Hello, don't often come into this section of the site.

Went into my local dealership this morning, in the showroom they had the

Octavia vRS ltd edition diesel estate. Must say I thought it was stunning, the

leather seats were really top notch, I know the changes are cosmetic but it

really emphasised what a quality car it is, anyway my theory relating to

the thread title is as follows;

Prior to the launch of the Fabia vRS special edition (2007) they made one on a

54 plate (January 2005) for promotional purposes, with all the cosmetic changes

to be featured in the release model, race blue paintwork + leather seats + red callipers +

tinted rear windows. It did not however have CD multichanger or cruise-control,

not necessary for promotional purposes I guess?

Shortly after realease of the Fabia vRS Special Edition ( in 2007 )

the promotional model, having resided at Milton Keynes, Skoda UK for two years,

was sold at closed auction to the retailer.

Purely through good fortune I was in contact with my local dealer trying to get a

Fabia vRS just prior to this closed auction, he alerted me to its availability and I

told him I'd definitely buy it, subject to its condition, if they got it.

They did, and I bought it:)

Anyway, my theory is, all things being equall, as we now see the release of the

Octavia vRS ltd edition, there is a prototype out there about to be sold at closed

auction to a dealer. I am guessing from press releases it will be a hatchback,

but could be either fuel type?

Money-wise I paid a little over 9k for my Fabia, representing about 30% off

new special edition price for a two year old one with only 8 thousand miles

on the clock. Using that as a yard-stick if there is a two year old promo'

of the Octavia special edition with very low mileage it could retail for around

£13,000?? I'm guessing here so forgive me, but if that was the case it would

be a very good buy in my opinion.

Any thoughts/insider knowledge?

If any of you guys are seriously intrigued, assuming said car exists,

I have an E-mail address for someone at Skoda UK customer services who originally

investigated my cars details and confirmed it 's history, just PM me.

Sorry for the massive thread starter, just thought it was an interesting possibility.

Cheers..

PS this is my one.

Edited 28 February, 200917 yr by leeland

Prototypes are either stored or destroyed - they cannot be sold on

Prototypes are either stored or destroyed - they cannot be sold on

Clearly as the OP has just such a car that may not be entirely true.

Prototypes are either stored or destroyed - they cannot be sold on

http://briskoda.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=22231&d=1213643270

Explain above information from Skoda UK please.

i think rather than prototype, i think we're talking about the car used for the promotional material, so not strictly a production car but by the same token not really a prototype so I can't see why the car in the photos couldnt be sold on

Clearly as the OP has just such a car that may not be entirely true.

Thanks, nice to see a little faith around here:)

No, I am correct... a prototype cannot be sold on.

However - your car appears to be a mock-up car to get to see if the SE would work, which is based on a Fabia vRS so can be sold on

Prototype, would imply the cars you see covered up in car magazines, such as:

I would guess with second hand prices as they are then a 2 year old Octy even with special leather is vastly overpriced at 13K even a 1 yr old would be. DtD will sell you a brand new #old model# one for under £14k.

Prototypes and development vehicles (including all their parts) have to be destroyed. By their nature the parts on them have not been homologated for use and do not meet type approval. It would be financial suicide to sell them on with non production standard parts on them - think of all the legal cases.

What leeland has is the original VRS that Skoda UK (who do not design, develop or manufacture Skoda cars) used as a design study for the VRS SE. The SE is not a SE when it left the factory, just a Race Blue VRS, it becomes a SE once Skoda UK have changed a few cosmetic bits. I expect that they used the word 'prototype' as it is the closest an importer gets to developing the product that they sell.

Which dealer did you see the LE octy in please?

Si

In the attachment above it states that the car was resprayed from Black Magic.

What colour does it state on the log-book, out of interest? And has the colour change been listed as a modification for your insurance?

Prototypes and development vehicles (including all their parts) have to be destroyed. By their nature the parts on them have not been homologated for use and do not meet type approval. It would be financial suicide to sell them on with non production standard parts on them - think of all the legal cases.

What leeland has is the original VRS that Skoda UK (who do not design, develop or manufacture Skoda cars) used as a design study for the VRS SE. The SE is not a SE when it left the factory, just a Race Blue VRS, it becomes a SE once Skoda UK have changed a few cosmetic bits. I expect that they used the word 'prototype' as it is the closest an importer gets to developing the product that they sell.

That's a concise summary of it, well put. To put the 'prototype' argument to bed,

I should have, in fairness, used the term 'promotional' (as should Skoda in their

e-mail to me). To determine the definition of 'prototype' was not really the reason

for the original post, however I will now refer to such vehicles as 'Promos':)

Which dealer did you see the LE octy in please?

Si

It is in the showroom at Skoda in Penryn, Falmouth, Cornwall, and

it's bloody lovely:)

In the attachment above it states that the car was resprayed from Black Magic.

What colour does it state on the log-book, out of interest? And has the colour change been listed as a modification for your insurance?

Log-book states Blue. Contrary to the attatchment it was never Black Magic, it

was destined to be, but was never sprayed on production. It must have been plucked

from production line prior to spraying and then sprayed blue elsewhere.

This is evidenced by the complete lack of paint in the engine bay or under the

boot mat, I posted pictures in a thread last year (search 'vrs window tint question'

think the links to the pictures have expired) and this was agreed by most to be

the likely theory.

Fair enough

I would imagine that it had a full body respray anyway, but that would have been a lot of work! Easy way to tell, get a paint depth reading done!