Hello boys and girls,

First post here. Here's my story - so I had a 2006 Fiesta Zetec-S TDCi for a couple of year and had endless problems with it, mainly the injector seals needed replacing every 1k miles or so, great fun...

So managed to get rid of that in April this year. Managed with the wife's car for a few months but needed a my own car, so in July I bought a 2003 Audi A4 1.9 TDI Sport Quattro. Thought it was a good buy, but since owning it I have had to change the clutch and DMF, new thermostat, new master brake cylinder, new pads and discs all round, new battery, new tyres and probably some other bits but can't remember off the top of my head.

So I have been told by the OWMBO that we need to get a new car. Have been going round all the dealers this weekend looking at offers, etc and ended up at Skoda. I've always said if I am buying a Skoda it will be the Octavia VRS version. Went there today and saw they currently have a 0% VAT + £500 deposit contribution, as well as 3 years or 30k miles worth of servicing on the Octavia's. Spoke to the person at the dealership and he is going to check tomorrow whether there are any blackline versions left (slim chance apparently, but really hope so).

So a few questions, worth it? Engine wise is it reliable - pretty sure I know the answer to that but have to ask

Then the next question is, what kind of deals do you guys reckon they will be able to do, or I should expect - I ask because the sales guy said the new VRS is coming out in March so they should be able to do a deal. So for some figures on the current deal I would be looking at £17,128.33 for the car without VAT and the deposit contribution added but with the paint option added. Ideally what do you guys think I should be pushing for to get this down to?

Thanks!

I've only had my Blackline 6 weeks so can't advise on relaibility, though from what I've read as long as you ai the DPF issues you should e fine as it's the VW CR engine. As far as availalility is concerned my understanding is that all the blacklines were spoken for a month ago so your only chance of a new one now is if the dealer can source a cancelled order, which is what he's probably doing as all skoda dealers can see current Skoda stock on line in real time. Other than that a demo one may be availoable but the finance and service deal may be different. All I can say is based on my experience so far I'd buy another.

Is it worth it? What other car comes close on this deal! no vat and leather, satnav, DAB, reversing sensors and black neptunes over a stock vRS for the same money. I would offer that as they sold out within just over a month of being released in mid september and a couple of months after they first appeared in the brochure when people could pre order there's your answer!

The £500 contribution and free servicing is connected to the finance deal (or was when I ordered mine in September) so you'd need to find out the detail on that as I understand the amount you need to take out on the finance has increased as many of us took out the minimum amount then paid it off almost straight away.

As they came in a choice of 3 colours across hatch and estaste and either manual or DSG what's available if any may not suit you, but best of luck. The vat off is for all octys (that are left) at the moment though this is an ever deminishing stock as they gear up from the mk III which is out early next year though many on this forum believe the vRS will not be available straight away (some think september of next year), plus I think it's very unlikely it will be as cheap as the Blackline.

Best of luck and let us know how you get on. You may have to take an instant decision tomorrow if your lucky

Very much doubt the new VRS is coming out in March.

Go to www.drivethedeal.com to see what price you should be looking at paying.

A Manual CR with met paint is £16585 OTR with them.

Must have options (IMO):

Spare Wheel

Maxidot

Auto Dim Mirror

Rear Parking Sensors (As you can't see jack out the rear when parking)

Blackline vRS estate manual diesel (e.g with leather, reversing sensors, sat nav, etc) target price £18,500 OTR with metallic paint, hope this helps if you opt for vRS but believe you might be too late to get your hands on a Blackline.

Hi and welcome aboard.

Any Octy vRS should have rear parking as std, I have found this a real necessity as rear guesswork when reverse parking is a lottery if you dont have.

Agree about the spare, & MFD, but dont feel auto dim mirror is a must.

Dont know where he is getting info about a new vRS in March next year, as there is a MK3 Octy due next year, but the vRS models usually follow 6-12 months later.

0% vat is WELL worth it, as it is how i bought mine, if you can do it, then see if you can get 0% finance as well, but you have to have 50% deposit & pay over 2 years, Mine will be completely paid for next month :dance: .

Hope you can get one you really want :beer:

Thank you everyone!

Steve - did you get 0% finance even when it wasn't advertised?

This is my spec list I want;

*Climate Control

*Maxidot Trip Computer

*Rear view dimming mirror

*Race Blue Metallic paint

*Parking Sensors

*Sat Nav

*Auto lights and wipers

*Spare wheel

Didn't mention before, but am after the hatch with a manual box.

Will see tomorrow what they say and will get back to you.

Have to say, this is the most friendly and helpful forum I have been a member of for a while!

Thank you everyone!

Steve - did you get 0% finance even when it wasn't advertised?

This is my spec list I want;

*Climate Control

*Maxidot Trip Computer

*Rear view dimming mirror

*Race Blue Metallic paint

*Parking Sensors

*Sat Nav

*Auto lights and wipers

*Spare wheel

Didn't mention before, but am after the hatch with a manual box.

Will see tomorrow what they say and will get back to you.

Have to say, this is the most friendly and helpful forum I have been a member of for a while!

Dual zone climate is standard. Also don't bother with the sat nav. Get one off here or ebay for a fraction of the price. I paid £400 off a fellow member for one vs the £1600 from skoda. All that is needed extra is a £35 piece of trim.

Dual zone climate is standard. Also don't bother with the sat nav. Get one off here or ebay for a fraction of the price. I paid £400 off a fellow member for one vs the £1600 from skoda. All that is needed extra is a £35 piece of trim.

Ah that's brilliant thank you! In the brochure it says dual zone air conditioning, take it that's climate then..

Anything else I have missed, or need adding?

The idea is that this will be my main car for the foreseeable future so want everything on it that I have been after in previous cars

+1 to JRW's reply.

sat nav on the blackline is the admundsen, which is basic and worth having for nothing, the columbus is expensive and not worth having factory fit IMO. the auto lights, spare wheel and rear view dimming mirror arn't on the blackline and you can't order them on it as it was a 1 size fits all limited edition, so you'd need to try and source a 'normal' vRS if these are a must for you or pay extra for the dealer to fit them to a Blackline....if you can find one

Oh and you'd do better getting a satnav with speed camera notification if you want a vRS! Cruise is standard and helps if you have a wayward right foot on long trips and get speed creep

You don't need to have grins fitted as extra, these come standard!

+1 to JRW's reply.

sat nav on the blackline is the admundsen, which is basic and worth having for nothing, the columbus is expensive and not worth having factor fit. the auot lights, spare wheel and rear view dimming mirror arn't available on the blackline and you can't order them on it as it was a 1 size fits all limited edition, so you'd need to try and source a 'normal' vRS if these are a must for you or pay extra for the dealer to fit them to a Blackline....if you can find one

Oh and ypou'd do better getting a satnave with speed camera notification if you want a vRS! Cruise is standard and helps if you have a wayward right foot on long trips and get speed creep

Haha fair enough, thank you again for the information.

Ah that's brilliant thank you! In the brochure it says dual zone air conditioning, take it that's climate then..

Anything else I have missed, or need adding?

The idea is that this will be my main car for the foreseeable future so want everything on it that I have been after in previous cars

well look at my Sig for options

save more money and get a decent colour like red! Then you can spec xenons! The xenons on the vrs mean you get bending lights with washers.

Can't have a red blackline only white, blue or black...As per previous it's a 1 stop shop but vRS's are probably getting rare now so choice may be limited to what's already ben built, tho the leather on the BL is gooooooorgousssssss sniff sniff

Can't have a red blackline only white, blue or black...As per previous it's a 1 stop shop but vRS's are probably getting rare now so choice may be limited to what's already ben built, tho the leather on the BL is gooooooorgousssssss sniff sniff

I think he knows. I doubt that there are any blacklines left anyway. I imagine though that there are plenty of fully specced cars that have been or are being built to empty the parts bin.

My advice is to spend time with the dealer if you are unable to order one to spec and find one that best fits your needs and haggle like mad using the old 'its not quite what I wanted but willing to go for it if the price is right ' line

Think you're right on all counts here!

new factory orders are not possible, just cars that have been built

And then when you get it, you can come show it off at the Maidstone meets that Steve organises

Ok so no Blackline models available. Also didn't realise how rare these VRS's are!

If I can't get the blue colour, what other colours does the VRS look good in? Already got one vote for red as above lol. Think the guy said there is a silver one with a lot of the options I want - not sure on the colour though. Waiting for a call back to confirm colour, etc.

Dark grey looks good as does white.

I think that's all down to personal choice really. Just avoid yellow. Terrible colour, no one likes that.......

Found one with all options I want in steel grey - anyone on here have some real life pics of one in that colour?

Anthracite Grey

Quick question, on drive the deal there are these two options;

Sports leather/Alcantara upholstery for £100

Perforated leather upholstery for £860

I am after the half leather option which I believe is the ones shown below? So I am guessing it's the first option for £100?

I think that's all down to personal choice really. Just avoid yellow. Terrible colour, no one likes that.......

Deffo avoid the yellow!

Here's a steel grey 2nd hand one on the skoda site to give you an idea. you should be able to find most colours here which are far more accurate than the brochure

http://www.skoda.net.r66.co.uk/carview.aspx?id=602733071

Colours, well IMO (prepare to put my tin helemt on!)

White is for ambulances and rozzers and this colour doesn't look good on the hatch due to the large amount of surface area behind rear doors/above by the rear wheels/by the rear screen

Black is a brilliant colour and looks cool with the 18" silver neptunes, though is a pain to keep clean and shows every small scratch (got an Altea in pearl black majic so that's from experience!)

Red is for Taxi's as there's loads round here in worcestershire

Ordinary Pacific Blue ditto

Best colour IMO is race blue matalic if you want to be noticed, plus it's only available in a vRS

Silvers and greys are both good and in the normal Octy's are always popular and sell well 2nd hand, though don't know how they sell as a vRS. My 1 year old grey 1.4TSI never made it to the forecourt. The steel grey you've found should look nice and be subtle, though you'll have the vRS badges, different front spoiler inc the daytime running lamps and ironing board and neptune alloys to set you aside from the 'normal' Octy.

Hope this helps and you decoide quickly so you don't miss out, but as previous try and negotiate, though you'll need to temper your expectations as you'll already be saving the 3.4k in VAT.

If if if you coud get a blackline someone else has cancelled it comes with nice options already and you could add other stuff at the dealer if that floats your boat

Go on you know it makes sense!.....

http://www.skoda.net.r66.co.uk/carview.aspx?id=602708896

vRS in steel grey suits you sir....

green is awful- don't go there. 1 point worth noting is how little the difference is between these 2nd hand ones and a newbie so don't recon you'll get a lot off.