Thinking that an Elegance 1.8 TSI DSG estate. loaded with options may better meet my needs than a vRS estate, lower purchase price, lower insurance. Lots of rim breaking pot holes round here for 40 section tyres.

Does anyone have a 1.8 TSI with factory sports suspension and Pallas 17" alloys? How is the ride? What size tyres are standard?

Is it true the 1.8 TSI engine has a chain rather than a timing belt?

Is Alcantara hard wearing? Difficult to keep clean?

D

I've seen alacantra in the astra coupes wear pretty badly, but i find the alacantra on the vRS seats i purchased to wear quite well.

I've recently given the alacantra a tidy up with autoglym interior shampoo, quick spray and a rub with a damp cloth brought the dirt straight out

Thinking that an Elegance 1.8 TSI DSG estate. loaded with options may better meet my needs than a vRS estate, lower purchase price, lower insurance. Lots of rim breaking pot holes round here for 40 section tyres.

Does anyone have a 1.8 TSI with factory sports suspension and Pallas 17" alloys? How is the ride? What size tyres are standard?

Is it true the 1.8 TSI engine has a chain rather than a timing belt?

Is Alcantara hard wearing? Difficult to keep clean?

D

Instead of an Elegance, loaded with options, why don't you just go for a 1.8TSi DSG L&K.- in reality it won't cost you any more and a L&K with same features as a option loaded Elegance will be easier to sell with a better residual! (Oh based on my own decision to order a L&K instead of vRS with options!)

Just my opinion

John.

The 17" tyre size is 225/45/17 XL, I would go for the Pegasus wheels instead of the Pallas. The suspension is great, sits lower than the standard Vrs. You could order the Vrs with 17" Zeniths if the lower profile 18" where bothering you.

I too would look at the L&K, even though its more it may work out cheaper overal than an elegance with options. My aunt & uncle was going for the 1.8TSi Elegance with a few options, in the end they went to the L&K. They did go for the alanctra seats as they did not like the grey leather as the only colour option.

Not visibly very low and not 'sporty'. Feels like a normal hatchback ride and is comfortable over sleeping policemen.

Bought from the showroom as a pre-registered 0 miles, would not have specified it myself.

I am really pleased with the sport suspension and 17" wheels on my Elegance and the seats are more confortable than ones on the L&K IMO

I too would like to know about the chain drive. My sr20det has one and the warm start up rattle

Edited 4 February, 201016 yr by GreyTSI

I love the sports suspension compared to normal.

Yes it is firmer, and from new does take a few k to loosen up, but isnt as bone shaking as many say IMO. All depends what you're used to.

K.young, the peg's have been discontinued :(

I love the sports suspension compared to normal.

Yes it is firmer, and from new does take a few k to loosen up, but isnt as bone shaking as many say IMO. All depends what you're used to.

K.young, the peg's have been discontinued :(

Noooooooooooooooooooo !! Does anybody think the 18" Luna wheel from the Superb would look cool on a Octavia ??

Nah, B19's are the biz. Again discontinued :(

how much lower than standard suspension?

30mm, 15mm lower than the VRS

25mm I think, there are lots of threads if you do a search.

I dunno if it was just me but I found the sports suspension really "crashy". It was nice and firm for the corners but just too damn firm for normal driving. I found the VRS suspension much less evil on the spine when I got it but still firm which I was happily surprised about.

I went from a 55 L&K with sports and 17" pegasuss wheels to a VRS tdi with 18" rims.

I dunno if it was just me but I found the sports suspension really "crashy". It was nice and firm for the corners but just too damn firm for normal driving. I found the VRS suspension much less evil on the spine when I got it but still firm which I was happily surprised about.

I went from a 55 L&K with sports and 17" pegasuss wheels to a VRS tdi with 18" rims.

When applying for insurance do u need to specify u have optional alloys and different suspension? I got some quotes on 'Gocompare', optional wheels added £30 to the yearly cost, but if u ticked the box for suspension changes it more than doubled the quote !!

When applying for insurance do u need to specify u have optional alloys and different suspension? I got some quotes on 'Gocompare', optional wheels added £30 to the yearly cost, but if u ticked the box for suspension changes it more than doubled the quote !!

i did notify the insurance of both the sports suspension and the bigger wheels but as there were a factory fitted option it was classed as a no cost mod (direct line). I think it depends on which insurance company you go with as others will charge you more even for factory fitted stuff

Generally these compare sites dont like factory mods. They treat mods as if you're some chav doing urban F1.

Always declare and ring the insurer offering the best price to discuss factory fitted mods.