MK1 Octavia VRS, is it a fun daily?
Discussion
Hello all, coming to the end of my PCP in the next few months and i'm looking constantly for my next car.
The mk1 VRS has caught my eye; not sure why but I actually like the looks of them (especially in yellow) and the internals are straight out a Golf GTI so the performance will be fine for a 20 year old.
The issue is I do alot of miles, about 20k a year. While these are cheap as chips, am I running the risk of being left stranded on the M62 with one of these? Also, while I get fuel expenses, they give you money back as if your can runs at 45 mpg, which i'm pretty sure these wont. So will this and maintenance leave me with an empty wallet?
Anything to really look out for with one of these, or should I just avoid it all together?
Thanks,
Aaran.
The mk1 VRS has caught my eye; not sure why but I actually like the looks of them (especially in yellow) and the internals are straight out a Golf GTI so the performance will be fine for a 20 year old.
The issue is I do alot of miles, about 20k a year. While these are cheap as chips, am I running the risk of being left stranded on the M62 with one of these? Also, while I get fuel expenses, they give you money back as if your can runs at 45 mpg, which i'm pretty sure these wont. So will this and maintenance leave me with an empty wallet?
Anything to really look out for with one of these, or should I just avoid it all together?
Thanks,
Aaran.
I've not had one to be fair, but back in 2003 I had a Seat Leon Cupra with the same engine and really liked it.
I had it for a couple of years and 16K miles and during that time it averaged about 30mpg overall.
Sadly I sold it because I was moving into a new job that involved business miles and I would have been subsidising my business use - so I got a boring diesel!
Plus doing 20K a year you'll be needing a new cam-belt and water pump every 3 years - that job plus a service cost me over £600 at a main agent in 2004!
If you don't mind the cost implications go for it, but if you aren't so keen maybe buy a diesel VRS (or Cupra).
I had it for a couple of years and 16K miles and during that time it averaged about 30mpg overall.
Sadly I sold it because I was moving into a new job that involved business miles and I would have been subsidising my business use - so I got a boring diesel!
Plus doing 20K a year you'll be needing a new cam-belt and water pump every 3 years - that job plus a service cost me over £600 at a main agent in 2004!
If you don't mind the cost implications go for it, but if you aren't so keen maybe buy a diesel VRS (or Cupra).
Mr Tidy said:
I've not had one to be fair, but back in 2003 I had a Seat Leon Cupra with the same engine and really liked it.
I had it for a couple of years and 16K miles and during that time it averaged about 30mpg overall.
Sadly I sold it because I was moving into a new job that involved business miles and I would have been subsidising my business use - so I got a boring diesel!
Plus doing 20K a year you'll be needing a new cam-belt and water pump every 3 years - that job plus a service cost me over £600 at a main agent in 2004!
If you don't mind the cost implications go for it, but if you aren't so keen maybe buy a diesel VRS (or Cupra).
I could live with 30 MPG and those running costs aren't the end of the world. I just want something a bit more exciting than my 1.4 Corsa and a bit more practical, so the VRS ticks both those boxes. I had it for a couple of years and 16K miles and during that time it averaged about 30mpg overall.
Sadly I sold it because I was moving into a new job that involved business miles and I would have been subsidising my business use - so I got a boring diesel!
Plus doing 20K a year you'll be needing a new cam-belt and water pump every 3 years - that job plus a service cost me over £600 at a main agent in 2004!
If you don't mind the cost implications go for it, but if you aren't so keen maybe buy a diesel VRS (or Cupra).
I've had two, the first I couldn't put my finger on but it just didn't feel 'right' hence selling but the second one was excellent, the only thing over and above routine servicing and maintenance that needed replacing was a coolant temp sensor.
It is all run of the mill mechanical's underneath, fitted in different guises to many cars in the VAG empire. I would imagine things like suspension bushes will be popping up on MOT advisories now as the cars age but nothing major.
Excellent car, comfortable, brisk performance, loads of space, decent ride, sensible running costs and economy.
cheers,
Chris
It is all run of the mill mechanical's underneath, fitted in different guises to many cars in the VAG empire. I would imagine things like suspension bushes will be popping up on MOT advisories now as the cars age but nothing major.
Excellent car, comfortable, brisk performance, loads of space, decent ride, sensible running costs and economy.
cheers,
Chris
I ran a clean, 1 owner FSH yellow one from about 70k-80k miles a few years ago.
It has an old school GTi feel to it, but the novelty soon wore off. Basic, tinny and chuckable - fun on the right road but tiresome on the motorway especially without cruise (which is easily retrofitted to be fair).
In my time one of the rear door locks went. Cheap to buy, a real pain to fit. I part-ex’d it with what I think was a manifold blow and the drivers window winder mechanism making an awful noise.
So quite fun, but basic not sophisticated, and reliable but little things will (probably) trouble you.
It has an old school GTi feel to it, but the novelty soon wore off. Basic, tinny and chuckable - fun on the right road but tiresome on the motorway especially without cruise (which is easily retrofitted to be fair).
In my time one of the rear door locks went. Cheap to buy, a real pain to fit. I part-ex’d it with what I think was a manifold blow and the drivers window winder mechanism making an awful noise.
So quite fun, but basic not sophisticated, and reliable but little things will (probably) trouble you.
Christmassss said:
Always liked the look of these. Runs the AUQ version of the 1.8T so has VVT, K03s turbo and a forged crank.
Cheeky remap will see 220bhp but will need the K04 to see the 240-260bhp that people like to quote.
If you do get one, def get it in yellow. Best colour!
Didn't realise you needed the KO4 to reach 240bhp; however I would be leaving it stock for a good while. Cheeky remap will see 220bhp but will need the K04 to see the 240-260bhp that people like to quote.
If you do get one, def get it in yellow. Best colour!
CHEESYAARAN said:
Didn't realise you needed the KO4 to reach 240bhp; however I would be leaving it stock for a good while.
Its been over 10 years since i was playing with VAG cars so hopefully my memory still serves me correctly!From memory the K03s can technically achieve 250-260bhp (with supporting mods) but its running right at its limit, which i wouldn't recommend if its your daily.
K04 would have need to have a different manifold to fit.
K03s hybrids will see 300+
AET turbos were always my go to guys, not sure if they are still around.
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