My parents currently have a Mk1 Octavia 1.9TDi which all of us agree is an easy car to drive and because it's a diesel it almost feels lazy to drive because you just put you foot down and go, no need to drop gears and the clutch bite is strong too so it's easier to pull off.

They are currently looking for a new car but are after a petrol and not a diesel because they don't do the miles anymore but still want power so I recommended them a Octy petrol vRS but I just wanted to know is it an easy car to drive. I've never driven one and the only turbo petrol I've driven is a 160bhp 1.8t A4 Convertible which I wasn't impressed with.

Thanks in advance

Martyn

I find my Mk II vRS easy to drive, and my dad has driven my car too. Only problems he had was getting used to the power and the brakes as he drives a 1.9TDi, but once he was used to them he had no trouble.

As an aside, my mother prefers the seats on the vRS to the standard seats on the Octy.

I dont really understand the concept of 'easy to drive' but then again i'll happily jump from a van to a left hand drive to my car and not struggle too much.

I had an Octy Elegance Diesel for a few days and would say the VRS is similar - kind of the same but with much sharper brakes and doesnt bounce up and down the whole length of its suspension three times every time you go over a small bump in the road.

Obviously the downside of not feeling seasick along a country road is that you do sometimes feel like you've been shaken up over very rough surfaces, but its not unbearably stiff.

Go to a nearby dealer and drive one, see what you think.

Nothing could be easier to drive, with power when you need it, brakes that work and enough comfort

The power you get makes it nice and easy to drive. My TDi vRS is so easy especially on the motorways and cruising. And then when you want to push it, it is very enjoyable. Also I love the seats always comfy and could drive for hours.

The 170CR I thought had too much power...

That's why I chose something ever so slightly more restrained, I thought that I'd be at even more risk of clocking up points or losing my licence with one, especially has I have a leaden foot. :eek:

Depending on what engine you go for it's all about adjusting your style of driving. The 170bhp diesel for example only really works after 2500 but then soons runs out after 4500. (unless like me you chip it and then with 210bhp it almost bounces off the limiter!)

You just need to adjust it and drive within it's strongest points. It's the reason the diesel is slower to 60 than the petrol but will pull through the gears like a jet

my friend drove mine and his initial response at the power and brakes was horror, once he was used to the extra oomph he thought it easy. its dead easy to drive, and the engine is very good. you can put it in 6th at 20mph with no juddering and drive around normally. unless there is a need to speed up quickly you wouldnt need to change gear.

It has 3 pedals, a gear stick and a steering wheel.

If you're used to this type of setup you shouldn't have any problems.

It's a very non-intimidating car to drive even with 200hp. You don't smoke the tyres from every junction or chip your teeth on the wheel when braking.

It's not really a hot hatch. The VRS is more like a small GT.

This isn't to say that the VRS can't be scary should you wish to drive it like a loon.

Petrol vRS or even a 1.8TSI would suit them

A 1,8 TSI maybe better it has a lower insurance grouping & better fuel economy too!

my friend drove mine and his initial response at the power and brakes was horror, once he was used to the extra oomph he thought it easy. its dead easy to drive, and the engine is very good. you can put it in 6th at 20mph with no juddering and drive around normally. unless there is a need to speed up quickly you wouldnt need to change gear.

Simon has it spot on-the petrol vrs is flexible enough to bibble about in 6th even at slow speeds, for added oomph just drop a couple of gears to accelerate quickly. I can get 37-40mpg on a run to work (60-65mph on motorway) and even when i boot it it rarely seems to go much below 28-30mpg. The steering is accurate and you can adjust seat and wheel loads.

Someone else has said it already on here....best thing, book a test drive and find out what you think