Octavia vRS test drive

[CazzaVR 0]

Had a spin in one yesterday, and it totally made up my mind :) Will be definately getting one to replace the C in the autumn.

 

Although the handling isn't quite as sharp and it doesn't have as much steering feel as the C, I was totally impressed. The interior is nice with plenty of toys, it drives sooo smoothly and it's bloody quick (nearly as quick as the VR in standard form!). Tuning potential is massive :twisted: and it looks great (especially in metallic black 8) ).

 

At the risk of sounding old, it's a very comfortable car compared to the C.

 

IMHO it's by far the best value performance car available. I'll be looking at a new or nearly new car for between £10 and 13K.

[vr6storm 0]

Had a spin in one yesterday, and it totally made up my mind :) Will be definately getting one to replace the C in the autumn.

 

Although the handling isn't quite as sharp and it doesn't have as much steering feel as the C, I was totally impressed. The interior is nice with plenty of toys, it drives sooo smoothly and it's bloody quick (nearly as quick as the VR in standard form!). Tuning potential is massive :twisted: and it looks great (especially in metallic black 8) ).

 

At the risk of sounding old, it's a very comfortable car compared to the C.

 

IMHO it's by far the best value performance car available. I'll be looking at a new or nearly new car for between £10 and 13K.

 

 

 

might be an idea to go for a £10k one........and save yer £3k for keeping you're C..........sure as eggs is eggs and all that :wink: :D

[CazzaVR 0]

:lol: -good thinking Rodders :wink:

 

Have been doing the sums, and it will be pretty much impossible for us to run 3 cars (even though the C would become a weekend toy). We're moving in the summer and all the money is going on the new house and anything spare on the Octavia. I've considered doing a SORN, but either way I don't think we can manage without the money from selling the VR :?

 

Thankfully the vRS isn't exactly dull :twisted:

[bcstudent 0]

My mate has an 02-plate yellow Octavia vRS that he bought as an ex-demo (I believe it was three months old at the time) to replace his Mk.2 Golf 16v. I really like it. It's quick and stylish - although the clocks are a bit iffy - and has been faultless since the day of purchase. He did lose quite comprehensively in a race along the Norwich southern by-pass against a Corrado VR6 last year though.

 

To conclude: great car and highly recommended.

[Guest]

You can pick brand new ones up for less than 13k. Remember that the new VRs is due out later this year with the same running gear as the Golf GTi but will be in region of 17k

[Andi 2,147,483,647]

But aren't Skoda's still suffering from the worse depreciation rate in the 2nd hand car market?

 

Might be a great car, but not worth it if 2 years later its only worth £3k....

 

I know they've come a long way from the rear-window-heater-to-warm-your-hands-when-pushing days, but they still, no matter how hard they try, carry a stigma which ruins the car's resale value.

 

You currently own a car which isn't depreciating anymore - remember that - there's not many of those about!! :)

 

P.S. All the Skoda's I ever see are parked on the taxi-rank outside my local train station at work.. ;)

[craigowl 0]

Previous owner (from new) of my Storm traded it in at local Skoda garage for Octavia RS - that is how I got lucky.

He is over 60, by the way.

[Jim 1]

I have seen these vRS's now with motorway mileage on Autotrader for around £6000 or £7000.. god I want one so badly :(

[CazzaVR 0]

Andi, I see your point, but I don't feel that the C can carry on being a daily driver for too much longer without continual financial strain. We also need something more practical and I just feel like I want a newer car now. The vRS actually doesn't depretiate too badly (unlike other Skodas) and I'm not too bothered because we'd keep it for quite a while anyway. As Jim said, 4 year old cars with motorway miles have only just dropped to £6-7K.

 

The vRS was so smooth- no rattles, very comfortable etc. Not as exciting as the VR6, but a very good compromise. I'd be able to drive around not worrying at every sound the car made. Bit of a stealth car too. 230BHP is easily attainable, and there are quite a few running 270BHP!

[craigowl 0]

Andi said

P.S. All the Skoda's I ever see are parked on the taxi-rank outside my local train station at work..

'Tis because they are very functional, reliable, quality cars. The "secret" about Skodas is starting to become common knowledge now and non-believers are casting aside their prejudices!

My son was lent one of the new top of the range Octavias a few weeks ago to do a write up in our county paper. We agreed it was incredible value and top quality.

Three years ago I had Octavia Tdi on my short list before Corrado Storm appeared at Skoda garage seven miles away and changed my views (at least for the time being.)

[bcstudent 0]

A quick scout through the Autotrader tells me that the Octavia vRS doesn't appear to be depreciating badly at all. I'd still have one. The normally aspirated diesel version may not hold its money quite so well.

[ChildeRoland 0]

My dad had an octavia tdi as soon as they came out and it never let him down. He's currently got a signum but he's looking for a small car to use as a backup and I'm trying to point him at a fabia vrs :) if he does go for it I'll sell my mini and steal the vrs 8)

[Guest]

I've spoke to a cabbie about his octavia.. and it had 400,000 on the clock. Only things he'd ever replaced was wheel bearings, tyres and brake pads. Normal service items.

 

You dont hear about that everyday

[andy 0]

Its a VW.....

[Guest]

I've got one as a replacement of my deaded VR. Its a much better everyday car but i never turn back and look at it in a car park like the old C

[Kevin Bacon 5]

I had one or two RSs 'toying' with me on the way to Cornwall....they don't have enough balls to out accelerate my VR on the inside lane as so many driver's seem to derive pleasure from these days, but they're quick though.

 

In all honesty, an RS would be well down on my list as a C VR replacement. They're too boring to look at and the Passat derived platform is not the most exciting of cars to keep one amused at the helm.

 

I'd be looking at extending my budget somewhat and looking at things like an S3, TVR Tuscan, Escort Cosworth, M3, FIAT coupe etc etc.... road racers of old that reek of character and ability which is sadly missing in modern hacks.

 

Did you know you can get an E39 M5 (the V8 one) for about £18K now? A bit more than your RS obviously, but pound for pound, much better value performance wise.

[GIXXERUK 0]

Did you know you can get an E39 M5 (the V8 one) for about £18K now? A bit more than your RS obviously, but pound for pound, much better value performance wise.

and better residuals i'm sure

[Kevin Bacon 5]

The M5 will level off at about £15K next year, they suffer massive depreciation in the first few years as most high performance saloons tend to (Audi S8 being another example of massive performance for new super mini money) but the Skoda will keep plummeting until it's value is effectivley zero.

 

The biggest drawback of monster performance on a low budget is upkeep, but the M5's only bugbear is rear subframe bushes at 80K, costing £400 to do at a dealer. Other than that, no other known major faults. Look after it and it should see you right for ever.... and that performance and chassis....awesome!

 

The E39 540i is worth a look too...saw a FSH 60K example up for £11K recently.

[rado-steve 0]

the 210bhp leon cupra r's are getting into the 10k-13k bracket now too........

[goodridge 0]

 

In all honesty, an RS would be well down on my list as a C VR replacement. They're too boring to look at and the Passat derived platform is not the most exciting of cars to keep one amused at the helm.

 

Correct me if I am wrong but I think you will find the Octavia is actually based on the Golf 4/A3 platform. It's the Skoda Superb which uses the Passat/A4 platform.

[CazzaVR 0]

I'd be looking at extending my budget somewhat and looking at things like an S3, TVR Tuscan, Escort Cosworth, M3, FIAT coupe etc etc....

 

:lol: would if I could, but I can't!

 

The vRS is the perfect car for us- we need an estate, and out of the 'affordable but quick/reliable etc' cars out there it's miles ahead. The only others that come vaguely close are the Passat 1.8T (on the dull side, more expensive, slower etc) and the Rover ZT (over styled, poor mpg, reliability?). Contrary to what some have said the vRS residuals are also very good.

 

With a turbo-back exhaust, CAI, ABD turbo elbow and Jabba remap it will be around 230bhp and quicker than my C. If you want to go the extra mile with FMIC, K4 turbo etc you're then over 250BHP and a bloody quick car! Obviously it won't have the kudos of a Corrado, but it's a damn good replacement.

[goodridge 0]

I'd be looking at extending my budget somewhat and looking at things like an S3, TVR Tuscan, Escort Cosworth, M3, FIAT coupe etc etc....

 

:lol: would if I could, but I can't!

 

The vRS is the perfect car for us- we need an estate, and out of the 'affordable but quick/reliable etc' cars out there it's miles ahead. The only others that come vaguely close are the Passat 1.8T (on the dull side, more expensive, slower etc) and the Rover ZT (over styled, poor mpg, reliability?). Contrary to what some have said the vRS residuals are also very good.

 

With a turbo-back exhaust, CAI, ABD turbo elbow and Jabba remap it will be around 230bhp and quicker than my C. If you want to go the extra mile with FMIC, K4 turbo etc you're then over 250BHP and a bloody quick car! Obviously it won't have the kudos of a Corrado, but it's a damn good replacement.

 

I agree mate! Do it!! :D