1. I was just wondering how many Fabia vRS drivers on here would really have wanted to buy the Octavia vRS but could not afford it?

2. How many Octavia vRS drivers on here would rather be driving a Golf GTi (or other more main line hot hatch) but could not afford it?

2. How many Octavia vRS drivers on here would rather be driving a Golf GTi (or other more main line hot hatch) but could not afford it?

The Golf GTI is no longer a hot hatch!!!!

Chris

1. I was just wondering how many Fabia vRS drivers on here would really have wanted to buy the Octavia vRS but could not afford it?

Got one of each mate.

I 'upgraded' from a Golf GTI to the Octavia.

Good questions william, I drive the octy and love the car so much I have now owned it for more than 3 years. I usually change cars every 18 months, so it cant be bad. That said I am now getting itchy feet and keep thinking about a change to something totally different.

Good questions william, I drive the octy and love the car so much I have now owned it for more than 3 years. I usually change cars every 18 months, so it cant be bad. That said I am now getting itchy feet and keep thinking about a change to something totally different.

What are thinking of changing your feet too?

Catterpillar tracks?

Im happy with the Fabia... i dont need a big car.. but want a big car... so the fabia is a big-small car.. if that makes any sense..

and i didnt like any of the competition

Funny you should say that - I went looking at second-hand A4 Avants but I've always liked the Octavia's looks. The attitude of the Audi dealer compared to the Skoda dealer was what made me stop looking!

Plus I couldn't afford the Audi I wanted

If I'd have had the money I'd have bought a 911!

Other than that there is nothing else I want at the moment.

Personally myself, the reason I have ended up owning 2 Octavias is the result of a chanin of events started in August 1997. AT that time I had had no car for about 3 years due to living and working in central London. However I had just been offered a new job in Oxford, so I decided it was once again time to buy a car. I bought the September 97 issue of What Car which happened to have a review of the Felicia (it had just won their budget car of the year award). They praised it soundly so I decided a new Skoda might be better than the second hand Ford etc that I had originally considered. Two and a Half years later I crashed the Felicia, and although it was repaired I was no longer happy with it, so tried changing car (was interested in the face lifted Ibiza) however the only dealer who would give me enough money for the Felicia to clear the remaining finance and form a deposit was my local Skoda dealer. I wanted to buy the newly released Fabia but he would do no deals on it at all, so I eneded up buying a new Felicia Estate. Four years later and the car was due its first MoT, which I forgot about untill I needed to re-tax it. Hit by the MoT scam in N.Ireland where you need to apply about 3 months in advance to get a test. So I needed to get another road legal car in a hurry. Once again no other makes dealers wanted to touch the Felicia so ended up trading for a 1999 1.6LX Octavia after the Vauxhall dealer we wanted to buy a Zafira from would only offer

M3 CSL or a 911 GT3 RS for me, but I'm too mean. And I guess I'm too sensible as well, neither would be good for 50k miles per year.

I've never regretted getting my car in any way. As a poor graduate I was pleased to be able to afford my first car at all. Not many graduates come out of uni able to get a brand new Fabia. Obviously I crashed it and now have another the same but in the 3 years + I've had one I've never felt like looking elsewhere - often due to not being able to afford it, but more because I didn't have the desire to. I suspect my current car will simply be ran by me until its worth not a lot, and the loan is paid off against it (Feb 2006 :() But I'll be happy while I'm doing just that, and with a grin on my face at most times!

1. I was just wondering how many Fabia vRS drivers on here would really have wanted to buy the Octavia vRS but could not afford it?

I must admit I would have liked an Octavia if I could justify having a car that large, but I couldnt.

Actually, I have been thinking about what car I'd really like to be driving now, and I have to say if I was deciding again, I might not be driving a Fabia vRS. It has taken me to own the car, and also hang around here to find out what it is I'm not so keen on about it, although criticisms are minor.

Basically, I love the look and interior of the car. The car looks mean, and its great to be seen in. It gets admiring looks from people, and peoples comments are usually always positive.

I love that turbo kick that you get. I like the way the car feels like a rocket at legal speeds. I like the way it has excellent in gear performance and it loses other cars with ease on the motorway, if they are not expecting you to pull away.

However, I miss having a revvy petrol engine, even though I admit ultimately the diesel engine is more usable in most scenarios. I dont like the way the car feels heavy, and feels too softly sprung. Easily fixed though, I guess.

It is fun to drive though, and it puts a smile on my face on everything except long straights, even despite the soft suspension.

I have read reports that suggest the Fabia handles and rides very poorly. I think this is somewhat unfair - it is softly sprung, but its ride is smooth and comfortable and the handling overall is not that bad as long as you know how to drive it, and accept that it is nose heavy, and in such situations, the brakes appear to be more the achilles heal than anything else.

The Fabia vRS needs more fade resistant brakes, firmer springs and more power. With all of that, it could be an absolute monster. However, doing this invalidates the warranty, and for someone who is a mechanical numptie like me, this is not really an appealing option.

Compared to other similar priced cars, the Fabia is great. It has lots of kit, does not handle as bad as the magazines say it does, and despite not having more power than similar powered cars like the C2 VTS, I can imagine the vRS feels and is a lot more muscular than those cars.

2. How many Octavia vRS drivers on here would rather be driving a Golf GTi (or other more main line hot hatch) but could not afford it?

I can't think of another hot hatch I'd rather be driving, maybe bar the Golf R32. I'd much rather be driving a high performance saloon or estate, but I certainly wouldn't want a Leon Cupra-R, 147 GTA or Civic Type-R.

There is only one other car at the moment that I would trade mine in for, the NEW Octy estate, but in 4x4 DIESEL format

I have been (and still am) looking at some of the other makes around, particularly the 4x4 market Kia Sorento Hyundai Terracan etc, but, the just dont have that extra something I get from the Octy, and the fuel economy when towing is abysmal in comparason (I got 46MPG average over a 1795 mile trip to North Scotland, including towing up there, runnong round solo, and towing back home)

I purchased my Octy vRS 6 weeks ago and I suppose I was in the lucky position of being able to afford and run a car probably nearly twice the price, as I own my own business. I agonised over RX8s, Z4's and was very nearly tempted to stretch for a 240Z. Then I took a holiday in Prague - world of Skodas, obviously - on my way home there were a few Skodas on display in the airport and they really caught my eye. When I came back, I walked into the Skoda dealership next to my work and saw this gleaming, black vision of a vRS - wow - then I looked at the stand next to the car with the price on it - super wow - classic double take. That was it. Call off the dogs 'cos the search was officially over. There was just simply NO WAY that I could possibly justify spending an extra 10K and get absolutley nothing more than what was in front of me. Now, strangers talk to me. The bloke at the car wash walks round the car, leans in to take my fiver and says "honestly what's the difference between this and a Beemer, eh?". Kids hanging round the petrol station - "Proper bad boys car, that mate!". People seem to like Skoda drivers.

Re-reading my post it reads like I only bought the Octy because I couldn't afford an Audi - that isn't the case! It's definitely the best car I've had, for build quality, equipment, comfort, speed and practicality. I love it!

(I've owned three Audis, including my Coupe quattro project)

Still tempted to chip it and add some strut braces to stiffen it up a bit though

When I bought my first Skoda it was the only worth while new car I could afford but that is not the case now. I could buy anything bar the higher BMWs/Mercs etc and super cars. However I object to not getting a fair price for my old car and am to lazy to sell my out going car privately, so am kind of stuck with Skoda as they seem to be very difficult to trade in against anything other than another Skoda.

I like my Octy vRS, but like everything in life it's a compromise, it's probably the best new car I could have bought for the amount I decided to spend. If I had the money I'd be driving an Aston Martin DB9. And I'd be shagging Elle MacPherson.

no. I really want to be driving an f150 svt lightning or a dodge ram srt 10

Hrmm..

I'd adeally like a Audi RS6 saloon.. but I cannot afford it..

I have got a Skoda because it offers very good value for money..

True the interior plastics and kit are not in the Audi league but at the

end of the day we are no where near Audi money..

The Octavia and Fabia vRS models are not perfect by a long shot..

but for the 14K and 12K respectivly are cheaper than the alternatives..

cheers

Dazz

The kids in my street think the Skoda is well cool and always come round to see what I'm up to when giving it a clean. So I'll keep the vRS but would strip it out and spend a few more grand on it aka ffelan (oh and take some expert track driving tutition). But the car wouldn't do for a day to day, and I wouldn't spend silly money. Therefore, an 18 month old loaded-with-gadgets diesel Superb......

Yes I agree the vRS is not a good day to day car. Effectlively we use the wifes Octy 1.6 as the day to day family car. The vRS is mostly used at the week end.

I 'upgraded' from a Golf GTI to the Octavia.

Yup - i'm really happy with my Octy - could have bought pretty much anything but after being particularly bored with most cars around and really loving the styling of the Octy + the kick you get from driving a turbo I bought the Octy vRS. It really is a great fun car and I still love it! I've got no intention of selling it in the forseeable either!