Octavia VRS Opinions?
Discussion
Looking for my next car purchase & recently i've been looking at the Megane 225, however it being a Renault i'm sceptical about how long it'll last before it starts to get expensive to repair!
I was browswing last night & came across the idea of the Skoda Octavia VRS.
It tick's boxes for me, it's a 5 door, it's a half decent size, a bit of poke, reasonably good VFM.
My question being though, (i'd be looking at an 04-05 one) as that's what my budget would stretch too.
What're they like to drive? Reliability? How are they on fuel? Any niggles?
Coming from a Scenic it'll be like a rocket ship i'd imagine, it'll be my first 'fast car' (i use that term lightly as i appreciate it isn't fast in car terms).
Oh & i'd be looking at the petrol variant as i only do around 10,000 miles p/year.
I was browswing last night & came across the idea of the Skoda Octavia VRS.
It tick's boxes for me, it's a 5 door, it's a half decent size, a bit of poke, reasonably good VFM.
My question being though, (i'd be looking at an 04-05 one) as that's what my budget would stretch too.
What're they like to drive? Reliability? How are they on fuel? Any niggles?
Coming from a Scenic it'll be like a rocket ship i'd imagine, it'll be my first 'fast car' (i use that term lightly as i appreciate it isn't fast in car terms).
Oh & i'd be looking at the petrol variant as i only do around 10,000 miles p/year.
Cracking value for money cars. I used to have a Mk1 2004 Octavia RVS. Would return 36mpg when driven sensibly, but went well. Had mine re-mapped to 220bph for £300. Badge snobs will still look down and there are of course many card with a better image, but in 2 years never had anything go wrong with mine. A small family could live in the boot too!
Very good sharp handling on country lanes too, and easy to drive slowly.
I sold mine a while back and am looking at possibly a mk2 VRS estate now due to a forthcoming dog.
Highly recommend them - if you need any further info just ask!
Very good sharp handling on country lanes too, and easy to drive slowly.
I sold mine a while back and am looking at possibly a mk2 VRS estate now due to a forthcoming dog.
Highly recommend them - if you need any further info just ask!
I have 2008 diesel Estate - so maybe not that helpful..
What I would say that it has been 100% reliable in the 3 years I have owned it. Only 1 problem in all that time was that the amplified aerial base went. So brilliant in that respect. I'm keeping long term, which is a first for me.
My 1 criticism is the roadnoise. This is nothing to do with tyres etc etc. Skoda have scrimped on soundproofing. If only they spent a few quid on better soundproofing....
It is quick enough as 170 Bhp, but it does not set the world alight. If you read Skoda forums you would think it is a Ferrari in disguise. Its just a mildly fast family car.
What I would say that it has been 100% reliable in the 3 years I have owned it. Only 1 problem in all that time was that the amplified aerial base went. So brilliant in that respect. I'm keeping long term, which is a first for me.
My 1 criticism is the roadnoise. This is nothing to do with tyres etc etc. Skoda have scrimped on soundproofing. If only they spent a few quid on better soundproofing....
It is quick enough as 170 Bhp, but it does not set the world alight. If you read Skoda forums you would think it is a Ferrari in disguise. Its just a mildly fast family car.
Jimboka said:
My 1 criticism is the roadnoise. This is nothing to do with tyres etc etc. Skoda have scrimped on soundproofing. If only they spent a few quid on better soundproofing....
It's not nothing to do with the wheel/tyre combination. The difference between our winter tyre set (on 16 inch wheels) and our summer tyre setup (on 18s) is remarkable, in terms of road noise, ride quality and handing. Big enough that the OEM summer wheels wont be going back on; I'll be replacing them with some lighter, smaller wheels. It's never going to compete with a Golf or Audi on sensible wheels for road noise though, no.
Well i have a budget of around £4500 so i'd be looking at something relativel low mileage & of the 2004 era i believe, i'd prefer to buy from a dealer for piece of mind!
Insurance seems reasonable compared to quotes for other stuff i was getting!
The only thing that puts me off is the white seat middles & carpets, but i spose seat covers & floor mat's will combat this! (I'd need them due to having a toddler & his like of being a magnet to dirt.
I just wanted to get the general consensus, as they seemed good VFM & just wanted to make sure there was'nt a catch!
Does the car come wtith any toys?
Insurance seems reasonable compared to quotes for other stuff i was getting!
The only thing that puts me off is the white seat middles & carpets, but i spose seat covers & floor mat's will combat this! (I'd need them due to having a toddler & his like of being a magnet to dirt.
I just wanted to get the general consensus, as they seemed good VFM & just wanted to make sure there was'nt a catch!
Does the car come wtith any toys?
We picked up a 2006 petrol on 80k miles from a dealer for £5600 in December so you're not that far off being able to afford a mk2. Personally I'd try to stretch to it, it's a much better chassis (although neither is going to set the world alight with either it's performance of its handling).
Ours has dual zone climate control, ESP, built in Sat Nav (which is complete rubbish so we use a TomTom instead), heated mirrors, a CD changer and a few other odds and ends.
Ours has dual zone climate control, ESP, built in Sat Nav (which is complete rubbish so we use a TomTom instead), heated mirrors, a CD changer and a few other odds and ends.
Edited by kambites on Wednesday 14th March 10:34
kambites said:
It's not nothing to do with the wheel/tyre combination. The difference between our winter tyre set (on 16 inch wheels) and our summer tyre setup (on 18s) is remarkable, in terms of road noise, ride quality and handing. Big enough that the OEM summer wheels wont be going back on; I'll be replacing them with some lighter, smaller wheels.
It's never going to compete with a Golf or Audi on sensible wheels for road noise though, no.
Fair point. Must be the 18'' fandango wheels that are my problem. I'll look at finding somebody to swap wheels with. Somebody who values big wheels above UK ride quality/noise!It's never going to compete with a Golf or Audi on sensible wheels for road noise though, no.
Still a great car though, I have no regrets, which is a first for me.
Jimboka said:
Fair point. Must be the 18'' fandango wheels that are my problem. I'll look at finding somebody to swap wheels with. Somebody who values big wheels above UK ride quality/noise!
Still a great car though, I have no regrets, which is a first for me.
I'm going to be fitting a set of 17 inch Team Dynamics Pro Race 1.2s to the wife's - they're about 10kg a corner lighter! Well worth the 500 quid for a set (minus whatever I can get for the 18s), IMO. Still a great car though, I have no regrets, which is a first for me.
Edited by kambites on Wednesday 14th March 10:37
Presume as you are coming from a Scenic, that you are actually needing a family sized car? If so, then the VRs is probably as good as anything else of that ilk. Not the fastest, not the most sporty, not the best drive, not the best looking, not the most fun, not the best specced. But I don't think it does anything particularly wrong and it isn't what you'd call a slouch.
The other thing I'd probably be considering is be a late E46 3-series estate. Significantly better to drive but smaller inside and bigger outside; better perceived build quality and refinement.
For what it's worth, we average 32mpg from our mk2 petrol VRS (on super unleaded), with 90% of trips being a suburban commute of about 6 miles. On longer runs it'll get into the high 30s, possibly low 40s if you really try.
For what it's worth, we average 32mpg from our mk2 petrol VRS (on super unleaded), with 90% of trips being a suburban commute of about 6 miles. On longer runs it'll get into the high 30s, possibly low 40s if you really try.
Great transport - I had one from new for nearly 100,000 miles and 6 years.
Personally, I think the mk1's a much better looking car than the Mk2, regardless of which is better in other respects.
Nippy, decent handling, huge hatch, practical and pretty economical are all pluses.
Negatives? A bit more expensive to service than you might expect as all the parts are the same as on VWs and Audis. Having been driving an RX8 now for nearly 4 years, the Octavia seems more of an 'appliance' (especially the rather blobby looking Mk2) than a driver's car, but a good one, nonetheless.
M
Personally, I think the mk1's a much better looking car than the Mk2, regardless of which is better in other respects.
Nippy, decent handling, huge hatch, practical and pretty economical are all pluses.
Negatives? A bit more expensive to service than you might expect as all the parts are the same as on VWs and Audis. Having been driving an RX8 now for nearly 4 years, the Octavia seems more of an 'appliance' (especially the rather blobby looking Mk2) than a driver's car, but a good one, nonetheless.
M
kambites said:
varsas said:
Get a 1.8T elegance instead of the vRS. Cheaper and 4WD.
The vast majority aren't 4WD. I couldn't actually find one to try that was when we were looking. I don't think there was a mk2 version either, for that matter. varsas said:
Didn't realise 4WD versions where rare. Think you might be right about the Mk2.
They are rare in mk1 form. I had one turn up in all my time at Skoda and I my Mum bought it!The mk2 were only in Diesel, unlike the mk1 petrol turbos. Shame as with a bit of setting up they can be just as fast as the vrs, but totally under the radar.
I had a demo mk2 diesel and it was slow compared to the 2wd, but again tune the bugger and it would be great fun. Most of the cop cars round here are either octy estate 2wd or 4wd.
The VRS is a cracker, I would certainly recommend one. If your looking mk2 then you have the choice of 2.0 turbo with 200bhp or diesel 170bhp. the newer common rail diesels drive like a petrol and the old tdi version was a brute.
The petrol engine is smooth and boosts nicely, space, decent handling and good spec (try and get a vrs with the climate, central armrest, rear electrics and 18inch wheels)
Only driven the diesel VRS version - the latest model.
I found it quite nice, interior well put together and felt solid (I was a volvo man at the time so it was a pleasant surprise).
The diesel felt fine for pace, fairly linear, I was driving d5 volvo at the time so found it a bit gruff being a 4 pot - but I find my 320d the same so it's not specific to the skoda.
Couple of complaints I had were I found the chrome bits in the interior a little OTT for my liking, felt like it was trying a little too hard in places.
The ride was also quite fidgety but I got a test drive on some poor roads - it was subjective as well as I was wafting about in a big volvo.
All in all at the time for the money (VAT free) it was a cracking deal, I just couldn't get my local skoda dealer to play ball and ended up going for yet another volvo.
I found it quite nice, interior well put together and felt solid (I was a volvo man at the time so it was a pleasant surprise).
The diesel felt fine for pace, fairly linear, I was driving d5 volvo at the time so found it a bit gruff being a 4 pot - but I find my 320d the same so it's not specific to the skoda.
Couple of complaints I had were I found the chrome bits in the interior a little OTT for my liking, felt like it was trying a little too hard in places.
The ride was also quite fidgety but I got a test drive on some poor roads - it was subjective as well as I was wafting about in a big volvo.
All in all at the time for the money (VAT free) it was a cracking deal, I just couldn't get my local skoda dealer to play ball and ended up going for yet another volvo.
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