London Les

I made the change and never looked back - the ride in the VRS is remarkably supple and the stability at motorway speeds is excellent plus excellent brakes makes a big difference. Just don't get caught on snow without winter or all season tyres - very little traction on most sports summer tyres.

17" BBS - The balancing weights only just clear the calipers - in fact it shaved some paint off the weights.

I have a standard (220) petrol VRS and got to drive a diesel version around Thruxton and was really under-whelmed. Perfectly OK in many respects, fast-ish, grunt, etc but I really missed the top end of the petrol, the extra pace, and noise over 4,000 rpm and the diesel felt a bit more prone to understeer too. If you fancy a more sporty experience, I don't think the petrol version will let you down, although I have been looking at a second-hand Audi A4 for the Quattro combined with 2.0 TSI with a bit more power.

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OK - I'll be the token stuck guy! I had to get back from the Cotswolds to London on Sunday - with my winter wheels tucked up in the shed 100 miles away. Initially, not too bad - petrol VRS on newish Goodyear F1 Asymmetrics. It was all about the choice of road however - I went for a route which was less trafficked but also less hilly - but that turned out to be a mistake. There had been enough traffic to compact the snow in the tracks and knock down the 200mm mountain in the middle, but no grit. Obvs OK downhill and on the level, but failed to climb about a 1in10. Fortunately, a kindly Defender driver rocked up and towed me to the nearest T junction. The busier road up to Chipping Norton was just about OK on the steepest sections but the town itself was a nightmare of stuck cars and tractors trying to help. Climbing out of Chipping Norton was dodgy but OK then 30 mph at best the rest of the way home. Quite an adventure but got there in the end - if there is any grip at all, the fake diff lock does help a bit I think.

If you are looking to improve on the SatNav then the Waze app on iphone or android is fantastic for live traffic updates and road speeds - I use it all the time, including when taxi drivers in London get stuck in traffic!

Might be worth checking the spare tyre well for loose tools etc.

Lovely car - if you want to find out more about the options on the car, you should be able to get these from the VIN number through a VIN decoder on line. Also the option codes are printed out on a sticker under the boot carpet, take a pic and plug them into http://vag-codes.info/#option-decoder Cheers and enjoy!

I've have just changed tyres from Continental Sport Contact (OEM 2 or 5, can't remember) to Goodyear F1 Asymmetric 3 and the improvement in noise is noticeable - very quiet on good asphalt and acceptable on the rough motorway sections. Partly because its an unworn tyre I'm sure, but they do have a much better noise rating (I think 67db versus 72). Worth a try before taking even more expensive action.

I've had a Scout, a regular Octavia and a VRS - the rough road pack in the U.K. Includes a sump guard, protection to the brake lines and plastic shields around the suspension lower arms at the rear. I think the spring rates on the Scout are higher I.e. Stiffer to offset the body roll that would otherwise occur because of the higher centre of gravity. I also thought the Scout suspension was harder than either of the other two variants I've driven.

I've been impressed with TPMS since it warned me about a puncture (large screw in the middle of the tread) ages before the loss of pressure was visible. Luckily I was due to change the wheels anyway that weekend.

I use my SOC indicator for camping - and take the car out when it gets to 40% using a coolbox and chargers for phones etc. Handy.

I've looked closely at a petrol Audi A4 with more or less that same engine and quattro, obviously the Golf and Seat. Thought about even stretching to an S4 but I think running costs could get interesting. Looked at the Jag XF estate too - but all would need to be second hand to compete and wife is quite sensitive to image - just don't think we are Jag or Merc people!

I upgraded my MkII Scout to Osram Nightbreakers and found them to be a good improvement. They only have a slight blue filter and the light output is impressive.

I like the ABS system - its cheap and works. Provided it is reset after wheel or pressure changes, I've found it to be reliable and picked up a slow puncture I had from a roofing tack - and I was able to drive to Kwikfit to sort it.

I got Continental Sport Contact 2 - not especially keen on them, although the grip in warm weather is pretty impressive, but noisy too.

In the spare wheel set, there should be a fat pair of plastic tweezers that clip onto the bolt covers and pull them off.

I went for 17" BBS Himalaya and was very pleased with the look/functionality, but the clearance to the callipers was tight for the balancing weights.

Love it - tiny detail but the black VRS badge infill matching the spoiler is pleasing to those of a certain disposition! Enjoy...

£100. (If you'll throw in a tank of fuel and a valet set).

Interesting to see how 'front assist' would have coped with this extreme scenario - high speed into stationary traffic - I expect it would have reduced the collision speed at least.

It's a good question - I work on the basis that high pressure water from 'normal' washers is less damaging than a sponge, because it removes all but the finest particles, and then you go for washing down with a mitt with little risk of scratching. The car handbook does cover this and from memory says avoid direct use on tyres and seals, and don't use the 'dirtblaster' rotary nozzle. Otherwise fine.

They're my winter ones so only 17". Wheel brand/name: BBS Himalaya SR Size: 7.5 x 17 ET: 45 Tyre: 225/45 17 Any other mods, e.g. springs, coilovers etc: None Weight: c.10.17kg

FYI the pinch point is between the inside of the wheels and the outside of the brake calipers which is curved to follow the profile of the wheel but leaves less than 5mm clearance so the big (plastic?) balancing weights can catch if a lot of weight is needed. I found one wheel just snagged taking a thin layer of paint off, but the other was fine.

Here's my effort - 17" BBS Himalaya SR. They only just clear the front brake rotors (340mm ones) - in fact the biggest balancing weights had a layer of paint skimmed off - so very tight. http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/336523-aftermarket-wheels-thread/?p=4048112