Hi Guys,

I've just signed up after spending the last 2 years as a happy/skint impreza driver.

I'm now fed up and looking towards getting an Octavia, but I have a question regarding the two models listed above.

From what I can see they can both be chipped up to 250hp and beyond but whats the real world performance difference if they are both chipped up.

Coming from an impreza the 4wd appeals to me a lot and i'm intending on going to 300hp with the octavia eventually so I dont want to start out with a car which has serious traction issues as the power goes up.

But i'm told the overall setup of the VRS is much better than the 4x4 as its a more sporty model, so my question is, is it easier to tweak the suspension on a 4x4 turbo or get the vrs and put up with no traction once its chipped?

Hi UHF.

There are a few threads on this topic area. I myself had the Octy 4x4 but now have the RS. Traction is of course better with the haldex not equi 50/50 4wd. Search on Haldex.

I have more power with far less trans losses in the RS...pulling away is an art form, where as the 4x4 just plant it and go; I found this boring after a while to be honest.

The Rs as modified below (see sig) is better for me in almost every resepct except traction over my old 4x4 on coilovers and remapped/padded.

Without a doubt 300 horses will be mad...however when a lighlty tuned i.e. mine will quite happily leave a WRX or stay fairly close to a carerra, I ask myself if I really need any more...

Just been reading on scoobynet about this very subject......I deduce :holmes:

Just my two pence worth:

I don't think it's a case of putting up with the lack of traction once chipped on the vRS, far from it as the car can be made to break traction in standard trim. It's more a case of what you want to do with the car, as has been said on scoobynet, the VAG 4x4 system uses Haldex which is part time system moving power to the back as the fronts slip.

I have not driven a chipped 4x4, but the 2wd Octavias I have had a go in have been very smooth and controllable, feathering the power in on the edge of traction is fairly easy. Obviously the lower, tauter RS will feel the more sportier vehicle, but the independant suspension on a 4x4 makes a nicer ride around the twisty country roads, and not twitchy like some report due to the torsion beam of the 2wd.

For ease, I think the 4x4 with tweaked suspension is the one to go for, although (please refer to earlier threads) has a different turbo system setup and 'perhaps' does not kick out as much!!!

I think I will leave it to the guys with the mapped 4x4s who may have driven the vRS to give you the definitive answer, though!!

I see you followed the link..

The best suggestion is to have a drive \ run out in both - whereabouts in the UK are you? I'm sure we could organise a play in both.

Buy the RS and learn to drive it properly.

Only old women need an extra set of driven wheels...

:sofahide:

Buy the RS and learn to drive it properly.

Only old women need an extra set of driven wheels...

wanna cheap one? proven scooby killer...?

Paul, if i had the spare cash i'd be knocking on your front door mate

Tavia 4x4 I'm in North London if that helps?

And lets not go down the VRS being quicker than my old car line, i can run 1/4 mile in 13.3secs and have over 300hp! I'm conceding this will be a down step in performance in the interests of saving money, unless you can prove me otherwise of course

Dealers are pricing the VRS at 10-12k at the moment second hand, although I'm sure one can be had for less than 10k if I try hard enough, issue will be trade in value on my scoob, i dont have time to sell it privately and ass around with owning both and worrying about insurance on both and so on as thats plain hassle.

Tavia 4x4 I'm in North London if that helps?

And lets not go down the VRS being quicker than my old car line.

You've never seen Paul's car.

has the boxster been replaced with a rover?

has the boxster been replaced with a rover?

:rofl:

Rob.

And lets not go down the VRS being quicker than my old car line

funny... many scoob owners have thought that over the past year.. and been very very upset when leaving a track day.....

ut oh, was not saying it would be quicker...although there are transmission losses to factor in, turbo lag...in the real road driving world. Track and strips are a world away unless thats what you like.

For me the need for power is overtakng and escaping situations aswell as stoping, hence the 2500's all round.

When I had the 4x4 it was quite happy on runs out with Evo's, Scoobys and others...nobody was achiving top whack speed owing to having a brain, hence in the real world it's more than capable of holding it's own.

Now stick them on a track...add a driver variable okay...Should an Octy be able to close down a Porsche GT? It does...I know I can stay on the tail of a Carerra till I bottol it, okay I have not alot left, but the young lass in the saab had even less. I know I can keep tabs with RS Escort Turbos and mini cooper S works on cut slicks round Anglesey...

The tranny losses on the haldx 4x4 is up to 20%, this is sourced from an Audi engineer of many years. It's dinky hand effect is very good.

I think all we are saying is a 240/50 ballpark FWD or lower loss transmission will feel different. The smaller turbo is also spooling and earning it's keep by 2.5k rpm.

I drove a wrx, although not with a ppp. It's different, feels better...and you have hit the nail on the head...it cost alot more. The dealer was a little distant after I said I felt my Octy was quicker overall...wish I had a camera actually...I digress.

The vRS was IIRC vote to be the best out of the box VAG chassis ignoring however the S lines. A few k on coilovers and a good turbo kit will have you smiling...the debate rests on the traction and if you can cope without it..the grip I think is higher in the rs than the 4x4 with coilovers. That said mine is the WRC spec and it goes round corners better than the stock vRS...I'd love coil overs but I'm buying somthing else instead

The other thing I feared and passengers did in the 4x4 is seating, I always felt like I was about to fall out...but I sold the 4x4 so my views are perhaps tainted. I know some don;t find the seats an issue, I did...again the scooby feel is what I loved, but the octy package won.

For ease, I think the 4x4 with tweaked suspension is the one to go for, although (please refer to earlier threads) has a different turbo system setup and 'perhaps' does not kick out as much!!!

A different turbo system setup to what? :confused:

Denis the 4x4 turbo is def diffent from the vRS going off ians car vs my RS?

Denis the 4x4 turbo is def diffent from the vRS going off ians car vs my RS?

I recall the discussions we had about that at the time, Paul. The 4X4 (ARX) shared the same turbo as the AGU engine prior to May 2001. However since that date the 4X4 uses the same turbo as the AUM and AUQ (vRS) engines. I would guess that this change coincided with the introduction of drive by wire (ie accelerator pedal electronic module). My 2002 4X4 was actually made July 2001 - 3 months after that change in turbo.

Must admit i'm of the same opinion as Denis.

I thought the general consensus was that the difference between the 4x4 and vRS DBW engines was in the map only ??

I'm happy to be corrected though

ians is DBW...

and is defo

a. not same turbo

b. faster with my turbo

c. not a k03 sport.

d. neither was mine as there is no such thing...... (here we go again.....)

ironically the oil pipes / intercooler pipe from ians cars orig k03 fit my k04 but my orig turbo pipes do not...

how bizzare

Did I run a check on Ian's (or rather his car's) chassis number, Paul, to see when his car was made?

what have i started?

Is there any place I can test a 250hp VRS? I have no doubt if I get in stanard vrs i really wont know how quick they CAN be, i left one for dead when I had only 240hp! but granted, like the uk scoob, out the box they are nothing special.

I'm beginning to miss my car already and i've only just stepped back out of it again!

Looks like its the VRS i'd go for as it has nicer everything else, why on earth isnt there a 4x4 vrs!

BTW, whats the vrs rally? from what i saw it just has stickers on it and costs a lot more.

what have i started?

BTW' date=' whats the vrs rally? from what i saw it just has stickers on it and costs a lot more.[/quote']Stand by for Take 2. :shocked:

BTW' date=' whats the vrs rally? from what i saw it just has stickers on it and costs a lot more.[/quote']

The Octavia vRS WRC.

Heated seats.

Xenon lights.

Alarm.

Nice stickers.

Headlamp washers.

ESP.

Maybe some other bits...

And a higher price tag

Thing with moving from scoob to a vrs is the figures, and i'm supposed to be doing this to save money after being quoted

I'm a value for money kinda guy (I bought a Skoda after all!) and not having to pay any extra for a four wheel drive system and independent rear suspension got my vote. More importantly though, RS's don't come with a central arm rest do they?

More importantly though, RS's don't come with a central arm rest do they?

Nor sunroof, side airbags, ESP, headlight washers, twin rear reading lights etc. But they do have a nice leather gear knob for their owners to fondle and their own dedicated brochure from which I now quote:

You are reading this so you are already going through the 'Skoda barrier'. You have been impressed by the glowing press reports and are now considering driving the Octavia - so why not bring a bit of fun to this rush of common sense and try the Octavia vRS. :gay: