OccyVRS

Yes, although mine blocks up even though I stick the same stuff in! I can sometimes improve it by clearing it with a pin, but not always. The worst part of getting a new one is having to set it up to stop spraying the road!

@roadarman sorry for the delayed response. I meant to reply last night but having spent all day paint correcting a GLC63S, I was shattered. Firstly, don’t bother with the abbreviation LSD - main dealer service advisors think that’s something you take. You won’t find any reference to a differential or VAQ in any service or build items. Under the gearbox info it should say “front axle lock”, but any service stuff will reference “final drive oil”. As above, I wouldn’t trust Škoda completely. My build sheet says analog gauge cluster and body coloured spoiler, yet I have a digi dash and black spoiler. As above (and QST are rather reputable) the Mk3/3.5 VAQ interval is 30k/3 years, and the Mk4 being 20k/2 years. I get mine done every year, but that’s just me. As above, again, the 230 was the top PFL model as the 245 didn’t exist. I almost want to say the 230 came with one and the 220 didn’t? I can’t remember. All of that being said, I’ve just re-read the chain and realised that you haven’t actually said whether your car is PFL or FL - being eight years old, that’s a 2018, which is a facelift! I think the confusion came from the fact you were on about a vRS230 - the PFL 230 and FL 245 are “models” like this, whereas the PFL 220 and FL 230 are just the standard variants. They did a PFL 220 and “230”, and then an FL 230, “245”, special “245” 245 launch edition and then the 245 challenge. It can be a bit confusing. If it is an FL Octavia vRS 230 (with split headlights) then you do not have any sort of limited slip differential. You’ll have XDS, which is sometimes erroneously described as an eLSD, but it’s not (literally every VW car has it). The VAQ diff is an electronically controlled Haldex-derived mechanical limited slip differential (it uses a clutch pack). The standard 230ps FL vRS did not get the VAQ, the DQ381 box (only the DQ250) and also has solid rear brakes rather than the vented 310mm. It’s also got white stitching on the interior and a couple of other things IIRC. The 230 vs 245 comparison is easier understood on a Google search if you peel off the Škoda badges and see the VW badges underneath - GTI (230) vs GTI PP (245). It gets a bit more interesting when you see how the vRS never came in a Clubsport variant like the Golf, while the Cupra never came in a lower power variant, and the more expensive Golf never had the Cupra’s ABT treatment. The vRS did become a TCR with the ABT package, but this wasn’t from the factory. Anyway - hope that helps!

Sorry - I was exhausted when I posted that. I meant factors like geometry are unlikely to be the cause, since the car is so new. Similarly, I also meant that in the particular car, accelerating like OP did, it wasn’t torque steer. To be honest, I think torque steer is far more of a factor in 150-200bhp FWD cars, as these are all open diff platforms - most stuff above 230bhp has an LSD of some sort. It’s not anything with the braking system, is it? Maybe something with XDS? It’s a bit weird the demo car did it too, though.

Uhmmm... I can't remember how it goes. The PFL vRS didn't come with an LSD but you could get it, and the FL vRS 245 came with it, while the FL 230 did not. @Evolution13 I think that's correct. The only differential your car will have is the VAQ LSD. Unless it is an AWD model (it isn't), that's it. The only other similar thing is the XDS system, but that's irrelevant. If you have a differential of any sort, you have a Haldex-derived VAQ. It's the exact same as the AWD system, but splits the power left and right rather than front and rear. It is a seperate oil to the DSG and needs doing every 30k (Mk4 ono is 20k - I do mine every year, anyway). There is a pump gauze/screen that needs cleaning.

It's a standard pasrt across the VW range. IIRC I get mine from www.skoda-parts.com for a few pounds, genuine. Mine seem to block up every few months. Useless.

Our 2011 A3 had extremely heavy steering, whereas my 2016 Leon was very light. It's nothing like the new stuff, though. Don't complain!

Your bio says you have a 2024 Superb. It's nothing like a 280, is it? Someone on here is keen to get his Gen6 Haldex fiddled with... @travs

That isn't torque steer. Torque steer is when I launched my 350bhp vRS and it scrabbles around from left to right as the LSD works out what to do with the power. You don't get torque steer in a 1.5 Karoq accelerating like @Karykoff did. Not in my opinion or experience anyway. Torque steer is due to drivetrain physics - different driveshaft lengths, setups, geometry, etc. I doubt any of those are an issue in a 2025 car. Out of curiosity, have you had an alignment/geometry check done?

Completely, but that Golf DID open a whole new world up for me. I used to reverse down the side of the house to park in the garden turned driveway. It was a student house. The driveway in question was about 3 inches wider than the car, which was great fun at night. I used to put all my fogs on, and hazards. Not the best experience at 1am when the council had turned the street lighting off to save money, but at least it taught me to park properly!

It’s not important when buying, but just something to make a note of for sorting in the near future. As with any newer car, the main point of failure, beyond consumables, are all the plastics in the engine bay (water pump being a good one). You should be able to get an idea of how well the car has been cared for just by the condition of stuff the dealer wouldn’t touch (brake discs, engine bay cleanliness, etc)

It'll be just as reliable (more so, IIRC) but make sure the Haldex and DSG have been serviced at the right times. Otherwise, walk away.

The only decent reversing light I've had was in a 2021 Golf. The Octavia isn't bad - it's better than my Leon, but a candle was better than that car tbh.

Agreed. If you don't know what you're looking at, I would avoid. If you do, then there is no reason not to proceed with some caution. I've bought some bits on there that I wasn't able to source elsewhere, and I've sold many things on there (genuine calipers, etc). Drop www.skoda-parts.com an email. They are extremely helpful, prompt and quick.

I know the part - if it doesn't say on it, I'm not sure. Sometimes there aren't part numbers on things because they aren't available seperately.

As above, order directly from the OBD11 website when there is a sale on, or Amazon when there isn't. Be careful with the one click apps - make sure you know what they are adapting before you do it. I actually don't mind the Soundaktor, although I had mine replaced by Skoda when I bought the car. I can't comment on the Mk4. Reversing light can't really be sorted - I wouldn't mess around with the LED units.

Find a good VAG indie and stick with them. Even if you're within warranty, having a car serviced outside of the dealer group makes no difference. They'll deny your claim in the same way, after you've paid your inspection fee and been told there is no courtesy car available. I wouldn't trust a main dealer service department as far as I could throw them - and I have pretty extensive experience with Ford, SEAT and now Skoda. Even BMW have been rubbish - and don't get me started on BMW Motorrad. The only decent service department has been Porsche, but that's practically irrelevant (it was also limited experience with a recall too). My chosen VAG garage can do everything a main dealer can do, and more. Do you really think Skoda, VW, BMW or anyone else wants to sell you a service plan to help you out as the customer? What sort of business model is that? They want to keep you trapped into paying endless inspection fees, and £170 for an oil change and cabin filter. Most of the time they don't even do a good/honest/proper job - or at least the ones I've been to don't.

I wouldn't bother with the VW compressor - I picked one up at Halfords that works fine. Same with the tyre sealant. In response to your previous comment - I don't have a jack in the car! I think I do have a scissor jack floating around somehwere, but I just use a trolley jack when required. I have no spare wheel, so I don't see the point in carrying a jack. IIRC, some canned water takes its place.

Try the Mk4 forum - there's usually more traffic there.

If you're replacing the grille frame this can be done from the top of the bumper. If it's the actual grille, then you'll need to remove the bumper. I'm not sure how you'll fare getting it back on. Some of the clips need a bit of force.

The photo is pretty poor. I think it may be 3C0857145. Give your local parts department a ring, or drop an email to skoda-parts.com

The only place worth going to. https://www.skoda-parts.com/catalog/superb-3/spare-parts/accessories/foot-mats-770.html

OE, Bosch or NGK. The part number for OE should be 06Q905601A. These are VW stamped but made by NGK. I use genuine OE from www.skoda-parts.com They’re not much more expensive than OEM NGK here.

We have an 2022 Ibiza FR 1.0 as a runaround - really good little car. That said, we also have several other cars - if it was the only one, I’d probably look at a Golf sized car. The Ibiza is perfectly useable for rear passengers, but while I’m 6 1”, my parents are 5 4”. Similarly, while very good, the boot isn’t quite as good as the A3 it replaced. That being said, as a driver/front passenger, aside from the cheaper materials, it’s a really good little car. Sure, it’s not my vRS or the BMW, but it’s absolutely brilliant. It’s done one or two motorway runs when my car has been incapacitated, and I was pleasantly surprised. My only question would be around a loaded Scala with the 1.0 - the Ibiza does really well but I remember my first car, a 2013 1.0 110ps Focus, being a bit laborious to drive sometimes. If it has ACT/CoD, I’d look at the 1.5 Scala… my 1.4 ACT Leon FR was amazing on fuel.

I saw one of these near me. It’s not something I’d own, but like the new Peugeot and Citroen models - they look good…

You misspelled E46 M3. The B7 can be expensive to run… a B5 is maybe more sensible, unless you can magic up a B6!