RE: Skoda Octavia vRS 230
Friday 20th February 2015
It would be amusing to think somewhere in Wolfsburg somebody periodically pulls a handle on some sort of MQB platform one-armed bandit, watches the various combinations of brand, engine tune, chassis components and drivetrain spin and then - kerching! - phones in the result to the brand in question. And it seems this time it's Skoda's turn, the Octavia vRS today confirmed with a new derivative comprising a power boost to 230hp and fitment of the VAQ 'differential' to meter it out across the front axle.
It's got ... seats ... with extra red bitsThe latest pick'n'mix creation takes the 220hp petrol Octavia vRS - the cheapest of the hot MQBs at £23,755 - and basically adds the uprated Golf GTI Performance's 230hp state of tune and Haldex-derived VAQ torque distributing front axle. How much torque it'll be distributing hasn't been confirmed but we'll take a wild stab at 258lb ft, this being the consistent figure whether in a 220/230hp Golf GTI, 265hp/280hp SEAT Leon Cupra or standard vRS. Other confirmed stats include a 0-62mph time of 6.7 seconds, a tenth quicker than the regular car.
Skoda Octavia vRS 230
Already appealing Octavia vRS spiced up with VAQ 'diff' and power bump to 230hp
We're not moaning; the many and various combinations of performance oriented MQB-based cars are generally pretty decent, be they Skodas or Audis costing twice as much.
It's got ... seats ... with extra red bits
49mm longer in the wheelbase than most other MQB cars, the Octavia in both hatch and estate form is the most practical of the breed and a little more stable and planted than the more overtly hot hatch derived equivalents from SEAT and VW. This is good news for load-lugging PHers who aren't quite ready to hang up their driving gloves and makes it an even more useful car than the SEAT Leon Cupra ST estate we tested recently. Next rung up on the MQB fast/practical ladder would be the forthcoming Golf R estate, adding a bit more power and four-wheel drive into the mix.
When there's time we'll have to plot the exact pecking order contained within the MQB family but, suffice to say, we'd consider the Skoda a welcome addition. Deliveries start in June, more from Geneva when we've seen it in the metal.
Discussion
I was sat behind one of these the other day. Oddly the rear twin chrome exhaust ports are dummies - only the nearside had a pipe I could see and that ended well short of the nice chrome trim.
A little gripe I know but it's attention to detail that distinguishes a 'cheap' car from a more expensive one. Besides that, not a bad looker really, somewhat more masculine than before.
A little gripe I know but it's attention to detail that distinguishes a 'cheap' car from a more expensive one. Besides that, not a bad looker really, somewhat more masculine than before.
new666uk said:
I was sat behind one of these the other day. Oddly the rear twin chrome exhaust ports are dummies - only the nearside had a pipe I could see and that ended well short of the nice chrome trim.
A little gripe I know but it's attention to detail that distinguishes a 'cheap' car from a more expensive one. Besides that, not a bad looker really, somewhat more masculine than before.
I suspect fake exhaust trims become more common, rather than less, as cars get more expensive. A little gripe I know but it's attention to detail that distinguishes a 'cheap' car from a more expensive one. Besides that, not a bad looker really, somewhat more masculine than before.
I think it's only the diesel which has a completley fake outlet.
Edited by kambites on Friday 20th February 16:17
new666uk said:
I was sat behind one of these the other day. Oddly the rear twin chrome exhaust ports are dummies - only the nearside had a pipe I could see and that ended well short of the nice chrome trim.
A little gripe I know but it's attention to detail that distinguishes a 'cheap' car from a more expensive one. Besides that, not a bad looker really, somewhat more masculine than before.
That ruins it for me (shallow, I know!). There's something about the MkIII vRS that just doesn't look right in the metal. The dodgy looking exhausts and the wheel arch gap are the main culprits.A little gripe I know but it's attention to detail that distinguishes a 'cheap' car from a more expensive one. Besides that, not a bad looker really, somewhat more masculine than before.
new666uk said:
I was sat behind one of these the other day. Oddly the rear twin chrome exhaust ports are dummies - only the nearside had a pipe I could see and that ended well short of the nice chrome trim.
A little gripe I know but it's attention to detail that distinguishes a 'cheap' car from a more expensive one. Besides that, not a bad looker really, somewhat more masculine than before.
You sure about that...A little gripe I know but it's attention to detail that distinguishes a 'cheap' car from a more expensive one. Besides that, not a bad looker really, somewhat more masculine than before.
quoted from Evo:
Also high on Fedeli’s list of priorities was making sure the car sounds good to its occupants, for while Ferraris may make a spectacular noice for those outside them, Fedeli admits that more could be done to enhance the sound for those inside. To this end, the California engine’s induction system has been developed to transmit more of its glorious V8 noise into the cabin. The exhaust, conversely, has been designed so as not to be too intrusive when the roof is down, but one of the disappointments for those with keen eyes will be that those controversial stacked exhausts are in fact dummies – the real exhaust outlets hide inside them and look nothing like as meaty as you’d expect on a car like this.
The article is dead right about the VAG MQB platform being a lottery. Why the Octavia doesn't get the 280hp engine tune and the Leon does is beyond me. Would love to see that engine in the Skoda coupled with 4wd - it would be like a mini Audi RS for sensible money. Making it estate only would be even more appealing 
Like the look of these. Contains the best bits (aesthetically) of the Audi A4 (B5 and B6) Imo.
More power and 4wd would give it more appeal, given Skoda's rally history. Not a fan of the current trend for blingy, oversized wheels. Walk down a high street and look at some of the cars with huge wheels and it's quite shocking how many are fitted with hideously cheap tyres(suppose that's the ignorance of the masses though).
Drove a recent Superb the other day. Apart from the frumpy rear looks I was impressed with the overall package. Better dynamics than the previous generation, loads of space and a solid build. Just wish VAG would borrow a couple of Fords and sort their bloody steering out
Skoda seem to have the most transparent range of all the mainstream VAG badges. While Audi and VW seem to be building larger and more confused ranges and sub ranges (not that they're alone - seems to be a Teutonic affliction), and to me SEAT seem somewhat imageless, Skoda, to their credit are producing a range of distinctly different models, with enough individuality of styling, thoughtful practicality, and well proven engineering. Maybe an old fashioned style of car production by today's standards, but from what I've experienced of their cars over the past 10 years, perhaps one of the jewels in the VAG crown (does that make it a VAG-azzel? Sorry
).
More power and 4wd would give it more appeal, given Skoda's rally history. Not a fan of the current trend for blingy, oversized wheels. Walk down a high street and look at some of the cars with huge wheels and it's quite shocking how many are fitted with hideously cheap tyres(suppose that's the ignorance of the masses though).
Drove a recent Superb the other day. Apart from the frumpy rear looks I was impressed with the overall package. Better dynamics than the previous generation, loads of space and a solid build. Just wish VAG would borrow a couple of Fords and sort their bloody steering out
Skoda seem to have the most transparent range of all the mainstream VAG badges. While Audi and VW seem to be building larger and more confused ranges and sub ranges (not that they're alone - seems to be a Teutonic affliction), and to me SEAT seem somewhat imageless, Skoda, to their credit are producing a range of distinctly different models, with enough individuality of styling, thoughtful practicality, and well proven engineering. Maybe an old fashioned style of car production by today's standards, but from what I've experienced of their cars over the past 10 years, perhaps one of the jewels in the VAG crown (does that make it a VAG-azzel? Sorry
).Edited by shipoftheseus on Friday 20th February 22:46
Edited by shipoftheseus on Saturday 21st February 04:59
new666uk said:
I was sat behind one of these the other day. Oddly the rear twin chrome exhaust ports are dummies - only the nearside had a pipe I could see and that ended well short of the nice chrome trim.
A little gripe I know but it's attention to detail that distinguishes a 'cheap' car from a more expensive one. Besides that, not a bad looker really, somewhat more masculine than before.
You were behind a the TDi model. The TSi has a pipe on both sides. A little gripe I know but it's attention to detail that distinguishes a 'cheap' car from a more expensive one. Besides that, not a bad looker really, somewhat more masculine than before.
Moley RUFC said:
kambites said:
The wheels in the picture are truly vile and given how badly the mk2 drove on 18s, I dread to think what this is like on 19s.
I like them! It rides far better than my previous mk2 vRS on the 18" OEM Neptunes. The Eibachs help however...
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