Just so I can start to gauge the price of second hand vehicles.....

On what plate (year) did the Mk2.5 vRS first make it's appearance?

I tend to look at 18 month old cars these days as they have usually taken a fair whack of depreciation before I buy.

Is the Mk 2.5 18 months old yet?

Ta

As in the facelift mk2?

Around mid to late 2009 I believe. I've certainly seen pre and post FL 2009 cars.

Though I'm sure someone more knowledgeable than I can pinpoint an exact date!

Edited 23 August, 201015 yr by BigC

I believe the vRS FL model was launched 1 July 2009 for order. Personally I ordered my late july and took delivery 2nd October 2009. There were a few people on this forum who posted pictures of their cars from early September 2009. I guess there may be some cars registered before 1 September, but very few.

Another thought, I undersatnd that last of the non FL vRS models and the Limited Edition vRS had some interior upgrades from the FL model, but none of the external changes.

I believe the FL is barely a year old since there are a few members on here who have traded in their 18 month old pre fl cars for fl ones due to the good deals on at the moment meaning they pay less per month for a new car. With the current VAT free offer + extra discount it is hardly makes it worth buying an ex demo 6 month to 1 yr old car.

Skoda have a peculiar piecemeal approach to facelifts it seems. There were four changes made to the Octavia vRS in 2008-09, all at different times.

(a) CR diesel engine replaced PD on the vRS

( New dashboard with a radio which for some doubtless excellent Czech reason is called Bolero

© Cosmetic changes including new grille and lowered suspension on the vRS

(d) Deletion of spare wheel.

I was lucky. My April 09 vRS has (a) and ( but not © - ride is quite firm enough thank you - and mercifully not (d).

Edit - I don't know why this system can't reproduce 'b' and 'c' in brackets without trying to be clever. It isn't.

Edited 23 August, 201015 yr by Zdenek Fibich

So basically I'm looking at 59 plates for the FL - although there may well be some pre-facelift's on a 59 as well.

Although there are some good deals out there, I own my vRS outright.

So it would cost me a fair amount to buy a brand new vRS.

I tend not to buy brand new cars these days as I cry at the loss over the first 1-2 years.

I know I still make a loss when I buy 18 month old, but the big "first year hit" isn't taken by me.

So by this time next year I should start seeing some of the first FL vRS available which is probably when I'll be looking to change.

Ta

Yes, although the pricing differentials between new and s/h are a bit funny now because of things like the zero vat offers I think. For example, I spotted a skoda dealer selling a s/h vRS LE last month and the ticket price was more or less exactly what I had paid for my new one 15 months earlier, which actually made me wonder if I hadn't suffered any first year depreciation at all

Aye, it appears that the way the dealers are pricing the second hand cars on their forecourts takes no account of the real price people are paying for a brand new car.

Steve

Aye, it appears that the way the dealers are pricing the second hand cars on their forecourts takes no account of the real price people are paying for a brand new car.

Steve

My dealer told me that he could sell me a new car cheaper than a demo. He said they get 9% discount of list for the demo, but buying a new one you get the 17.5% vat equivilent discount

My dealer was still selling the pre facelift limited edition VRs when the 59 plate was current but was taking orders for the FL VRs.

I bought a brand new one for £17K

2-3 year old ones at dealers were coming out at £12-14K but with between 20-40K on the clock.

OK I've paid a few grand extra, but I've got a brand new motor for it. While I know I am going to take a hit over the first 1-2 years, I plan to keep the car for a long time, so shouldnt be a problem.