highlights cars with very slight variations of the same platform. I'm just forming a picture here.
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I'm not sure quite what you are asking here, bodystyles are vastly different, then of course the badge, the fact that "like for like", the SEATs are generally more sporting (but then that was always the aim of the SEAT brand).
 
paradigm said:
I'm not sure quite what you are asking here, bodystyles are vastly different, then of course the badge, the fact that "like for like", the SEATs are generally more sporting (but then that was always the aim of the SEAT brand).
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For example, ECU, brakes, damping etc, all of which will change the car dynamically and affect performance.
 
paradigm said:
The SEAT Leon goes one step further IMO, given that it shares the interior with the A3, as well as the chassis/engines/suspension geometry.

Other than the doorcards, which are a different shape, sit in a MK1 Leon and a MK1 A3, and you'd be hard pushed to notice a difference.
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Only applicable for the Mk1 leon.
The MK2's interior is pretty poor, in comparison.

However, I don't think the Golf/A3's interior / badge / exterior (and dealers) are worth the extra £6-10k. Nicer places to be though they are.
 
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