Hello everyone,

I hope that this is the right place to post this...

I have just put down a deposit on a new (FL) 2010 petrol Skoda vRS although I cannot believe the waiting time for delivery - I'm looking at early June if I'm lucky! But, I hasten to add, I also appreciate the fact that Skoda UK have been swamped with orders - either involving the scrappage scheme or the VAT-free offer (of which I myself took eager advantage). The dealer was superb, encouraging and friendly but not pushy and opportunist and it was, all in all, a pleasurable experience. I have owned many cars before but this is the first I'm actually having built from scratch so having a new car is actually going to be quite exciting!

I looked at the "competition" and test-drove most of them: Mark V and VI Golf Gti, Seat Leon Cupra, Audi A3 and TT, BMW 3 320i (as you can see - heavy on the Germans!) and the new Renault Megane etc. I can honestly say that I in the vRS I have found the perfect package of perfomance, space, comfort and affordability that none of the above mentioned marques could match. I mean, VW and Audi in particular were snotty and over-priced in the extreme when it came to balancing perfomance with usability! And to think that they all share the same platform. I bet VW must be ruing the day that they devised Skoda as their "budget" brand considering that Skoda is now directly competing with and often doing better than their own in-house models! And when I mentioned casually that I was also considering the Skoda vrS - the badge snobbery! And the condescension! "Boy-racer", "chavvy", "try-hard", "class-wannabee" were among the more choice comments I had from my experiences with the "quality" dealerships!

I currently have a second-hand (2001) BMW 3 series and a 1996 Peugeot 106 (which I inherited from my in-laws) and cannot wait to finally drive a comforable, hassle-free, quick-off-the-mark, well-put-together, not-take-the-p*** -when it comes to servicing, quality, family-friendly car (apologies for being heavy on the hyphens!).

My only problem was with the specs: I wanted petrol and not diesel (most of my driving is London-based, and although I love to put my foot down at the weekends outside the big smoke, and I did drive the CR, I still couldn't justify the additional expenditure of the diesel).

And manual and not DSG (not convinced by the gearbox and want to feel more "connected" to the car I'm driving).

Have ordered it in Anthracite Grey with black leather seats (couldn't be dealing with the whitish seat covers of the standard model - like moths to a flame where I live and more classy I think), rear parking sensors (for when the better half finally learns to drive!), auto dimmers, spare wheel, MDI and Maxidot.

I did not go for the Columbus Sat-Nav (never had it and like to keep my eyes on the road and too expensive for what it is), nor curtain air bags (what will be will be!?), nor xenons (for anyone who drives mostly in built up areas or on the motorway you know what it's like to have them bearing down on you - flash-central with irritation to boot!) BMW and Audi owners - you know who you are!

I hope I've done the right thing. In all honesty (despite what I've said above) I'm thinking about amending my order to indeed include the afore-mentioned xenons (useful and pretty to look at as well as allowing greater visibilty on country roads - I do visit friends and family who live out in "the sticks") and the curtain bags (this is my girlfriend speaking who "helpfully" alerted me to the dangers of not having them and the safety of our yet unborn children). But I do think I've specced (is that a word?) a good car.

Anyhow, I would gratefully receive feedback as to whether you all feel I've made the right choice. I've looked at, for example, the merits of xenons from many of the users on this forum as well as the disadvantages. Sar-Nav I think I can take or leave and at £1500 extra, I think I'd prefer to go old-style and look at a map while taking in the street signs! Although the resale option is worth considering I suppose.

Anyway, enough of this. Thank you, fellow Briskodians for all of your anonymous input into advising me of choosing wisely when it came to my next car. I look forward to being "one of the gang".

Best,

Alex.

welcome to briskoda

Welcome

A Tom Tom will serve you well enough

Hello & welcome

Ben

Howdeedodee!! Good choice, ChrisRs a mate on here has that colour, looks sweet . You will not regret it. My previous car was a Lexus. True car buffs know it is a good choice, and i can get my bike in the back easily . Friendly folk on here, and amazing how many are local in your area .

Welcome to briskoda!

welcome to the club mate, where in London are you?