2010 Skoda Octavia VRS TSi DSG Hatchback
Discussion
Hello,
After adding my vehicle to the 'decently modified' thread over in General Gassing and getting some less than positive feedback I thought I would add details of my car here, as suggested by some other PH members on that thread.
The car is a 2010 Skoda Octavia VRS, in Candy White. It has the petrol TSi engine and the DSG 6-speed gearbox. I bought it in late January 2010 from Chathams Skoda in Edinburgh.
I am the 2nd owner of the car, the first owner chose to add the bluetooth option along with the leather seats (which are also heated). Unfortunately upon delivery of his new car he found his particular model of telephone wouldn't 'pair' with the bluetooth in the car. I understand that he was told the newer models WOULD work with his phone, so he ordered another VRS to exactly the same spec and traded his old one in once it arrived! Seemed a bit strange, especially as (from what I understand) the bluetooth modules can be swapped fairly easily and this would have allowed him to keep the same car but have his phone paired with the stereo.
Anyway - he didn't and thats how I was able to purchase the vehicle.
Here are a few pics:
New Skoda Octavia VRS by oobster, on Flickr
The above pic was the one copied from the dealers website when the car was up for sale.
This is the car on the day I collected it:
Skoda Octavia on Collection Day! by oobster, on Flickr
Before collecting the car I got the dealer to fit the front mudflaps, but they refused to fit the rear ones. They said the only mudflaps listed for the rear of an Octavia wouldn't fit the VRS as the bumper was slightly different. I'd read (on briskoda) that this was nonsense but the dealer insisted they wouldn't fit them for 'warranty' purposes so they supplied the rears and I fitted them myself, finding in the process that they DO fit perfectly well.
Modifications since purchase:
1. Windows tinted from the B-pillars back, plus a small 'sunband' in the window tint material along the top of the windscreen. The tint was the dark smoke, and was applied by Andrew from Magma in West Lothian.
2. MDI interface fitted, to allow control of my iPod through the standard touchscreen 'Bolero' stereo. I bought the interface (including all the necessary cables) from a seller on eBay and this was then fitted for a few quid by mu local car audio installer (MRD in Bathgate, West Lothian).
3. Standard 18" wheels painted in Skoda Titan Grey by Stevie Walkers Bodyshop in Bathgate. Cost was over £250, they removed the tyres before spraying so I got the outside & inside of the wheels painted.
4. I removed all 4 of the orange bulbs from the light units and replaced them with Phillips Silver bulbs (i.e. look silver but flash orange) - just removed that wee bit of colour from the light clusters and looks that tiny but 'cleaner'.
5. Swapped the radio aerial at the rear of the roof for the much shorter version (which is standard on VW Polos) - no change in radio reception and was a cheap mod at around £13.
6. Had Weitec coilovers fitted. They were supplied by JKM Performance and fitted by Hypertech in Bonnybridge. Lowers the car around 35mm (although I will probably get the front lowered another 5mm or so when I am next near their place) and produces less body roll while still maintaining an almost OEM-like ride comfort.
7. Had the badges removed from the boot (the VRS and the Octavia lettering) - the round Skoda badge in the middle of the boot needs to stay as it is in a recess.
8. Stevie Walker in Bathgate also fitted a rear window/roof 'blend' that I purchased from SuperSkoda in Europe. They colour-coded it first and bonded it onto the window. Not entirely sure I am 100% happy with this but I am leaving it on to see if I come to appreciate the look. I don't have a picture of this at the moment.
9. SuperSkoda also supplied me with a honeycomb front grille insert, in black plastic. On a standard VRS the bottom grille (on the bumper) is a black honeycomb desgin but the upper grille (in the bonnet) is vertical slats. I wanted both to match and SuperSkoda is the only place I am aware of that does this grille. I also got Stevie Walkers Bodyshop to colour-code the chrome grille surround at the same time.
10. I purchased a Stage 1 map from Ben at Shark Performance, which was applied to the car by me using the STS-unit Ben supplied (arrived in the post the day after ordering). Simple process of using the STS tool to take a copy of the standard map, which is then emailed to Ben and he emails the modified version back to me within a few hours. Copy this map back onto the STS and plug it back into the car and hey presto remapped car. The difference is immense, I would definitely recommend Ben to anyone considering getting their VAG-group car remapped.
11. Pistonheads smiley stickers on the rear window glass!
The only other work I have had done to the car is a couple of bits of paintwork tidied up, like a small scuff on the front bumper where it has touched a kerb (or been whacked by a large stone) and the mirror casing on the drivers side repainted as it had also touched something abrsaive (both of which occured before I owned the vehicle).
Here are another few pics of how the car is at the moment:
Newly painted wheels by oobster, on Flickr
skoda_170211_1 by oobster, on Flickr
skoda_170211_3 by oobster, on Flickr
After adding my vehicle to the 'decently modified' thread over in General Gassing and getting some less than positive feedback I thought I would add details of my car here, as suggested by some other PH members on that thread.
The car is a 2010 Skoda Octavia VRS, in Candy White. It has the petrol TSi engine and the DSG 6-speed gearbox. I bought it in late January 2010 from Chathams Skoda in Edinburgh.
I am the 2nd owner of the car, the first owner chose to add the bluetooth option along with the leather seats (which are also heated). Unfortunately upon delivery of his new car he found his particular model of telephone wouldn't 'pair' with the bluetooth in the car. I understand that he was told the newer models WOULD work with his phone, so he ordered another VRS to exactly the same spec and traded his old one in once it arrived! Seemed a bit strange, especially as (from what I understand) the bluetooth modules can be swapped fairly easily and this would have allowed him to keep the same car but have his phone paired with the stereo.
Anyway - he didn't and thats how I was able to purchase the vehicle.
Here are a few pics:
New Skoda Octavia VRS by oobster, on Flickr
The above pic was the one copied from the dealers website when the car was up for sale.
This is the car on the day I collected it:
Skoda Octavia on Collection Day! by oobster, on Flickr
Before collecting the car I got the dealer to fit the front mudflaps, but they refused to fit the rear ones. They said the only mudflaps listed for the rear of an Octavia wouldn't fit the VRS as the bumper was slightly different. I'd read (on briskoda) that this was nonsense but the dealer insisted they wouldn't fit them for 'warranty' purposes so they supplied the rears and I fitted them myself, finding in the process that they DO fit perfectly well.
Modifications since purchase:
1. Windows tinted from the B-pillars back, plus a small 'sunband' in the window tint material along the top of the windscreen. The tint was the dark smoke, and was applied by Andrew from Magma in West Lothian.
2. MDI interface fitted, to allow control of my iPod through the standard touchscreen 'Bolero' stereo. I bought the interface (including all the necessary cables) from a seller on eBay and this was then fitted for a few quid by mu local car audio installer (MRD in Bathgate, West Lothian).
3. Standard 18" wheels painted in Skoda Titan Grey by Stevie Walkers Bodyshop in Bathgate. Cost was over £250, they removed the tyres before spraying so I got the outside & inside of the wheels painted.
4. I removed all 4 of the orange bulbs from the light units and replaced them with Phillips Silver bulbs (i.e. look silver but flash orange) - just removed that wee bit of colour from the light clusters and looks that tiny but 'cleaner'.
5. Swapped the radio aerial at the rear of the roof for the much shorter version (which is standard on VW Polos) - no change in radio reception and was a cheap mod at around £13.
6. Had Weitec coilovers fitted. They were supplied by JKM Performance and fitted by Hypertech in Bonnybridge. Lowers the car around 35mm (although I will probably get the front lowered another 5mm or so when I am next near their place) and produces less body roll while still maintaining an almost OEM-like ride comfort.
7. Had the badges removed from the boot (the VRS and the Octavia lettering) - the round Skoda badge in the middle of the boot needs to stay as it is in a recess.
8. Stevie Walker in Bathgate also fitted a rear window/roof 'blend' that I purchased from SuperSkoda in Europe. They colour-coded it first and bonded it onto the window. Not entirely sure I am 100% happy with this but I am leaving it on to see if I come to appreciate the look. I don't have a picture of this at the moment.
9. SuperSkoda also supplied me with a honeycomb front grille insert, in black plastic. On a standard VRS the bottom grille (on the bumper) is a black honeycomb desgin but the upper grille (in the bonnet) is vertical slats. I wanted both to match and SuperSkoda is the only place I am aware of that does this grille. I also got Stevie Walkers Bodyshop to colour-code the chrome grille surround at the same time.
10. I purchased a Stage 1 map from Ben at Shark Performance, which was applied to the car by me using the STS-unit Ben supplied (arrived in the post the day after ordering). Simple process of using the STS tool to take a copy of the standard map, which is then emailed to Ben and he emails the modified version back to me within a few hours. Copy this map back onto the STS and plug it back into the car and hey presto remapped car. The difference is immense, I would definitely recommend Ben to anyone considering getting their VAG-group car remapped.
11. Pistonheads smiley stickers on the rear window glass!
The only other work I have had done to the car is a couple of bits of paintwork tidied up, like a small scuff on the front bumper where it has touched a kerb (or been whacked by a large stone) and the mirror casing on the drivers side repainted as it had also touched something abrsaive (both of which occured before I owned the vehicle).
Here are another few pics of how the car is at the moment:
Newly painted wheels by oobster, on Flickr
skoda_170211_1 by oobster, on Flickr
skoda_170211_3 by oobster, on Flickr
For anyone based in the West Lothian/Glasgow/Edinburgh/Falkirk area I would definitely recommend Stevie Walkers Bodyshop, Magma Window Tinting and MRD Car Audio. JKM in Portsmouth were also great when purchasing the coilovers and Ben at Shark Performance in Mansfield was also very helpful and super-efficient.
Since purchasing the car I have given the exterior paintwork a thorough clean and polish/protection using the Werkstat Acylic kit purchased from Polished Bliss in Aberdeenshire.
This is my first DSG car and I am really enjoying the ease of use with the system, although it did take a week or two to get used to it. Now that it has been remapped it really feels like a different car, the engine pulls so hard in every gear and I shall need to be careful to retain my (currently) clean licence!
The only down side, if you can even call it that, is the colour-coded front grille surround. The paint is chipping quite easily, much more than any surrounding paintwork. I purchased a new grille surround to begin with, this was painted and then wrapped by a local paint protection film agent before being fitted. Although this appeared to prevent the paint chipping the actual finish of the film was poor and I removed it. I then had the original chrome grille surround painted too so I have a spare when the quantity of chips starts to annoy me but I am considering getting the spare one protected again by someone else (possibly Guam on PH - he comes highly recommended by other PH'ers) once funds allow.
The only other modification I would like to make to the car, again should sufficent funds become available, is a set of VMR V710 alloy wheels in 19". With tyres these come in at around £1650 and I am not yet 100% confident that they will fit with no rubbing (because of the coilovers reducing the ride height) but the wheels (in gunmetal colour) are absolutely stunning.
Since purchasing the car I have given the exterior paintwork a thorough clean and polish/protection using the Werkstat Acylic kit purchased from Polished Bliss in Aberdeenshire.
This is my first DSG car and I am really enjoying the ease of use with the system, although it did take a week or two to get used to it. Now that it has been remapped it really feels like a different car, the engine pulls so hard in every gear and I shall need to be careful to retain my (currently) clean licence!
The only down side, if you can even call it that, is the colour-coded front grille surround. The paint is chipping quite easily, much more than any surrounding paintwork. I purchased a new grille surround to begin with, this was painted and then wrapped by a local paint protection film agent before being fitted. Although this appeared to prevent the paint chipping the actual finish of the film was poor and I removed it. I then had the original chrome grille surround painted too so I have a spare when the quantity of chips starts to annoy me but I am considering getting the spare one protected again by someone else (possibly Guam on PH - he comes highly recommended by other PH'ers) once funds allow.
The only other modification I would like to make to the car, again should sufficent funds become available, is a set of VMR V710 alloy wheels in 19". With tyres these come in at around £1650 and I am not yet 100% confident that they will fit with no rubbing (because of the coilovers reducing the ride height) but the wheels (in gunmetal colour) are absolutely stunning.
Very nice! Always liked the Octavia VRS, and this latest model is a real bargain.
The colour coded grille surround is a must now i've seen yours and the other blue one on here.
Wheels look great too!
Some of the people on the 'Decently modified' thread have some very narrow views on what looks good...
The colour coded grille surround is a must now i've seen yours and the other blue one on here.
Wheels look great too!
Some of the people on the 'Decently modified' thread have some very narrow views on what looks good...
Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff