My Skoda Octavia VRS Estate with HDR photos

[danyeates]

Hi,

I debadged the OCTAVIA logo and added a couple of Pistonheads smilies yesterday after giving it a thorough clean so I thought I'd get some photos and try out my new tripod! Unfortunately driving through the forest meant it got a bit dirty on the way to the location, but it's not too bad.

Firstly, here are some photos I used to try out my HDR trial software on. I'll get on and process the non HDR photos later as I know HDR isn't to everyone's taste. (please excuse the trial software watermarks)









Non HDR - I will add to this...








Comments welcomed!

Dan

[danyeates]

Two more...

[danyeates]

[ChrisRS]

Great pics! Really like the look of these.

[Moley RUFC]

Great pics mate. Really show off the fantastic race blue colour

[Gachet]

Shame about the 17" wheels, they really look lost on a car of this size.

[matc]

Looks great, been meaning to ask on the SC forum what made you change from the S4 avant? Was it mainly fuel economy?

[danyeates]

matc said:

Looks great, been meaning to ask on the SC forum what made you change from the S4 avant? Was it mainly fuel economy?

Yeah, that and general running costs. It needed quite a bit of money spending on it really. Just decided I couldn't keep justifying spending so much on fuel and other things on it, as much as I loved it.

My girlfriends parents have moved to Cornwall which is a 400 mile round trip. We're doing this about once a month, as well as several trips up to London to see other family so I really needed to get something more economical.

I have a boat which I sold last year so I put the S4 up for sale and put a deposit down on an RS6. Unfortunately the sale of my boat fell through so I couldn't buy the RS6. I'd planned to get the RS6 and a cheap economical hatch for my girlfriend to run to Cornwall in. Even though the boat sale fell through I had it in my mind to sell the S4, so I did so. My girlfriend is insured on the Skoda now too. I didn't feel comfortable her driving the S4 and since her accident she couldn't get insured on it anyway. She hasn't been able to replace her MR2 which was written off so she's happy driving the Skoda.

The Skoda is a great car. Feels much more modern and solid, really nice car to be in. You can really tell it's 6 years newer than the Audi.

[danyeates]

Sorry about the above text, I wrote it on my phone so is a bit all over the place!

[kwakus]

The HDR pics make the colour look amazing. You thought abour colour coding the grill surround as others have on here, makes a big difference.

[danyeates]

kwakus said:

The HDR pics make the colour look amazing. You thought abour colour coding the grill surround as others have on here, makes a big difference.

Thanks. Yeah, I plan to replace both black slatted grilles with the honeycomb ones and paint the surround soon.

[Sline]

Really really stunning pics! Would you photograph others cars? I would love some shots like that of my Tusc and by the looks of things your fairly local!

[danyeates]

Sline said:

Really really stunning pics! Would you photograph others cars? I would love some shots like that of my Tusc and by the looks of things your fairly local!

Thanks. Yes, I'm from the New Forest. I guess I could photograph other cars...I'm no professional so not sure how confident I'd feel, but as long as you're expectations aren't too high I'd be willing to meet up!

[Haytch]

Saw one of these in this colour a couple of days ago and it made me look twice, very nice car and I love where the PH stickers are

[danyeates]

Haytch said:

Saw one of these in this colour a couple of days ago and it made me look twice, very nice car and I love where the PH stickers are

Thanks.

Just one more.... this is a photo I entered into the owners club photo competition as the theme was light and dark. Same picture as above, just tweaked to bring it inline with the comp guidelines

[liner33]

Gachet said:

Shame about the 17" wheels, they really look lost on a car of this size.

18" wheels are standard equipment on the VRS

[danyeates]

liner33 said:

Gachet said:

Shame about the 17" wheels, they really look lost on a car of this size.

18" wheels are standard equipment on the VRS

Nope, 17" is standard, 18" are options.

I didn't want the 18" wheels, been there! Had 19" wheels on the S4 and found them too uncomfortable.

[liner33]

Ours came with 18"s as stock maybe it was a special promotion

[Gachet]

danyeates said:

liner33 said:

Gachet said:

Shame about the 17" wheels, they really look lost on a car of this size.

18" wheels are standard equipment on the VRS

Nope, 17" is standard, 18" are options.

I didn't want the 18" wheels, been there! Had 19" wheels on the S4 and found them too uncomfortable.

The ride seems very compliant with 18" on my petrol VRS hatch, but I've only ever owned cars with fairly stiff suspension in the past so that might just be my perception. They do look alot better on 18s to me though.

[liner33]

I agree we also have 18" wheels on our Superb , no problems with ride on either