Well got our vRS estate on 21st May and all I can say is how impressed I am with it!

Initially I wasnt too sure about the DSG; I thought it was very good but I found it hampered keen driving a bit by not quite reacting as I would have done had I been in charge of changing gears myself. However after a few hundred miles of mixed driving and having the chance to get to know the car better I wouldnt be without it. In fact I now find it a real chore having to get into my own car and change gears myself!

I find leaving it in D is best for smooth slower driving. Its on the whole very smooth; it is possible to not always get the gearchange you expect (i.e it will sometimes hold a higher gear when giving it some throttle where it would give more go if it dropped a cog, also often tries to carry out low speed manouvers on a steep incline in 2nd gear, realises it will be best in 1st so changes down and surges forward; find it does this every time I go up our (rather steep) driveway, how i've not driven into the house yet it a bit of a miracle haha! On the whole though its very smooth and very quick.

S mode is rather balistic but I find it unnecessarily holds onto the gears, even at lower speeds. It will hold onto 7K until it shifts which whilst it isnt a problem and the car is quite keen and happy to do it, its not something you always want.

Personally I find the best way to drive the car keenly is to flip the lever into manual mode and use the paddles to control the shifts. I find it tends to hold the gear you've selected all the time (so long as its a sensible one) and will hold onto it until you decide to shift, only real auto changing is downchanges as you brake which are actually quite welcome at times, but you can use the paddles to downshift yourself and you get a nice little blip when doing so. This way you can use full throttle but avoid clicking the kickdown switch too. Once I started driving the car like this I immediately liked it more and more and it becomes pretty much fully manual.

The standout feature of this car is definitely the engine. Its very quiet and refined at idle and low speeds, but sounds lovely when extended, spinning like a sewing machine all the way to 7K. The supercharger/turbocharger handover is fantastic, the only evidence of this occuring is the clicking of the electromagnetic clutch. It provides the car with a solid seemless wall of power from tickover right up to the uppper reaches of the rev range. I have no doubt that it would keep a Scirocco GT/MK6 Golf GTi honest it feels that quick. I can only imagine as the miles build its performance will continue to get stronger.

Handling wise i've not had too much oportunity to test it out but it does seem very good. It rolls a little but the ride is very compliant and theres loads of grip. I think the XDS system works very well to contain oversteer too; if you use a lot of throttle on a roundabout its apparent the ESP is doing alot of work to keep you going in the direction in which you are pointing, even in 3rd gear!

As a family holdall i'm also impressed by the level of standard equipment and the confort within. For the price its rather good to get things like XDS, Hill Hold Control and Tyre Pressure Sensors as standard. It seems impecably built though it is evident that its also been built to a cost. I am a bit concerned how well the shiny interior plastics on the doors and dash will wear over time. We had an Ibiza a few years ago and that was similar and wore pretty badly. Dash actually already has a couple of very minor scratches on it, no doubt inherrited whilst it was being bolted together at the factory.

The seats are great, the steering wheel is v nice too being very similar to that in an A3 S line. The Swing stereo is excellent, sound quality being very acceptable for what is after all a fairly cheap supermini. The MDI system is excellent as it is in any other VAG product. Standout interior feature on the Estate is without doubt the size of the boot, it is enormous for what is supposed to be a small car. Dog stil doesnt know what to do with himself in the back!

Something I am a little disapointed with Skoda for is the recent deletion of the standard Cimatic Climate control system in place of manual AC. Ultimately its not a big deal but I bought the car on the basis it would have semi-auto AC, which the late MY 2011 cars actually do not. Those that are awaiting delivery of late 2011 cars without Climatronic best be aware of this but like me probably wont care too much.

Other dislikes are the lack of a locking fuel filler flap and rear courtesy light. Also the Isofix fixings are hidden beneath the rear seat cushions rather than being readily accessible as in other cars. Not a big deal but getting the base fitted is a bit of a pain and does dent the seat base. Also have to be careful not to damage the seatbelt buckle. Otherwise nothing else to dislike.

Car isnt my daily drive (is the wifes) so largely she decided on the spec and we didnt go crazy. If I was using it every day I would have probably opted for cruise control and an armrest but I have to say so far I've not missed them one bit.

For those of you that are waiting for your cars I hope this adds to your excitement. I have to say I've had a few new cars in the past, a couple could be described in some respects as nicer than the Fabia but now we actually have it I think its not only the nicest car I've possessed but also one of the nicest cars I've driven. I was a little worried I'd be rather underwhelmed with the car when it finally showed up but I can categorically say that wasnt the case at all. Looks better in the flesh than in any photo and goes, stops and steers so well I keep looking for oportunities to drive the thing....reminds me I think the dog needs a walk ;-)

Edited 2 June, 201115 yr by pipsyp

Good review mate, I will have to add to it once I get mi almost identical car

Nice review. General consensus seem to be the more it's driven and the longer you take to get used the the change in driving style the better it's gets. Can't wait for mine even though from September on it gets colder and wetter so there will be less chances to go for sunny Sunday blasts up Brecon

love my hatch to bits, not missing a manual as much as i thought i would, good reveiw

Very nice review i have had my vRS estate for 2 weeks and it`s the best skoda i have had to date i love the thing and the best thing about it is the little one love it too

So far my favourite Skoda too. (I'm on my 4th Skoda)

Indeed, good review. I'm still getting to grips with the DSG, and waiting with baited breath for the running in period to run out (atm on about 500 miles).

One thing which I noticed with my hatch is the accelerator pedal in mine is not chrome like the brake pedal. I went to the dealer to find out if it was an error and they said it was ment to be like that.

Seems odd, as the brochure I have at home has a pic of the pedals and both are chrome. Is that the same for you? I picked mine up on the 23rd of May, so i would say that they were built at about the same time.

One thing which I noticed with my hatch is the accelerator pedal in mine is not chrome like the brake pedal. I went to the dealer to find out if it was an error and they said it was ment to be like that.

Seems odd, as the brochure I have at home has a pic of the pedals and both are chrome. Is that the same for you? I picked mine up on the 23rd of May, so i would say that they were built at about the same time.

Both pedals are meant to be the same so your dealer is telling you porkies! I'd get down there and get them to order you one asap.... :yes:

Begs the question why a muppet fitted different pedals and how was it allowed to leave the factory like that?!

Hi pipsyp, nice review, one question though, you said when in tiptronic, something about "this way you can aviod kickdown when using full throttle..." the only gripe I have about the DSG is its tendancy to kickdown when you don't want it to in manual mode...

example: I'm driving down a nice country road, I select 3rd gear on approach to a bend, I WANT to drive out of the bend, on full throttle IN 3RD, as its the gear I've chosen, and there will be enough grunt for my purposes ect, but the car will always kick down to 2nd when I put my foot down, I didn't want 2nd, (at something rediculous like 6,000 revs) I wanted 3rd at 3000 revs... gggrrr....

How do you stop it kicking down on full throttle? I assume you don't actually select 2nd and enter the corner carrying 6k all the way round!

I've taken to leaving it in sport when in these circumstances now....

Hi pipsyp, nice review, one question though, you said when in tiptronic, something about "this way you can aviod kickdown when using full throttle..." the only gripe I have about the DSG is its tendancy to kickdown when you don't want it to in manual mode...

example: I'm driving down a nice country road, I select 3rd gear on approach to a bend, I WANT to drive out of the bend, on full throttle IN 3RD, as its the gear I've chosen, and there will be enough grunt for my purposes ect, but the car will always kick down to 2nd when I put my foot down, I didn't want 2nd, (at something rediculous like 6,000 revs) I wanted 3rd at 3000 revs... gggrrr....

How do you stop it kicking down on full throttle? I assume you don't actually select 2nd and enter the corner carrying 6k all the way round!

I've taken to leaving it in sport when in these circumstances now....

When mines in tiptronic (i.e stick moved over to left) you can give it full throttle and it will never kick down. Unless of course you click the kickdown switch right down at the bottom of the pedals travel....

I suspect you are inadvertently activating the switch. If this is not the case I wuold take the car to the stealers to get it looked at.

When mines in tiptronic (i.e stick moved over to left) you can give it full throttle and it will never kick down. Unless of course you click the kickdown switch right down at the bottom of the pedals travel....

I suspect you are inadvertently activating the switch. If this is not the case I wuold take the car to the stealers to get it looked at.

ok... so I just need to press the pedal to the floor more gently? I don't stand on it hard! :no:

ok... so I just need to press the pedal to the floor more gently? I don't stand on it hard! :no:

On mine you can feel a definite and obvious difference between full throttle and full throttle+kickdown switch so I don't tend to be very gentle with it. Maybe your pedal has abit too much laxity in it so the switch is operated too easily?

On mine you can feel a definite and obvious difference between full throttle and full throttle+kickdown switch so I don't tend to be very gentle with it. Maybe your pedal has abit too much laxity in it so the switch is operated too easily?

indeed, I cannot feel the kickdown switch at all, I'll have a look, and another play today, because I'm about to book it in for the 1st service, and If I cannot avoid kickdown I'll ask them to have a look

Is there really a switch you can feel?

When I had an Octavia with DSG there was definitely a big button at the bottom of the pedal - and you could feel it ....

ok, after a bit of examination, and a little experimentation, here are the results...

1) there is a big fat microswitch on the accelerator pedal, which connects with a plate and "clicks" when on full throttle, activating (I assume this is what its for) kickdown.

2) armed with this knowledge, and that I must just have lead boots I have driven 50 miles today and experimented the whole way with tiptronic.... my switch it massivley sensitive, you have to be really gentle to the point of gently sqeezing toward the floor not to activate it, any (very gentle) full throttle and it activates, driving around this with my ballet shoes on, I have managed to get full throttle without kickdown. however, sometimes it will STILL kick down (depending on the revs) even if I just squeeze to 2/3rds this annoys me.

3) my style will just have to stay the same, general economy drive "drive", fast "sport", overtake "manual overide of drive with paddles to select overtaking gear first".....

*sigh... wish I could be happier with the kickdown... its getting its 10k service on monday, I'll see what they say, as I don't have any faults to report to them!

Hi pipsyp, nice review, one question though, you said when in tiptronic, something about "this way you can aviod kickdown when using full throttle..." the only gripe I have about the DSG is its tendancy to kickdown when you don't want it to in manual mode...

example: I'm driving down a nice country road, I select 3rd gear on approach to a bend, I WANT to drive out of the bend, on full throttle IN 3RD, as its the gear I've chosen, and there will be enough grunt for my purposes ect, but the car will always kick down to 2nd when I put my foot down, I didn't want 2nd, (at something rediculous like 6,000 revs) I wanted 3rd at 3000 revs... gggrrr....

How do you stop it kicking down on full throttle? I assume you don't actually select 2nd and enter the corner carrying 6k all the way round!

I've taken to leaving it in sport when in these circumstances now....

Hi mate,

I find by shifting the lever across to manual and using the paddles the gearbox will not kickdown or shift up until the red-line so long as you avoid using the kickdown switch at the bottom of the peddle travel. You can effectively get full throttle without having to push the kickdown switch. Don't know about yours but I have to give the peddle a real firm press to the floor to get kickdown; something you have to really ask the car for rather than getting by accident.

Driven like this its extremely quick and enjoyable and about as close to a manual as you'll get. Personally I dont like S mode, only any good if youre driving the car like a tool in a straight line. Holds onto gears way too long; for me anyway. Let me know what you reckon.

Indeed, good review. I'm still getting to grips with the DSG, and waiting with baited breath for the running in period to run out (atm on about 500 miles).

One thing which I noticed with my hatch is the accelerator pedal in mine is not chrome like the brake pedal. I went to the dealer to find out if it was an error and they said it was ment to be like that.

Seems odd, as the brochure I have at home has a pic of the pedals and both are chrome. Is that the same for you? I picked mine up on the 23rd of May, so i would say that they were built at about the same time.

Hi Biff J,

DSG really does take a while to get used to, but once you do I actually think its better than a manual gearbox, so smooth and quick are the shifts. Probably the most disconcerting thing is travelling so quickly that you sometimes find the brakes are having a time slowing you down as quickly as you'd like, if you forget to use the paddles you get very little in the way of engine braking; gave myself a bit of a fright in it the other day. Probably in our case to be blamed a little bit on not the brakes not being fully bedded in yet, they certainly are powerful enough.

Personally we havent really run ours in, given it some pretty mixed (some light most spirited) driving and has done 300 miles now, still running sewing machine smooth and as far as I can tell has not used a drop of oil. I think so long as you let the car warm up sufficiently you wont have a problem giving it some beans, will do it no harm at all.

As to the throttle peddle, it should have a matching chrome and rubber one unless its something they've changed very recently as my week 18 build has matching ali and rubber peddles. Get it back to the dealer and get them to sort it out I would, sounds more like a mistake at the factory.

ok, after a bit of examination, and a little experimentation, here are the results...

1) there is a big fat microswitch on the accelerator pedal, which connects with a plate and "clicks" when on full throttle, activating (I assume this is what its for) kickdown.

2) armed with this knowledge, and that I must just have lead boots I have driven 50 miles today and experimented the whole way with tiptronic.... my switch it massivley sensitive, you have to be really gentle to the point of gently sqeezing toward the floor not to activate it, any (very gentle) full throttle and it activates, driving around this with my ballet shoes on, I have managed to get full throttle without kickdown. however, sometimes it will STILL kick down (depending on the revs) even if I just squeeze to 2/3rds this annoys me.

3) my style will just have to stay the same, general economy drive "drive", fast "sport", overtake "manual overide of drive with paddles to select overtaking gear first".....

*sigh... wish I could be happier with the kickdown... its getting its 10k service on monday, I'll see what they say, as I don't have any faults to report to them!

Hi mate,

Just seen this post. Yes the kickdown switch on my car is very obvious and not what i'd call easy to activate. Sounds like yours is a bit sensitive and spoiling your fun!

Something I am a little disapointed with Skoda for is the recent deletion of the standard Cimatic Climate control system in place of manual AC. Ultimately its not a big deal but I bought the car on the basis it would have semi-auto AC, which the late MY 2011 cars actually do not. Those that are awaiting delivery of late 2011 cars without Climatronic best be aware of this but like me probably wont care too much.

I hadn't noticed that, I've had Climatic in a few cars both VW and Skoda and think it's an excellent system, just set your temperature and have the fan speed and air direction you want and forget. It's been standard since the Mk1 Fabia came out.

It would certainly force me to spec Climatronic if I was buying a model which now has fully manual aircon.

As for the DSG kick down switch in my Passat it's a very stiff switch, in the VRS and 1.2TSi DSG I drove it wasn't as positive but still very noticable and perfectly able to drive at full throttle without operating it.

Cheers

Lee

I hadn't noticed that, I've had Climatic in a few cars both VW and Skoda and think it's an excellent system, just set your temperature and have the fan speed and air direction you want and forget. It's been standard since the Mk1 Fabia came out.

It would certainly force me to spec Climatronic if I was buying a model which now has fully manual aircon.

As for the DSG kick down switch in my Passat it's a very stiff switch, in the VRS and 1.2TSi DSG I drove it wasn't as positive but still very noticable and perfectly able to drive at full throttle without operating it.

Cheers

Lee

ok, its clear then, mine is too sensitive! will see what they can do about it at the service....

oh, and mine was registered in oct 2010, and has climate! lol... small victories eh? :| I'd rather have an ability to control kickdown in tiptronic! lol..

I had a go at the kickdown today...

Bloody hell it's like lighting the touch paper to a rocket - from 7th gear I floored it and hit the button and it dropped 3 cogs to 4th. Needless to say I was very rapidly in "yes officer, I like my driving license really" territory

Can you actually feel the button when you press the accelrator? I can't remember but I do remember kickdown being pretty brutal. It was in 6th at about 40 and I booted it. It did go like a rocket and that was just in drive! Can't wait to try Sport. 3 months to go

I think the kickdown effect would be the same in Drive and in Sport.

But yes, there is definitely a button in there.

Doesn't quite feel like the button my old DSG Octavia, but you can definitely feel a button.

Also, it was MUCH quicker :|.

After reading on here about the kick down button i had a go this morning on my way to work, all i will say is it dropped sum cogs and went like a stabbed rat was not expecting it at all , had mine 2 months and i just keep finding new things on it every time i drive it what a car!!!!

Edited 4 June, 201115 yr by russybvrs

After reading on here about the kick down button i had a go this morning on my way all i will say is it dropped sum cogs and went like a stabbed rat was not expecting it at all , had mine 2 months and i just keep finding new things on it every time i drive it what a car!!!!

Yep that sums it up nicely