Hi guys, new to Briskoda but hope to become a proper Briskodian soon!!

I'm on the look out for Mk1 Octy VRS from 2003 and younger.

Just wanted to know a few things about extras if you guys could please help...

Is the CD Multichanger standard? I've noticed its not on some Octys but i heard it was standard?? (It should be in the boot, right?)

Do all Octys have a tape deck?

Also I'm wondering would people consider parking sensors essential?

As I'm about 6ft 2, does the sunroof eat into headroom much?

And finally, are there any other extras that owners would recommend??

Thanks!!

Welcome to the site.

The VRS had a stereo tape deck up front with a 6cd multichanger in the boot as standard. As for parking sensors, I haven't got them but would proberbly findthem quite useful as I find rear visibility difficult at time as the back of the car is quite high. Can't comment on the sunroof I'm afraid as I don't have one in mine. I'd recommend kepping your eye out for one with cruise control, makes long journies so much nicer. Cruise control can also be retro fitted for (I think) about £150 + vat.

Hope this helps

As stated cruise and PDC are very nice to haves, I had both retro fitted shortly after buying mine and wouldn't be without them. If you can find one with ESP (Electronic Stability Program) over the standard ASR (Anti Slip Regulation) it would be a bonus as would xenon headlights.

Thanks for input!

Out of interest Lex, how much was it to retrofit the parking sensors?

I'm not as concerned with the cruise control as its something i could live without.

Will keep an eye out for ESP though, and xenons if I'm lucky

I'm from Ireland and intend to travel to the UK to purchase as there's not much selection here. Hence i want to make sure I know as much as possible about what to expect when viewing, and my concern with the headroom on cars with sunroofs.

So the 'toys' on the Octavia VRS mk 1 are:

ASR-standard

CD multichanger-standard

leather-standard

Air con-standard

Cruise control-extra

Xenons-extra

Park sensors-extra

Sunroof-extra

ESP-extra

Am i missing anything?

Parking sensors on mine where quite cheap £40 of Ebay and about the same again to have them fitted. Easy enough job but I didn't want to cut into my bumper incase I messed up.

Had them in 2 1/2 years now and work just as well as OEM.

Cruise is good on the mototway but I use it most in road works where theres a set speed limit and the SPECS cameras. It really is excellent in this type of situation.

I've never had parking sensors before my Octy but I do find them very useful and would look for a car with them again.

I also have ESP and have noticed a difference over ASR, especially in the wet or if you go through any standing water.

Dont have xenons or a sun roof so cant comment on them.

I think you will struggle to find one with all the extras already fitted. Look out for the ones with ESP, Xenons and sun roof already factory fitted and get the CC and Parking Sensors retro fitted.

Good luck with the search.

Other extras are:

Heated seats

Airbag deactivation switch (in glovebox)

The vRS has climate control rather than air con. (i.e. it's self adjusting depending on the temperatures inside and outside and sunlight etc)

Sat Nav was also an option.

Some of them also have the vRS mats and vRS door sill protectors (if you're lucky!)

I don't think the sunroof affects the headroom at all, I'm 6'4" and have been in Octys with and without sunroofs and have no problems with headroom - the seat height is also adjustable with a lever on the side.

I was lucky enough to find mine with OE parking sensors, roof and cruise. Wouldn't have it any other way. The biggest thing I'd like? OE Xenons.

TBH though, the base car is more important when most things can be added later. Obviously not everything though.

Thanks for all the input folks!! Really helping my buying decision.

I went to view a VRS today at my local Skoda dealer and it only had a single CD player, according to him they never came with CD multichanger as standard here :eek:

So a trip to the UK is definitely in order!

I think you're right okenobi, I can always retrofit the toys I'd like-PDC and cruise control would be nice (never considered it as a licence saving measure )

@chicken_eyebrow, Thanks, thats good news as I don't want to be ignoring a car because it has a sunroof!

Probably a ridiculous question, but as I've never been in a car with parking sensors, do they just start beeping straight away when the car is put in reverse? and can the beeping be heard outside??

Also one final thing, the Octy I viewed today had a towbar fitted, would I be right in being put off by this or is the car well able for towing?

Thanks for all the help, this really is a great community!!

when you engage reverse the sensor will bleep once to indicate it's on, then it goes quiet until you get within a few feet of something, then the bleeps start and get closer and closer together the nearer you get.

I've found it can be quite sensitive, mine has bleeped at tall stalks of grass and plants behind the car before

I looked at one before I bought mine that had a towbar fitted, I wouldn't be put off by it but it might be worth checking if it's been remapped as well as some owners will remap their cars for extra torque when towing.

I don't think the sunroof affects the headroom at all, I'm 6'4" and have been in Octys with and without sunroofs and have no problems with headroom - the seat height is also adjustable with a lever on the side.

Sunroof does affect headroom in the front a fair bit (you can see where the roof lining drops down to make space for it just in front of where the rear seat passengers' heads would be), but I'm 6'4" too, have a sunroof in mine, and I fit in fine with the seat on its lowest setting.

Personally I really like having the extra light coming in, and would choose a sunroof again if I had the choice. If I was any taller, then I think I'd have to go without the sunroof though.

I was looking at a VRS online on autotrader. Relatively low mileage and seems to be priced well, however its in scotland near Aberdeen.

A friend of mine who knows* about buying from the UK says its a bad idea to buy from Scotland as the cars are more likely to be abused and the roads are not as good?? Would this be correct?

*thinks he knows

I would hate to travel all that way from Dublin to find the car is not as expected.

What do you all think??

**I realise this doesnt refer to extras but didn't want to make a new thread for what could be stupid advice.

I bought a base model that came with a 6 disc changer and then upgraded as i went along.

I now have the SAT NAV in mine which replaces the standard single din Radio unit. It still uses the 6 disc multichanger in the back. It is not as good as Tom Tom but does the trick and fills the double din center dash nicely.

I fitted parking sensors myself (25 quid of ebay) came with all the bits to install and the drill bit. They were even painted silver same as my car. They look very much like the OEM ones and I would definately recomend sensors as viewing distance through the rear is a challenge sometimes.

Good luck in finding you VRS.

The only issue with buying a car from Scotland is that we have more salt on our roads over winter. I bought a polo a few years back that had spent three of its four years in London. Garages were always commenting on how clean it was underneath.

Saying that, I bought my vRS one month back form a guy in Perth and it seems pretty good. I had to change the arb bushes this weekend (very common issue wherever the car is from) and found that the underside of mine was mint. No real rust and all nuts/bolts/brakelines etc were pristine. Maybe newer cars are better.

As for the other comments, I'm not sure why a Scottish car is more likely to have been abused (trying not to take offense at that) but the roads comment is a bit of a myth. Most of the A-roads up north (up north in Scotland) are better than those I have driven on in the lakes etc.

In summary, provided the car has been properly looked after and a decent garge has wiped a bit of grease over the exposed brakelines etc, there is no real reason not to buy a car from up North (IMHO). Hope that helps.

iep

The only issue with buying a car from Scotland is that we have more salt on our roads over winter. I bought a polo a few years back that had spent three of its four years in London. Garages were always commenting on how clean it was underneath.

Saying that, I bought my vRS one month back form a guy in Perth and it seems pretty good. I had to change the arb bushes this weekend (very common issue wherever the car is from) and found that the underside of mine was mint. No real rust and all nuts/bolts/brakelines etc were pristine. Maybe newer cars are better.

As for the other comments, I'm not sure why a Scottish car is more likely to have been abused (trying not to take offense at that) but the roads comment is a bit of a myth. Most of the A-roads up north (up north in Scotland) are better than those I have driven on in the lakes etc.

In summary, provided the car has been properly looked after and a decent garge has wiped a bit of grease over the exposed brakelines etc, there is no real reason not to buy a car from up North (IMHO). Hope that helps.

iep

Apologies iep, really do not want to cause offence!! As I've never been to Scotland I just had to be sure ya know? Some people say the same for cars in certain parts of Ireland-and at times I've seen it to be true myself, but it does largly depend on the previous owner rather than where they live.

That really puts my mind at ease, so I will book a flight over next week if i can. Will just have a quick visual at the underside before making any exchanges!

Thanks!!

Don't worry mate, no offense taken. Just be sure to be extra vigilant when checking for rust and you should be fine. Worst case the car may have hit the odd pothole but if the steering is straight and true then you should be fine.

Cheers,

iep

I find the sunroof affects headroom a bit, but I like to sit high in the car, so that has something to do with it.

If the car's from near Aberdeen, with any luck it's been serviced at Specialised Cars, and not at Dalmore Motors in Inverness. I live over on the West side, and know people who go through Inverness to get to Aberdeen for service because of the dealers; enough said?

You will do well finding one with all extras fitted I have found. I'm looking to buy as well and find sunroof the rarest thing. Cruise and parking sensors can be fitted anyway but cruise is about £200. I have never seen one with Xeons in the years I'm looking for 01-03. CD changer should be standard.

I have never seen one with Xeons in the years I'm looking for 01-03.

Pretty sure Xenons weren't even available as an option when I bought my Ambiente (Oct '02). They were standard on the L&K, but I don' t think they could be added to anything else.