Given the advice and information provided over the last few months by a number of you, I’d thought some might be interested in the start to finish and the first 500 miles in my new Octavia vRS. DSG

Having been persuaded by my wife to look at Skoda (she’s from Kiev originally so didn’t start with any of the usual badge snobbery), I realised that I could get a top of the range VW / Audi for under £20k. After a lot of thinking I decided to get the vRS, CR, DSG in Race Blue with Xenons, Light Assist, Heated Seats, Rear Sensors, Bluetooth (which included Maxidot) and a spare wheel. DriveTheDeal came in at under £18400 on the road with 12 months tax (that was about a 19% discount). I ordered through them on 8th Sept, was told 14 to 16 weeks for delivery and paid my deposit direct to the dealer the following day.

A few days later, I decided to see what an equivalent spec’d Golf GTD would cost. This came in at over £28k and using DtD for a quote only reduced this by just over a £1000. In my mind, I am getting a GTD for 33% less – amazing. Ok so the purists will probably point out that the Golf has things like a light above the visor mirror and the bonnet stays open without the need to put the metal stay in place; but I’ve saved £9k so I’ll happily live without those frills. And besides, I get a bigger boot and none of this downgrading from the petrol version because it’s a diesel as they do between the GTI and the GTD.

15 weeks later, I took delivery – not bad given the original estimate. Lack of information along the way (ie: minimal paperwork and phone calls only ever initiated by myself) left me a little uneasy at times especially given the nature of the deal (eg; delivery before 31 Dec, the imminent VAT increase). But when I arrived to collect the car everything seemed to be as expected. And the checklist provided on this forum by a member was very useful.

The Christmas period did not allowed me to really try it out until Boxing Day. But what a gem this car is. The CR engine is so quiet I am sure that many would not think it was a diesel. The DSG box is a gem – probably the real treat for myself, as I would not normally pay out this extra. But it is well worth it. Gear changes using the paddle shifts are seamless – you really have to look at the rev counter to realise it has actually changed gear.

The Bolero unit is also excellent. I’ve tried out an SD card and once a get a bigger one I’m not sure I’ll be bothering with CDs much more in the future even though it is equipped with the 6-Cd changer.

I also love the integrated Bluetooth. Easy to set up (I have a Nokia) and now I don’t have to do anything – just turn on the ignition and the Maxidot gives you all the info you need. I’ve not set up the voice control bit yet which will make it even easier to use.

After 500 miles I’ve averaged 45.1, with the journey to my sister’s in Leicestershire achieving 50 mpg. Not bad for starters given I was more than happy with my previous 150bhp diesel Golf that typically returned about 52mpg. Dunlop types on the vRS by the way.

Any quirks? Not really – but I did notice that the Speedo went up in 10s until 80mph, and then in the same physical space interval went up in 20s (ie: 60, 70, 80, 100, 120, 140) – but then I doubt that would worry any of us driving in the UK. Odd nonetheless.

All in all this is an excellent car. The Skoda brochure doesn’t do it justice (and nor does the web site), and there are so many extra little bits and pieces that you just don’t know until you get the car and read the manual – all 300 pages of it. Anybody thinking of getting one, especially the vRS with DSG, just go for it. Skoda still seem to have offers that make it so attractive.

PS: I would have posted a couple of pics but I know so many of you are fed up with all the Race Blue ones by now

Thanks for the excellent review, I'm getting all excited now

Due to take delivery of mine on 16th Jan

With ref to the intergrated Bluetooth, can you tell me what sort of aerial it comes with, does it have a small fin in front of the whip and is there an electronics box under the driver's seat? I'm trying to find visual physical signs that it is on mine when I go and look/check at my car next week

PS: I would have posted a couple of pics but I know so many of you are fed up with all the Race Blue ones by now

True

Excellent review, and from a pre-facelift perspective, I totally agree

Edited 29 December, 200916 yr by Brimma

i was just talking to friends tonight about my DSG box..best thing since sliced bread..enjoy your new motor

Thanks for the excellent review, I'm getting all excited now

Due to take delivery of mine on 16th Jan

With ref to the intergrated Bluetooth, can you tell me what sort of aerial it comes with, does it have a small fin in front of the whip and is there an electronics box under the driver's seat? I'm trying to find visual physical signs that it is on mine when I go and look/check at my car next week

You're correct in describing the ariel; it does have a 2inch fin in front of the whip, so I guess that is the real giveaway given the many pictures on here with ordinary ariels. Not sure about the electronics under the seat - the passenger seat has a small drawer; the drivers seat has some plastic trim that could be a cover for a box of electronics but I wasn't 100% sure. I presume the the MFSW has a phone symbol on it regardless but without Bluetooth it has little or no use. The Bluetooth function was easy to set up using the main drivers manual (available via a sticky on this forum) and is so clear in the Maxidot display; so far the only thing that I wasn't aware of in advance was that texts that arrive in the car are not stored on the phone as well unless you tell it to copy them back. Hope that helps - feel free to ask if anything else crops up.

A few days later, I decided to see what an equivalent spec’d Golf GTD would cost. This came in at over £28k and using DtD for a quote only reduced this by just over a £1000. In my mind, I am getting a GTD for 33% less – amazing. Ok so the purists will probably point out that the Golf has things like a light above the visor mirror and the bonnet stays open without the need to put the metal stay in place; but I’ve saved £9k so I’ll happily live without those frills. And besides, I get a bigger boot and none of this downgrading from the petrol version because it’s a diesel as they do between the GTI and the GTD.[/b][/color]

Sure but does the GTD have the GTi's and vRS's very tricked out XDS System??

Don't think so, so you gain on that front but loose out on some minor others. That said not having to use the metal thingy to hold up the bonnet is a really nice touch, I have it on my A3 and will miss it. Retrofit anyone?

Sure but does the GTD have the GTi's and vRS's very tricked out XDS System??

Don't think so, so you gain on that front but loose out on some minor others. That said not having to use the metal thingy to hold up the bonnet is a really nice touch, I have it on my A3 and will miss it. Retrofit anyone?

Here you are..Cheap too:

http://www.superskoda.com/Skoda/OCTAVIA-II/Skoda-Octavia-II-power-lift-for-hood-KI-R

You're correct in describing the ariel; it does have a 2inch fin in front of the whip, so I guess that is the real giveaway given the many pictures on here with ordinary ariels. Not sure about the electronics under the seat - the passenger seat has a small drawer; the drivers seat has some plastic trim that could be a cover for a box of electronics but I wasn't 100% sure. I presume the the MFSW has a phone symbol on it regardless but without Bluetooth it has little or no use. The Bluetooth function was easy to set up using the main drivers manual (available via a sticky on this forum) and is so clear in the Maxidot display; so far the only thing that I wasn't aware of in advance was that texts that arrive in the car are not stored on the phone as well unless you tell it to copy them back. Hope that helps - feel free to ask if anything else crops up.

Deepjoy

Thanks for looking into this for me and giving me some answers

I've already had a good trawl through the manual

Here you are..Cheap too:

http://www.superskoda.com/Skoda/OCTAVIA-II/Skoda-Octavia-II-power-lift-for-hood-KI-R

Cool just the ticket.

Seems there is a mod out there for me afterall.

hi just read your forum, can i ask regarding the deal which i must say is a crackingg deal and will be going on there website later to get a quote, is everything done through a dealer, i have always done the buying through a dealer but many of my friends have saved loads on going through brokers so thought i may give it a try but have heard of so many problems aswell with brokers ......

while im on this forum i need help, like i said i am changing my h/b octavia 2.0T vrs in red but havent got a clue what to go for

i think i may go for an estate (only cause we have had a 2nd addition to our family along with her 7 year old brother so the extra space will ocme in handy)

but regarding what engine i dont know, we do about 12000 miles a year so thinking petrol turbo is probably best as not really do the mileage to save money and most of the jouneys in the week is a 6 mile trip there and back on a school run so dont want any issues with the DPF filter blocking

then options what are the must haves to have .....

my girlfriend wants black so thats the colour sorted, and a must have with black is sunset glass !!! think might have DSG (as it seem to be the best thing since slight bread (is it as good on petrol as diesle) and also get maxi dot which i have at the moment) , go for rear parking sensors (again got on mine now and are good) and auto lights

my little boy wants the portable dvd player am i best getting retailer supplied one ???

have i missed anything off before i start looking for best price

Go on, get some pics up... even though it's blue

What's wrong with blue then ? It's a great colour - just look at its popularity !

hi just read your forum, can i ask regarding the deal which i must say is a crackingg deal and will be going on there website later to get a quote, is everything done through a dealer, i have always done the buying through a dealer but many of my friends have saved loads on going through brokers so thought i may give it a try but have heard of so many problems aswell with brokers ......

while im on this forum i need help, like i said i am changing my h/b octavia 2.0T vrs in red but havent got a clue what to go for

i think i may go for an estate (only cause we have had a 2nd addition to our family along with her 7 year old brother so the extra space will ocme in handy)

but regarding what engine i dont know, we do about 12000 miles a year so thinking petrol turbo is probably best as not really do the mileage to save money and most of the jouneys in the week is a 6 mile trip there and back on a school run so dont want any issues with the DPF filter blocking

then options what are the must haves to have .....

my girlfriend wants black so thats the colour sorted, and a must have with black is sunset glass !!! think might have DSG (as it seem to be the best thing since slight bread (is it as good on petrol as diesle) and also get maxi dot which i have at the moment) , go for rear parking sensors (again got on mine now and are good) and auto lights

my little boy wants the portable dvd player am i best getting retailer supplied one ???

have i missed anything off before i start looking for best price

If you wait till next week i'll post pics of that car for you. I pick mine up on saturday exact spec and colour but with silver rails. Get a non dealer DVD, loads cheaper and you can use it out of the car i.e hotel or wherever

hi just read your forum, can i ask regarding the deal which i must say is a crackingg deal and will be going on there website later to get a quote, is everything done through a dealer, i have always done the buying through a dealer but many of my friends have saved loads on going through brokers so thought i may give it a try but have heard of so many problems aswell with brokers ......

while im on this forum i need help, like i said i am changing my h/b octavia 2.0T vrs in red but havent got a clue what to go for

i think i may go for an estate (only cause we have had a 2nd addition to our family along with her 7 year old brother so the extra space will ocme in handy)

but regarding what engine i dont know, we do about 12000 miles a year so thinking petrol turbo is probably best as not really do the mileage to save money and most of the jouneys in the week is a 6 mile trip there and back on a school run so dont want any issues with the DPF filter blocking

then options what are the must haves to have .....

my girlfriend wants black so thats the colour sorted, and a must have with black is sunset glass !!! think might have DSG (as it seem to be the best thing since slight bread (is it as good on petrol as diesle) and also get maxi dot which i have at the moment) , go for rear parking sensors (again got on mine now and are good) and auto lights

my little boy wants the portable dvd player am i best getting retailer supplied one ???

have i missed anything off before i start looking for best price

I was also dubious about brokers. But in this instance after the referral to the dealer, all subsequent conversation (albeit minimal) was direct with the dealer - including the deposit.

Can't really advise re Estate or Hatch (I got a hatch) but as my mileage is higher and I'd had a diesel Golf before, it was an easy choice for me - and the CR engine is very quiet.

Options; as you say, go for Maxidot - it's an odd name really as all the functionality it gives you is what makes it so useful. DSG is superb; fully automatic to fully manual gives you the best of both worlds. Xenon lights are worth it if teh budget goes to that (remember that you'll get a discount on these as well if you use someone like DtD). And for me the Bluetooth option is far better than I expected - so if need to use the phone in the car, go for it.

Hope that helps.

ive had a few blues before 1st ever was my 205gti (sorry to swear) but havent had a blue car since

was tempted to order my next vrs in blue but girlfriend wants black ...... spoil sport but if i say im getting a black car she will let me order what ever with what ever .....

did you have a px, i have a px but woundred as they are giving such a good deal they would skimp on the px

did you have a px, i have a px but woundred as they are giving such a good deal they would skimp on the px

Re PX; I had a car to sell but they weren't interested given it is 7 years old. So I'm just about to put in Autotrader this week (Golf GTI diesel in black). A pain to sell privately but at least I got a cracking deal on the vRS.

PS: I also meant to say, don't forget to order a spare wheel.

I understand Maxidot is standard with a DSG vRS order (read this in a recent post)

ive had a few blues before 1st ever was my 205gti (sorry to swear)

Don't apologise - that used to my favourite car when I was a lad - I hankered after a blue 205 1.9 GTi - the nearest I got was a black 205 GT :S