Hi,

My wife & I went to pick up our new VRS at 4pm this afternoon from Progress Skoda Letchworth. Michael the salesman greeted us with his usual smile & went through all the paperwork with us before presenting the car to us. As it pulled up with the daytime running lights gleaming I knew we'd got the right colour...Anthracite Grey. I'd just been admiring the Race Blue & Red VRS's in the showroom..but to my eyes..Anthracite is the best. It gives the car an air of Audi/BMW, which as I was about to discover is probably the sector that this car should be viewed in.

Michael helpfully took me through the various features in the car & explained the Bolero & Ventilation system very clearly...I'd already read the on-line manuals but his enthusiastic banter helped translate the instructions into useful hands on guidance.

OK, first thoughts... I'd driven to Progress in our Golf GTI (MK5) and had never driven an Octavia before (they didn't have a VRS available when we went to buy it). Wow, the CR engine is so smoooooth! I've never driven a diesel engine that was as smooth & quiet & responded in such an un-diesel-like way. The throttle mapping seems quite gentle giving less initial thrust on small openings than the Golf which should help with wheelspin. The steering feels a little too light not having the (I can feel the road) good powered setup of the Golf & certainly no match for my VX220 (no power steering). However turn in seems good & it's not obvious that it's an oil burner up front.

Now I've read a lot of people complaining about the ride being harsh...no way! It's an amazingly civilized ride but does roll a little more than the Golf, I'd say the ride handling balance is more like the Golf GT. If they'd had the eibach suspension in the option box I would have ticked it..if my wife agrees when she drives it we'll probably get it put on quite quickly.

Inside the car is a step on from the Mk5 Golf. The plastics seem to be of a higher quality and it has a few nice touches (like rubber feel pads behind the chrome finished door handles) that the Golf doesn't...I was expecting it to be the other way around.

The next joy I find is the oil temp reading in the maxidot...very useful, especially whilst running in.

The instrument lighting is really classy & the Bolero unit fits in well....it's all a step up-market from the Golf & suddenly those blue lit dials & red maxidot look like a dodgey 80's nightclub!

I must comment on the build quality...awesome...It's like a BMW/Audi. The doors shut so sweetly & the panel gaps are very small & even...it really is a premium car...is it really a Skoda??

OK, I'm on the sliproad to the A1..oil's at 91C, I open her up a little expecting the 'whee chuff, over' delivery of my friends Fabia VRS..nothing like it...it's very linear, much more so than the specs would lead you to believe, it almost seemed to feel easier as it gained revs!?! This is a very good engine & I really rate the engine in the Golf so the Petrol/Diesel issue seems cloudier than ever...except out of the exhausts of course!

Chris and all those other potential VRS owners, you will not be disappointed. It's not just a great car for the money...it's a great car!

I'll post some pics up as soon as I've cleaned her & got to work with the Collinite & Jetseal.

I hope that wasn't too boring.

Cheers

Doug

P.S. Zenon's wow, a great option. Leather looks & feels good. Zips hiding the rear Isofix points...much better than the Golf!

Edited 27 January, 201016 yr by VRS Doug VX

Congrats, they are very nice cars, and I came from one of the best interiors available today.

Good write-up.

I am still loving mine after 2,500 miles, but I do like the Race Blue! I always thought that the steering was quite heavy, but I guess it is what your reference is (the FL vRS seems a bit lighter than my PD vRS).

How do you get the Oil Temp on the Maxidot?

Enjoy.

the panel gaps are very small & even

I guess they make enough cars that by the law of averages a few must come out perfect.

I'd certainly have another. How do you get the oil temp in maxidot ? (asked earlier I know...)

Nice review - glad you're pleased. Get some photos up here too

Steve

Good write-up.

I am still loving mine after 2,500 miles, but I do like the Race Blue! I always thought that the steering was quite heavy, but I guess it is what your reference is (the FL vRS seems a bit lighter than my PD vRS).

How do you get the Oil Temp on the Maxidot?

Enjoy.

One of the options when you roll the wheel round, avg, consumption miles travelled etc.

Has to be set up in the settings menu

Only came on cars built after week 45 2009, about November I think

That explains it...

Just to confirm, has the Eibach suspension option now gone? Seems a bit of confusion on this.

I hadn't read about the Maxidot Oil temp. readout before so it came as a nice surprise...thanks for the info PowerMalc.

Just to confirm, has the Eibach suspension option now gone? Seems a bit of confusion on this.

Yes it was unfortunately unavailable. You can buy the Eibach from Skoda but I was quoted quite a lot to fit it.

To me the standard suspension is just a touch too soft...and too high for a performance variant. :no:

Doug

Nice report. Fitting WALK (Whiteline Anti-Lift Kit) should sort out your steering deficiencies.

Doug

Nice report. Fitting WALK (Whiteline Anti-Lift Kit) should sort out your steering deficiencies.

Congratulations Doug

I cant wait

Only 4 weeks to go.

Next hurdle is the insurance quote :S

EDIT:

I'll post some pics up as soon as I've cleaned her & got to work with the Collinite & Jetseal

Get some Poorboys Black Hole Glaze as a base coat before the Collinite and Jetseal...Great stuff

Edited 28 January, 201016 yr by ChrisRs

One of the options when you roll the wheel round, avg, consumption miles travelled etc.

Has to be set up in the settings menu

Only came on cars built after week 45 2009, about November I think

Build Week 41. Another thing that my Maxidot doesn't do!

Thanks anyway.

There's a VAGcom setting to adjust how much power assistance is given to the steering. Adjusting this could well give you the same steering feel as the last car since the electric power assistance system used is pretty much the same on Golfs and Skodas...

There's a VAGcom setting to adjust how much power assistance is given to the steering. Adjusting this could well give you the same steering feel as the last car since the electric power assistance system used is pretty much the same on Golfs and Skodas...

Ooo, I think I'm going to have to find someone in Herts with a VAGcom....thanks for the info!

Congratulations Doug

I cant wait

Only 4 weeks to go.

Next hurdle is the insurance quote :S

EDIT:

Get some Poorboys Black Hole Glaze as a base coat before the Collinite and Jetseal...Great stuff

Hi Chris,

Thanks for the suggestion...unfortunately I won't have time to get it before tomorrows mission, however I was going to do the base coat with Carlack Nano, then 2 coats of Marque D'Elegance. I'll be Jetsealing the wheels.

I went out in the Golf today as I had to get into a multistory in St.Albans...it's a thing of nightmares & I wasn't about to chew up the Neptunes or get a dent stamped into the side (the spaces are probably OK if you drive an original Mini!). I do think the heated seats in the VRS run a little cooler than the Golfs...but they still get plenty hot, so are worth having.

I also found that you can step through tracks on the SD card using the rocker switch on the end of the Wiper stalk via the maxidot. The band & track names are also then listed on the maxidot. Very nice little feature.

I've also setup the anti hijack feature...it's a doddle in the maxidot.

Cheers

Doug

Congratulations Doug

I cant wait

Only 4 weeks to go.

Next hurdle is the insurance quote :S

EDIT:

Get some Poorboys Black Hole Glaze as a base coat before the Collinite and Jetseal...Great stuff

I forgot to mention that regarding insurance, try 'Compare the market' my cheapest quote was £247 with 'More Than' as they insure my VX I gave them a call thinking they'd be even cheaper direct as my VX is covered with them...nope!

It turned out that as this would be a 3rd car I could only transfer 4 years no claims over, so the price went up to £334.16....which was still a lot cheaper than Skoda's £458.37.

Just for your info. that's with a £250 XS, £50 screen XS, C.car, protected no claims, European cover, parked on the drive. I used to be covered with Adrian Flux (who I know a number of members recommend) on my VX, but using 'Compare the market' I got their quote halved down to faintly ridiculous (for the right reasons) £207 (less XS as well!)!!

Good luck & I hope this info helps.

vRS and VX220.. Good combo.. :yes:

I've got my audi in anthracite, would have loved it in vRS race blue :p best colour car i had

I forgot to mention that regarding insurance, try 'Compare the market' my cheapest quote was £247 with 'More Than' as they insure my VX I gave them a call thinking they'd be even cheaper direct as my VX is covered with them...nope!

It turned out that as this would be a 3rd car I could only transfer 4 years no claims over, so the price went up to £334.16....which was still a lot cheaper than Skoda's £458.37.

Just for your info. that's with a £250 XS, £50 screen XS, C.car, protected no claims, European cover, parked on the drive. I used to be covered with Adrian Flux (who I know a number of members recommend) on my VX, but using 'Compare the market' I got their quote halved down to faintly ridiculous (for the right reasons) £207 (less XS as well!)!!

Good luck & I hope this info helps.

Many thanks mate

Great write up

There's a VAGcom setting to adjust how much power assistance is given to the steering. Adjusting this could well give you the same steering feel as the last car since the electric power assistance system used is pretty much the same on Golfs and Skodas...

I found the power steering on mine ridiculously light when I first got it (especially coming from a 15 YO car with no PAS!), but a month on I've mostly got used to it and am not so bothered now. Still, it does still feel light on turn in to my tastes but I do appreciate the lightness when parking.

A previous car (Nissan Primera) had a nice balance where you couldn't really feel the PAS whilst driving, only when manoeuvring at slow speed which I guess is the ideal balance.

vRS and VX220.. Good combo.. :yes:

Cheers!

Regarding the light pas, it nearly caught me out this morning...we had light snow & it doesn't appear that the local council thought it worthwhile to grit even the main road. I was turning right onto the main road as some kind chap flashed me to do so (I'd been sat there for a couple of minutes). Luckily I was only going very slowly as I still havn't adjusted the less responsive throttle map of the VRS, the steering felt fine & the front end seemed to turn in fairly crisply...then the back-end came round on me!! It was a fairly easy catch but it certainly got my heart-rate up!

I do think I'll try to get this re-calibrated to give a little more feel...I don't mind getting a sweat up when I'm parking...& the wife won't go in anything smaller than a super-tanker docking bay!

I've spent the day cleaning the car & took some pics...to post them within a post do you have to be a 'Freedom' member, as I don't fancy mucking about with links to a picture hosting site?

Thanks in advance for any help.