Evening all, im looking to chop in my current car ( Fiesta ST ) round abouts March next year and was considering something like an 09 plate Octavia VRS.

You know what its like when you try to look for a new car, you think youve decided on one and then something else turns your head at the last minute. Originally i was looking at a diesel VW Passat and then at the facelifted Mazda 6 Sport - but recently ive discovered that the new diesel engines have something called a Diesel Particle Filter fitted - that can get clogged up when you use the car on short journeys.

And considering i only drive 4 miles to work every day the car would be knackered within a fortnight!

So im reconsidering my first choice - the VRS. To be honest the only reason i started looking at other cars is because i thought financially i would be better off with a diesel - but with petrol being cheaper these days im not too sure about that any more.

Im not in love with the VRS yet as i think its a bit plain looking - but i suppose it depends on what sort of spec and deal i can get at the time.

What are these things like to insure and run - mpg etc ?

Im currently get about 32mpg in the ST so would like the VRS to be higher considering its gonna be the main family car

Im currently paying about 530 quid with 8 years no claims for the Fezzy ST so would expect something similar to that, maybe slightly cheaper?

And what sort of things would i need to look for when browsing these cars at a dealer? Are all VRS's the same spec inside or can you get some with Sat Nav and parking sensors etc? Id want a fully loaded one if possible and want to know what to ask for!

Thanks all - sorry for the long post!

Adam

Evening all, im looking to chop in my current car ( Fiesta ST ) round abouts March next year and was considering something like an 09 plate Octavia VRS.

I run both a Fiesta ST (had it for 3.5 years - wife commutes mostly, but occasional long blast to keep it healthy) and the vRS. As your first vRS test drive will show they are chalk and cheese and I love them both for different reasons.

To address the fuel consumption question. ST gets around 30mpg on commute (5miles each way, half traffic, half B road), but she's had 38mpg on a very gentle (50mph) A road steady drive. The vRS doesn't commute, but on the odd short drive I've done, I've had around 32mpg. On a long B road drive in France (55mph + occasional village, empty roads) I got 42mpg and French motorway for many hours at 80mph got 36mpg. 70mph brings that to around 38mpg. So, yes the vRS is slightly more frugal, but then you've got so much more power!

I'll let others talk about what you need to look for as I just went for rear parking sensors for when wife drives it and I'm perfectly happy with that.

When I do my annual renew I think insurance isgoing to be just a little more than previous Mitsu Galant (around £280) but that is obviously very personal.

vRS does everything brilliantly well. Fiesta ST is huge fun, but I wouldn't want to take it on a long drive more than a couple of hours.....

4 miles each way you'll get about 22mpg from the VRS. You are right that short journeys like that are not sensible for a diesel.

I have had up to 42mpg out of it but 35 is normal for a 70mph motorway run.

Insurance depends on you and where you live. I can get it for under £300 but I'm in a cheap postcode, garage the car, 33 and I've 7 years NCB.

If you don't like the look of the car I suggest you keep looking for something else. It's you that has to live with it. A car you don't like is always very expensive.