I'm looking to purchase a nearly-new Octy diesel estate with DSG. Here's the quandry; I'm torn between the extensive standard options of the L&K and the performance and CR refinement of the vRS. Also, since I'm buying used I'm guessing it will be much harder to find a "gently" used vRS loaded with the factory options I'm after. Plus I need to find a car pretty quickly when I return to the UK (currently in the US) so I don't have the luxury of waiting for just the right car.

I've researched both cars extensively and seem to change my mind on a daily basis. I've always owned performance-oriented cars in the past and I'm afraid the L&K may be a little mundane for me?

Apart from the obvious differences in insurance cost (probably not a biggie since I'm a 48 year old fart), performance and PD versus CR am I missing anything? The fuel economy for the PD140 and CR170 with DSG are identical on paper.

Since this car will probably be a "keeper" (possibly 10 years if it turns out to be reliable) with a mileage probably exceeding 100k, will the PD unit be the better option?

Finally, have any Briskodians owned both cars and can give an honest, unbiased comparison of their pros and cons.

Cheers,

Bill.

If the insurance is a non issues and the L&K doesn't have a DPF, then I'd say L&K with a superchips bluefin or similar remap and Eibach/koni FSD suspension.

That is mainly because the VRS used to lack many of the toys of the elegance and L&K.

Be aware that the L&K isn't the same all the way through and at one model year it changed from being only a couple of extras to pretty much everything in the option book as standard.

As Cheezmonkhai said, if you can't find a Vrs with the options you want, the PD140 is a great engine to re-map and you will have no DPF issues, just spend a few bob on your suspension and also the flappy paddle steering wheel is also now widely available. Colour coding the grill will also make it look rather sporty !!

Thanks guys. I may consider a PD re-map once the Skoda warranty is up; I can still remember the big smile on my face when I chipped my old audi S4 bi-turbo:).

The L&K does seem like the more sensible choice, but my heart is ruling my head at the moment. I'll see what happens to used vRS prices when the facelift model starts to appear in the UK.

Guess I can't lose either way; this will be my first Skoda experience and I'm really looking forward to it.

I had my heart set on a new VRS and I was put off by the seats. Previous Octy Elegance had sports suspension and L&K does not. I sure miss the "planted " feel of the Elegance but all in all the L&K does it all for me. Without the remap!!

Having had both PD and CR, I'd go for the CR. Doesn't give you quite the same shove of acceleration but it's quieter and smoother to drive. The L&K is expensive for what it is IMO.