Well, I did try and search for such a topic and couldn't find anything ...

Having just picked up a 2006 Octy VRs (woo!), and having previously never owned or driven a Turbo Petrol car in any form, I was looking for driving tips and gotchas from hard-bitten VRs owners to get the most out of my new car.

Additionally (and this must be on the forum somewhere), what brand of fuel do people recommend for best performance?

Thanks all.

Edited 25 March, 201016 yr by muterobert

Simples really-try and keep a steady speed and reduce the amount of time you are braking and then accelerating back up.......drive as smoothly as you can and the engine is flexible enough to bimble along in 5th.

If you put the info display on current mpg setting it can help you to be disciplined.........it can also show you how low mpg drops when you acclerate hard-5mpg!

to be honest though dont worry too much about it-they aint the thirstiest of cars even when you rag em!

enjoy

Always use premium fuel, Shell V-Power if you can.

Mid-range torque is your friend. Use it to your advantage. As standard revving the car to red line doesn't achieve much IMO and changing up early will get you about quicker.

Mid-range torque is your friend. Use it to your advantage. As standard revving the car to red line doesn't achieve much IMO and changing up early will get you about quicker.

That's a good point, I'm still getting used to that.

Most mornings I have a blast up onto the A38 at Ripley, giving it the beans up the slip road. I've noticed the acceleration drops off at the top of the revs, and changing up 3>4 gives you an extra kick, which, coming from an N/A car is unexpected. .

Always use premium fuel, Shell V-Power if you can.

Steer clear of bog standard supermarket fuels. Makes the car feel like you've got 2 fat blokes in the boot.

Supermarket super unleaded is ok.

Redline ftw!

Its easy to drive quick as it has such a good spread of torque. Other than that just use the normal FWD techniques to 'make progress' , its good for a bit of heel and toe and i'm getting to grips with left foot trail braking more quickly in it than previous cars, its a nice easy car to drive

Only criticism is the brakes feel fantastic on initial bite but actually seem to promise more than they actually give if you brake hard from speed and the steering is slightly numb around centre......very good off centre weighting and feedback tho

I'm very happy with my new car

Try not to plonk around in too low a gear as you will

use more fuel than letting it rev a bit

Try not to plonk around in too low a gear as you will

use more fuel than letting it rev a bit

...and ruin the gearbox! Good advice that is

Brilliant advice all. I shall don my Padawan robes and try these tips on the journey home.

It's a shame my first tank of fuel had to be bog standard Unleaded as I had no choice at the time. Still, I suppose at least I get to see the difference for myself which is always good.

One thing I'm struggling to get to grips with is just how fast you can be going without even noticing. The 'advantage' of a nasty Astra oil burner was that you absolutely knew when you were going over 80, mainly because your eardrums began to bleed.

Thanks again all.

Only criticism is the brakes feel fantastic on initial bite but actually seem to promise more than they actually give if you brake hard from speed

Totally agree. Has scared the beejeeziz out of me a few times to the extent that I am going to get rid of the standard pads this weekend despite loads of wear still left in them

Redline ftw!

When you've got a K04, HPFP and injectors to match, deffinatly. Not so sure with a K03 though, runs out of steam.

Speaking of which, anyone want to buy a K04? (Shameless Plug I know - its up in the car parts section)

One thing I'm struggling to get to grips with is just how fast you can be going without even noticing. The 'advantage' of a nasty Astra oil burner was that you absolutely knew when you were going over 80, mainly because your eardrums began to bleed.

Yup I remember the same thing. Especially when overtaking on single carriageway roads.

Very easy to end up in 3 figures without trying hard. But only ever on private roads officer.