Hi guys,

I am looking to purchase an octavia soon and have a budget of around £2500. I would like a VRS but i understand at this price they will be near the bottom of the pile. I have also been looking at the 1.8T SLXi which i could get more for my money and get chipped ata later date.

I am just wondering if you could maybe give the pros and cons for both models to help me decide where best to put my cash.

Thanks

Dom

1.8T will be cheaper to insure as it doesn't have the "vRS" moniker

If it's not a very early model you can also remap it to the same power level as what the vRS remaps to. I think the SLXi might be an early model though as IIRC they replaced that trim level with the "Elegance" trim. The very early models have the 150bhp engine that remaps to about 170-180 but the later ones have the 150 that remaps to 210ish like the vRS.

The only drawback is you don't get the lower suspension, spoiler and bumper, alloys and white/black interior that you do on the vRS, so if you are intending to modify it at a later date to look and handle like a vRS you will have to budget for these things.

If you are going for performance and grip then a 1.8t will give you that. It is not a bad motor. Depends what you are coming from and what you aim to do.

4X4 it WILL remap to the same as the VRS (just over the right side of 200), already has rear ARB and doesnt suffer traction loss when booting it, is a lot cheaper to buy, insure

however:

the interior is drab(still to do)

the steering wheel is cak(still to do)

it really needs 17" (done) or 18" alloys (16's roll over way too much)

the brakes are dire (288mm vs 312mm on the VRS) (done this evening I now have a lovely colour matching exercise going on at the front. Nice shiny discs, Green Carriers, Red pads and dirty rusty calipers)

The 4x4 exterior styling makes for a good sleeper!