GriffoVRS

Looking at a facelift Octavia (non-VRS) the other day, this had a 'textured' aluminium trim which is different to the 'flat' aluminium trim in my pre-facelift VRS.

Probably applicable to Skoda as well, my mate at a Ford dealership has said that the Scrappage scheme has considerably increased sales.

IMHO as long as it is only an option! Has anyone seen any interior shots yet?

Happened to me the other day, loud 'crack', radio went off, came back on - all ok. Definitely something to do with the radio. Has anyone had this re-occur? Anyone got it fixed at a dealer? :confused:

I find the VRS seats comfortable, but it took a bit of fiddling around to get them right. Even though I am tall, I can't have the seats on the lowest setting as they dig into the back of my thighs. The problem is that the seat base tilts and lifts at the same time.

Same again. Jumped back into my Octy after having a Focus hire car for the day, and the level of intial 'assistance' takes you by surprise. I have got to say that on occasion the assistance can make the car more difficult to drive smoothly, even even you have been driving the car for months. This would appear to be a VAG trait (Transporters excepted). I was also taken out in a Passat a few weeks ago by someone who had never driven the car before, and he nearly put us through the windscreen the first time that he used the brakes!

A friend of mine told me about the time when he hit something in the road, but carried on for a number of miles because nothing seemed amiss. When he stopped, someone pointed out that he had a bird wedged underneath his car. I asked how the person knew that there was a bird underneath, and he said it was because of the 6ft long peacock feathers sticking out from the side of the car! Apparently, the head of the peacock was 'wrapped' around the exhaust.

Made a similar move from a Honda Accord Type S to a PD vRS for similar reasons, i.e. the 'Mondeo' class of cars is getting too big. I have no regrets at making the change, and have been pleased with the experience and the car.

A good read! I visited the Jaguar/Land Rover plant at Halewood (a bit nearer to home) and this was a similar experience. What was interesting was that they mixed X-Types and Freelanders on the same assembly line with all of the bits coming together at the right time.

Its been discussed before, but if you end up having differing makes of tyre on the front and back of your car, having the 'best' tyres on the back makes the car less likely to oversteer and spin (speaking from experience). Understeer is easier to cope with, and less likely to catch you out. The problem is with differing makes of tyres the ones with the most tread are not necessarily the best.

I think that you will get a lot of positives from a Skoda site, but they are not wrong Excellent car, practical but with a good turn of speed/economy. Very pleased with my PD vRS. Note that the boot on the estate is not any bigger than the hatch unless you load it above the seat-line.

Went and had a look at it. Didn't particularly like the wheels, and they look small with that inside 'rim'. Wasn't too keen on the colour either I'm afraid. Liked the seats though. They seemed more padded than the standard seats. I thought that the interior had changed a lot more, only really the instruments which are now lit in white rather than green on the 'old' vRS, and the centre dash area. Looked at a 'standard' new Octavia with the new lights and bumpers in the showroom. It will be interesting to see what they do to the vRS when they eventually facelift the outside.

I always used to put the best tyres on the front, until I spun an ESP equipped car with no warning. I had different tyre brands front and back, but all had good tread. Basically, the Yokohamas on the back were rubbish in the wet, whilst the Bridgestones on the front were excellent. I swapped them around and put up with the understeer, until I wore them out (as quickly as possible ).

The dealer that I use told me it was only £5 extra to use the long life oil over the standard. If that is the case it is a bit of a no brainer. This was apparently the only difference between the variable and fixed service, so I stuck to the variable service.

At least you are ok. The car can be replaced, and you might be lucky with some of the deals that are out there.

I also experienced the same 'issues' with wheelspin when I first got my TD vRS, and I was coming from a petrol car with around 20 hp more. The problem (benefit) is the amount of torque from the TD at relatively low engine speed. The PD engine is also not the most progressive as to when it comes on boost. The wheelspin is still there now, but at least I have a better idea of the amount of throttle that is going to cause it. The conditions at the moment definitely do not help, and as the tyres wear it gets worse. The traction control also appears to be of limited benefit off the line, other than to flash a yellow warning light at you. That said would I change the car - no (ok maybe to one with the CR engine for the extra level of refinement)

Overall average for the 10,000 miles that I have had the car is 41/42mpg. Best figure was 52mpg for a 30 mile mixed run (driving the same run more 'normally' would give around 42mpg). I rarely get less than 35mpg on any normal use of the car (to put this is context, this is still more than I ever achieved with my last car, a Honda Accord Type S).

Had exactly the same thing, and just had it sorted. When in for its service, and under warranty, they replaced the rivets holding the passenger door speaker in. No more buzz!

Yes it's a PD issue, and only on certain chassis numbers. Mine is about 18 months old.

Now had its first variable service. In the end it cost £200 including a new air filter and a pollen filter. Also had the 26e6 engine management update and sensor. Simpsons also replaced the alloy wheel centre caps under warranty (they were starting to corrode) and adjusted my headlamps. They washed and hoovered the car, and I got a courtesy car for the day. Not the cheapest (compared to Ford and the like), but good service from Simpsons of Preston.

Just had my car updated at its first service (they also changed the sensor associated with the DPF even though they had already changed it once under warranty a few months ago). Driving up the road from the garage, it felt like they had replaced the turbo with a smaller one! However, over a bit of driving the power seems to have returned. It definitely feels a bit more progressive when it comes on boost, not quite as brutal. After that it seems to drive very similar. I will see how it feels over the next few weeks.

Just booked my PD vRS is for its first variable service, and have been quoted £185 (at Simpsons, Preston). I asked what they change, and it is basically just the oil and filter. I am also going to get the polllen filter and the air filter changed. Apparently the service interval for the air filter is now 60,000 miles which sounds a bit excessive to me. They also said they my car was applicable for the 26E6 engine management software update, and they will also replace the DPF sensor as well. I had to have the sensor replaced already under warranty, but they said that they would change it again as it was part of the recall!

Just checked and they look new, but are colour-matched. Cheers

If you have the wipers on, when you stop they change to intermittent. The speed of the intermittent wipe also changes when you (think it halves in speed). Haven't noticed that it changes when driving at speed, only when coming to a stop.

Just got my car back. It took two weeks, but as I was away with work for the full duration it didn't really matter. New bumper and new wing, almost £500 in the end. Looks a decent enough job (although I had to take it back to touch up a couple of chips on the sill and align the headlights). I was in Australia and had a Holden Commodore 3.6, but was I glad to back into my Octy!