RE: Shed Of The Week: Skoda Octavia vRS

[GreenArrow]

Drive Blind said:

other VAG 1.8T Autocar figures 0-100mph

TT 180bhp - 21.2
TT 225bhp - 15.8
S3 210bhp - 16.4
Leon 20VT 180bhp - 20.9
Golf GTi 150bhp - 25.6
Leon cupra R 210bhp - 18.0

Yep that road test car was a ringer and Autocar should be ashamed that they printed the test using it and gave the car five stars. I recall that in a 0-100 feature later in the same year, a "standard" car did 0-100 in 20.7 or 20.8 which was much more like it! Top Gear did 0-100 in 19.7 secs which was a good time. The reason is that the long geared Octavia can do 100 in 3rd. The 6 speed Leon VT of the period needed 4th gear.

[LY99]

GreenArrow said:

Yep that road test car was a ringer and Autocar should be ashamed that they printed the test using it and gave the car five stars. I recall that in a 0-100 feature later in the same year, a "standard" car did 0-100 in 20.7 or 20.8 which was much more like it! Top Gear did 0-100 in 19.7 secs which was a good time. The reason is that the long geared Octavia can do 100 in 3rd. The 6 speed Leon VT of the period needed 4th gear.

Since when in hell have Autocar been bothered about writing facts and accuracy??

[s m]

GreenArrow said:

Drive Blind said:

other VAG 1.8T Autocar figures 0-100mph

TT 180bhp - 21.2
TT 225bhp - 15.8
S3 210bhp - 16.4
Leon 20VT 180bhp - 20.9
Golf GTi 150bhp - 25.6
Leon cupra R 210bhp - 18.0

Yep that road test car was a ringer and Autocar should be ashamed that they printed the test using it and gave the car five stars. I recall that in a 0-100 feature later in the same year, a "standard" car did 0-100 in 20.7 or 20.8 which was much more like it! Top Gear did 0-100 in 19.7 secs which was a good time. The reason is that the long geared Octavia can do 100 in 3rd. The 6 speed Leon VT of the period needed 4th gear.

I think they liked the car itself but queried it with Skoda - were then assured it was standard .....

They smelt a rat with the performance and, as said, retested a different one which seemed more ' representative' for that power to weight in a front wheel drive saloon

[redroadster]

Great shed cheap golf.

[doolie]

Got one of these,same colour 2005 model. Taken it from 8k to 118k in 8years. Spot on commuter car although a 6th gear wouldn't go amiss

Cheap to run
Only significant faults have been coil packs x2 and an electrical issue with central locking in first year of ownership
Economical
Switched to the larger tyre size, much cheaper
Belt and pump changed once


I wish it would break. I could then justify buying a new car!

Good shed.

[chungasarnies]

"done 153k miles with some history and most (I think!) of the old MOTS but drives like he's done 53k"

What does this even mean anymore? What the heck does a 53k car drive like??

Best one I've seen recently is a 1series with 228k described as driving 'like 20k' or something

This is a top shed though

[Konan]

KM666 said:

I've got a 150ps l&k with vrs brakes and uprated shocks and springs. I wouldn't recommend them to anybody who values handling.

The article suggested 'progressive and predictable handling' for the vRS. Quite a departure from anything on that platform I've ever driven. They do tend to have a reasonable level of grip on turn in but when you pass the limit, they immediately snap and plough on in a straight line with no real feedback.

[nicfaz]

shalmaneser said:

nicfaz said:

s m said:

Great shed

"Strong performance".......but never as strong as the original Autocar road test

Yes, one of the best trolls of recent times, delivering the road test car to autocar with a TT spec 225bhp engine in it. I wonder if the Skoda management knew, or it was just someone taking a bit of initiative... I suppose it did represent the kind of performance that was easily achievable if you had a simple map put on it.

Is this actually true? Sounds like hearsay to me!

Probably could have phrased it better - they remapped the engine to ~210/225bhp when it should have been 180bhp. I think the 225bhp TT did have some modifications to its engine so it could deliver that power reliably in all conditions (e.g. in Dubai at 50C). It was a bit naughty, but plenty of owners paid for a remap and got commensurate performance. As others have said, the Autocar test figures are simply not possible if the engine was boggo 180bhp at that weight and FWD. Autocar later confirmed that subsequent test cars were quite a lot slower.

[MC Bodge]

I wonder how many vRS's are still on the standard map?

[MadDog1962]

chungasarnies said:

"done 153k miles with some history and most (I think!) of the old MOTS but drives like he's done 53k"

What does this even mean anymore? What the heck does a 53k car drive like??

Best one I've seen recently is a 1series with 228k described as driving 'like 20k' or something

This is a top shed though

At this price level if you can successfully run it to the end of it's MoT without spending any real money you will have had great value for money. It's the same for any half decent shed. I think what people are trying to say when they say the odo shows 153k but drives like 53k etc is that it looks and feels like 50% of it's life has been consumed whereas in reality it's more like 75%. I remember reading somewhere that cars are designed for 200k useful life, and when you think about it that seems about right. A lot of expensive to fix minor stuff seems to crumble, crack and fail after 10 years, especially if the vehicle has lived out doors most of it's life. Basically most polymers and plastics tend to harden (the plasticisers evaporate) over their life, and after 10 years will be brittle. This means that seals, washers and bushings are going to fail. If you keep the car garaged and out of the sun this process is slowed down.

Top tip, buy cars that have been garaged wherever possible.

[s m]

s m said:

GreenArrow said:

Drive Blind said:

other VAG 1.8T Autocar figures 0-100mph

TT 180bhp - 21.2
TT 225bhp - 15.8
S3 210bhp - 16.4
Leon 20VT 180bhp - 20.9
Golf GTi 150bhp - 25.6
Leon cupra R 210bhp - 18.0

Yep that road test car was a ringer and Autocar should be ashamed that they printed the test using it and gave the car five stars. I recall that in a 0-100 feature later in the same year, a "standard" car did 0-100 in 20.7 or 20.8 which was much more like it! Top Gear did 0-100 in 19.7 secs which was a good time. The reason is that the long geared Octavia can do 100 in 3rd. The 6 speed Leon VT of the period needed 4th gear.

I think they liked the car itself but queried it with Skoda - were then assured it was standard .....

They smelt a rat with the performance and, as said, retested a different one which seemed more ' representative' for that power to weight in a front wheel drive saloon

[Sir Fergie]

chungasarnies said:

"done 153k miles with some history and most (I think!) of the old MOTS but drives like he's done 53k"

What does this even mean anymore? What the heck does a 53k car drive like??

Best one I've seen recently is a 1series with 228k described as driving 'like 20k' or something

This is a top shed though

Basically the seller is saying/claiming that the car drives like a much lower mileage car - despite the mileage on the clock.

Youd GENERALLY expect a 53k car these days to drive very well as its pretty low mileage.

[sef535]

cant grumble with that top shed back on form again !!!!

[tomjol]

nicfaz said:

Probably could have phrased it better - they remapped the engine to ~210/225bhp when it should have been 180bhp. I think the 225bhp TT did have some modifications to its engine so it could deliver that power reliably in all conditions (e.g. in Dubai at 50C). It was a bit naughty, but plenty of owners paid for a remap and got commensurate performance. As others have said, the Autocar test figures are simply not possible if the engine was boggo 180bhp at that weight and FWD. Autocar later confirmed that subsequent test cars were quite a lot slower.

Quite a few differences on the 210 and 225 engined cars from the 180s, not least a bigger turbo...

Certainly not worlds apart but people should not be under the impression that they can just stick a map on and turn it into a 225.

[cooperd5]

great shed! Plenty of go, if a little dull and stodgy handling.
I enjoyed my estate, was plenty quick enough even 4 up, bikes on the roof plus a dog and towing a trailer! Still did 30 mpg on that holiday, averaged 34 while I had it. Agree they are a bit basic and betray the mk4 Golf 90's design inside, spartan and really not a lot of rear legroom. Mine had the SAI fan replaced when I bought it plus it had previously had loads of rubber pipes replaced on the engine but was utterly reliable while I had it.
Sold it for a Mk2 vRS for nearly what I paid for it a year earlier.
Coops

[JMF894]

Bought an 04 in silver back in 2008 with 42k, xenons, parking sensors and esp. After a few months of ownership I had a revo stage 1 remap to 210bhp and left it at that. Sold it 5 years later with 130k having been all-round Europe, Alps, Lake Garda, Maranello, South of France, Scotland...you name it. Only needed two front wheel bearings and a driver's door lock solenoid in all that time. Never changed the zorst or clutch or a coil pack.

Best all-rounder I've ever had without doubt. People with Skoda/taxi image issues really need to wake up and smell the coffee.

Jimbo

[the_hood]

JMF894 said:

People with Skoda/taxi image issues really need to wake up and smell the coffee.

Jimbo

I don't have any issues with the image, but I'm struggling to think the last time I saw an Octavia or Superb that wasn't a private taxi.

[njw1]

One of the managers at work has had a few 4wd diesel Octavia estates over the last few years and I love driving them, they are surprisingly potent and a bit of a sleeper, much more entertaining than the other managers Mondeos even the Mondeos seemed far superior in many ways. Good cars IMO although being biased I would have last weeks shed.

[Kidders]

I had one of these a few years ago. I loved the way it looked inside and out, and it went well enough, but even after spending £5-600 on new suspension, powerflex bushes and new OEM, it still didn't handle that well, and the steering was lifeless. In the end I had to sell it due to circumstances and also to stop me spending a fortune getting it driving how I liked. My ST220 completely showed it up in the handling and ride department, so I guess i was spoilt, despite it being a bigger , heavier car.

Edited by Kidders on Sunday 25th January 13:21

[X5TUU]

the_hood said:

I don't have any issues with the image, but I'm struggling to think the last time I saw an Octavia or Superb that wasn't a private taxi.

Exactly, I don't think I have ever seen a Superb that wasn't/isn't a taxi currently.

I do see an odd Octavia that isn't a taxi at present granted but they are few and far between.