RE: Skoda Octavia vRS: The Antidote To The MPV
Discussion
I had a 56 plate Vrs Diesel from new, did 27k in a year and it then popped it's turbo on the M1.
The recovery and dealer treatment was excellent though and i was told that it was a 'manufacturing defect' apparent in a batch of Turbo's IIRC.
I had the car back for about a week and it started with a minor oil leak, i'd lost a bit of confidence with the car by then and a change in jobs meant i didn't need a diesel so i chopped it for my current ST.
I would recommend a Vrs to anyone although as a driving experience it falls a bit short of the ST IMO although i would say the build is generally more solid.
One thing i would say is that the dealer i used for my Skoda (and currently do for the wifes Fabia) is 100% better than the multitude of Ford dealers i've tried in an effort to uncover a decent one.
The recovery and dealer treatment was excellent though and i was told that it was a 'manufacturing defect' apparent in a batch of Turbo's IIRC.
I had the car back for about a week and it started with a minor oil leak, i'd lost a bit of confidence with the car by then and a change in jobs meant i didn't need a diesel so i chopped it for my current ST.
I would recommend a Vrs to anyone although as a driving experience it falls a bit short of the ST IMO although i would say the build is generally more solid.
One thing i would say is that the dealer i used for my Skoda (and currently do for the wifes Fabia) is 100% better than the multitude of Ford dealers i've tried in an effort to uncover a decent one.
Dave, I think it's fair enough that people might want a new/newish fast-ish estate car, as everyone will have different requirements, and the old RS4 (for example) might not fit the bill (insurance, mpg, age of car, leasing requirements, etc.). Also the previous RS4 and S4 cars were not really known as great cars from Audi, with only the latest RS4 getting good reviews all round.
Regarding the vRS, I think it's not a bad car but if I was to buy a fast estate I would want it to be no less powerful than my current car (a Mk1 SEAT Leon Cupra R remapped to 270PS). For that reason I would really want to have the K04 turbo, rather than the K03 in the vRS (and GTI) as remapping potential is much better with the larger unit.
If we were just looking at new fast mid-sized estates, what can you get around the 300PS mark? Audi S4, VW Passat R36, BMW 335i... any others spring to mind?
Regarding the vRS, I think it's not a bad car but if I was to buy a fast estate I would want it to be no less powerful than my current car (a Mk1 SEAT Leon Cupra R remapped to 270PS). For that reason I would really want to have the K04 turbo, rather than the K03 in the vRS (and GTI) as remapping potential is much better with the larger unit.
If we were just looking at new fast mid-sized estates, what can you get around the 300PS mark? Audi S4, VW Passat R36, BMW 335i... any others spring to mind?
lordgibbness said:
Dave, I think it's fair enough that people might want a new/newish fast-ish estate car, as everyone will have different requirements, and the old RS4 (for example) might not fit the bill (insurance, mpg, age of car, leasing requirements, etc.). Also the previous RS4 and S4 cars were not really known as great cars from Audi, with only the latest RS4 getting good reviews all round.
Regarding the vRS, I think it's not a bad car but if I was to buy a fast estate I would want it to be no less powerful than my current car (a Mk1 SEAT Leon Cupra R remapped to 270PS). For that reason I would really want to have the K04 turbo, rather than the K03 in the vRS (and GTI) as remapping potential is much better with the larger unit.
If we were just looking at new fast mid-sized estates, what can you get around the 300PS mark? Audi S4, VW Passat R36, BMW 335i... any others spring to mind?
Insignia VXR estate when that comes out. Saab 9-5 Aero, Chrysler 300C SRT8...Regarding the vRS, I think it's not a bad car but if I was to buy a fast estate I would want it to be no less powerful than my current car (a Mk1 SEAT Leon Cupra R remapped to 270PS). For that reason I would really want to have the K04 turbo, rather than the K03 in the vRS (and GTI) as remapping potential is much better with the larger unit.
If we were just looking at new fast mid-sized estates, what can you get around the 300PS mark? Audi S4, VW Passat R36, BMW 335i... any others spring to mind?
mark_mcd said:
lordgibbness said:
Dave, I think it's fair enough that people might want a new/newish fast-ish estate car, as everyone will have different requirements, and the old RS4 (for example) might not fit the bill (insurance, mpg, age of car, leasing requirements, etc.). Also the previous RS4 and S4 cars were not really known as great cars from Audi, with only the latest RS4 getting good reviews all round.
Regarding the vRS, I think it's not a bad car but if I was to buy a fast estate I would want it to be no less powerful than my current car (a Mk1 SEAT Leon Cupra R remapped to 270PS). For that reason I would really want to have the K04 turbo, rather than the K03 in the vRS (and GTI) as remapping potential is much better with the larger unit.
If we were just looking at new fast mid-sized estates, what can you get around the 300PS mark? Audi S4, VW Passat R36, BMW 335i... any others spring to mind?
Insignia VXR estate when that comes out. Saab 9-5 Aero, Chrysler 300C SRT8...Regarding the vRS, I think it's not a bad car but if I was to buy a fast estate I would want it to be no less powerful than my current car (a Mk1 SEAT Leon Cupra R remapped to 270PS). For that reason I would really want to have the K04 turbo, rather than the K03 in the vRS (and GTI) as remapping potential is much better with the larger unit.
If we were just looking at new fast mid-sized estates, what can you get around the 300PS mark? Audi S4, VW Passat R36, BMW 335i... any others spring to mind?
Mr Whippy said:
jamoor said:
Mr Whippy said:
Mojocvh said:
Mr Whippy said:
Bullett said:
And an RS4 is how much?
This Skoda ticks all the boxes for me. An RS4 is a better car but this is new, cheap and quick enough in the real world. An RS is too expensive or too old, an S4 is better but still expensive or too old.
For most people, these have plenty of power for day to day duties.
Good deal as well for new ones, no VAT, and 0% if you have 50% deposit.
http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1093636.htmThis Skoda ticks all the boxes for me. An RS4 is a better car but this is new, cheap and quick enough in the real world. An RS is too expensive or too old, an S4 is better but still expensive or too old.
For most people, these have plenty of power for day to day duties.
Good deal as well for new ones, no VAT, and 0% if you have 50% deposit.
RS4, £15,000. I guess you'd get a good one for that money.
Residually strong, as you can see by the price for a nigh on 9 year old car. I wouldn't really say they are 'too old' though. They are of the modern era with all the toys you would really want.
The Skoda will be worth £15,000 in a year, so £4000 down.
Ok, the Skoda will be 'new', but the RS4 would have to spectacularly blow up every year to cost just what the Skoda does in depreciation I would imagine.
It's 2001, so old tax bracket, but has nearly 400bhp and awd, and makes it useable.
That Skoda isn't really anything fantastic, and as said, they are pretty damn dull.
Lets put it this way. If you think the Skoda makes better sense as an antidote to humdrum spacious motoring for the enthusiast, then you are not an enthusiast
Cripes, you can even get a 2004 S4 V8 with 340bhp for £15,000 now, and have £4000 for fuel and insurance extra which will last you three years, by which time the Skoda will be worthless because it's so average, and in which time the Audi will likely be worth more!
Fine for company car owners who don't have much choice, but that Skoda is just a bit average for someone wanting something fun for their £19,000 of cash, considering the fantastic VAG group products with big capacity (estates) out there for less cash but tons more go etc!
Dave
Edited by Mr Whippy on Monday 14th September 17:06
(1) pay to get your cars repaired/serviced?
(2) Have you ever driven the length of the country (over 8 hours) just to commute to your job??
(3) Do you have ANY understanding of the importance of mechanical reliability and the consequences of failure at "high" speed and in "all" weathers???
Doesn't sound like you do. Sorry.
MoJo.
Edited by Mojocvh on Monday 14th September 17:48
I've paid to have work done on cars. I have no idea why that matters in my example.
8hr commute in a brand new petrol car? I'd have an old diesel with 100k on it already, or get on a train, not destroy the residual value (at huge cost) of a BRAND NEW PETROL.
Mechanical failure at high speed and in all weathers? WHAT are you talking about? Does a 2004 S4 now explode in the rain at high speed, and a 2009 Skoda Octavia VRS not?
I really don't get your point. It sounds like you are saying old cars are unreliable, which is, err, wrong. I've had new and old cars alike and they have both been give or take as reliable as each other. That is why we do this thing called, "preventative maintainance", or "repairs", or "servicing"
The amount of people I know taking cars in to say BMW under warranty for fixes suggests new cars in warranty have plenty of reason to let you down too!
Dave
Old diesel cruiser for that kinda work, not a brand new petrol car
Or have ALL the reps in the UK got it wrong with their low-power diesels?!
I have no idea why an eight hour commute was brought up in this arguement, probably because it was a long shot to try make a poor arguement come good.
IF you don't want a boring MPV, a Skoda Octavia isn't exactly going to excite your life as a roomy alternative!
If you have the choice to have what you want, you'd be better buying an older more interesting estate car, not a duller brand new one!
Simple arguement, not sure why it's a problem.
Dave
That was the cruncher for me. Dave, do you see ANY of the authorities buying up 9 year old performance vehicles for their staff?
Authorities don't buy old cars because it's easier to just bulk buy a fleet load with warranties and modern make believe service intervals (exactly the wrong thing for the types who run company vehicles given to them and run them on no oil etc)
I guess it depends how many cars they have to buy up too.
But as I said, fleets don't buy a load of petrol VRS Octavias either, they buy a load of diesel ones with about 130bhp.
Private buyers, who are wanting something MORE interesting than an MPV but with some decent space, would do well to look further afield than a Scoda Octavia VRS estate.
An early 335d Avant would be money much better spent for example.
Dave
I guess it depends how many cars they have to buy up too.
But as I said, fleets don't buy a load of petrol VRS Octavias either, they buy a load of diesel ones with about 130bhp.
Private buyers, who are wanting something MORE interesting than an MPV but with some decent space, would do well to look further afield than a Scoda Octavia VRS estate.
An early 335d Avant would be money much better spent for example.
Dave
Mr Whippy said:
An early 335d Avant would be money much better spent for example.
That'd be the Audi/BMW b
d-child I guess... 
I couldn't go for an oil burner so I'd recommend a 335i touring if they didn't look so crap. BMW designs have really been poor since the E46 left us.
Edited by lordgibbness on Tuesday 15th September 15:54
zebedee said:
Likewise the Skoda, a good, fun estate that you can pack the kids and their stuff in - but 3 series beemers and octavia estates are a bit deficient in space anyway.
Sorry - disagree. My current Octavia hatchback has a boot that seems twice as big as my old e90 BMW estate. Ditto for the rear seats too.Mojocvh said:
Mr Whippy said:
IF you don't want a boring MPV, a Skoda Octavia isn't exactly going to excite your life as a roomy alternative!
If you have the choice to have what you want, you'd be better buying an older more interesting estate car, not a duller brand new one!
Simple arguement, not sure why it's a problem.
"as you can see by the price for a nigh on 9 year old car. I wouldn't really say they are 'too old' though."If you have the choice to have what you want, you'd be better buying an older more interesting estate car, not a duller brand new one!
Simple arguement, not sure why it's a problem.
That was the cruncher for me. Dave, do you see ANY of the authorities buying up 9 year old performance vehicles for their staff?
No it's not earth shattering but I don't want that I want a practical car with a bit of go. I've not driven one so I don't know if it's what will suit me but it's got on the list.
If it was my only car then I'd spend more but I have a 40 year old Porsche, a new Porsche(it's going though) and the Mrs has an S3.
Bullett said:
Mojocvh said:
Mr Whippy said:
IF you don't want a boring MPV, a Skoda Octavia isn't exactly going to excite your life as a roomy alternative!
If you have the choice to have what you want, you'd be better buying an older more interesting estate car, not a duller brand new one!
Simple arguement, not sure why it's a problem.
"as you can see by the price for a nigh on 9 year old car. I wouldn't really say they are 'too old' though."If you have the choice to have what you want, you'd be better buying an older more interesting estate car, not a duller brand new one!
Simple arguement, not sure why it's a problem.
That was the cruncher for me. Dave, do you see ANY of the authorities buying up 9 year old performance vehicles for their staff?
No it's not earth shattering but I don't want that I want a practical car with a bit of go. I've not driven one so I don't know if it's what will suit me but it's got on the list.
If it was my only car then I'd spend more but I have a 40 year old Porsche, a new Porsche(it's going though) and the Mrs has an S3.
I reckon, if they land in the right age range, an old shape ST220 Mondeo would be more interesting/fun to punt around in!
Dave
Mr Whippy said:
Bullett said:
Mojocvh said:
Mr Whippy said:
IF you don't want a boring MPV, a Skoda Octavia isn't exactly going to excite your life as a roomy alternative!
If you have the choice to have what you want, you'd be better buying an older more interesting estate car, not a duller brand new one!
Simple arguement, not sure why it's a problem.
"as you can see by the price for a nigh on 9 year old car. I wouldn't really say they are 'too old' though."If you have the choice to have what you want, you'd be better buying an older more interesting estate car, not a duller brand new one!
Simple arguement, not sure why it's a problem.
That was the cruncher for me. Dave, do you see ANY of the authorities buying up 9 year old performance vehicles for their staff?
No it's not earth shattering but I don't want that I want a practical car with a bit of go. I've not driven one so I don't know if it's what will suit me but it's got on the list.
If it was my only car then I'd spend more but I have a 40 year old Porsche, a new Porsche(it's going though) and the Mrs has an S3.
I reckon, if they land in the right age range, an old shape ST220 Mondeo would be more interesting/fun to punt around in!
Dave
My remapped 54 plate vRS has 231bhp and in 55000 miles the only fault has been a front wheel bearing - replaced under warranty. Plenty of room for family of 4 and our luggage on a long trip. I'd have another - but I am very happy with my current one!
zebedee said:
because most MPVs you see only have 5 seats set up and a boot, rather than seats in the boot. Parents just buy MPVs thinking its the norm (look at the Picasso for goodness sake, what does that have going for it but as soon as you are out of the maternity ward it seems 95% of parents make for the nearest Citroen dealer! Kids are small so why buy cars with huge headroom?! My Mondeo estate has as much bootspace as many MPVs but I'll wager its far more fun to drive than most of these dreary topple-boxes.
Likewise the Skoda, a good, fun estate that you can pack the kids and their stuff in - but 3 series beemers and octavia estates are a bit deficient in space anyway.
I can imagine some families end up with an MPV because the are cheap say what you want about the Mondeo or Skoda estates but when your are looking for a cheap motor with low running costs these don't tend to fit the bill. My 130 DCi Grand Scenic set me back £12k brand new, 3yrs warranty, 18k servicing, 47mpg, its well built, reliable and versatile, storage everywhere for the kids things etc, those estates just don't come close, this is probably why a lot of families end up with an MPV, its not desire necessarily its just what you get for your dough, these big box cars are often heavily discounted (think mine was 8k off list ) nothing could touch it for VFM.Likewise the Skoda, a good, fun estate that you can pack the kids and their stuff in - but 3 series beemers and octavia estates are a bit deficient in space anyway.
Edited by sandys on Wednesday 16th September 08:40
Edited by sandys on Wednesday 16th September 08:41
matchmaker said:
Mr Whippy said:
Bullett said:
Mojocvh said:
Mr Whippy said:
IF you don't want a boring MPV, a Skoda Octavia isn't exactly going to excite your life as a roomy alternative!
If you have the choice to have what you want, you'd be better buying an older more interesting estate car, not a duller brand new one!
Simple arguement, not sure why it's a problem.
"as you can see by the price for a nigh on 9 year old car. I wouldn't really say they are 'too old' though."If you have the choice to have what you want, you'd be better buying an older more interesting estate car, not a duller brand new one!
Simple arguement, not sure why it's a problem.
That was the cruncher for me. Dave, do you see ANY of the authorities buying up 9 year old performance vehicles for their staff?
No it's not earth shattering but I don't want that I want a practical car with a bit of go. I've not driven one so I don't know if it's what will suit me but it's got on the list.
If it was my only car then I'd spend more but I have a 40 year old Porsche, a new Porsche(it's going though) and the Mrs has an S3.
I reckon, if they land in the right age range, an old shape ST220 Mondeo would be more interesting/fun to punt around in!
Dave
My remapped 54 plate vRS has 231bhp and in 55000 miles the only fault has been a front wheel bearing - replaced under warranty. Plenty of room for family of 4 and our luggage on a long trip. I'd have another - but I am very happy with my current one!
ST220's apparently run around 230bhp-240bhp with a decent exhaust alone, and sound fantastic anyway.
All said and done, the ~ 250bhp 2.0 TFSI one I went out in left me cold. I was very impressed by the delivery vs say an older school Evo VII delivery from the same kinda engine, and the refinement, the response etc, but it was just sooo dull.
At the time my Peugeot felt twice as 'alive' to drive
Good cars, no doubt, but I wouldn't choose one as some kinda driving nirvana after getting fed up of a dull MPV! Infact I bet some MPV's are more fun to drive. Ie, S-max 2.5 turbo jobby from Ford maybe!?
Dave
FamilyGuy said:
Silly thread title. Since when would an estate do the job of an MPV? If you can find a quick estate that'll take 2 adults, 4 children (all in ISOFIX seats) a double off-road buggy and two children's bikes then regardless of badge or price, you'll sell zilloins of them.
Not many people have 4 kids nowadays certainly not zillions most people I know who have MPV's have 2 kids and buy them for the occasional flexibility of the extra seats Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff