Hi i am just about to go and look at a petrol VRS hatch, and wondering if you chaps and chapesses have some answers to a couple of questions.

The first one is that it has 18 inch wheels on it, i have a lexus at the moment with nice little 16inch wheels on and i am not sure if the 18's will give a harsh and bumpy ride? does anyone know if there is much difference to the ride or handling between the standard 17's and the 18's?

The other is more of an opinion thing of what to go for!?? and not wanting to open a can of worms here but i am not sure if i want to go for a petrol or an oil burner, i do about 8-9,000 miles a year the way i see it its six of one half a dozen of the other. petrol is faster feels more fun but costs more in fuel (i see most are getting about 34-35ish on combined) and costs more to tax etc.but the oil burner is less to tax and fuel (does anyone have a real world VRS CR MPG??) but the ones i am looking at it works out the the oil burner is just over £3,000 more expensive for pretty much the same year / milage etc etc.i have driven both and like both of them to be honest.

Also Is there much difference in prices of service between the petrol and the CR diesel?

About rims,

I never had 18" before my actual Octy (I had 16" on another car indeed) and I thought of experiencing a really harsh drive. Lucky this is not the case, at least on medium quality roads.

But 18" are heavier and with more inertia (metal weighs more than rubber/air), so... it's up to you (if you like the look more than being a bit brisker ).

HTH,

I have 18" rims. Ride is probably about as hard as I would like but is by no means uncomfortable however this is compensated by sharp handling and a car that feels far more nimble than something of it's size should.

As for economy, I record mine on a spreadsheet brim - brim method and have an overall average of 50.1mpg over 6000 miles in my CR TDI vRS.

I don't find the ride bad at all, for a car with sportier suspension and 18 inch rims. A lot of people say it's nice to be in when I drive them around. Might be something to do with Skoda setting up the suspension as opposed to VW, which IIRC they do.

the ride is fine on most roads on 18's its only harsh on harsh roads and 17's wouldnt change that!

you prob dont do enough miles to break even and make oil burner worthwhile.

The pay of for performance is worth the lower mpg and lower purchase price for a petrol model. I thought the petrol was crazy fast when i first got it but soon got used to it so i imagine deisel would lose its "buzz" even quicker.

go for the petrol.....imho....you wont regret it

Don't think that there is much in it between the 17" and 18" for ride quality. They are both probably just the right side of acceptable. You would have to drive them back to back to notice the difference.

Ultimate roadholding would probably be better on the 18" wheels, but the 17" wheels probably handle and 'feel' better.

That said, the 18" wheels look so much better

I was very disappointed with the harsh ride when I test drove a VRS. It had Dunlop Sport Maxx tyres.

It transmits all the shocks of everyday british roads

I was surprised because I expected it to be softer and more comfortable than my Focus ST which has been lowered and stiffened with Eibach springs.

Having said that the actual roadholding is slightly better than the ST with more grip.

I did consider changing the order to a Superb but after a week thinking about it I'm sticking with the VRS.

On the petrol vs. diesel decision its up to you on how much performance you want

I've had years of speed overdose but recently have found I was using the performance of the ST less and less. Remapped to 271hp and 0-60 in 5.9 sec.

So its diesel for me this time with a relaxing DSG auto

A big consideration for me was the anticipated fuel saving of about £800 a year for my mileage

Find mine on Eibach's and 18" RS4 Replica's is quite comfortable, until you get onto a really bad road with uneven surfaces.

The gf has a 1.2 Mk4 Ibiza on 15" steels and i find the ride firmer on her car.

Some of the older ones used to come with 17"'s and had 18"s as optional extras.

There is a difference in ride quality. My current car has 17's which are great. While waiting for mine to be delivered I tested one with 18's and thought i had made a mistake on getting an A3 with sports suspension, then drove one with 17's and was happy that it was okay.

You need to drive both in my opinion, but in my experience there is a difference, ask anyone that's gone from 18's on a 45 profile to a 19 or 20 on a 30 or 35 profile.

Less side rubber = harsher ride.

thanks for all the replys but i have gone and done it and brought me a brand new one now!! got the 18's on it got to wait til jan for it but thats not so bad gets some of the winter/salt out of the way

thanks for all the replys but i have gone and done it and brought me a brand new one now!! got the 18's on it got to wait til jan for it but thats not so bad gets some of the winter/salt out of the way

Div-nice one but did you go for petrol or deisel in the end?

dan

Some of the older ones used to come with 17"'s and had 18"s as optional extras.

There is a difference in ride quality. My current car has 17's which are great. While waiting for mine to be delivered I tested one with 18's and thought i had made a mistake on getting an A3 with sports suspension, then drove one with 17's and was happy that it was okay

You need to drive both in my opinion, but in my experience there is a difference, ask anyone that's gone from 18's on a 45 profile to a 19 or 20 on a 30 or 35 profile.

Less side rubber = harsher ride.

Having just sold the 17's that came with the car and fitted 18's, I can tell you there is minimal difference in ride quality. The reason - we are talking a very very small amount of aspect ration change from a 225/45/17 to a 225/40/18. The difference in compound between tyre manufacturers probably accounts for more of a difference in ride quality and the weight differential between a 17 and 18" rim is also minimal - I have no doubt somebody has the figures out there!!! If you went from 17 to 19 you would notice a difference but 17 to 18 is minimal.

Don't be put off - I think the ride quality is excellent considering the fact that the body control is first class for what is quite a chunky car. I get to drive a reasonably broad range of vehicles and while the Skud isn't in the Lexus class, its a damn sight better than a 5 series on run flats!

If you want a truly smooth ride don't drive in the UK. The roads in this country are a disgrace and all cars I've driven, regardless of how squidgy the suspension is have made me cringe when on certain stretches of road near where I live. Bloody poxy government spending what used to be road tax (therefore meant for the upkeep of the roads) on MP's moat cleaning and p0rn for their husbands. Grrrr.....

But on a slightly less ranty note, the ride quality in the VRS on 18's is perfectly acceptable IMO. It's firm but I've read slightly more comfort orientated than say the Golf GTI which is based on the same platform. I've had no complaints so far.

Also the car looks a bit odd with 17's IMO - too much tyre wall on what is a big car.

went for the petrol in the end dan i think i made the right choice have driven both and i guess the diesel kind of wins in the wallet stakes but i enjoy driving the petrol more and for me a car has to be something i enjoy

went for the petrol in the end dan i think i made the right choice have driven both and i guess the diesel kind of wins in the wallet stakes but i enjoy driving the petrol more and for me a car has to be something i enjoy

good choice-yeah it costs a bit more to run but you were talking about £3000 price difference-thats a lot of fuel. enjoy it mate, thats what they are for

Forget the VRS and keep the Lexus

:sofahide: