Eight months into VRS ownership now. Whilst I enjoy the fast, comfortable and spacious nature of the car it does seem to really struggle with transferring power to the road. I drove 250 miles last night and found the handling vague on the motorway and all over the place on A roads varying between going light sometimes and feeling like I was dragging it around bends at others. In short it's not confidence inspiring at all and doesn't feel 'planted' and able to properly transfer the available power to the road. Would be really interested in others thoughts on the handling abilities of their cars and whether I'm alone in this.

Also it's a TSI petrol and I filled it with Tesco 99 last night to see if it made any difference at all. Acceleration felt a bit smoother but I only got 34mpg according to the trip compared to the 36 I usually get for the same journey. I have seen others quoting regular 40mpg for journeys like this so again my experience is disappointing . Another question I would like to ask is what is the point of the readout for current fuel consumption? On my car this rapidly cycles on seemingly random figures ranging from low teens to more than 100 mpg! How on earth do you ever know what the actual figure is as the figures vary so wildly and change continually?

I'm really wanting to like my VRS, which was bought on the basis of all the good reviews out there and at £17k was considerably more than I've ever spent on a car before. However it's heavy drinking (an optimistic 31mpg indicated) and the handling issues have got me thinking of selling less than a year into ownership.

I've always thought the handling on both of mine to be pretty good; on a par with the Mk 5 Golf GTi but just not quite as sharp.

If you're worried about mpg you've probably bought the wrong car though; drive it like it's meant to be and you'll see mid twenties

I only average about 37mpg in my CR TDi :S

I have a 2008 TFSI (same suspension set-up as you FL version) and I find the handling excellent. I was in the motor trade for 30 years and drove/owned a massive variety of cars - Imprezas, various BMW, Mercs, Focus ST, recently owned a MkV Golf GTi in parallel with my vRS (same chassis of course). The vRS is really very good in the grand scheme of things and I have no qualms at all concerning the handling. Mine has the Whiteline ALK at the front and Whiteline Rear ARB which sharpen things up a little.

I am puzzled by your comments about the steering going light and heavy. I have not noticed this.

I would suggest a thorough check of the chassis (full 3D-alignment done on decent kit such as a Jim Bean, Bear, Sun etc rig by someone who knows what they are doing).

As regards MPG my TFSI returns about 32mpg on average. During a recent 200mile trrip I got 40mpg (sticking to speed limits). On the way back I got 38mpg (driving quite hard - but still sensibly). I would expect your TSI to return more.

Sounds to me like you need full four-wheel tracking, camber etc set-up done. Your car should be rock solid on the M/way.

I was brought up on a 205gti before spending the last few years in more mundane cars. The Octavia was supposed to be the sensible way of having fun. I can honestly say that the six year old fiesta I was driving previously inspired more confidence and was more fun on roads like the A303 that I drove last night.

I am also puzzled by the steering weighting issues and agree it could well be the set up that has gone awry. The area I live is plagued with speedhumps. Anyone know of a good wheel alignment/ suspension place in Cambridge? Any advice on this would be gatefully received as you can tell from my previous post that I'm quote down on the car at the moment.

Anyone have any ideas on the current mpg readout on the trip. One moment it says 200 mpg and the next 17mpg with various combinations in-between!

Anyone have any ideas on the current mpg readout on the trip. One moment it says 200 mpg and the next 17mpg with various combinations in-between!

SOunds like its reading instantaneous rather than averaging.

If a Fiesta feels better to drive then there is definitely something very wrong with your setup. At high speeds on A-roads mine runs like its on rails, and is not easily upset. Steering is fairly weighty and responds very smoothly to inputs on corners. Its the kind of car that I find relaxing to drive at high speeds because its so stable and predictable.

Anyone have any ideas on the current mpg readout on the trip. One moment it says 200 mpg and the next 17mpg with various combinations in-between!

Sounds like you have it on actual rather than average. Just scroll to the next setting on the MFD.

On fuel economy I have a 2007 TFSI and i have only ever seen 30MPG on the MFD once, 27 is a good trip! (That said I never use motorways or A roads, it is all 30, 40 50 and sometimes 60 roads).

Anyone have any ideas on the current mpg readout on the trip. One moment it says 200 mpg and the next 17mpg with various combinations in-between!

Like you I see little use for the instantaneous MPG readout other than to show how much it varies second to second and to scare you into being "sensible" when you see it drop to 3-4mpg when you floor the throttle going uphill. It would be more useful if it integrated MPG over, say, the last minute. I have driven loads of cars that have it and they are all equally useless!

I have Maxidot that allows you to remove items from the computer display - instantaneous MPG may be about to go!

The instant MPG is pretty good if you're trying to achieve max economy but that's hardly the point. On the Maxidot there's a trip average (which sounds what the OP wants) and an overall average which I tend to look at because that's what my last two cars had. With regard to the handling definitely sounds as though something is wrong. As a counterpoint to your Fiesta story I jumped in a 7 year old 206 last night and drove at motorway speeds and immediately thought how vague and unplanted it felt after my VRS.

Hauptman, mine is definitely not stable or predictable so there's definitely an issue. In two minds whether to refer this to the dealer, Vindis Cambridge, or look for an independent alignment expert. Anyone got the correct camber settings etc for the FL?

On fuel consumption, this wouldn't be an issue for me if I felt the car was performing well in other areas.

id be pretty sure you have an issue somewhere, or you alignment is pretty far out.

as standard they roll alot, but they still have alot of grip. once modified they really do track very very well. A simple upgrade of the rear anti roll bar makes a huge difference, especially in cornering grip and the ability to put power down earlier in the corner without wheelspin.

This is a reply i posted to a previous thread, from my personal experience and how i would modify the chassis were i to buy a vRS again (which i am)

If i was to buy a vRS again i would modify in this order. The car as standard has to much body roll, and the brakes are not good from high speeds, and are prone to fade, so need doing first big style.

-Adjustable rear Anti roll bar (whiteline/eibach/H&R/BSH) -£150

-Whiteline anti lift kit - £135

-Front pads (rears will be fine) - Mintex M1144/ferrodo DS2500/hawk HP+/pagid RS4-2 – anywhere from £90-£140

-Motul RBF600 brake fluid £15-20/litre

Once that’s sorted, you wil get a huge improvement from a stage 1 remap. And I mean huge.

-Stage 1 remap (REVO/GIAC) £500 (don’t buy sh!te, not when it comes to your engine)

The front camber is fixed on the vRS, but the TT has adjustable camber so you can fit the TT control arms to allow an increase in neg camber. This and a LSD will allow you to get the power on much earlier.

-Audi TT lower control arms/ball joints/poly bush-£350

-Limited slip differential (LSD)-£1200 fitted (really needed on these cars)

Then id consider a good spring damper combo or coilovers. If your not happy with height you could always just do the springs but that will reduce the effectivness of the std dampers.

Sy

Consider going to a SPECIALIST chassis garage such as centergravity or wheels in motion. let them check out the handling and chassis settings, and you will get a very quick and definitive answer/solution.

Edited 30 October, 201015 yr by janner_Sy

Anyone know where I can find the whiteline rear arb for sale these days? Cant seem to find it.

Found it for anyone interested : http://www.dpmperformance.co.uk/whiteline-24mm-rear-anti-roll-bar-adjustable-versionbr-octavia-1z-14-16-19tdi-20fsi-rs-20t-fsi-20tdi-rs-20tdi-fwd-0504-p-4171.html

I take it <1hr to fit one of these by a decent mechanic?

Edited 30 October, 201015 yr by bluevrs3

Hello bluevrs3 are we related ,Clarky is your car on those c rap Dunlops if so ditch them , mine Has Vredstein sessantas, handling superb ,I only get 40 on the motorway, 27 to 36 is the norm. If you want great mpg you dont buy a performance hatch

Hello bluevrs3 are we related ,Clarky is your car on those c rap Dunlops if so ditch them , mine Has Vredstein sessantas, handling superb ,I only get 40 on the motorway, 27 to 36 is the norm. If you want great mpg you dont buy a performance hatch

Maybe :p

Good point, though getting my geometry adjusted properly made the biggest difference. Do note that skoda did recently mention that the rear camber should be 1.2 rather than 1.5 to help prevent sawtoothing tyres. The car did feel a little twitchy beforehand.

As for MPG, I'm in agreeing with everyone else. Driven with reasonable pace and use of cruise control 37mpg+ is easily attainable on super unleaded (sainsburys) and a remap, even with the recent temperature drops. That's on a 27 mile commute each way, on the TFSI engine too.

Also should mention that I noticed the previous owner had the car's power steering set to the most heaviest position possible. Worth asking the dealer to set yours this way, or is it possible from Maxidot?

Edited 30 October, 201015 yr by bluevrs3

Have to say I'm surprised by you comments... Admittedly I have only had mine 3 weeks, but coming from a megane r26, generally considered one of the best front drives, I haven quite impressed.

Ultimately the vas doesn't feel quite as sharp, but it does feel stable and planted.

I'd consider a trip to the dealer but also couple of quick things I'd do.

1. Check your tyre pressures and condition.

2. Go blag a test drive to compare against yours, should help identify if there is a prob with your car

Go blag a test drive to compare against yours, should help identify if there is a prob with your car

This is the best advice and then check out the geometry as others have suggested. Think I'd have bought the diesel. (opens can of worms and runs away quickly.....)

Frankly, since the OP's car appears to have been purchased used, I'd make a careful check for any bent components (lower link, track rod, strut). May have been slammed into a kerb in all that ice last winter. A full 3D alignment would also show up any chassis distortion.

Thanks for all the comments. Car was bought new so unlikely to have been badly damaged previously.

Oh and test drove the diesel but bought petrol because I thought it was much smoother. Can of worms et al

If the car is 8 months old i presume the tyres are pretty worn? As stated in a previous reply if you have Dunlops then dump them .

I have an issue with my car but only lately. it was perfect up to now.. It feels like it's on soft tyres especially on the back. Cornering is ok but when at high speed on the straight and if any uneveness it feels unstable. If i overtake on the straight on slightly uneven ground you have to work more to keep it straight as you overtake. When doing logs one night at high speed when i braked the back felt like it was swaying and for a second thought i was going to lose control!. :wonder:

The VRS has a lot of overhang over the rear axle so that does not help.

Tyres are key but it is whether to go for Contis or Michelins I guess which come out top on most tests.

Keep the boot near empty is key as else the weight distrubution messes up the car.

Enjoy the TSI VRS and we get 40 MPG on runs to London/West Wales but I am looking forward to my 1.8 TSI DSG L&K which should be here in 2 weeks and IMO has the best balance of economy and performance.

VRS is good for its size compared to A3, A4, Cupra, Fabia VRS, Mini, Focus, S40 and the ride is surprisingly supple considering its sporty nature. A very good balance but no track car.

Edited 31 October, 201015 yr by lol

My 06 VRS TFSI is rock solid and planted, not as sharp as the mk5 golf but not far off, with lovely steering feel. You need to check out your geometry, bushes and state of your shock absorbers IMO

Not surprised its not as much fun as a fiesta tho, they arent!

Edited 30 October, 201015 yr by VRsMatt32

Hi

Done 20k in my diesel vrs FL loved the handling generally (Little soft when really pressing) then at 17k, swapped from Continentals to Dunlops and its a different car, I have to work at keeping it in a straight line and steering is much less positive !

Tyres can make a big difference.

hope you get sorted !!!

Hmm. Shame we don't get a choice over whether Dunlops or Continentals are fitted at the factory.

Gotta get this car sorted. It looks so bleddy good sat outside not moving. I just want it delivering on the road.

Got another 250 mile blast back up from Devon to Cambridge tonight and I should be looking forward to it!