RE: New Skoda Octavia vRS announced
Discussion
kambites said:
Learn2MergeInTurn said:
Or the boring (but comfortable) 280bhp skoda superb almost certainly being faster then a golf gti!!!
The Superb is more expensive than the Golf GTi, though. The Octavia is cheaper. I could certainly see the argument for a model above the VRS marketed as a sort of "sensible, budget Golf-R" but it would have to be priced above the Golf GTi to work.
Shame about no diff on the Vrs too...
dmitry said:
Design inspired by Henning Wehn
^ I saw what you did there, clever and funny!!I'd just like to ask a question; when they redesigned the front, why or why didn't they take the opportunity to lose those stupid shaped exhaust exit points in the rear bumper through which you can still see the normal, round, exhaust pipes??
I'm all for interesting, and even challenging, but pointless? It's a bit like the motoring equivalents of Rachel Riley, Sandi Totsvig and Victoria Beckham I guess.....
I've had my VRS 230 DSG since May 2016 now and it's a good bit of kit.
However my biggest gripe now we have 'permadamp' roads is the traction. It's impossible to make a brisk getaway without wheel spin - the VAQ does nothing to assist (but does help in corners which I guess is its main purpose). This can be especially problematic when trying to make a quick get out onto a roundabout (where the DSG and stop start add their own issues)
What it needs, in my view, to make it a very good car is AWD and the 280bhp version of the engine but I suspect Skoda will never do that for reasons already mentioned in this thread. It's a shame as I like the no nonsense nature of the brand and the functional styling (but I do hate that new front end).
Unless they address these shortcomings before I next change, regrettably this will be my third and last Skoda. It's not especially cheap now and I'm thinking that I may as well have a Golf with the spec that I would like.
However my biggest gripe now we have 'permadamp' roads is the traction. It's impossible to make a brisk getaway without wheel spin - the VAQ does nothing to assist (but does help in corners which I guess is its main purpose). This can be especially problematic when trying to make a quick get out onto a roundabout (where the DSG and stop start add their own issues)
What it needs, in my view, to make it a very good car is AWD and the 280bhp version of the engine but I suspect Skoda will never do that for reasons already mentioned in this thread. It's a shame as I like the no nonsense nature of the brand and the functional styling (but I do hate that new front end).
Unless they address these shortcomings before I next change, regrettably this will be my third and last Skoda. It's not especially cheap now and I'm thinking that I may as well have a Golf with the spec that I would like.
If you'd told young me that 2016 press images of a Skoda would all be taken on a race track, I'd have laughed at you 
The styling looks like the old headlights are still there and they've just stuck a bit of bumper plastic over them. And yes, that grill looks a lot like a moustache, albeit upside down.
The styling looks like the old headlights are still there and they've just stuck a bit of bumper plastic over them. And yes, that grill looks a lot like a moustache, albeit upside down.
Hmm, I kind of like the bold new look. Had to be seen in the flesh though. Rear looks dated in comparison though.
As for model hierarchy. This one is the roomy/sensible/sporty with reasonable insurance. The Seat is more all out sporty don't care about badges. Although my Cupra ST is surprisingly comfortable...
As for model hierarchy. This one is the roomy/sensible/sporty with reasonable insurance. The Seat is more all out sporty don't care about badges. Although my Cupra ST is surprisingly comfortable...
I'm not sure what annoys me more, the ugly new face, or the fact that VAG keeps holding back the power output of the Octavia so it doesn't steal sales from the Golf and possibly the supposedly sportier Seats. 230 PS, wow - up a massive 10 on the old model, which means overall its about 30 horses more than the 2006 model. Pretty average progress really when you chart the progress of the hot hatch in general over that period! I think this goes back to the Mk1 VRS which comprehensively out-drove the equivalent GTI of the period. Clearly VAG don't want that ever happening again.
My money would go on a VW Golf R Estate, or Seat Leon FR estate. The latter is the best Q car option now for those who don't want a VW or Audi.
greenarrow said:
I'm not sure what annoys me more, the ugly new face, or the fact that VAG keeps holding back the power output of the Octavia so it doesn't steal sales from the Golf and possibly the supposedly sportier Seats. 230 PS, wow - up a massive 10 on the old model, which means overall its about 30 horses more than the 2006 model. Pretty average progress really when you chart the progress of the hot hatch in general over that period! I think this goes back to the Mk1 VRS which comprehensively out-drove the equivalent GTI of the period. Clearly VAG don't want that ever happening again.
The MK5 Golf GTI had 200ps, the MK2 Octavia VRS of the same generation... Yep, also 200ps. MK6 GTI was released, and bumped up to 211. MK2 facelift remained at 200ps but the GTI has hardly run away here and the VRS did still get the latest gen engine, rather than being stuck with the old EA113.
MK7 GTI released with 220ps, Octavia VRS has the same.
MK7 GTI facelift announced, gets 230ps as standard. Octavia VRS facelift also gets the same again.
So as it stands, both the GTI and the VRS in their latest 2017 guises are still only 30ps better than their 2006 ancestors and neither has a clear advantage over the other.
the_hood said:
Crew Protect Assist???
Not sure why the article even mentions this. My 3 year old VRS has this option so it's not exactly new on the Octavia.Pre-tenses the front seatbelts based on vehicle behaviour and anticipating a potential accident. Also closes side windows if open and closes sunroof if fitted and open.
Oh dear. Glad I got a pre-facelift car now!
EDIT: Thinking about this, Skoda have form of getting these things wrong. The Mk2 pre-facelift was never a beautiful car but it was a cohesive bit of design. Then there was a need to be "different", regardless of whether it looked better or not. A simple cohesive form became a messy, fussy one. Many people liked it; I didn't.
The same is true of the Mk3 and Mk 3.5. The former is a cohesive whole, the latter a piece with fussy extras that detract rather than add to it.
EDIT: Thinking about this, Skoda have form of getting these things wrong. The Mk2 pre-facelift was never a beautiful car but it was a cohesive bit of design. Then there was a need to be "different", regardless of whether it looked better or not. A simple cohesive form became a messy, fussy one. Many people liked it; I didn't.
The same is true of the Mk3 and Mk 3.5. The former is a cohesive whole, the latter a piece with fussy extras that detract rather than add to it.
Edited by blearyeyedboy on Wednesday 21st December 01:20
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