Hi,

First of all hello as I'm new here! I don't actually have a Skoda at present, but I'm contemplating get a mk1 vRS as my new daily driver and I wondered if anyone had any advice?

I also have a few questions:

* What do you need to look out for when buying?

* What sort of economy can you expect at a decent pace on the motorway?

* Would you recommend them as a long distance car?

* What's likely to be necessary to refresh a typical used example these days? Do I need to budget for things like bushes and dampers on an average 80,000 mile example, say?

Also, the main competitor I'm looking at is a BMW 328 (either a late E36 or an early E46) has anyone here owned both by any chance? It'd be really interesting to hear your thoughts on the differences.

Cheers,

Chris

Edited 28 April, 201016 yr by Chris71

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/137484-vrs-buying-guide-please-read/

I have had a E46 325i M Sport in the past and I have a mk1 vRS now and although the BMW had more luxury's (heated seats, full leather, auto dimming rear view mirror etc.) I prefer the vRS as a daily driver. The MPG is much better in the vRS and the repair costs are much cheaper if anything does need replacing, for example the rear tyres on the BMW cost me £165 each and that was the cheapest I could find anywhere for a good tyre!!

But I would recommend you drive both and see what you like the best, at the end of the day its all down to your personal preference, also do some insurance quotes etc. first so you get an idea of the difference between the two.

This thread should give you a good idea of how good the mpg can be with motorway driving:

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/159902-whats-the-highest-possible-mileage-out-of-a-full-tank/

As far as long distance work is concerned, mine has swallowed up two 600+ mile trips to the Nurburgring and back no trouble and one of the other members on here (Bodge I think it was) went to Austria and back in his a couple of months back and covered over 2000 miles. They are a decent sized car and comfortable for long runs and if you can get one with cruise control autoroutes are a doddle.

I've never owned a Beemer but talking to other owners they are dearer to run, a mate has an M reg mid-90s 3 series and even parts for that are dear. The 6 cylinder engines in the 325/328/330 are thirstier on fuel than the 4 cylinder turbo in the Octy.

I bought mine with 85k on the clock from a dealer and it had a full Skoda service history, nothing really needed doing in the first year but in the 2nd year it needed the front Anti-roll bar replacing for £130.

Edited 28 April, 201016 yr by chicken_eyebrow

Thanks. Does anyone have any thoughts on this example? http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1523582.htm

Thanks. Does anyone have any thoughts on this example? http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1523582.htm

That has been for sale a while now, it was on that website in February when I was looking for mine, it was £4500 ish IIRC when i first saw it for sale I didn't go and look at it as I wanted a slightly newer one. It does not have Xenon's as stated in the advert, as its been for sale for a while it might give you some room for negotiation

Edited 29 April, 201016 yr by Nickbes

i owned a e36 328i sport,awesome car and wouldnt think twice bout having one again,i spent 2k on bbs alloys for it,owned it from new from 1995-2002 when i chopped it in for a civic type-r,i still regret doing that to this day,the octy will be cheaper to run on both fuel and parts and loads quicker,you would have to spend a fair bit on the bmw to get it anywhere near a mapped octy.

the ownly trouble with the e36 is that its looks pretty dated and most have been abused if u find a mint low milage,snap it up mate.

That has been for sale a while now, it was on that website in February when I was looking for mine, it was £4500 ish IIRC when i first saw it for sale I didn't go and look at it as I wanted a slightly newer one. It does not have Xenon's as stated in the advert, as its been for sale for a while it might give you some room for negotiation

Yep, xenons would be nice.

Could there be a reason why no one's bought it yet though?

watch out for the oil sludge problems, it damages your head and can also cripple your turbo. common and a big problem, second look out for worn clutches another "common" problem...

watch out for the oil sludge problems, it damages your head and can also cripple your turbo. common and a big problem,

Doesn't seem to effect the octavia, it's the longditude mounted passats more often or not, and running on 10/40 oil doesn't seem too help for what I have read

watch out for the oil sludge problems, it damages your head and can also cripple your turbo. common and a big problem, second look out for worn clutches another "common" problem...

not seen a damaged head on a 1.8t yet!!!! clutches wear so that goes without saying lol and oil sludge is only a problem if you dont service it on time or get catch tank rule that out completly???

not the best info on the vrs really

Doesn't seem to effect the octavia, it's the longditude mounted passats more often or not, and running on 10/40 oil doesn't seem too help for what I have read

Nah it happened to me mate, the turbo and the clutch. speaking from experience here. a mate who has a car shop says the clutches go commonly, they sell at least one a week. another person also said that to me who had an 04 vrs.

Ain't heard of any others tbh, thats not too say they don't though, I must have a magic clutch as mine is put through hell daily lol

Nah it happened to me mate, the turbo and the clutch. speaking from experience here. a mate who has a car shop says the clutches go commonly, they sell at least one a week. another person also said that to me who had an 04 vrs.

never heard of them eating clutches far from it........you sure he isnt talking about fabia vrs after a map???????????? ( porbably)

sludge never been a major problem on these have never seen head damage due to sludge !!!!

i've had mine nearly 3 years and its seen its fair share of hammer and abuse and ive had no problems with either the clutch or any oil sludge problems infact ive never spent a penny on it apart from 4 tyres, front discs/pads which are wear n tear and the exhaust (only because i wanted a stainless ). its only recently that ive started to update a few bits, its been absolutley fautless

Edited 30 April, 201016 yr by sivrs

using the guide in here will do u no harm at all.i used it and it was very very helpful