Does anyone have a picture of a hatchback vRS with the rear seats folded down... is the load area completely flat?

And... would anyone know the length/width available with the driver & passenger seats completely back?

TIA

Rich

The seats go down completely flat as long as you can move the drivers seat forward and still fit in to drive - i struggle with this @ 6 foot tall.

Howver its all spoilt by the diagonal strut braces that go across the area where the seats would be in the upright position, meaning you cant gat anything in there wider than about 18 inches. Have a look in the boot of one and you'll see what I mean.

Or, i'm sure someone here will have a picture.

The strut braces were news to me! Found this though, for those similarly unenlightened people:

http://www.car.co.nz/gallery/skoda/1/PB240354.jpg

But, managed to find one to measure, with the results:

Between strut braces - 18inch

Between wheel arches - 1metre

Swab up, seat flat - 60inch or 160cm, can't remember which!

Skinny 6'2 and could still get behing the wheel in that position. Dealer reckons the swabs can be removed if need be. Anyone tried?

Dealer says he can beat 12,800GBP (drivethedeal price) without problem. Happy to take a (decent) trade-in too.

Can't think of a reason not to buy one now! :-)

Rich

whats a swab? I can put the seats completley flat and still drive - its just not very comfortable - my feet feel too close to the pedals - however ive often though that I have a wierd driving position anyway he he.

I suppose in a crisis you could remove the braces - I think thay are just a hex bolted in. Its been a pain for me several times when going to the skips. Often end up with things in there sort of diagonaly resting on the brace. Not thjat much of a problem tho - I use it as a good excuse not to fill my boot with dirty stuff.

Its always a vast improvement on the scoob tho, as it had fixed rear seats and no hatch.

BTW - well pleased with my 18 inch guess between the braces!

Your 18 inches was shockingly accurate! Fortunately I just need to poke long thin boxes in... rather than washing machines etc. If the struts could be removed for emergencies that would be peace of mind.

swab = seat base - must be a colloquialism

So, the dealer reckoned you could remove the seat bases from the car, rather than lifting them up vertically against the back of the front seats. That would give another couple of inches to move the front seats back a bit before it hits the top of the folded rear seat.

Are those strut braces is every vRS? The only annoyance with mine is the bit the rear seat pins bolt into in the middle of the car, sticks up a bit. :( But having my false floor in kind of "rises above" that issue.

Those strut braces look like they're incredibly annoying for anyone wanting to bring home some serious amounts of furniture from Ikea. Are they removeable? Also, are they necessary to the support of the rear seats when folded up? :confused:

The 'swabs' I can get out in about 5 seconds flat....the seat backs take about 10 seconds. Anyway, in under 2 minutes the entire rear seats can be whipped out.

HTH

The Octy vRS Combi doesnt have the strut braces, which is a bonus. Has anyone seen the new Octy with the seats folded down? It doesn't go flat at all!! - The first bad point I can find with the machine.

I've had the seats down loads of times in my hatchback octy vRS, and unfortunately, there are thin metal supports on the underside of the swabs that tip forward. These have permanently marked the leather on the top of the seat backs.

The Octy vRS Combi doesnt have the strut braces...

I seem to remember Skoda using that as the reason the vRS estate couldn't have 17" wheels.

strut braces dont support the seat backs. They must be to help the rigidity of the rear end. I havnt got access to the car at the mo as i'm away from home - on a training course which is why i'm on here all the time this week he he.

I wiull look to see if they unbolt when I get home tho. The boot is very big - i rareley have to fold the seats dow to fit stuff in. Parcel shelf comes out more often than the seats go down for me. Sounds easy to take the seats out tho - may have a go with that when I get back.

Isn't is squab not swab? The seat squab is the bit you sit on.

i was thinking like pirates swab the decks or something he he.

Are those strut braces is every vRS? The only annoyance with mine is the bit the rear seat pins bolt into in the middle of the car' date=' sticks up a bit. :( But having my false floor in kind of "rises above" that issue.

QUOTE']

I have a standard Octy Elegance with no strut braces, but it still has the raised bit just behind the back seats.

JD

I think pirates swob?

My dictionary confirms Denis is right - or that he's brought a young pigeon, or a short fat person into the conversation!

so have you bought one yet then?

Not quite yet - i'm just giving it a couple of weeks of thought, just to be sure i'm comfortable with having a Skoda on the drive!

I'm guess most owners had to go through that stage?

But, as i'm commuting in a diesel Yaris at the moment (the Pug 106 rallye is garaged for the winter) I shouldn't having issues with the badge. In fact, being a northerner in the south-east, a Skoda would be a perfect antidote to some of the status symbol snobbery which seems to prevail around here!