As per the title really, I collected my 58 plate Octy VRS CR yesterday.

Corrida red, 3600 miles, 18's, jumbo, cruise and rear parking sensors and I've got to say so far I love it.

Had a Fabia VRS before which I've now donated to my wife as her 306 was showing its age, and I've got to say they are worlds apart. The Octavia feels almost like a different brand let alone a different model. Much flatter cornering, better ride, sharper turn in and more steering feel are the first things I noticed. Also the interior feels a lot better put together - way more solid.

Other than driving dynamics it's very well equipped and comfy, and the engine is lovely coming from the PD130 unit which feels quite agricultural in comparison. It's not as fast though but then there is 42 ft/lb less in this than I had in the Fabia. Also, as I kind of expected the power is very linear in its delivery and doesn't have that sudden shove as the turbo spools up like the PD did. But as a result you end up going faster than you think and you need to keep a closer eye on the speedo.

My favourite though so far is cruise control - I love it. Was meaning to fit it to the Fabia but I never got round to it. It makes commuting a much more relaxed affair, but you have to plan ahead for lane swaps etc so as to avoid constantly having to turn it off and back on again all the time.

Couple of niggles though so far.

Firstly, MPG. I know the Fabia MPG gauge was too optimistic but I'm hoping this one is the opposite as the 32 mile commute to work this morning only got me 42mpg. The Fabia could easily show 50 but then that was usually a blatent lie and I was only getting about 45 max and about 380 miles to a tank. :(

Hoping this improves as the engine loosens up as it does feel a bit 'tight' still, even at 3600 miles.

Secondly, the CD changer on the MP3 stream can't play MP3 CD's. You have to use the head unit slot to play MP3's. Not the end of the world but a bit behind the times as a colleagues Ford Puma changer can do MP3 CD's and that's 10 years old.

Thirdly, road noise. The standard Dunlops are noisy things. When they need replacing I'll be looking for something a damn site quieter.

Fourthly, the cig light is still in a dumb place. I'm getting a Brodit holder for the centre vents but the phone going in the holder still needs charging and the cable will trail over the gear lever and my hand. Small thing but not ergonomically well thought out.

Finally, I need one of the clippy things that you use to pull off the wheel nut caps. It came with a full sized spare and jack etc, but without the puller. I assume the dealer stocks these as a separate part and they're not that expensive?

Pics to follow when I get chance to take some - all I've done so far is sit in it and play with stuff.

Thanks,

Chris.

Edit on the first point - I had the average MPG on number 2, so it was over the last 1000 miles or whatever it is. Changed it to number one on the way home and averaged 48.8 without really trying. That's more like it.

congrats, hope you enjoy it

Thanks mate.

To re-ask a couple of questions, is there no way to make the CD changer read MP3 CD's?

Also, the puller for the wheel nut covers, does anyone know the part no and price of one of these?

Here's some pics - driveway is quite narrow so the only one I've taken is the end one - the reast are from the website when I bought it. Need to go out somewhere so I can take some decent shots.

Thanks for the info too - can't believe they want to charge 73p!! Robbing b*stards.....

Oh and they fitted cruise for me before someone points out that the N/S stalk is wrong. It was advertised as having it but it didn't, so they were obliged to fit it.

very nice.

Nice car - hope the rest of the number plate isn't JLY

As far as Mp3 CD changers go, I'd be surprised if there were any such devices around 10 years ago, and if there were, I'm sure they'd have only been aftermarket devices, as opposed to manufacture standard fit

Looks lovely.

I SO wanted a red one but at the time I was looking couldn't find one. Keep it well waxed though - red can be at risk of colour change from UV light over time but this can be avoided by using a good quality wax regularly.

I'm not totally convinced by the VW cruise - its not as easy to vary the speed setting as the BMW one and I find it too much of a pain to use most of the time. Gutted because it was probably the biggest "must have" feature on my car and now having used a BMW one, I feel a little short changed. Ho hum......

BTW, save your pennies and get a Columbus stereo to replace that Stream one - not only does it sound so much better but it adds decent nav and DVD functionality and is so >usable<. As for the boot changer - scrap it and use an ipod or SD cards on the Columbus. Boot mounted changers are a right pain and everybody I know with one - Pug, Skoda, Fiat has had issues of some sort which led them eventually to just stop using it. Just my opinion of course but if I were you I'd scrap it, sell it on ebay and have a custom sub built into the space left behind!

The CR engine is SO much more refined than the PD don't you think? So much quieter, more linear in its delivery etc. I used a Common Rail in a Fiat Punto so it s not so much of change for me but I remember driving my boss's A3 a few years ago which was of course a PD and was shocked at the on-off nature of the power delivery. We had a 170 A3 at work for a while and once the guy left the car was sitting in the parking lot and available as a "pool car". The thing is nobody wanted to drive it because it was a complete nightmare in the wet - innefective traction control, too much power, non linear delivery = not much fun. I think the only reason the Octy got away with the 17-TD was its increased weight over the A3 and possibly a recallibrated TC. Anyway, the CR is a cracker of an engine and I'm glad I waited to get one.

Incidentally, IMHO, red and blue are the only colours where the chrome grill suits. I'm having mine sprayed ASAP but yours looks nice. I think I would perhaps even add chrome mirrors if it was mine. Perhaps........perhaps :-)

Envious of your car mate. Red is SO nice! I'm just off out to wash and wax my black one......again :-)

Edited 27 September, 200916 yr by wardth

I'm not totally convinced by the VW cruise - its not as easy to vary the speed setting as the BMW one and I find it too much of a pain to use most of the time. Gutted because it was probably the biggest "must have" feature on my car and now having used a BMW one, I feel a little short changed. Ho hum......

I had it on my previous VW, but don't currently have it on the VRS.

Was a case of clicking once to activate, and clicking the up/down button to increase/decrease the speed by small amounts. I didn't find it that difficult, but then again have never had a BMW to compare it with

LOL. Thanks for the comments guys. No the rest of the number plate is not JLY I did notice that though - I like to think my car makes you moist enough to not need such things

Re the colour, I wanted either a red or a blue one and test drove both (but not for the colour - the blue was a DSG and the red a manual). I got out of the blue thinking it looked really smart, and got out of the red with a grin on my face. Decision was made. It's the main thing people comment over too, how red it is - It's quite striking. Kids seem to like it too, with one 5 year old saying "look at the red car daddy" as he walked past. The Dad just went "yeah, very nice son".

Engine wise, I'm loving it, although still getting used to the power delivery after having the mapped Fabia. I'm so used to having a big dollop of power in the mid range so you can just prod the throttle and it's 'there', but with this one you have to rev it a bit more. In a way it feels much more like driving a big N/A petrol.

Still getting used to the noise it makes too. It almost sounds like it's "mooing" rather than growling or clattering in usual diesel fashion when tootling along in the low to mid range.. And when it's idling (when warmed up) it's like a slighty 'rustly' petrol, it's that quiet. Amazing how quiet they've actually made it.

Cruise wise, I now find it quite easy although it took a little figuring out at first. Like you have to turn it on, and then turn it on if you get what I mean. Flip the switch to on and then set your speed. You can then increase it or decrease it with the buttons and disengage it with the clutch or the brake, or by flicking the switch to cancel. Really useful though and as the throttle pedal is quite hefty, it does make things easier when on the motorway or an open straight road where you're not varying your speed. Really glad I've got it as I use it a lot.

More pics will come when I've been somewhere worthwhile in it. Got some time off work soon so will be going to 'scenic' places in it which will be ideal for snaps.

LOL. Thanks for the comments guys. No the rest of the number plate is not JLY I did notice that though - I like to think my car makes you moist enough to not need such things

Could be worse - someone at work has a number P***UBE !

Just make sure people aren't so distracted by it that they ram you up the *rse

Ha ha ha. They think that if they did I wouldn't notice, based on the number plate.