Right here we go.

I fancy a change of car this summer from my Suzuki Ignis Sport and have been keeping my options open and considering a vast range. I keep thinking an Octavia vRS would be a decent car to buy - especially from a price point of view where it is one of the cheapest sporty 1.8t cars VAG offers.

My main criteria, as well as a bit of shove, is that the car handles well. I am fully aware of the modifications that can be done to the car - ARB's, etc, but what I want to know is how well the car actually drives at the end of it all.

If I was to buy such a class of car I would also be considering the Honda Accord Type-R (maybe a bit unfair as this car is pretty 'hardcore') and the MG ZS 180 - both widely regarded to be fantastic handling cars, and with similar performance. Would the ZS still be the better steer after uprating the Skoda with an uprated rear ARB, polybush kit and (at a push) maybe a suspension kit of some sort?

Opinions appreciated.

For me it was either a MG ZS 180 or the vRS. Go for the vRS lol, this comes from an old MG Rover owner but the Skoda will be better overall.

I've driven and owned many cars. At the moment one of my cars is a 1.8t VRS octy. It has a 28mm Rear ARB, H&R Springs and rear spacers and I can tell you this is now possibly the best handeling car I've ever owned let alone driven. Its hard enough to stay planted while soft enough for comfort to. I've done a few track days before these mods and a few since and all I can say is "The perfect handling car for every situation".

Other cars I've had on track include a 98 Scooby STI and a 99 Honda civic VTI. I'd take the skoda anyday on handeling and fun terms. Naturally the STI is a different beast and very hard core but it Understeers even more than a standard Octy.

Stardard handelling, Notice the role and its very soft but still fun.

And this is Hard cornering after the rear ARB. You can physically see a big difference!

Edited 21 May, 200917 yr by Fugs
Resizing picture.

From my experience, keep 4 spare coilpacks in the car so you don't end up limping it home and the VRS is fantastic.

Sorry, not really on topic, I should be 200 miles away but after the 2nd coil pack this week died I have to stay here until GSF opens tomorrow. That's 4 gone in 6 months...£100 Monday as I was at work and had to take it to a garage.

Handling wise, it feels pretty stiff over the bumps and I must admit I do rely on the power rather then the handling but I do look forward to driving it.

Edited 21 May, 200917 yr by Zollburgers
4 gone in 6 months, not 3. I think No1 has gone twice now

Thanks so far. Basically I wouldn't want to modify the car much as my insurance will go though the roof (only 22)! But if a couple of basic mods will sort the handling out then I would be pretty tempted. Have any more people tracked a vRS on standard suspension - how was it?

Cheers

I have come from an Accord Type R to the VRS. Both modded as follows:

Accord

Tein Coilovers, front upper and front lower braces.

vRS

V3 coilovers, thicker rear ARB, front upper and lower braces.

Handling wise, there really is no doubt about it that the Accord is in another league. For a FWD car you will struggle to find something, especially of the same size, that handles so well. The vRS is by no means poor, it's just the ATR is that much better.

Having said that, I prefer the vRS for 99% of the driving that I do. It is much easier to drive quickly than the Accord and much more comfortable than the Accord.

Thanks so far. Basically I wouldn't want to modify the car much as my insurance will go though the roof (only 22)! But if a couple of basic mods will sort the handling out then I would be pretty tempted. Have any more people tracked a vRS on standard suspension - how was it?

Cheers

Yes I did. Behaves brilliantly. Maybe a little soft but very easy to drive on the limit of handeling.

The best handeling mod Is a large rear ARB!

Many of the older member on here have tracked both standard and modded Octy vRS's. If your looking at a ZS 180 which to me is tempting and cheap is to check out the road tax. That should make you rule the MG out. :thumbdwn:

Also depending on the milage your looking at some new damper might be advised.

take it the ZS is 400+ for the newer ones?

lol

that would put me off to

lol

I was in the market for the new one around the time they went under. It was all ready for collection but they shut the place lol so I was sooooo lucky. Went round the corner to skoda huddersfield and saw these babies lol and had to have one after \ test drive. and it was 5k cheaper too and had cruise control.

billy

Many of the older member on here have tracked both standard and modded Octy vRS's. If your looking at a ZS 180 which to me is tempting and cheap is to check out the road tax. That should make you rule the MG out. :thumbdwn:

Also depending on the milage your looking at some new damper might be advised.

You've hit the nail on the head but I didn't want that to alter opinions. Both the ZS 180 and Honda ATR are less than 5 co2's over the desirable 225 limit. To be fair they will be around £250 for the next year (if before 2005 reg I think) but there are no figures stating what will happen after that. The general opinion seems to be they will join the £400 gang which I simply cannot justify for both a cost and due to the low mileage I do. Also I think (especially with the MG) the cars will become almost unsellable due to their such low value.

I would probably go for the MG if it were not for this tax 'problem' - fantastic value and have a bit of a soft spot for them. Hence the Skoda may now be in with a chance. I am just a bit scared it is a bit soft and would not want to spend a heap sorting it out due to insurance mainly. Sounds like polybushed suspension (do you get a kit for this car?), rear ARB of some sort and possibly the Audi upper and lower front braces may make for a fairly tidy handling car though?

Took my totally standard vRS on the Ring last year and it almost understeered me into an early grave at Klostertal. The turn-in on the vRS isn't positive at all. I'm hoping a RARB and TT quick rack will mean it responds quicker to the turn of the wheel and tucks into the corners quickly and neatly without loads of body roll. Coilovers would be great but don't have the money :(

MG ZS can be a bit of a petrol guzzler, mate of mine had one for six months but got rid of it after finding it never got more than 25 to the gallon. And as others have pointed out it's a tax band above the vRS.

I too have a soft spot for MG's/Rover's.

I wouldn't want to modify the car much as my insurance will go though the roof

Have you checked this? Also who are you insured with? Adrian Flux got me a great deal where other insurers couldn't come close, also my Koni FSDs, Poly wishbone bushes and hypothetical RARB (can't afford it yet but wanted to check policy with it on for future ref) made no difference to the quote whatsoever. Even Admiral weren't too fussed about the mods, though they may have just been trying to keep me on their books

As for the handling, the FSDs and polybushes improve things considerably from standard. Still understeering a bit for my taste, but the RARB is on the to do list and am hoping this will balance it out nicely...

I too have a soft spot for MG's/Rover's.

Love the look of the facelift mg zs, im really tempted by one.... sorry.

What do they handle like? and do they go well how would it compare to my remapped vrs? Had the vrs 2 years and fancy a change, or may just keep it and get it how i want. Talking about the 180 version.

Edited 23 May, 200917 yr by gmaster
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Have you checked this? Also who are you insured with? Adrian Flux got me a great deal where other insurers couldn't come close, also my Koni FSDs, Poly wishbone bushes and hypothetical RARB (can't afford it yet but wanted to check policy with it on for future ref) made no difference to the quote whatsoever. Even Admiral weren't too fussed about the mods, though they may have just been trying to keep me on their books

As for the handling, the FSDs and polybushes improve things considerably from standard. Still understeering a bit for my taste, but the RARB is on the to do list and am hoping this will balance it out nicely...

Interesting point. My vRS is bone stock at the moment, but I'm with Brentacre and I can make any cosmetic or handling changes with no increase in premium. The only thing that makes a difference is more than a 10% power increase.

She's certainly the best handling stock car I've been in, for the age. The V GTI and R32 were better, but their both ridiculously expensive even when compared with a modded Octy.

DO IT!

So basically it seems to come down to what I expected - vRS better quality, MG the better handler. MPG dosen't really bother me as I do very low mileage. Don't like the facelift ZS - would ideally be looking for a 2004 pre-facelift car.

Can someone clarify the 'issue' with the mkiv Golf chassis - I believe the wishbones run negative all the time or something? I seem to recall that raising the rideheight (not that I would do this) improves handling (indeed there were kits for this).

I chopped my Scooby UK spec car in for a ZS 180 few years back. I was so impressed with the handliing of the ZS in standard trim and the nibbleness sure footed feel. Mine was a Pre face lift one and a saloon(prefer them to the hatchback) The handling is far better than the standard and even some modded VRS's in my opinion. Something that was a plus point on the Top Gear show when it went up against the Honda Civic and some other car. I fitted the X-Power exhaust and suspension kit to make it even better. But that is where the positives end for me. Compared to the VRS the MG feels slower and if you do want to tune it, it is costly and only real option is to supercharge it. The Interior is rather bland and looks out dated by the VRS standards. I have personalised my VRS and something that is difficult to do in the MG,

Having owned the VRS for over 2 years, I have owned 40+ other cars and not sure if i would still love driving any of them as much as the VRS.

Bowders thanks mate, yep i agree with you the vrs has alot more to offer and is a better all round package. Was thinking about selling the vrs and getting a mg zs 180 but when you take every thing into account the vrs is better, maybe not handling wise, but im pretty sure my remapped vrs would be alot quicker with alot more torque too. The interior is very pland this also put me off so think i will be sticking with the vrs and spend some more money on her!