Yeah maybe , but you could apply any tuning that works on a Golf to the vRS and it would be as quick ! GTi sales are still strong because Britain is a nation of snobs who long to be one better than their neighbours (and I have been as guilty as anyone else in this respect) so they see a VW badge as their proof of 'making it' in life. I honestly cant say I would buy an 1.8T powered Golf over an Octavia , but the more 'eclectic' Golfs (ie the ones with no Skoda parallel model) interest me..the V5 , and V6 4Motion , for example.

Oh and I dont class the 2.Slo as a proper GTi.

But everyone knows the Golfs history of building 'hot' versions. :flame:

On the other hand, there are still ts of people who seem to think Skoda is still a shameful brand! How wrong these people are and how much fun is it proving these people wrong!

Originally posted by fab16v in this post

How wrong these people are and how much fun is it proving these people wrong!

YOU BET!

Well - I was kind of pointing towards V6 4Motion etc. when I made my original comment. And I would imagine Golfs are lighter than Octavias. And the Octavia chassis is not as stiff as the Golf's.

Yes I know about the snobbery thing, although I can't see it. How does having a VW equate to "making it" ???!!! I see VW as a cheap car brand, except it's hotter models have some desireability because of being hot. Admittedly that view may be 20 years out of date but I can't shake it off. I don't want a VW, with the possible exception of a V6 4Motion or somesuch.

Nick

I suspect the VW+middle class/Yuppie thing came about in the 80s with the Mk2 GTi (surely VW's best ever Gti) In those days having a German car equated to 'making it'. This was probably started by the Porsche 944/911 and the E30 BMW 3 , but somehow the Golf (especially GTi) and Audi kinda grabbed onto the shirt tails of these 2 makes , thus making a German car a must have for a yuppie! It is slightly incongrous thet VW is seen as a prestige brand , when it was a certain Herr A. Hitler who suggested the VW as a means for the ordinary German to have access to a car of his or her own. I still think the aircooled cars are the 'real' VW's , but , had VW continued to build them , they would be but a memory by now , as the Golf was the companys lifeline.

The Golf GTI always was looked upon as a class leader , and in truth it was , but not now , the current GTI's are too heavy , too slow and overpriced .

BTW Nick , you can have your V6 4Motion , I'll stick with the Octavia vRS , thanks

Originally posted by mellowyellow in this post

BTW Nick , you can have your V6 4Motion

Especially with that ugly twin logo on it.

Hmm, I'd say the quicker Golfs haven't so much lost ground to the RS but to the Leons of this world, apart from snobs that can be found in all walks of life.

There's a new breed of snobs among the second-generation mediterrenean folk (mostly from Morocco and Turkey) in our country that have usurped their father's dearest wish in life for a Mercedes or a BMW - of which they prefer a 15-year old ragged example above something newer but less "classy". Being more successful than their illiterate dads (either through honest hard work or, as the word invariably goes, through their drugs businesses) they have shifted their attention to boy-racer modded Golfs and 3-series. Unless they are actually boss of something, in which case they drive a similarly clad Mercedes of the hugest possible kind. No other brand is suitable for their status, and they'd rather be shot than having to drive a Skoda.

Oh, and about the Polo also taking the 1.8T - are you sure? Wouldn't that be Ibiza Cupra territory - and the 180hp version at that, now that the Leon Cupra R has taken the 225 engine?

The Polo GTI has been a huge failure so far, both car and sales wise, and in that segment there are just too few people around who could afford it, have a class conscience and could take the real hot-blooded and cheaper Spanish alternative. I'd say for VW it only applies from the Golf up. The Golf name is still bigger than life while you can't quite say that of the Polo name - with the memory of horrible, ugly little Polos still fresh in one's mind!

I succumbed to temptation today and bought Autoexpress! I noticed something in the Fabia article that everyone else seems to have missed (or have i not been paying enuf attention?...lol) Theres gonna be a 3 Door!!!!!! at last!! I sure hope that the 1.8T goes into the 3 door vRS Fabia , that would be my ideal car! Cant wait to see some pics of it!

The idea behind the 150Bhp petrol vRS Fabia, is that it will be released together with the new Octavia.

This makes sense, given than a fast Octavia won't appear before late 2005, and during that time the Fabia will fill the gap. Current Octavia VT and RS sales won't get affected either.

Originally posted by mellowyellow in this post

BTW Nick , you can have your V6 4Motion , I'll stick with the Octavia vRS , thanks

Well I'd have to test drive it first - having never been in one. I might end up agreeing with you!! I have no idea how it compares, but instinct suggests it would be quicker and handle better than the Octavia.

Originally posted by Dmac1969vRS in this post

I succumbed to temptation today and bought Autoexpress! I noticed something in the Fabia article that everyone else seems to have missed (or have i not been paying enuf attention?...lol) Theres gonna be a 3 Door!!!!!! at last!! I sure hope that the 1.8T goes into the 3 door vRS Fabia , that would be my ideal car! Cant wait to see some pics of it!

I did try and say that in my first post.

But going back and reading it now, it turns out I made no sense at all (as usual) :p

The word "door" appearing in the post would have helped.

The 4motion (vr6) is more of a cruiser (softer suspension) although it is a little quicker due to being slightly lighter and more powerful.

However would you pay

No I wouldn't (pay the extra) either. I'm not pretending to be any kind of expert on VWs - just applying power/weight ratio rules (not that I know the figures either) and guesswork on the chassis (wheels at the corners etc) plus some journo comments I've read (plus my own experience) which suggests the Octavia is too soft and wallow-y to compete with serious fast-road machinery.

When I had my vr6 and heard about the 4motion I thought that would be something I could change to. However many mags have said it's too soft to be a GTI and alot have suggested the V5 with the optional sport suspension is the best VW "GTI".

My vr6 was also on the soft side but that was cured by having it lowered and adjustable Konis fitted. The RS though is by far the best compromise between handling and ride of any car I've owned.

EVO have said that the RS is the best performance VW.

BTW have you had a chance to test drive an RS Nick?

my mate mark has a 4motion with FK coilovers and 19" BBS wheels its defo not soft now... i struggle to keep up.

Originally posted by SkodiRS in this post

BTW have you had a chance to test drive an RS Nick?

I have driven TaviaRS's for about 2 miles - not much of a comparison - I didn't want to try too hard. It felt better than mine but the same characteristics were there. He has much better tyres than mine, stiffer suspension than even the stock RS, it's lower than mine etc. etc. etc. I did the roundabout test and it did the same as mine does - drifted sideways (front and back).

I have driven a 1.8T GTI briefly but again not hard as it wasn't mine. Before that I had a brief go in my bro-in-law's Mk II about 15 years ago. That was fun. Have never had a go in a VR6 or other such expensive machinery. Only once driven a BM (328i auto - my boss's - back from the station after dropping him off).

IMHO the only thing that lets the Octavia down is the steering... its too low geared.... needs a quick rack TypeR/TVR style... then it would be a dream.

PS Just been to my dealers today ('D day' , ie last day of my vRS ownership is now gonna be monday coz thats when its tax runs out!) They said that the petrol 150BHP 1.8T vRS Fabia is a definate , and it will come out at the same time as the 3 door Fabia (which will be availible on all models thru the range , from base to vRS) , the reason being that they want to 'kill 2 birds with 1 stone' and introduce the 3 door and the petrol vRS at the same time. The petrol turbo will be availible in a 3 and 5 door Fabia vRS road car. Good news!

I think I've just spotted a super second-car opportunity! :eek:

Will have to start talking to my better half about that Micra... Any material to slag it off is welcome, as it is a pretty good and troublefree - if slowish - machine. (Colour won't work - it's black too )

Any price estimates, by chance?

So will they stick in the last batches of AGUs or go the whole hog and pick the proper AUM? (You know, the one with the bigger injectors and the hybrid turbo and stuff.)

Surely the AGU doesn't meet EU emission standards and is sold elsewhere in the world? That's what I think, anyway. And checking ETKA, it was still in production in Oct 2002 for the 2003 Octavia. That is the latest production date I have for any engine variants.