Thoughts on the Skoda Octavia VRS
Discussion
Looking to move on from my current car, really like the value for money the Skoda Octavia VRS offers (from first looks), styling is growing on me too.
problem for me and I know you will get this with any car you potentially buy, my last one was a money pit so decided for my next car to do a bit of research into reliability issues and cost of running etc.
so, anyone know if there are anything in particular to look out for on them, reliability issues and what’s the general cost of running them like, fuel, oil etc.
won’t be a brand new model, probably looking between a 2004 and 2007 model (previous gen I believe)
thanks
problem for me and I know you will get this with any car you potentially buy, my last one was a money pit so decided for my next car to do a bit of research into reliability issues and cost of running etc.
so, anyone know if there are anything in particular to look out for on them, reliability issues and what’s the general cost of running them like, fuel, oil etc.
won’t be a brand new model, probably looking between a 2004 and 2007 model (previous gen I believe)
thanks
They are very well regarded - extremely spacious, comfy, great to drive and even reasonable on the juice. The 2.0 tfsi is a gem of an engine and very robust.
If you're a badge w
e or like details like pneumatic bonnet struts and damped grab handles then forget it but if you like quality engineering and great performance then I highly recommend one.
My dad has had his 2007 vRS from new and in that time and 50k it has needed nothing other than routine services and a faulty lambda sensor that was replaced on warranty.
He swears by it and rather than doing his usual trick if changing it for a newer model every 5 years has decided to keep it.
If you're a badge w
e or like details like pneumatic bonnet struts and damped grab handles then forget it but if you like quality engineering and great performance then I highly recommend one.My dad has had his 2007 vRS from new and in that time and 50k it has needed nothing other than routine services and a faulty lambda sensor that was replaced on warranty.
He swears by it and rather than doing his usual trick if changing it for a newer model every 5 years has decided to keep it.
morgrp said:
They are very well regarded - extremely spacious, comfy, great to drive and even reasonable on the juice. The 2.0 tfsi is a gem of an engine and very robust.
If you're a badge we or like details like pneumatic bonnet struts and damped grab handles then forget it but if you like quality engineering and great performance then I highly recommend one.
My dad has had his 2007 vRS from new and in that time and 50k it has needed nothing other than routine services and a faulty lambda sensor that was replaced on warranty.
He swears by it and rather than doing his usual trick if changing it for a newer model every 5 years has decided to keep it.
thanks, did you mean to post this four times?? If you're a badge w
e or like details like pneumatic bonnet struts and damped grab handles then forget it but if you like quality engineering and great performance then I highly recommend one.My dad has had his 2007 vRS from new and in that time and 50k it has needed nothing other than routine services and a faulty lambda sensor that was replaced on warranty.
He swears by it and rather than doing his usual trick if changing it for a newer model every 5 years has decided to keep it.
That would be the current generation (there has only been two), but pre-facelift.
Be wary of failing stability control modules, there are very expensive to replace if they go wrong, although there are "repair kits" on the market now which reduce the cost a fair bit. If a car has the ESP light on, go and find another one.
Ours has developed a few knocks and rattles, but not unduly so for a six year old, 80k mile car; the air conditioning isn't working, I don't know why yet; the interior is a bit scuffed in places;... otherwise it's fine.
In terms of the design of the car itself... well it's OK. It's a Golf class car with a bigger than average boot stuck on the back; I think the rear seats sit slightly further back than in the Golf so it has a bit more cabin space too. It's not as well sound-proofed as the Golf, so you hear suspension knocks and bangs more. It drives very much like a mk5 Golf GTi, so it's reasonable but nothing particularly special. The 18 inch wheels are too big and too heavy for the car - they ruin the ride and the handling, so avoid them if possible.
There seems to have been various different ICE setups available. Ours has sat-nav (which is complete rubbish) but no mp3 capability as far as I can tell.
If you have any questions, feel free to ask but there are people on briskoda who know an awful lot more than me.
Be wary of failing stability control modules, there are very expensive to replace if they go wrong, although there are "repair kits" on the market now which reduce the cost a fair bit. If a car has the ESP light on, go and find another one.
Ours has developed a few knocks and rattles, but not unduly so for a six year old, 80k mile car; the air conditioning isn't working, I don't know why yet; the interior is a bit scuffed in places;... otherwise it's fine.
In terms of the design of the car itself... well it's OK. It's a Golf class car with a bigger than average boot stuck on the back; I think the rear seats sit slightly further back than in the Golf so it has a bit more cabin space too. It's not as well sound-proofed as the Golf, so you hear suspension knocks and bangs more. It drives very much like a mk5 Golf GTi, so it's reasonable but nothing particularly special. The 18 inch wheels are too big and too heavy for the car - they ruin the ride and the handling, so avoid them if possible.
There seems to have been various different ICE setups available. Ours has sat-nav (which is complete rubbish) but no mp3 capability as far as I can tell.
If you have any questions, feel free to ask but there are people on briskoda who know an awful lot more than me.
Edited by kambites on Tuesday 12th June 13:46
As said, 'Briskoda' is a great online resource.
I have a Mk.1 Octy VRS on a 51 plate.
It took me a while to find a nice example - as with most cars, you have to kiss a lot of frogs when searching 2nd hand!
One thing that did strike me though - the bad cars I saw were not bad because they'd been owned by speed demons / boy racers, but because they'd been owned by women / families who have no interest in cars whatsoever, and had used them as 'automotive white goods' - and therefore they were a bit neglected / run down, and not really serviced on time, with patchy history.
I didn't come across any cars that were owned by youths, 'innits' or thrashers - despite their reputation of being quick cars. Who knows, but maybe the Skoda badge puts the kids off!
Anyway I found a lovely example that I got for a really good price - from a dealer believe it or not! He dealt in prestige cars, had taken it in as P/X, and I got the feeling he just wanted rid. Anyway, his need was my gain - great example, great condition, lovely history - well looked after.
So - what do I reckon two years and 30,000 miles on? (Total mileage now shows 115,000)
Well, I am still very, very happy with my car. I am a bit anal about my cars driving really nicely - so I have spent a chunk of money on her to get her perfect.
To date, she's had a set of Michelin Pilot Sport 3 tyres all round, brand new springs and dampers, braided steel brake flexi-hoses, EBC grooved discs, and Mintex 1144 pads. Also a new front ARB as the bushes were worn and it clunked a little over bumps.
Engine wise, she's had a Revo remap, a Pipercross panel filter - and I couldn't resist it - a Forge billet alloy recirculating dump valve
Driving: The car drives, to me, as new. Believe me, I am VERY sensitive and fussy as to how cars feel when I drive them - but she drives as tight as a drum. There is no feeling of vagueness, sloppiness, or wear in either the drivetrain or the chassis, and no clunks, bangs or rattles from anywhere.
Inside, there is not a hint of a squeak, rattle or noise anywhere either - under any road conditions. Noisy interior trim annoys me beyond comprehension - but I can drive the car with the stereo off, and drive in complete, happy silence. I can tell you this is the first car I've owned that has not had some type of annoying interior squeak or rattle!
I clean and feed the leather portions of the seats regularly - which again look great with no real wear and tear. All the fittings and fixtures, plastics etc. are what I would describe as 'as new'.
The only let down is the ridiculous white carpet - that despite my best efforts, gets grubby and requires a shampoo and wet vac once a year. She still has the original 'VRS' branded mats, which are still looking great too. The leather steering wheel and gear-shift gaiter are all still looking like new.
The only minor complaint I might have is that at motorway speeds and higher, there is a little whistling and wind noise around the front A pillars.
Bodywork and exterior: All still as new, 11 years on. Yes, I look after her with regular washing, and slightly anal use of 'detailing' products...but all the metal is still shiny, lustrous, and with no signs of corrosion anywhere. Similarly, I was recently underneath the car when it was on a ramp - and the underside is also all as new. Solid, clean and corrosion free.
All suspension bushes, mounts and fittings are all still perfect.
The original stanless exhaust system is still in good order.
Faults and problems:
I had a coil pack failure - this is well documented for all VAG group engines of this type and period. I replaced all the coil packs with the latest ones, costing around £120 for a set of 4, and have had no issues since.
The driver's side and off-side passenger window regulators have both failed. New items are now modified, and cost around £80 with maybe a couple of hours to replace. Easy enough for most 'driveway' mechanics to tackle.
The rear wash/wipe motor unit failed. Again, well-documented, and the reason for failure is that the 'wash' pipe is routed through the middle of the unit, through the wiper arm spindle. Washer fluid leaks into the unit, washing out the factory grease and rusting the gears. I removed the unit, stripped it down, cleaned it out and re-packed it with new grease. It now works faultlessly again, and I avoid using the 'wash' facility on the rear window.
The nearside headlamp 'adjustment' motor failed - this is the device that allows you to move the units down in case you have a heavy load in the boot. I tried to repair it with no success - but a new Bosch unit from Skoda at £25 sorted it, and it's been fine since.
Finally, the drivers' door started to rattle in it's closed position. This was traced to a worn top hinge, which was replaced at a cost of about 20 quid, which alleviated the rattle completely.
So, in addition to the car driving with such great solidity and integrity - it is also what I would call a 'fast' vehicle. Ok, coming from a Porsche 911 as I have, it's not a focused, devastating performance weapon - but with my brake and suspension improvements, coupled with the remap, she really does fly - loads of power, solid torque, and the motor will willingly bury itself deep into the redline in every gear - giving a great turn of speed and a very satisfying driving experience!
Couple that with decent interior room and 4 door versatility, folding rear seats and a big boot space allowing a great load area - and the ability to get 40-odd MPG fuel consumption if you're careful with the throttle - means that I have to give these cars 5 stars for their build quality, versatility and wallet-friendly maintenance and repair costs!
I hear that the later, facelifted 2.0 litre cars are even better too - and a load of Police traffic division units can't be wrong wither! Listening to anecdotal stories from serving Police who have used these cars - they seem to love them and rate them highly.
So, after my long and positive essay (!) you might want to consider owning one soon!
Let us know how you get on
I have a Mk.1 Octy VRS on a 51 plate.
It took me a while to find a nice example - as with most cars, you have to kiss a lot of frogs when searching 2nd hand!
One thing that did strike me though - the bad cars I saw were not bad because they'd been owned by speed demons / boy racers, but because they'd been owned by women / families who have no interest in cars whatsoever, and had used them as 'automotive white goods' - and therefore they were a bit neglected / run down, and not really serviced on time, with patchy history.
I didn't come across any cars that were owned by youths, 'innits' or thrashers - despite their reputation of being quick cars. Who knows, but maybe the Skoda badge puts the kids off!
Anyway I found a lovely example that I got for a really good price - from a dealer believe it or not! He dealt in prestige cars, had taken it in as P/X, and I got the feeling he just wanted rid. Anyway, his need was my gain - great example, great condition, lovely history - well looked after.
So - what do I reckon two years and 30,000 miles on? (Total mileage now shows 115,000)
Well, I am still very, very happy with my car. I am a bit anal about my cars driving really nicely - so I have spent a chunk of money on her to get her perfect.
To date, she's had a set of Michelin Pilot Sport 3 tyres all round, brand new springs and dampers, braided steel brake flexi-hoses, EBC grooved discs, and Mintex 1144 pads. Also a new front ARB as the bushes were worn and it clunked a little over bumps.
Engine wise, she's had a Revo remap, a Pipercross panel filter - and I couldn't resist it - a Forge billet alloy recirculating dump valve
Driving: The car drives, to me, as new. Believe me, I am VERY sensitive and fussy as to how cars feel when I drive them - but she drives as tight as a drum. There is no feeling of vagueness, sloppiness, or wear in either the drivetrain or the chassis, and no clunks, bangs or rattles from anywhere.
Inside, there is not a hint of a squeak, rattle or noise anywhere either - under any road conditions. Noisy interior trim annoys me beyond comprehension - but I can drive the car with the stereo off, and drive in complete, happy silence. I can tell you this is the first car I've owned that has not had some type of annoying interior squeak or rattle!
I clean and feed the leather portions of the seats regularly - which again look great with no real wear and tear. All the fittings and fixtures, plastics etc. are what I would describe as 'as new'.
The only let down is the ridiculous white carpet - that despite my best efforts, gets grubby and requires a shampoo and wet vac once a year. She still has the original 'VRS' branded mats, which are still looking great too. The leather steering wheel and gear-shift gaiter are all still looking like new.
The only minor complaint I might have is that at motorway speeds and higher, there is a little whistling and wind noise around the front A pillars.
Bodywork and exterior: All still as new, 11 years on. Yes, I look after her with regular washing, and slightly anal use of 'detailing' products...but all the metal is still shiny, lustrous, and with no signs of corrosion anywhere. Similarly, I was recently underneath the car when it was on a ramp - and the underside is also all as new. Solid, clean and corrosion free.
All suspension bushes, mounts and fittings are all still perfect.
The original stanless exhaust system is still in good order.
Faults and problems:
I had a coil pack failure - this is well documented for all VAG group engines of this type and period. I replaced all the coil packs with the latest ones, costing around £120 for a set of 4, and have had no issues since.
The driver's side and off-side passenger window regulators have both failed. New items are now modified, and cost around £80 with maybe a couple of hours to replace. Easy enough for most 'driveway' mechanics to tackle.
The rear wash/wipe motor unit failed. Again, well-documented, and the reason for failure is that the 'wash' pipe is routed through the middle of the unit, through the wiper arm spindle. Washer fluid leaks into the unit, washing out the factory grease and rusting the gears. I removed the unit, stripped it down, cleaned it out and re-packed it with new grease. It now works faultlessly again, and I avoid using the 'wash' facility on the rear window.
The nearside headlamp 'adjustment' motor failed - this is the device that allows you to move the units down in case you have a heavy load in the boot. I tried to repair it with no success - but a new Bosch unit from Skoda at £25 sorted it, and it's been fine since.
Finally, the drivers' door started to rattle in it's closed position. This was traced to a worn top hinge, which was replaced at a cost of about 20 quid, which alleviated the rattle completely.
So, in addition to the car driving with such great solidity and integrity - it is also what I would call a 'fast' vehicle. Ok, coming from a Porsche 911 as I have, it's not a focused, devastating performance weapon - but with my brake and suspension improvements, coupled with the remap, she really does fly - loads of power, solid torque, and the motor will willingly bury itself deep into the redline in every gear - giving a great turn of speed and a very satisfying driving experience!
Couple that with decent interior room and 4 door versatility, folding rear seats and a big boot space allowing a great load area - and the ability to get 40-odd MPG fuel consumption if you're careful with the throttle - means that I have to give these cars 5 stars for their build quality, versatility and wallet-friendly maintenance and repair costs!
I hear that the later, facelifted 2.0 litre cars are even better too - and a load of Police traffic division units can't be wrong wither! Listening to anecdotal stories from serving Police who have used these cars - they seem to love them and rate them highly.
So, after my long and positive essay (!) you might want to consider owning one soon!
Let us know how you get on
kambites said:
It's not as well sound-proofed as the Golf
andRay Luxury-Yacht said:
The only minor complaint I might have is that at motorway speeds and higher, there is a little whistling and wind noise around the front A pillars.
It's fine if you’re doing short to medium journeys but speaking as a man who does 20K a year of motorway journeys in the diesel version, this does begin to grate. Generally NVH is poor (this is where they saved money over the other VAG cars) but the rest is broadly true. The handling on the diesels at least is nothing to write home about.
blank said:
Great all round car.
Kambites has covered most of it (it might be your AC compressor by the way, apparently it's fairly common on Golfs so I assume it's the same pary).
I'll probably have another one if I find myself needing a practical car!
AC compressors seem common on Leons too.Kambites has covered most of it (it might be your AC compressor by the way, apparently it's fairly common on Golfs so I assume it's the same pary).
I'll probably have another one if I find myself needing a practical car!
Great cars providing you can see past the Skoda badge (which most people nowadays now have). I've never been in a vRS, but the lesser models I have been in had a very smooth, comfy ride, and they were the boggo spec minicabs that always pull up my front door when I call for a cab! Being pretty much a Golf underneath will mean that it will be a reliable car, which is why most minicabs are Octavia's in my area now.
Edit - I like my spelling to be spot on.
Edit - I like my spelling to be spot on.
kambites said:
Be wary of failing stability control modules, there are very expensive to replace if they go wrong, although there are "repair kits" on the market now which reduce the cost a fair bit. If a car has the ESP light on, go and find another one.
This is good advice, though most of the ESP failures have happened by now. There are enough good ones out there that you shouldn't feel pressured into buying a bad one.After 25,000 miles I've had a turbo air sensor go. It cost me £150 to fix. Not exactly bank-breaking.
Even the hatches are huge so unless you need to lug around large dogs or wardrobes then it's unlikely that you'll need an estate. A double mattress fits in with the seats folded if you need ad hoc accommodation!
Make sure the cambelt's been done at 4 years/80,000 miles. It's wise to make sure the water pump was done at the same time- it's not on the schedule but makes sense to change it at the same time since it's a belt-off job anyway and they don't last forever.
I can confidently say that I'm delighted with mine. I'll probably sell mine to scratch the sportscar itch before I need something sensible again, but I could see myself getting another if I ever need rear seats for a baby...
Petrol gives you 35mpg on a long M-Way run.
Other than that, kambites has most things covered. For anything else, Briskoda is a comprehensive site that helps a lot.
blearyeyedboy said:
This is good advice, though most of the ESP failures have happened by now. There are enough good ones out there that you shouldn't feel pressured into buying a bad one.
After 25,000 miles I've had a turbo air sensor go. It cost me £150 to fix. Not exactly bank-breaking.
Even the hatches are huge so unless you need to lug around large dogs or wardrobes then it's unlikely that you'll need an estate. A double mattress fits in with the seats folded if you need ad hoc accommodation!
Make sure the cambelt's been done at 4 years/80,000 miles. It's wise to make sure the water pump was done at the same time- it's not on the schedule but makes sense to change it at the same time since it's a belt-off job anyway and they don't last forever.
I can confidently say that I'm delighted with mine. I'll probably sell mine to scratch the sportscar itch before I need something sensible again, but I could see myself getting another if I ever need rear seats for a baby...
Petrol gives you 35mpg on a long M-Way run.
Other than that, kambites has most things covered. For anything else, Briskoda is a comprehensive site that helps a lot.
thanks mate, seems to be a reliable car from most feedback with the od niggle, nothing that appears to be too serious. After 25,000 miles I've had a turbo air sensor go. It cost me £150 to fix. Not exactly bank-breaking.
Even the hatches are huge so unless you need to lug around large dogs or wardrobes then it's unlikely that you'll need an estate. A double mattress fits in with the seats folded if you need ad hoc accommodation!
Make sure the cambelt's been done at 4 years/80,000 miles. It's wise to make sure the water pump was done at the same time- it's not on the schedule but makes sense to change it at the same time since it's a belt-off job anyway and they don't last forever.
I can confidently say that I'm delighted with mine. I'll probably sell mine to scratch the sportscar itch before I need something sensible again, but I could see myself getting another if I ever need rear seats for a baby...
Petrol gives you 35mpg on a long M-Way run.
Other than that, kambites has most things covered. For anything else, Briskoda is a comprehensive site that helps a lot.
Going to try and view a couple this weekend, any tips on the mechanics on what to keep an eye out for, beside warning lights etc, noises etc?
I have a petrol vRS from new, and it's now done 24k miles in 1.5 years. Handling is fine although on some fast scottish A-roads a few days ago, there were a few hairy moments (just had tyres changed but didnt have time for wheel alignment before leaving for the trip so it could be that).
I am quite happy with mine, only one fault that was fixed under warranty in 1.5 years of ownership.
Economy is not that good - high 20's in town and about 35mpg on a motorway run.
So all in all, it's a good compromise "family" car which fulfils several criteria.
They do get a bit boring after a while though... I'll be chopping mine in for an S4 as soon as the funds allow...
I am quite happy with mine, only one fault that was fixed under warranty in 1.5 years of ownership.
Economy is not that good - high 20's in town and about 35mpg on a motorway run.
So all in all, it's a good compromise "family" car which fulfils several criteria.
They do get a bit boring after a while though... I'll be chopping mine in for an S4 as soon as the funds allow...
Those big boots mean that a lot are used for heavier duties than the springs are meant for- pay particular attention to the rear springs/shocks.
Drive a couple. Turbo air sensor problems are reasonably common and many owners aren't aware. Of course you'll expect a little lag but as turbo engines go, this shouldn't be a laggy one. It's worth driving a couple to get a feel for how the turbo should be.
If you get petrol, run it on Shell V Power or Tesco Momentum. Any effect on performance is negligible but fuel economy is objectively better. (Yes, I have done consistent long runs on different fuels.) It's a fussy drinker. This goes for oil too: Don't worry if it burns a lot of oil- some do, some don't- but if it's running low then make sure the owner *knows* it needs topping up with oil regularly. It's only a problem if the owner's not regularly checking.
Try to get one with a proper spare wheel, or factor in a few quid for a steel rim from a scrappy.
From my own experience, black looks great but it's a pig to keep clean.
DSG divides opinions; I think the standard manual box is so good that you probably don't need it but opinions differ.
Bear in mind that the standard cars don't have electric rear windows! I don't mind- if my rear passengers care they can get their own bloody car - but it was a surprise when I got home!
Dealer-approved cars don't necessarily get serviced by approved dealers. My car turned out to be a peach anyway but I was surprised to find that it had been serviced by random mechanics (on schedule) rather than in the dealer network. Lesson learned: to look through the paperwork even for approved used cars. (Though I trust my local indie specialist with the car's servicing far more than the local Skoda dealers.)
18 inch wheels ruin the ride. Again, opinions differ, but I don't think they look significantly better than 17 inch ones and the pattern's the same.
Drive a couple. Turbo air sensor problems are reasonably common and many owners aren't aware. Of course you'll expect a little lag but as turbo engines go, this shouldn't be a laggy one. It's worth driving a couple to get a feel for how the turbo should be.
If you get petrol, run it on Shell V Power or Tesco Momentum. Any effect on performance is negligible but fuel economy is objectively better. (Yes, I have done consistent long runs on different fuels.) It's a fussy drinker. This goes for oil too: Don't worry if it burns a lot of oil- some do, some don't- but if it's running low then make sure the owner *knows* it needs topping up with oil regularly. It's only a problem if the owner's not regularly checking.
Try to get one with a proper spare wheel, or factor in a few quid for a steel rim from a scrappy.
From my own experience, black looks great but it's a pig to keep clean.
DSG divides opinions; I think the standard manual box is so good that you probably don't need it but opinions differ.
Bear in mind that the standard cars don't have electric rear windows! I don't mind- if my rear passengers care they can get their own bloody car
- but it was a surprise when I got home!Dealer-approved cars don't necessarily get serviced by approved dealers. My car turned out to be a peach anyway but I was surprised to find that it had been serviced by random mechanics (on schedule) rather than in the dealer network. Lesson learned: to look through the paperwork even for approved used cars. (Though I trust my local indie specialist with the car's servicing far more than the local Skoda dealers.)
18 inch wheels ruin the ride. Again, opinions differ, but I don't think they look significantly better than 17 inch ones and the pattern's the same.
BHML said:
I have a petrol vRS from new, and it's now done 24k miles in 1.5 years. Handling is fine although on some fast scottish A-roads a few days ago, there were a few hairy moments (just had tyres changed but didnt have time for wheel alignment before leaving for the trip so it could be that).
I would get your alignment looked at. I've chucked mine around the Brecon Beacons and over the Cat and Fiddle road in the Peak District recently and it was impeccable on run-in Continental SportContact 3's.If you compare the handling to a Golf GTi then you feel the extra weight around the tail- there's only 40kg difference but it's pushed out towards the extremities- but it should remain predictable and safe.
(EDIT: OK, it's no Lotus Elise but it should be pretty good for a large front driver.)
Edited by blearyeyedboy on Wednesday 13th June 10:02
With regard to the wheels, if you find an 18 inch equipped car that you like, but don't like the ride and/or handling, you can buy something like Team Dynamics Pro Race 1.2s for 500 quid for a set of 17s (which weigh about 15kg a corner less than the OEM 18s!) and if your OEM wheels are in good condition, you can sell them for about 400 quid for the set on e-bay.
Plus tyres are cheaper on the 17s, so if you run the 18 inch tyres down to the limit, the cost of switching to far better 17s when they need replacing is negligible. That's my plan for ours.
Plus tyres are cheaper on the 17s, so if you run the 18 inch tyres down to the limit, the cost of switching to far better 17s when they need replacing is negligible. That's my plan for ours.
Ray Luxury-Yacht said:
As said, 'Briskoda' is a great online resource.
I have a Mk.1 Octy VRS on a 51 plate.
It took me a while to find a nice example - as with most cars, you have to kiss a lot of frogs when searching 2nd hand!
One thing that did strike me though - the bad cars I saw were not bad because they'd been owned by speed demons / boy racers, but because they'd been owned by women / families who have no interest in cars whatsoever, and had used them as 'automotive white goods' - and therefore they were a bit neglected / run down, and not really serviced on time, with patchy history.
I didn't come across any cars that were owned by youths, 'innits' or thrashers - despite their reputation of being quick cars. Who knows, but maybe the Skoda badge puts the kids off!
Anyway I found a lovely example that I got for a really good price - from a dealer believe it or not! He dealt in prestige cars, had taken it in as P/X, and I got the feeling he just wanted rid. Anyway, his need was my gain - great example, great condition, lovely history - well looked after.
So - what do I reckon two years and 30,000 miles on? (Total mileage now shows 115,000)
Well, I am still very, very happy with my car. I am a bit anal about my cars driving really nicely - so I have spent a chunk of money on her to get her perfect.
To date, she's had a set of Michelin Pilot Sport 3 tyres all round, brand new springs and dampers, braided steel brake flexi-hoses, EBC grooved discs, and Mintex 1144 pads. Also a new front ARB as the bushes were worn and it clunked a little over bumps.
Engine wise, she's had a Revo remap, a Pipercross panel filter - and I couldn't resist it - a Forge billet alloy recirculating dump valve
Driving: The car drives, to me, as new. Believe me, I am VERY sensitive and fussy as to how cars feel when I drive them - but she drives as tight as a drum. There is no feeling of vagueness, sloppiness, or wear in either the drivetrain or the chassis, and no clunks, bangs or rattles from anywhere.
Inside, there is not a hint of a squeak, rattle or noise anywhere either - under any road conditions. Noisy interior trim annoys me beyond comprehension - but I can drive the car with the stereo off, and drive in complete, happy silence. I can tell you this is the first car I've owned that has not had some type of annoying interior squeak or rattle!
I clean and feed the leather portions of the seats regularly - which again look great with no real wear and tear. All the fittings and fixtures, plastics etc. are what I would describe as 'as new'.
The only let down is the ridiculous white carpet - that despite my best efforts, gets grubby and requires a shampoo and wet vac once a year. She still has the original 'VRS' branded mats, which are still looking great too. The leather steering wheel and gear-shift gaiter are all still looking like new.
The only minor complaint I might have is that at motorway speeds and higher, there is a little whistling and wind noise around the front A pillars.
Bodywork and exterior: All still as new, 11 years on. Yes, I look after her with regular washing, and slightly anal use of 'detailing' products...but all the metal is still shiny, lustrous, and with no signs of corrosion anywhere. Similarly, I was recently underneath the car when it was on a ramp - and the underside is also all as new. Solid, clean and corrosion free.
All suspension bushes, mounts and fittings are all still perfect.
The original stanless exhaust system is still in good order.
Faults and problems:
I had a coil pack failure - this is well documented for all VAG group engines of this type and period. I replaced all the coil packs with the latest ones, costing around £120 for a set of 4, and have had no issues since.
The driver's side and off-side passenger window regulators have both failed. New items are now modified, and cost around £80 with maybe a couple of hours to replace. Easy enough for most 'driveway' mechanics to tackle.
The rear wash/wipe motor unit failed. Again, well-documented, and the reason for failure is that the 'wash' pipe is routed through the middle of the unit, through the wiper arm spindle. Washer fluid leaks into the unit, washing out the factory grease and rusting the gears. I removed the unit, stripped it down, cleaned it out and re-packed it with new grease. It now works faultlessly again, and I avoid using the 'wash' facility on the rear window.
The nearside headlamp 'adjustment' motor failed - this is the device that allows you to move the units down in case you have a heavy load in the boot. I tried to repair it with no success - but a new Bosch unit from Skoda at £25 sorted it, and it's been fine since.
Finally, the drivers' door started to rattle in it's closed position. This was traced to a worn top hinge, which was replaced at a cost of about 20 quid, which alleviated the rattle completely.
So, in addition to the car driving with such great solidity and integrity - it is also what I would call a 'fast' vehicle. Ok, coming from a Porsche 911 as I have, it's not a focused, devastating performance weapon - but with my brake and suspension improvements, coupled with the remap, she really does fly - loads of power, solid torque, and the motor will willingly bury itself deep into the redline in every gear - giving a great turn of speed and a very satisfying driving experience!
Couple that with decent interior room and 4 door versatility, folding rear seats and a big boot space allowing a great load area - and the ability to get 40-odd MPG fuel consumption if you're careful with the throttle - means that I have to give these cars 5 stars for their build quality, versatility and wallet-friendly maintenance and repair costs!
I hear that the later, facelifted 2.0 litre cars are even better too - and a load of Police traffic division units can't be wrong wither! Listening to anecdotal stories from serving Police who have used these cars - they seem to love them and rate them highly.
So, after my long and positive essay (!) you might want to consider owning one soon!
Let us know how you get on
I want every one of my second-hand cars to come from you! I have a Mk.1 Octy VRS on a 51 plate.
It took me a while to find a nice example - as with most cars, you have to kiss a lot of frogs when searching 2nd hand!
One thing that did strike me though - the bad cars I saw were not bad because they'd been owned by speed demons / boy racers, but because they'd been owned by women / families who have no interest in cars whatsoever, and had used them as 'automotive white goods' - and therefore they were a bit neglected / run down, and not really serviced on time, with patchy history.
I didn't come across any cars that were owned by youths, 'innits' or thrashers - despite their reputation of being quick cars. Who knows, but maybe the Skoda badge puts the kids off!
Anyway I found a lovely example that I got for a really good price - from a dealer believe it or not! He dealt in prestige cars, had taken it in as P/X, and I got the feeling he just wanted rid. Anyway, his need was my gain - great example, great condition, lovely history - well looked after.
So - what do I reckon two years and 30,000 miles on? (Total mileage now shows 115,000)
Well, I am still very, very happy with my car. I am a bit anal about my cars driving really nicely - so I have spent a chunk of money on her to get her perfect.
To date, she's had a set of Michelin Pilot Sport 3 tyres all round, brand new springs and dampers, braided steel brake flexi-hoses, EBC grooved discs, and Mintex 1144 pads. Also a new front ARB as the bushes were worn and it clunked a little over bumps.
Engine wise, she's had a Revo remap, a Pipercross panel filter - and I couldn't resist it - a Forge billet alloy recirculating dump valve
Driving: The car drives, to me, as new. Believe me, I am VERY sensitive and fussy as to how cars feel when I drive them - but she drives as tight as a drum. There is no feeling of vagueness, sloppiness, or wear in either the drivetrain or the chassis, and no clunks, bangs or rattles from anywhere.
Inside, there is not a hint of a squeak, rattle or noise anywhere either - under any road conditions. Noisy interior trim annoys me beyond comprehension - but I can drive the car with the stereo off, and drive in complete, happy silence. I can tell you this is the first car I've owned that has not had some type of annoying interior squeak or rattle!
I clean and feed the leather portions of the seats regularly - which again look great with no real wear and tear. All the fittings and fixtures, plastics etc. are what I would describe as 'as new'.
The only let down is the ridiculous white carpet - that despite my best efforts, gets grubby and requires a shampoo and wet vac once a year. She still has the original 'VRS' branded mats, which are still looking great too. The leather steering wheel and gear-shift gaiter are all still looking like new.
The only minor complaint I might have is that at motorway speeds and higher, there is a little whistling and wind noise around the front A pillars.
Bodywork and exterior: All still as new, 11 years on. Yes, I look after her with regular washing, and slightly anal use of 'detailing' products...but all the metal is still shiny, lustrous, and with no signs of corrosion anywhere. Similarly, I was recently underneath the car when it was on a ramp - and the underside is also all as new. Solid, clean and corrosion free.
All suspension bushes, mounts and fittings are all still perfect.
The original stanless exhaust system is still in good order.
Faults and problems:
I had a coil pack failure - this is well documented for all VAG group engines of this type and period. I replaced all the coil packs with the latest ones, costing around £120 for a set of 4, and have had no issues since.
The driver's side and off-side passenger window regulators have both failed. New items are now modified, and cost around £80 with maybe a couple of hours to replace. Easy enough for most 'driveway' mechanics to tackle.
The rear wash/wipe motor unit failed. Again, well-documented, and the reason for failure is that the 'wash' pipe is routed through the middle of the unit, through the wiper arm spindle. Washer fluid leaks into the unit, washing out the factory grease and rusting the gears. I removed the unit, stripped it down, cleaned it out and re-packed it with new grease. It now works faultlessly again, and I avoid using the 'wash' facility on the rear window.
The nearside headlamp 'adjustment' motor failed - this is the device that allows you to move the units down in case you have a heavy load in the boot. I tried to repair it with no success - but a new Bosch unit from Skoda at £25 sorted it, and it's been fine since.
Finally, the drivers' door started to rattle in it's closed position. This was traced to a worn top hinge, which was replaced at a cost of about 20 quid, which alleviated the rattle completely.
So, in addition to the car driving with such great solidity and integrity - it is also what I would call a 'fast' vehicle. Ok, coming from a Porsche 911 as I have, it's not a focused, devastating performance weapon - but with my brake and suspension improvements, coupled with the remap, she really does fly - loads of power, solid torque, and the motor will willingly bury itself deep into the redline in every gear - giving a great turn of speed and a very satisfying driving experience!
Couple that with decent interior room and 4 door versatility, folding rear seats and a big boot space allowing a great load area - and the ability to get 40-odd MPG fuel consumption if you're careful with the throttle - means that I have to give these cars 5 stars for their build quality, versatility and wallet-friendly maintenance and repair costs!
I hear that the later, facelifted 2.0 litre cars are even better too - and a load of Police traffic division units can't be wrong wither! Listening to anecdotal stories from serving Police who have used these cars - they seem to love them and rate them highly.
So, after my long and positive essay (!) you might want to consider owning one soon!
Let us know how you get on
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