PH Made Me Buy It: Octavia VRS Estate
Discussion
My first proper family estate car was a 2.5 V6, bought on impulse to replace a Fiat Coupe (which somehow I still own) on the arrival of Mini-MM64 7 years ago. It was quite honestly, brilliant, that sound was like heaven and the interior was great place to be. I loved it.
The Original Alfa V6 Impulse Buy Readers Car
Unfortunately it grew a little long in the tooth, a little too unreliable to trust as main family transport and then then it was (cosmetically) written off while parked up by a taxi driver who can't take corners and tried to do a runner. A replacement was required. Perhaps not ideal timing in the middle of another lockdown but towards the middle of last year a search for a replacement was begun and it turns out large power, petrol engined estate cars are not something manufactures have been investing in for the last decade. At least not in my price range. SUV? Yes. Estate? No. Diesel? Yes. Petrol? No.
The standard thread in Car Buying duly appeared....
The Original Car Buying Thread
Many suggestions were made, many I'd already looked at, I'm a picky git and many of the standard answers I really didn't fancy, BMW? Audi? VW? No thanks. In the end it came down what appeared locally to save long trips and a slightly different choice I hadn't considered before starting the thread above, a Skoda VRS estate. Reading a lot of the car buying threads they seem to now be the new answer to almost any car buying question, replacing the venerable MX5. Bit different? Yes. No silver? Yes. Reputation for being reliable? Yes. Value for money? Yes. Good balance between speed and economy? Yes. Goes like stink? Surprisingly, yes.
This particular one had oddly enough appeared on FB Marketplace back in November about 30 miles away but was priced a little rich for me at £13.5k. It did sound like a great, well looked after car but it was beyond my budget. Shame as apparently this particular one had received a Stage 1 tune and was allegedly making 300bhp+.
End of January rolls around and what should appear for sale at a local dealer for £12k? The exact same car (although I didn't realise it at the time), popped straight over the next day for a test drive and was instant hooked, even better to look at in reality, stunning colour and comfortable inside. Hadn't been entirely sure about the red trim inside or the black rims outside but both were again, much better in reality. Offers were made, walked away from and lowered and a week and one fresh MOT later I collected this...
Now I haven't driven a 'standard' VRS for comparison (I'd love to when the world returns to normal) and there was no information on the Stage 1 tune in the paperwork so I'm still taking that with a pinch of salt but if they all go like this as standard then they're an even better car than I thought.
Driving so far as been limited as you can imagine but I'm more and more impressed every time I get a chance to go out. There's not really much that needs doing, just looking after it.
The one big question is still the wheels? Some day's I love the black, some day's I think I'd prefer a decent set of multi-spoke silver rims on there. The design on these is standard but they're usually anthracite instead of pure black and to be honest I'm not sure I'd even prefer that. Still, no rush and just planning on enjoying it when I can at the moment!
The Original Alfa V6 Impulse Buy Readers Car
Unfortunately it grew a little long in the tooth, a little too unreliable to trust as main family transport and then then it was (cosmetically) written off while parked up by a taxi driver who can't take corners and tried to do a runner. A replacement was required. Perhaps not ideal timing in the middle of another lockdown but towards the middle of last year a search for a replacement was begun and it turns out large power, petrol engined estate cars are not something manufactures have been investing in for the last decade. At least not in my price range. SUV? Yes. Estate? No. Diesel? Yes. Petrol? No.
The standard thread in Car Buying duly appeared....
The Original Car Buying Thread
Many suggestions were made, many I'd already looked at, I'm a picky git and many of the standard answers I really didn't fancy, BMW? Audi? VW? No thanks. In the end it came down what appeared locally to save long trips and a slightly different choice I hadn't considered before starting the thread above, a Skoda VRS estate. Reading a lot of the car buying threads they seem to now be the new answer to almost any car buying question, replacing the venerable MX5. Bit different? Yes. No silver? Yes. Reputation for being reliable? Yes. Value for money? Yes. Good balance between speed and economy? Yes. Goes like stink? Surprisingly, yes.
This particular one had oddly enough appeared on FB Marketplace back in November about 30 miles away but was priced a little rich for me at £13.5k. It did sound like a great, well looked after car but it was beyond my budget. Shame as apparently this particular one had received a Stage 1 tune and was allegedly making 300bhp+.
End of January rolls around and what should appear for sale at a local dealer for £12k? The exact same car (although I didn't realise it at the time), popped straight over the next day for a test drive and was instant hooked, even better to look at in reality, stunning colour and comfortable inside. Hadn't been entirely sure about the red trim inside or the black rims outside but both were again, much better in reality. Offers were made, walked away from and lowered and a week and one fresh MOT later I collected this...
Now I haven't driven a 'standard' VRS for comparison (I'd love to when the world returns to normal) and there was no information on the Stage 1 tune in the paperwork so I'm still taking that with a pinch of salt but if they all go like this as standard then they're an even better car than I thought.
Driving so far as been limited as you can imagine but I'm more and more impressed every time I get a chance to go out. There's not really much that needs doing, just looking after it.
The one big question is still the wheels? Some day's I love the black, some day's I think I'd prefer a decent set of multi-spoke silver rims on there. The design on these is standard but they're usually anthracite instead of pure black and to be honest I'm not sure I'd even prefer that. Still, no rush and just planning on enjoying it when I can at the moment!
Gandoolie said:
Looks a good one OP, how about have the original wheels in a bright silver?
If I painted them yes I think that would be my preference but it's an oddly rare look so finding picture of what it would look like are difficult! This is the only picture I've seen of one with the standard Gemini wheels in silver and it's a saloon. Also logistically it might be a right pain to have all 4 wheels off for a respray! A few friends have suggested gold ala Subaru with the Race Blue but that might be a bit too much!
paradigital said:
MiniMan64 said:
finding picture of what it would look like are difficult!
Not a perfect Photoshop, but hope this helps.
Thank you for that, bloody brilliant PH is sometimes, I think I definitely prefer the silver now!
paradigital said:
MiniMan64 said:
Bloody hell, not perfect? I wouldn’t know that it wasn’t real!
Thank you for that, bloody brilliant PH is sometimes, I think I definitely prefer the silver now!
You're welcome Thank you for that, bloody brilliant PH is sometimes, I think I definitely prefer the silver now!
Now to find a decent wheel refurbisher and get it sorted
EDIT: I never said, lovely car by the way, I've always liked the Octavia VRS, they look smart. Also congrats on getting something that has colour, refreshing for a car to not be White/Grey/Silver/Black. That blue is stunning.
Edited by paradigital on Thursday 11th February 08:14
The wheel choice is going to be interesting, I think the black is just too dark and has a definite whiff of boy racer about it but most friends who have seen it prefer the black! I still prefer the silver and so far that seems the preferred choice here! Of course the other options are changing the trim on the car to black (Skoda did realise a Black Pack version with black coloured grill and mirrors) or changing the style of the wheel as well as colour, I reckon a decent set of multi-spoke alloys in silver might look pretty good...
These are up for sale locally at the minute...
Edited by MiniMan64 on Thursday 11th February 10:06
budgie smuggler said:
300 bhp! Is it a manual or DSG?
Manual, the DSG is apparently very good and to be honest I wouldn't have minded either way but I do quite like being able to do it myself. The 300bhp figure is an interesting one that I'm still taking with a pinch of salt to be honest. The dealer mentioned nothing and there's no paperwork on it with the car, I'm only aware because of discussions with the previous owner on FB last year. Apparently it's a Stage 1 remap from here but I think at some point I'll get it on a RR locally and check it out properly. One suspects it may need a slightly uprated clutch too but I'm not planning too many traffic light race starts so I think it'll be fine for now. Dr G said:
Bad influence Alex here to spend your money for you. That's just a spring kit away from looking excellent
If I need some bigger than current Golf in future this is what I will buy.
Pilotguy said:
I posted a picture of a wheel in Porsche Weissgold on Briskoda in the thread about choosing rim colour
https://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/489377-choos...
That colour would go brilliantly on your blue Octavia. It would be lost on my silver one, unfortunately.
I remember seeing that thread actually, great looking car. Oddly, my black wheels would probably look better on your white one than my blue one. https://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/489377-choos...
That colour would go brilliantly on your blue Octavia. It would be lost on my silver one, unfortunately.
When did buying wipers become so faffy and bloody expensive? Google correct set required, Bosch Aero A860S for the pair, brilliant! Check on Halfords since I have a voucher, no those aren't the right set says Halfords, they are says I. They're also a bit bloody expensive says I. Try to order them anyway, no stock, delivery next weekend. Sigh. Try to order the single drivers side one instead even though it costs the same as a double set. Might as well use the voucher. Discover the voucher is not for use online or click and collect. Sigh. Right, Google again, Eurocarparts, local, in stock, £40! No thanks. Check Amazon, in stock, delivery Monday, £20, great. Remember I hate ordering off Amazon. See an advert for Eurocarparts suggesting a 40% off code (LOVE50). Return to Eurocarparts site, £20, collect in an hour. Done. At least now I've an excuse to take the longer way home.
Remember when you could just walk into a shop and buy something?
Edited by MiniMan64 on Friday 12th February 14:56
MiniMan64 said:
When did buying wipers become so faffy and bloody expensive? Google correct set required, Bosch Aero A860S for the pair, brilliant! Check on Halfords since I have a voucher, no those aren't the right set says Halfords, they are says I. They're also a bit bloody expensive says I. Try to order them anyway, no stock, delivery next weekend. Sigh. Try to order the single drivers side one instead even though it costs the same as a double set. Might as well use the voucher. Discover the voucher is not for use online or click and collect. Sigh. Right, Google again, Eurocarparts, local, in stock, £40! No thanks. Check Amazon, in stock, delivery Monday, £20, great. Remember I hate ordering off Amazon. See an advert for Eurocarparts suggesting a 40% off code (LOVE50). Return to Eurocarparts site, £20, collect in an hour. Done. At least now I've an excuse to take the longer way home.
Postscript.Get wiper blades home. Work out how to set wipers to maintenance position to fit. Realise blades don’t fit and you’ve bought the wrong set from Eurocarparts. 980S instead of 860S.
FFS.
Medic-one said:
My current view 'from the office'.
Not the VRS version unfortunately but great cars to drive! Very 'chuckable', even at high speeds, and I love the amount of grip you have, no matter the weather.
Nice view!Not the VRS version unfortunately but great cars to drive! Very 'chuckable', even at high speeds, and I love the amount of grip you have, no matter the weather.
I officially removed the ‘new car’ smell out of mine this morning collecting bags of horse manure for the allotment!
Also quite enjoying the change in fuel consumption from the Alfa to the VRS. 220 miles to a tank costing £65 in the Alfa compared to 300+miles to a tank costing £55 in the VRS.
The continuing saga of large objects you can fit in the back of an Octavia number 4:
A six foot long 6 person picnic bench. It really is fecking massive back there and I'm so glad a manufacturer has made folding the rear seat flat so easy finally! The little levers at the back are genius.
Also a query for other owners/drivers, do they use a lot of oil?
I got a check oil light last and sure enough it's low. Maybe the dealer just didn't bother to top it up! See the What annoyed you today thread for the joy of trying to buy a few litres of Castrol Edge 5w30 locally at a non-ruinous price!
A six foot long 6 person picnic bench. It really is fecking massive back there and I'm so glad a manufacturer has made folding the rear seat flat so easy finally! The little levers at the back are genius.
Also a query for other owners/drivers, do they use a lot of oil?
I got a check oil light last and sure enough it's low. Maybe the dealer just didn't bother to top it up! See the What annoyed you today thread for the joy of trying to buy a few litres of Castrol Edge 5w30 locally at a non-ruinous price!
Months on and the VRS continues to impress. Does everything asked of it and swallows all manor of family gubbins in most situations. Lots of the reviews I read beforehand were quite critical of the ‘dull’ interior however it’s subtle and straightforward design is great. At one point I was looking at Mondeo’s as an alternative and having finally sat in one I’m glad I didn’t as the interior is seriously over designed. Even the wife loves it and that’s rare for one of my cars although she’s not been brave enough to drive it yet!
Finally got around to making a long run in it (Plymouth-Manchester) and was seriously impressed. I knew it wouldn’t be the smoothest (and it wasn’t) but it was impressively assured all the way up the M5/M6 despite all the roadworks/tailgaters/lane hoggers/vomiting children/monsoons. Terribly boring I know but the increase in MPG was much appreciated, could have easily done 400 miles+ on a single tank whereas the Alfa only just managed to get to Manchester on a single tank.
On more PH-y topics, the wheels are definitely staying, they’re a keeper although they’ll need properly painting at some point. The black grille still needs to be fitted and I’m definitely starting to think a set of spacers wouldn’t be the worst idea in the world.
I’m not quite in love with it yet but it’s definitely part of the family.
Finally got around to making a long run in it (Plymouth-Manchester) and was seriously impressed. I knew it wouldn’t be the smoothest (and it wasn’t) but it was impressively assured all the way up the M5/M6 despite all the roadworks/tailgaters/lane hoggers/vomiting children/monsoons. Terribly boring I know but the increase in MPG was much appreciated, could have easily done 400 miles+ on a single tank whereas the Alfa only just managed to get to Manchester on a single tank.
On more PH-y topics, the wheels are definitely staying, they’re a keeper although they’ll need properly painting at some point. The black grille still needs to be fitted and I’m definitely starting to think a set of spacers wouldn’t be the worst idea in the world.
I’m not quite in love with it yet but it’s definitely part of the family.
Court_S said:
They’re really good cars.
I don’t miss mine particularly, but it was such an easy car to live with; quick enough, comfy, vast inside etc. My other half really liked it as well.
Pretty much sums it up, perfect family wagon and in my eyes looks far better than the competition.I don’t miss mine particularly, but it was such an easy car to live with; quick enough, comfy, vast inside etc. My other half really liked it as well.
flawed as mdse crossword
As in the previous post this is a welcome change from a thirsty Alfa V6 too...
It was a bit manky after the long long run up and down the M6 so got it cleaned and man does that blue come up shiny.
And then someone drove into it. Again.
What is it about the simple turning into a T-junction manoeuvre that seems to render people so completely unable to drive?
Luckily this one left a note unlike last time, the body shop opposite work are saying £250+VAT so I suspect insurance might be involved but we’ll see.
And then someone drove into it. Again.
What is it about the simple turning into a T-junction manoeuvre that seems to render people so completely unable to drive?
Luckily this one left a note unlike last time, the body shop opposite work are saying £250+VAT so I suspect insurance might be involved but we’ll see.
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