Hi All,

Just came here from the Toyota forums after selling my Auris SR180 and buying this; http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201126394197496. Still awaiting its delivery, London to Durham, so haven’t been in it yet, should be getting delivered this Friday. Been reading around on the forum about the maxi dot, multi function wheel, (VCDS?) etc and am a little confused, as the car has Columbus I presume it must have a maxi dot but from looking at the photos no multi function wheel, is this something that is worth upgrading in the future? Also are there any other items, interior wise (not interested in power mods yet) that is worth doing, or looking out for?

Thanks

Chris.

Welcome to vRS ownership!

The link you posted isn't working, presumably because you bought the car so its no longer for sale

If the Columbus is factory fit then yes you will have Maxidot.

The only vRS's with multifunction steering wheels are the ones equipped with DSG (automatic). Stupid really, but Skoda UK have been known to make some pretty daft spec choices. It is possible to change the wheel to ones with the buttons fitted but they can be quite pricey (usually a few on eBay) and you'll need someone to code the car for you (forum sponsor Shark is recommended).

You will hear VCDS mentioned a lot on here, it is the cable/software used to access the car's electronic brain (CANBUS) so that you change all type of different things. It is different to the system your local Skoda dealer uses and is much more comprehensive.

As you have Maxidot there are several functions you can set up yourself, such as:

One key fob press to open all doors / just the driver’s door

Auto-lock at 15mph / auto unlock when the keys are removed from the ignition

Coming home / leaving home headlights

Etc.

VCDS is pretty clever, you can use it to change things like the climate control, wipers, lights and much much more. Things like cornering fog lights, needle sweep, tear drop wipe etc.

Enjoy the new motor, you'll have loads more questions when you pick it up so keep this thread updated - and more importantly get some pics on here so we can all see it!

Edited 16 October, 201114 yr by silver1011

Thanks for the info silver. So is the VCDS software and cable widely available - presuming its a specialist piece of kit?

the link still seems to be working for me, try this; http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201126394197496/sort/pricedesc/usedcars/colour/black/price-to/18000/body-type/estate/model/octavia/make/skoda/keywords/vrs/page/1/postcode/dl158ga/radius/1500?logcode=p

If not here are some dealer photos, will get more when it turns up...

Black Magic, very nice, our Scout is the same colour, looks fab when it's clean.

I also have a pre-facelift vRS, the one thing I wish it had was the LED DRL's (Daytime Running Lights) that the latest vRS like yours gets, you can see them coming a mile away and when they are behind you they look quite menacing!

Does yours have any other options other than the Columbus?

I'm not an expert on VCDS I'm afraid, I also believe it is referred to as VAG COM. I think it was originally created by a company called Ross-Tech but there are now several different copies available (counterfeit?), as you'd expect the cheaper systems offer less compatibility but I've read they can be picked up for as little as £70. Not sure how much the genuine system is.

Some interesting reading here:

http://www.ross-tech.com/vag-com/

There is also a list on Briskoda of all members who have the system and are happy to make the required adjustments for you, often for free but beer tokens are also widely accepted :p. You can search by area to find the nearest too.

Edited 16 October, 201114 yr by silver1011

Sounds like a nice spec at a good price! My Scout also has the xenons, maxi-dot and Columbus and personally I wouldn't want to be without them.

If u are going to get vcds then I would recommend the proper Ross-tech version. For a full license and necessary cable to plug into the car is about £260 but I wouldn't fancy trusting my cars obc to some cheap and nasty software.

Edited 16 October, 201114 yr by Anddenton

Nice. It's got the optional leather seats too. Helps to lift the interior and lend it a classier air.

Enjoy your new motor.

Looks nice; often wish I'd switched back to black instead of having white again. Needs lowering.

Assuming it has rear parking sensors the only other options I would have added would be the xenon headlights and sunset privacy glass, and probably the curtain airbags!

I think the vRS is already well specced as standard (apart from the lack of a multi-fuction steering wheel - Grrr to Skoda UK!)

As far as I can see it has a few extras

Columbus sat nav

Full leather

Mettalic paint

Front and rear park sensors

Xenon headlights

Mileage seems high for a '11' plate car, how are the front tyres for wear.

If it has Dunlop Sport Maxx GT's on the rears will start to become noisy about now with 'sawtoothing'

No xenon's as there are no headlight washers...

Off to clear my cookies to see if I can get the Autotrader link to work!

Seems expensive though; I paid less for mine new but I guess you won't have a 6 month wait for this one

No xenon's as there are no headlight washers...

Off to clear my cookies to see if I can get the Autotrader link to work!

Add says it has xenons? After market upgrade maybe?

Cheers for the comments guys, just waiting for it to be delivered now! From looking around on autotrader it doesn’t seem massively 'out there' in regards to price there seem to be many on 11 plates with no options and indeed they have only 4000-6000 miles on them but not too worried about the mileage, was more interested in getting a one with options and with no waiting list.. Did the car on Skoda configuration and came to £25,920 (£3285 in options) also, which I thought was weird - but checked at 4 dealers, the px price offered would have been lower on a new car. So got a much better (+£1250) px deal too so am happy with it.

There are a couple of issues with the advert on autotrader these being it states it has xenon and front parking - neither of which it has, but not too worried about these and it helped towards the final price. Will update you when I get it. Regarding the front tyres, other than the dealer telling me they are in good nick I haven’t seen them!

p.s. Marlborough Skoda has been great up to now - holding off the 5 star award until car has arrived!

Hi All,

Just came here from the Toyota forums after selling my Auris SR180 and buying this; http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201126394197496. Still awaiting its delivery, London to Durham, so haven’t been in it yet, should be getting delivered this Friday. Been reading around on the forum about the maxi dot, multi function wheel, (VCDS?) etc and am a little confused, as the car has Columbus I presume it must have a maxi dot but from looking at the photos no multi function wheel, is this something that is worth upgrading in the future? Also are there any other items, interior wise (not interested in power mods yet) that is worth doing, or looking out for?

Thanks

Chris.

marlborough are the guys that supply Drive the Deal, so it should be a good price. It is most likely a car that somebdoy waited so long for that they cancelled, and lost their £500 deposit, or knowing the lead time, the dealer gave the money back as they knew they could sell the car over, and over, and over (Etc) again.

Enjoy.

( First post ) This is the colour of VRS estate I'm considering but with DSG. I test drove one at the weekend (Race Blue) and I was seriosly impressed. The deal on new is nothing short of incredible. 20k after the VAT was dropped and the inclusion of 3 years free servicing!

My major problem is the brand snobbery firmly running through my veins!! It's a Skoda!? I know this is sad but I'm having difficulties....The other half hasn't which I'm surprised about but we only have a few weeks to decide. Alfa Giulitta Veloce TCT and (used) Golf GTD DSG being the options. The skoda comes in 6-7 grand less!!??

( First post ) This is the colour of VRS estate I'm considering but with DSG. I test drove one at the weekend (Race Blue) and I was seriosly impressed. The deal on new is nothing short of incredible. 20k after the VAT was dropped and the inclusion of 3 years free servicing!

My major problem is the brand snobbery firmly running through my veins!! It's a Skoda!? I know this is sad but I'm having difficulties....The other half hasn't which I'm surprised about but we only have a few weeks to decide. Alfa Giulitta Veloce TCT and (used) Golf GTD DSG being the options. The skoda comes in 6-7 grand less!!??

Forget the alfa it will fall apart & be worth noting in a few years time, & every **** drives a golf.

So go for the skoda & take the badges off.

I am a definite brand snob and my last 5 cars have all been VAG and my next 5 probably will be too. I've had a Golf V5, Audi TT V6 and I'm on my third vRS now and I can honestly say they are every bit as good as the so called premium marques within the VAG group. Personally I don't care what anyone else thinks about Skoda or their perceptions of me because I drive one but it's always the people who know f all about cars that make the smart ar5e comments.

I like the fact that my car is a Skoda and that it goes like stink and embarrasses cars that cost twice as much.

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Forget the alfa it will fall apart & be worth noting in a few years time, & every **** drives a golf.

So go for the skoda & take the badges off.

Ha ha.....I think you'll find the build of the Giulietta is very good. The main thing is the value it will lose. I know that the smaller model Mito holds it's value well but the predictions for the Giulietta are bad. The Golf GTD was very nice actually...we found it to be faster and a noticably quieter engine than the Skoda. I thought this was surprising as I'm sure it's exactly the same unit!? As pointed out though the Golf is a very popular car and felt small inside.

The main thing with the Skoda is the value for money....It's amazing! Mmmmm decisions, decisions!?

Can anyone advise me on how well the VRS TDI holds it's value...is it any good?

As you have Maxidot there are several functions you can set up yourself, such as:

One key fob press to open all doors / just the driver’s door

Auto-lock at 15mph / auto unlock when the keys are removed from the ignition

Coming home / leaving home headlights

Etc.

How do you do this without a Multifunction steering wheel?

Use the same buttons you use to navigate through Maxidot - the ones on the wiper stalk.

There is an up/down toggle switch on the end of the stalk and another button on the underside of the same stalk.

Skoda for the money!

The golf will prob have better insulation around the engine bay & will be a little quieter than the equivelent skoda, The golf & octavia are basicly the same underneath.

As for the value, diesels seem to be holding their values a lot better than the petrols especialy the CR (common rail) vrs as the PD 170 seems to have a few injector problems.

Hi guys, just to reopen my initial thread, recieved the car was everything I was expecting it to be. I would like to however add bluetooth to it, read all the posts regarding the OEM and Fiscon units, and its the latter that I was about to buy then I read a thred on an Audi forum about the Fiscon unit not being compatible with the car's already installed microphone. (I say already installed as the car has Coloumbus and voice recognition, so just presuem there must be one fitted). Do you know if this is correct, i.e. the fiscon will not work with mircrophone / cannot use it and will have to install another anyway? thus would it be easier to install the OEM version, presuming this can use the pre fitted mic. Also how big is the 'box of tricks' thats with the OEM kit as I dont fancy taking all the trim off the car and was thinking about mounting tucked up under / above pedals?

Hi guys, just to reopen my initial thread, recieved the car was everything I was expecting it to be. I would like to however add bluetooth to it, read all the posts regarding the OEM and Fiscon units, and its the latter that I was about to buy then I read a thred on an Audi forum about the Fiscon unit not being compatible with the car's already installed microphone. (I say already installed as the car has Coloumbus and voice recognition, so just presuem there must be one fitted). Do you know if this is correct, i.e. the fiscon will not work with mircrophone / cannot use it and will have to install another anyway? thus would it be easier to install the OEM version, presuming this can use the pre fitted mic. Also how big is the 'box of tricks' thats with the OEM kit as I dont fancy taking all the trim off the car and was thinking about mounting tucked up under / above pedals?

The OEM Bluetooth kit is mounted under the drivers seat and is covered by a plastic cover which slides off.

If you have Columbus your car will already have the the different aerial (shark fin) for the BT kit

I think 'Shark Performance' will fit a a full factory kit.

My factory kit performs brilliantly, connects as soon as I get into the car and always has a perfect signal (RSAP connection)

Edited 26 October, 201114 yr by PowerMalc