FatOldGit

Been using them for about 2 years, and pretty happy with them - consistently good service, communications and reasonable pricing, but then I used to drive Audis...

3 years down the line... an update... Race blue VRS PD170:- couple of hiccupps, DPF warning light issues, broken ABS sensor requiring complete change of ABS unit, under warranty thankfully as it costs just under 1k. I am now looking to replace the VRS with.... a new FL VRS. all-in-all in find the 2nd hand prices so much higher than new which is bizarre. I'll take the new vehicle, try to avoid the deprecation and use the warranty to secure my car stays on the road for the full 3 years. might go for Yellow for a change... waddya think?

Footnote: this was eventually diagnosed to be "a faulty sensor", which was replaced. Since then the car has run magnificiently and has done 55-60+ mpg on an "economy" run. As I am so pleased with the value-for-money aspect (compered to my previous 3-4 audis) I will be buying a replacement, but probably petrol as i do less mileage now and that nice Mr. Brown has penalised Diesel users.

Mine was a bit lumpy and prone to stalling for the first 2-3k but lossened up considerably after 5k and has been excellent on economy etc, since.

me too, thankfully just inside warranty period (3 years) - a sickener and making me think about whether I want to keep running it, or trade in for a new one with warranty -this is the beauty of warranties, but at a price. so much for "cheap" parts on a cheap-to-run car. If it wa soutside warrant yand they wouldn't budge I'd just stay without ESP and call it a "feature".

Yes, DPF coming on frequently - every 2-3 days. Came on yesterday and despite 25+ miles of maniacal "keep it at 3k" driving didn't go off. Now it's just gone into limp mode yet again. Its booked for a service next week, so I have to decide whether to drive to dealers again or limp for 7 days. Dealers it is, taking more time off work. Its got 3 months after this service and if it reappears then I'm swapping the car. Be warned potential buyers of VRSs with DPFs and EMS warning lights. Fed up, extremely, yes, so apologies in advance to forum readers, but maybe some readers / potential buyers are better fore-warned and fore-armed. Yes, ta, i'm just off to try and get a new one, under warranty, of course.

Yes, DPF coming on frequently - every 2-3 days. Came on yesterday and despite 25+ miles of maniacal "keep it at 3k" driving didn't go off. Now it's just gone into limp mode yet again. Its booked for a service next week, so I have to decide whether to drive to dealers again or limp for 7 days. Dealers it is, taking more time off work. Its got 3 months after this service and if it reappears then I'm swapping the car. Be warned potential buyers of VRSs with DPFs and EMS warning lights. Fed up, extremely, yes, so apologies in advance to forum readers, but maybe some readers / potential buyers are better fore-warned and fore-armed.

VRS Diesel 18 months old, everything ran fine, never a DPF in sight. Engine Warning light on < 1 month from new - known issue as found here on this great site, so got it turned off at 1st service ("oh you need a s/w update to fix that, we'll do it at the next service as we don't have it yet"). Yes, 1 week later it wa son again following 10k service. Stuck behind lorry on slow 40mph A road. No, I don't drive like a Granny, I'd have preferred an Impreza, but you can't always ensure > 40mph and 3k rpm when you're in a bloody queue. Next it went into limp mode. 2hr wait for RAC to come and fix after limping onto destination. Now DPF comes on regularly, especially after refilling, and I have to drive at 3k rpm (recommended by RAC skoda specialist as"peak DPF revs to clear"). Frankly, this is a joke. Its coming on once every 2-3 days and requires a considerable (10-15 mins) at 3k rpm to clear. I don't want to go into limp mode again nor did I buy a car for it to determine how I have to drive. I'll allow 5k after the 20k service and if it isn't fixed i'll swap for something more reliable. Will insist on ALL s/w upgrades (I hear possibly 2 due via this web site), then swap to an alternate vehicle that works according to my needs if not fixed.

VRS Diesel 18 months old, everything ran fine, never a DPF in sight. Engine Warning light on < 1 month from new - known issue as found here on this great site, so got it turned off at 1st service ("oh you need a s/w update to fix that, we'll do it at the next service as we don't have it yet"). Yes, 1 week later it wa son again following 10k service. Stuck behind lorry on slow 40mph A road. No, I don't drive like a Granny, I'd have preferred an Impreza, but you can't always ensure > 40mph and 3k rpm when you're in a bloody queue. Next it went into limp mode. 2hr wait for RAC to come and fix after limping onto destination. Now DPF comes on regularly, especially after refilling, and I have to drive at 3k rpm (recommended by RAC skoda specialist as"peak DPF revs to clear"). Frankly, this is a joke. Its coming on once every 2-3 days and requires a considerable (10-15 mins) at 3k rpm to clear. I don't want to go into limp mode again nor did I buy a car for it to determine how I have to drive. I'll allow 5k after the 20k service and if it isn't fixed i'll swap for something more reliable. Will insist on ALL s/w upgrades (I hear possibly 2 due via this web site), then swap to an alternate vehicle that works according to my needs if not fixed.

VRS Diesel 18 months old, everything ran fine, never a DPF in sight. Engine Warning light on < 1 month from new - known issue as found here on this great site, so got it turned off at 1st service ("oh you need a s/w update to fix that, we'll do it at the next service as we don't have it yet"). Yes, 1 week later it wa son again following 10k service. Stuck behind lorry on slow 40mph A road. No, I don't drive like a Granny, I'd have preferred an Impreza, but you can't always ensure > 40mph and 3k rpm when you're in a bloody queue. Next it went into limp mode. 2hr wait for RAC to come and fix after limping onto destination. Now DPF comes on regularly, especially after refilling, and I have to drive at 3k rpm (recommended by RAC skoda specialist as"peak DPF revs to clear"). Frankly, this is a joke. Its coming on once every 2-3 days and requires a considerable (10-15 mins) at 3k rpm to clear. I don't want to go into limp mode again nor did I buy a car for it to determine how I have to drive. I'll allow 5k after the 20k service and if it isn't fixed i'll swap for something more reliable. Will insist on ALL s/w upgrades (I hear possibly 2 due via this web site), then swap to an alternate vehicle that works according to my needs if not fixed.

VRS Diesel 18 months old, everything ran fine, never a DPF in sight. Engine Warning light on < 1 month from new - known issue as found here on this great site, so got it turned off at 1st service ("oh you need a s/w update to fix that, we'll do it at the next service as we don't have it yet"). Yes, 1 week later it wa son again following 10k service. Stuck behind lorry on slow 40mph A road. No, I don't drive like a Granny, I'd have preferred an Impreza, but you can't always ensure > 40mph and 3k rpm when you're in a bloody queue. Next it went into limp mode. 2hr wait for RAC to come and fix after limping onto destination. Now DPF comes on regularly, especially after refilling, and I have to drive at 3k rpm (recommended by RAC skoda specialist as"peak DPF revs to clear"). Frankly, this is a joke. Its coming on once every 2-3 days and requires a considerable (10-15 mins) at 3k rpm to clear. I don't want to go into limp mode again nor did I buy a car for it to determine how I have to drive. I'll allow 5k after the 20k service and if it isn't fixed i'll swap for something more reliable. Will insist on ALL s/w upgrades (I hear possibly 2 due via this web site), then swap to an alternate vehicle that works according to my needs if not fixed.

Am also suffering exactly the same - and now in low power limp home mode. Am waiting for Skoda roadside assistance to come help as local (to where I am now:thumbdwn:) dealers seemed (Taunton) less than happy to get involved :( Already been waiting 2 hours+ - not happy if at road side with wife n kids. Will post on finding any updates to this seemingly common story. Strange that had just bought for first time some higher grade fuel .... connection, me thinks???? Thought the DPF light had comeon twice before and then cleared. I'd been stuck behind lorry on A roda max 40mph for at least an hour, thus possibly no way of clearing DPF out? Low power mode can be dangerous - max 45mph up hill on dual carriageway - not impressed.

Hi - after reading on Xenon problems, just picked up my Octy rs 2.0 TDI from Bamptons in Gloucester. On asking they admitted they had not looked at the Xenons - it certainly hasn't got a row on the PDI form (generic, not even specific to Octy!). They seem a tad high - frequent flashing from oncoming traffic. On the absolute level they seem fine - no wobbling experienced at all. Seem perfect - not intruding above parcel shelf of car in front, but any slight incline or bump and they are obviously not appreciated by oncomers - anyone else experiencing this? Suppose I can wait to 1st service - 10k. Otherwise they are just awesome lights.

Hi all, As a newbie I wanted to say thanks for the voluminous information and experiences recorded here. I found this site and the web in general very useful in researching cars and real customer expeiences. I wonder if Skoda view your customer experiences and learn from them or respond to them? I wonder if they or you might be interested in my decision process as a "classic" prime customer? I am 45, have a family with 2 growing kids, but I like to enjoy my driving experience as much as possible while remaining practical. Let's face it, 2 kids will trash a car in 3 years anyhow. After owning several Golfs and Audis I have just paid the deposit on a VRs diesel in race blue, with dual climate control, Xenons and rear parking sensors. I got a good deal in my mind 17600 (2k+ below RRP) from Bamfords in Gloucester, after offering my business to my local dealer they didn't want to match the (eBay) price... bizarre. Why? I still own a Golf, which has been a disappointing experience, having had 2 replacement coil packs and still runs like a dog. VW parts and servicing is outrageous, just like Audi, so I was drawn also to the 3 years / 60k free servicing to enable me to control monthly costs. I first saw the VRs when taking the Golf back for yet more problems to be fixed (emissions failure on MOT). I tried a petrol model and was very pleasantly surprised. I then tested both petrol and diesel back to back and then also tested a new A4, having also owned 2 previously. The build quality and internals (e.g. seat adjustment) are obviously superior in the Audi, but nowhere near enough to offset the additional cost (7-8k in this instance). I am constantly amused by car salemen in general - lack of sales skills, failure to follow up on even simple promises (like phone calls), problems even in the demo cars (engine warning light in vrs diesel, failed rear window seal in vrs petrol demo), but I tried to ignore these issues and get an overall feel. I shan't embarrass the dealer by naming them, but its bloody funny. I work in a sales environment too. They really are just order takers. Audi were better, but smarmy, still haven't bothered to phone me and were't even keen on letting me have test drive on a 25k vehicle because it was within 45 mins of his clocking off time! It it me? I won't buy another Audi in a hurry precisely because of dealer attitude and their customer service mentality. To me, the Petrol is obviously marginally faster from a standstill (according to the figures, but perception is a funny thing), but the diesel is really pokey (if a little peakey - small power "band") ifdriven well, and probably as quick if not better in that all important 30-70 range. Plus, the fuel, tax, insurance and psychology of filing up less frequently (and residuals) just clinched it for the diesel for me. So I enjoyed all the petrol v diesel banter, but its personal - try both. It's hard to decide! I've had it confirmed by celtic tuning that an ECU remap can take it to 210+ BHP easily if I need to later too. I'd prefer no external visible signs of anything else, for obvious reasons. Anyhow, most of the time we've got the whole family on board. So, having placed my deposit I'm just wondering about a few issues I can ask the dealer about after the thing is PDI'd but before I pay: - has anyone else (I've seen this elsewhere I'm sure) experienced the diesel engine warning light on veyr early [300 miles or less] - I think I read this was a known problem - I've noted the occasional lack of Xenon proper baseline set up at PDI - Does anyone know if a local dealer will honour the free servicing given you bought the vehicle elsewhere? 90+ miles to where I bought it... - Are there any other things I should check or ask about just to wind the saleman up? e.g. the Xenon washers only working every 5th use of windscreen washers...! Thanks, that was a beaute! Thanks once again for all your contributions - especially the main tips and hints page. My wife now thinks I've become a Skoda bore when I mentioned the really sad listing of all the internal climate control codes... Oh dear, she may be right. I'll contribute any experiences - e.g. MPG from diesel as I experience it. Cheers.