Anyone had a mk1 Octavia VRS ?
Discussion
Yes. A brand new 2003 car. It was quite fast after a remap but I'd hate to see what the interiors look like now. White carpets and seats may look a little grubby after ten years!
Quite reliable as long as you go for annual oil changes, change the cam belt and water pump on time and have the better coil packs fitted.
Steve
Quite reliable as long as you go for annual oil changes, change the cam belt and water pump on time and have the better coil packs fitted.
Steve
I owned a 2 owner one back in 2007/2008. It had 38k on it. I sold it a few years later (stupidly) and it's still going well today with over 100k.
One of the best cars I owned, and if I could afford one as a DD I'd happily have another. They do need a remap to get the best from it. Reasonably quick, economical, comfortable and a huge boot.
One of the best cars I owned, and if I could afford one as a DD I'd happily have another. They do need a remap to get the best from it. Reasonably quick, economical, comfortable and a huge boot.
I had a 2004 version when it was 4-5 years old.
Mine had a couple of coil springs but that's apart it, pretty reliable. I seem to remember it handling rather well for such a big car. Huge boot too.
The white carpets and seats were fine as long as you have access to a decent wet vac to get them up to scratch in the first place.
Mine had a couple of coil springs but that's apart it, pretty reliable. I seem to remember it handling rather well for such a big car. Huge boot too.
The white carpets and seats were fine as long as you have access to a decent wet vac to get them up to scratch in the first place.
We've had one since pretty much new, now 8 years old and 100k+ miles. Its my daily driver, I doubt there is much that can touch it at the current value for reliability and performance. Ours has been pretty much flawless (central locking module went within warranty and I've had one coil pack go)
This one is getting driven into the ground, which I expect to take many years
This one is getting driven into the ground, which I expect to take many years
I had an 05 one that I bought in 08 with 35k on it and sold five years later near 150k. It was relatively unassuming but considering I normally get itchy after a few months of ownership it says a lot that I genuinely couldn't justify replacing it, and nor did I really feel any great desire to. It was reliable, covered long distances comfortably, was reasonably brisk and was an entirely more pleasant place to be than the equivalent Golf GTI, not to mention cheaper. I replaced a few timing belts, did the discs and pads on the front twice and the rears once, replaced the dampers via TPS and aside from that it was faultless. Half of its life was on motorways but the other half involved a fair amount of battering down B & C roads with gear in the back. I fitted a 24mm Whiteline RARB to the back and ran Michelin PS2's and latterly PS3's all round and would certainly recommend one if you can get a good one for a good price.
For the interior it's certainly possible to keep them in good condition. Mine was rammed with muddy gear and bikes week after week for five years and survived pretty unscathed. the guy I sold it to actually commented on how new the interior looked so it's definitely achievable! I got £2.5k for mine with nigh on 150k on it a year ago so I'd have thought £2k should get you something good.
For the interior it's certainly possible to keep them in good condition. Mine was rammed with muddy gear and bikes week after week for five years and survived pretty unscathed. the guy I sold it to actually commented on how new the interior looked so it's definitely achievable! I got £2.5k for mine with nigh on 150k on it a year ago so I'd have thought £2k should get you something good.
KM666 said:
Is there much difference between the VRS and other 1.8t versions besides the bigger brakes and 20% hike in power? I quite fancy a Laurin Klement with a remap...
Some of these come with the larger k03s turbo, so while they run 150 stock, they will remap to the same as a vrs.L&k isn't as sporty as the vrs.
fantastic car, my brother runs my old one (2003 hatch) and still going well at 75k or so miles.
if i had one (tiny) complaint, when the back seats are down, the loading ability is made slightly awkward by the additional strengthening bars diagonally in from each side. hardly a problem 99% of the time but for the odd occasion of ikea trips or what not, it irked me ... like i said, tiny!
if i had one (tiny) complaint, when the back seats are down, the loading ability is made slightly awkward by the additional strengthening bars diagonally in from each side. hardly a problem 99% of the time but for the odd occasion of ikea trips or what not, it irked me ... like i said, tiny!
Mine is on 128k now (I've had it since 68K)
Other than routine servicing it has needed:
One rear brake caliper
One front wheel bearing
Two breather hoses
One thermostat
So less than two hundred and fifty quid's worth of parts. No coil pack issues and yet despite this Skoda replaced them all last year FOC under their recall program.
Only other current issue is that one rear door has locked itself shut and cannot be opened, but I haven't investigated the cause yet.
Otherwise it drives as it did when I bought it and returns 38mpg overall. Normally I would have changed it by now but it is worth too little and too useful to part with.
The driving experience isn't particularly "sporty" as standard, but it is comfortable, quick enough to dispatch dawdlers and just so very easy to live with as a daily driver.
Other than routine servicing it has needed:
One rear brake caliper
One front wheel bearing
Two breather hoses
One thermostat
So less than two hundred and fifty quid's worth of parts. No coil pack issues and yet despite this Skoda replaced them all last year FOC under their recall program.
Only other current issue is that one rear door has locked itself shut and cannot be opened, but I haven't investigated the cause yet.
Otherwise it drives as it did when I bought it and returns 38mpg overall. Normally I would have changed it by now but it is worth too little and too useful to part with.
The driving experience isn't particularly "sporty" as standard, but it is comfortable, quick enough to dispatch dawdlers and just so very easy to live with as a daily driver.
Steve vRS said:
HereBeMonsters said:
Nowhere near as fun as my 205 GTI which was much, much slower.
No, but you can't get 5 adults and a load of camping equipment in a 205. Horses for courses!Steve
I have one.
plus points:
Mid 30s MPG.
Seems to not mind the fact it hasn't been serviced in a gooood few miles.
huge boot.
cheap to insure.
Bad points:
It doesn't handle
Its not slow, but its not fast.
electrical faults
Various little niggles.
Overall its an ok car. But it isn't special. I'd rather still have my Clio Cup to be honest. But then I would have needed to service and generally look after that....
Simon
plus points:
Mid 30s MPG.
Seems to not mind the fact it hasn't been serviced in a gooood few miles.
huge boot.
cheap to insure.
Bad points:
It doesn't handle
Its not slow, but its not fast.
electrical faults
Various little niggles.
Overall its an ok car. But it isn't special. I'd rather still have my Clio Cup to be honest. But then I would have needed to service and generally look after that....
Simon
Ours is identical to the above. Used as a pushchair/dog/junk carrier and excels at it. It's primarily hers but I've become increasingly fond of it and it's capabilities. Bought with 165k on it last year for well below £2k and has been faultless. Never going to set the world on fire performance wise but adequate even loaded up and not too floppy in the corners. Recommended.
I was considering these a couple of years ago. I do like the looks of them. Had driven them before at work and test drove the best 2 on my search but all I viewed in a mid range budget had niggly little electrical issues or rust, this is what put me off after seeing 4 and all having annoying issues that needed rectifying. Also many people seem to miss the cambelt service.
I thought they handled reasonably for a mid sized saloon but they also feel pretty gutless without a remap.
Bought a Volvo S60 in the end, less sporty handling and a bit juicier but better in every other way and much more solid feeling car.
I thought they handled reasonably for a mid sized saloon but they also feel pretty gutless without a remap.
Bought a Volvo S60 in the end, less sporty handling and a bit juicier but better in every other way and much more solid feeling car.
Steve vRS said:
HereBeMonsters said:
Er, yes you can. Did many a Reading Festival in that thing. The boots on 205s are actually pretty big. Certainly bigger than my wife's new Corsa, for example.
Fair enough.The boot on the Octavia is HUGE though!
Steve
Although, on the vRS, I found the ridge between the boot and the cabin, and the strenghtening bars to get in the way when putting bikes in. I can fit 3 bikes in the 205, but only ever managed two in the Octavia. I know, I should have bought an estate!
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