RE: Skoda Octavia vRS 230: Driven

RE: Skoda Octavia vRS 230: Driven

Sunday 6th September 2015

Skoda Octavia vRS 230: Driven

Minor power boost and a trick diff that will surely be great on road... launched at a track



There are many benefits to growing older. You get to tell people that places used to be all fields when you were a kid, and claim it was possible to have a good night out for an improbably small sum of money. But you also realise that history really does repeat itself.

Back in 1999, as a fresh-faced youngster, I was dispatched to one of my first press launches - that of the original Skoda Octavia vRS. This was held at the Hungaroring, and the combination of one of Europe's twistiest race tracks with a 180hp front-driven hatchback with modest grip levels was not a happy one. The whole event quickly became a festival of understeer, with the sound of tortured rubber probably audible in the centre of Budapest. In some dusty archive there's still a picture of me launching a vRS off a stripy kerb and towards a gravel trap, having completely missed an apex.

"Heard the one about Skoda on track?"
"Heard the one about Skoda on track?"
By the end of the event most of the cars seemed to have managed at least one off-track excursion. And I always imagined that, after being presented with the bill for broken splitters and undertrays, somebody senior in the HQ at Mlada Boleslav said words to the effect of "let's not do that again."

Been here before
Yet 16 years on I'm getting strong Groundhog Day vibes, at the launch of another Octavia vRS at another central European race circuit. This time it's the uprated 230 version of the current third generation, and the chosen location is the Slovakia Ring near Bratislava. But as with the original launch there's no road driving element, just eight laps on the track to try and work out if the revisions to this blue-collar performance hero justify the extra £2,520 over the standard vRS. Skoda clearly has a big budget for tyres and brakes...

The changes over the regular vRS are modest, and can basically be summarised as saying that this is the equivalent of the Performance Pack version of the Golf GTI, with the same 10hp power upgrade and clever electronically controlled differential at the front. This is almost identical to the Haldex coupling used for on-demand four-wheel drive systems, only with the electronically controlled clutch pack used to produce a locking effect when required. According to Skoda's head of chassis and powertrain, Martin Hrdlicka, the vRS 230 is a 10 seconds quicker around a lap of the Nordschleife than the standard vRS, that difference pretty much entirely down to the new diff.

10hp gain unsurprisingly hard to spot
10hp gain unsurprisingly hard to spot
A bit more
Mechanically, that's pretty much your lot. The vRS 230 also getting a ratio-varying power steering system as standard, unique 19-inch alloys and a slightly louder exhaust, but suspension and brakes are unchanged. The 230 also gets more kit, including leather seats with power adjustment at the front, standard touchscreen sat-nav, park assist and a lap timer function for the trip computer. It's marked by more black external trim, with the key for spotters being the black 'V' of the vRS badge, indicating this is the swifter version.

The vRS 230 is available as both a hatch and an estate, and with either manual or DSG transmission. The hatchback is the first Octavia to be fitted with a 155mph speed limiter, although that was definitely a call by the marketing department rather than engineering: the unlimited estate tops out at 153mph so it's not like the hatchback would be pushing 170mph without the restrictor...

Slovak wrung
Which brings us to the track, and the hope that the clever front differential should help to impose some discipline on this fast 3.7-mile long circuit - the same place that Honda launched the Civic Type R a couple of months ago.

vRS + VAQ = v. good?
vRS + VAQ = v. good?
The contrast with the Type R is a cruel one, because while the Honda seemed to relish being pasted around the track here with a chassis that offered impressive levels of adjustability, the Octavia takes to it with all the enthusiasm of a Frenchman turning to vegetarianism. I drive a manual estate for my first four-lap stint, and well before asked to make a big stop it's clear that the grumbling brakes have withstood several days of abuse. Progress is gentle on the first lap, following an instructor leading in another Octavia, and it gives the 230 a chance to demonstrate that it does seem to have slightly more front-end bite in slower corners than the standard vRS.

But as the pace increases so the 230's tyres start to struggle, and the front tyres are soon wailing like Australian cricket fans. Like the Golf GTI, the vRS has permanently on stability control that, even in its more aggressive Sport mode, doesn't allow any meaningful slip - or even to allow the Octavia to tighten its line on a lifted throttle. It's certainly quick enough, although I'd be fibbing if I said I could feel the extra 10hp, but it's also clear that the instructor is trying to limit disc temperatures with very cautious braking points. Soon it's getting nearly as understeery as the original vRS launch - I watch one of the 230s leave the circuit at an almost straight vector despite having 45 degrees of lock wound on...

Other stuff? The steering's ratio-varying wasn't noticeable on track, and the exhaust note did sound marginally fruitier - even making a few pops on the overrun.

Certainly not bad, but not at home here
Certainly not bad, but not at home here
Fish to marmalade
The DSG-equipped hatchback used for the second stint felt slightly less understeery - or maybe I'd just learned that there was not really much point in pushing it - but it didn't feel any more involving. Because, obvious point approaching, the vRS 230 is almost certainly going to be best sampled as a road car. Fun though hooning around on race circuits is, it's a shame that we didn't get to do that as well.

But we also suspect that relatively few buyers will choose it for its clever diff, fractional power increase or fizzy exhaust - rather the fact you can pretty much justify the entire extra cost on the basis of the added equipment: adding leather, park assist and the sat-nav to a standard vRS would cost £2,020. For perspective a vRS 230 hatch with the DSG gearbox is still £415 less than the cheapest five-door Golf GTI.

A sensible, likeable car then - but not one that really enjoys life on a racetrack.


SKODA OCTAVIA VRS 230
Engine:
1,984cc 4-cyl turbocharged
Transmission: 6-speed manual, front-wheel drive
Power (hp): 230@N/A rpm
Torque (lb ft): 258@N/Arpm
0-62mph: 6.7sec (hatch), 6.8sec (estate)
Top speed: 155mph (limited) (hatch), 153mph (estate)
Weight: 1,345kg (hatch), 1,367kg (estate)
MPG: 45.6 (hatch), 44.8 (estate)
CO2: 142g/km (hatch), 143g/km (estate)
Price: £26,350 (hatch), £27,550 (estate)







   
Author
Discussion

MadDog1962

Original Poster:

890 posts

161 months

Friday 4th September 2015
quotequote all
OK so it's not a car happy being thrashed around a race track. However, the current model Octavia is amazing value for money, and more than fast enough in the real world as a daily driver. Even the 180 Bhp version is a great drive.

The car rides remarkably well consider the low kerb weight and feels and looks like a quality product. A friend of mine has a vRS and is delighted with it and I've put at least a 1000 miles on my Dad's L&K turbo. Although I personally dislike the DSG, I'd seriously consider one if it was available where I live.

Axionknight

8,505 posts

134 months

Friday 4th September 2015
quotequote all
I drove the less Pistonhead like diesel model and it was just a great car and I can't see why this would be any different - I know we all love our speed but a well made, reliable, comfortable, economical motor with a bit of poke makes sense from time to time and that one certainly did.

Would chose a Volvo V60 though, personally, lest I really wanted the pace this specific model offered.

CaptainSlow

13,179 posts

211 months

Friday 4th September 2015
quotequote all
These are going up in price. I recall the petrol hatch version was on offer at £16k in 2008!

kambites

67,461 posts

220 months

Friday 4th September 2015
quotequote all
I can only really view the fact that they clearly haven't put any effort into getting it to work on a racing track as a positive thing. I mean who buys a Skoda with the intention of tracking it?

Axionknight

8,505 posts

134 months

Friday 4th September 2015
quotequote all
kambites said:
I can only really view the fact that they clearly haven't put any effort into getting it to work on a racing track as a positive thing.
I dunno what you mean, everyone needs a family car honed at the 'Ring hehe

Just ask Honda.

Uncle John

4,270 posts

190 months

Friday 4th September 2015
quotequote all
So it sounds like an understeery mess that clearly hasn't had development budget which explains the track chaperone and it's a likeable car???

alock

4,224 posts

210 months

Friday 4th September 2015
quotequote all
CaptainSlow said:
These are going up in price. I recall the petrol hatch version was on offer at £16k in 2008!
The normal 220PS manual hatchback can be had for £20K:
https://broadspeed.com/CarView/Skoda/Octavia/37315...

I don't think that's too bad for 7 years and being a newer model with more kit.

naxtek

3 posts

107 months

Friday 4th September 2015
quotequote all
kambites said:
I can only really view the fact that they clearly haven't put any effort into getting it to work on a racing track as a positive thing. I mean who buys a Skoda with the intention of tracking it?
Someone on Briskoda has a stripped out, caged Yeti running 500bhp+. Pretty insane.

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/a/img905/4893/UK6k1s...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=116&v=n-XnIeLr...

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/226003-the-tw...

anonymous-user

53 months

Friday 4th September 2015
quotequote all
Sounds like a perfectly decent boring family car with enough shove to get out of it's own way. Quite what possessed their marketing department to have a track event for it I do not know. That would be like having a launch of a new line of coats and bobble hats on a beach in Antigua.

The downside is that it might feed into the perception Skoda vRS owners I see seem to posses that it is the absolute fastest car ever made, a veritable road missile.

AntiLagGC8

1,724 posts

111 months

Friday 4th September 2015
quotequote all
naxtek said:
kambites said:
I can only really view the fact that they clearly haven't put any effort into getting it to work on a racing track as a positive thing. I mean who buys a Skoda with the intention of tracking it?
Someone on Briskoda has a stripped out, caged Yeti running 500bhp+. Pretty insane.

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/a/img905/4893/UK6k1s...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=116&v=n-XnIeLr...

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/226003-the-tw...
I want to know what was in that Skyline that kept destroying him down the straights. If the Yeti is stripped and making 500bhp sheesh, the Skyline must of been at least few hundred more as it clearly far faster.

Still I love the fact he did that to a Yeti, I wonder if he could dial out the understeer?

kmack

157 posts

132 months

Friday 4th September 2015
quotequote all
I respect the Skoda Octavia VRS as its a quality product, comfortable, spacious and lively but I have noticed they attract d--k heads who want to race everyone, especially the older models. Its disappointing as Skoda has successfully transformed there image but these chav boy racers are doing them no favors...

Icehanger

394 posts

221 months

Friday 4th September 2015
quotequote all
kmack said:
Its disappointing as Skoda has successfully transformed there image but these chav boy racers are doing them no favors...
you could say that about any other mark out there that has produced a hot (warm) version of a model that's over 5 years old now and fallen into chav territorylaugh

bigdavy

1,079 posts

206 months

Friday 4th September 2015
quotequote all
Quite glad I didn't wait for one, I just bought an Octavia Scout DSG 184 I reckon its quicker than a standard diesel vrs due to the 4wd. Lot more comfortable as well, plus skoda originally muted this would only be around a grand more than a standard vrs which would have been a lot more acceptable.

Dalmahoy

184 posts

137 months

Friday 4th September 2015
quotequote all

Getting very close price wise to a new Wrx.

Axionknight

8,505 posts

134 months

Friday 4th September 2015
quotequote all
It is actually, come to thing of it - the cheaper running costs and incognito image will help it though.

I'd take the Scoob, personally.

JMF894

5,475 posts

154 months

Friday 4th September 2015
quotequote all
As a daily, practical wagon I like these a lot having previously owned a MK1 for 5 years.

Owners just need to place the car in the correct context. Hot hatch/estate they are not. More swift, comfortable and practical family car with VW engineering and 'reliability' wink




mp3manager

4,254 posts

195 months

Friday 4th September 2015
quotequote all
Only 230bhp from a 2.0 turbo is a bit wk.

The K20A in the FD2 puts out more than that....and that's N/A!!

knitware

1,473 posts

192 months

Friday 4th September 2015
quotequote all
Great, i'll be sure to see one of these soon large in my bumper as the dude who drives it thinks that he's 'finally made it in life and is driving a fast car...'

stumpage

2,099 posts

225 months

Friday 4th September 2015
quotequote all
At the weekends most of the time you will find me behind the wheel of our VRS. It's fun, quick, fits the family plus the junk that goes with them and leaves me with a grin.

Obviously I'm not doing as well as somerolleyes. But on most days it fits the bill perfectly.

The thing is this, when we were looking for a car it was kind of in a category of its own, the only other new option at the time was the Focus ST estate.

Edited by stumpage on Friday 4th September 21:32

kmack

157 posts

132 months

Saturday 5th September 2015
quotequote all
Icehanger said:
kmack said:
Its disappointing as Skoda has successfully transformed there image but these chav boy racers are doing them no favors...
you could say that about any other mark out there that has produced a hot (warm) version of a model that's over 5 years old now and fallen into chav territorylaugh
Absolutely but the VRS Skoda's seem to attract the worst / most aggressive drivers who race around like idiots and want to race everything on the road. I don't know if they feel they have something to prove - I don't know... just my personal experience.