Okay, I've only done 700 miles but........wow. Main difference to last model isn't just performance, which I've not even got into yet, but the sheer higher build quality.

I have no idea why, unless they tightened up between 2005 and now, but this one is built like my old Mk 1 vRS. Not a single squeak, rattle, door seal clonk, or radio blurp.

Road noise is reasonably okay, even on Contis and without underbonnet mat.

Yet when you look around it, it is exactly the same (except for engine of course.)

So it has the best points of both my old vRS and my more recent 2.0FSi. Has the Mk 2 light, well-balanced handling, smooth gear change etc, but the solid build, and zip of the vRS. And it seems to have got rid of the poorer points of both models.

Just did a refill with Tesco 99, having been running it on 95 till now. See what a couple of tanks and another few hundred miles produces.

from Mr. Happy Bunny

Managed almost 2000 miles in mine now, and have to agree it seems much better built than my old Octy. Of course as I used to have a 1.9PD the biggest difference is performance and whilst the fuel consumption is lower I have averaged just under 35MPG (MFD Figures) which is not as bad I thought.

I too am very happy with my choice

Simon

First drive yesterday fully loaded - 5 passengers incl. me, plus some stuff in the boot.

Not a very long run but included some long hill climbs. Amazingly different to the 2.0FSi.

Where I would have had to change down to 3rd, or even 2nd and wait for power to build up, in the 1.8 just left it in 4 or 5, foot down, and it zoomed up like I was on my own.

And still under 1K miles.