I just thought I would pen my thoughts about drive the new VRS today - it was a petrol estate manual.

 

I’ve been looking for an new car for a while and have test driven a bit of a variation. Including an Audi A5, A7 and a Q5 (I know.. they are very different). I have a Superb estate 170 tdi elegance at the moment and feel like a replacement.

 

So what was it like?

 

Inside was not as nice as my Superb, and was narrower. The doors had hard plastic between the window and the door handles whereas my Superb has leather-like material (that's the general theme overall.. just slightly less plush). I really did feel lower class, but then I did expect that. The rear seat area was smaller (for the kids) but to be fair the Superb is a bit too big for my needs. The boot space was surprisingly very similar, and a massive flat boot was perfect (about the same size as far as I could see).

 

I test drive the petrol manual. (I currently have a DSG). The gearbox was tight and sporty. Not notchy, but close. It actually felt very nice. Stop start traffic might become annoying though. Now the best bit. It drives so nicely. It is smooth and quiet when you want it to be and raucous and aggressive when you want it to be too! It is a perfect balance of refinement and sportiness. To drive it knocks the socks off the Audi A7 and the A5.. it is simply much much better to drive. The power is smooth and you feel part of the car (even though you can feel the tech keeping you on the road). The tech is supportive, rather than intrusive. It is fast. In all gears. It’s very flexible. It will pull off roundabouts onto a dual carriageway in a breathtaking way... the test drive man clinged to his seat... :-)

 

Over bumps it was fine, not quite as smooth as my superb, but really still okay - not crashy at all. The suspension is well judged and roundabouts will now become exciting. When I got back in my Superb it felt a bit wafty...

 

The seats are very supportive and seriously nice. The interior is okay and a bit bland, but perfectly liveable. The colour scheme is nice with either the red or the silver touches. I think the red matches the brake callipers nicely.

 

So all in all a very nice car. I will be ordering one when they accept orders with options which will include all the safety tech and a few extras.

Anyone else ordering one of these?

It drives better than a5 and a7? I need to try this car

Yes Kenny. For me it does. It just "feels" right. The A5 feels flat and boring. The A7 feels fast, but it is too quiet. They just don't feel anywhere near as involved. They feel dull in comparison. To be honest I could get either, but I have decided on the VRS and it's almost half the price of the A7 I tested!!!

Nice to know, I had an A5 for 5 years and wasn't boring to me so by your review I'm gonna luv this vRS

Thanks for the review. I think you've hit the nail on the head there....there are alternative brands offering alternative models but for me,I really can't think of anything else within the price bracket brand new that looks like a better option in terms of price/performance/equipment.

 

My other half and I are test driving it on Tuesday. Out of interest, does it come with an internal sound actuator as has been reported in a couple of reviews I've read?

 

Martin

I suppose boring is a bit harsh for the A5 (it was a sportback) .. maybe more unexciting. It was a cracking car, but it just didn't grab me like the VRS did...

 

Thanks for the review. I think you've hit the nail on the head there....there are alternative brands offering alternative models but for me,I really can't think of anything else within the price bracket brand new that looks like a better option in terms of price/performance/equipment.

 

My other half and I are test driving it on Tuesday. Out of interest, does it come with an internal sound actuator as has been reported in a couple of reviews I've read?

 

Martin

 

Yes - the sound actuator was not very obvious, but it was audible. It works at a different range depending on car setting: Eco (lowest Volume), Normal (medium volume) Sport (highest volume), Individual (custom volume). It sounded perfectly fine to me in the petrol, but some reviewers have commented it is a bit odd in the diesel.

Inside was not as nice as my Superb, and was narrower. 

 

That's interesting. I sat in both the Superb and the Octavia and thought the Octavia felt wider due to more knee space. Overall, I preferred the look of the Octavia interior to the Superb.

Yes - the sound actuator was not very obvious, but it was audible. It works at a different range depending on car setting: Eco (lowest Volume), Normal (medium volume) Sport (highest volume), Individual (custom volume). It sounded perfectly fine to me in the petrol, but some reviewers have commented it is a bit odd in the diesel.

 

Nice one...I'll be getting it into sport mode before leaving the forecourt lol

I suppose boring is a bit harsh for the A5 (it was a sportback) .. maybe more unexciting. It was a cracking car, but it just didn't grab me like the VRS did...

No worries, I had a 3.0tdi Quattro coupe so sub 6sec to 60 with some mods and I loved it!! So hoping the vRS is good as it might be an option next year

Edited 21 July, 201312 yr by kenny

talking of mods - who are the big players in the UK with regard to VRs mods? I'm interested to see what becomes available for the MK3 

That's interesting. I sat in both the Superb and the Octavia and thought the Octavia felt wider due to more knee space. Overall, I preferred the look of the Octavia interior to the Superb.

Not sure about more knee space. But the Superb is wider inside by a bit. The Octavia interior has more hard plastic - especially door panels and pillars etc. It was very obvious coming from 3 years in a Superb, but maybe not so obvious going from one to another in a showroom if you see what I mean. I am buying the VRS over a new Superb so that says something about the quality of the Octavia...

No worries, I had a 3.0tdi Quattro coupe so sub 6sec to 60 with some mods and I loved it!! So hoping the vRS is good as it might be an option next year

I actually drooled over the A7 and specced up what I wanted. Then I drove one and it all felt a bit average. Didn't feel £20K better than my Superb, so I didn't see the point really... I found the 3,0 tdi a bit too subtle and quiet, although it was very fast. It feels less involving than the 220bhp 2.0 in the VRS. But it is all about personal opinion which is why most of the reviews of cars on the web are so rubbish! ;-)

Yeah couldn't agree more in personal taste.

I was involved in the a5 quad eat up by miltek so mine sounded awesome lol

I loved my A5 and will miss the 4wd when I leave Audi :(

The car you test drove had the full leather seats or the cloth-leather combo?

No worries, I had a 3.0tdi Quattro coupe so sub 6sec to 60 with some mods and I loved it!! So hoping the vRS is good as it might be an option next year

 

Fun/driving feeling and speed are not the same though.

I'm guessing the A5 with quattro (small q) and the 3.0 engine must be pretty heavy too, several hundred kilo more than the Octy probably.

I was looking at the A4 allroad with the same engine/gearbox and it's almost as heavy as my 1800kg GT-R !!!

 

All that weight saving the Octy makes over a big heavy car will make it feel more alive and nimble.  Even if it's slower.

Fun/driving feeling and speed are not the same though.

I'm guessing the A5 with quattro (small q) and the 3.0 engine must be pretty heavy too, several hundred kilo more than the Octy probably.

I was looking at the A4 allroad with the same engine/gearbox and it's almost as heavy as my 1800kg GT-R !!!

 

All that weight saving the Octy makes over a big heavy car will make it feel more alive and nimble.  Even if it's slower.

 

yeah im aware that they are different but it was a heavy lump but moved and was agile enough for fun

 

and yes i know its small q, you can thank iphone for autochange!

 

yeah im hoping so, just not looking fwd to the trip away from 4wd lol

Yes, I'm a bit of a fan of 4WD too.

The car you test drove had the full leather seats or the cloth-leather combo?

Cloth combo, and was actually fine. I have full leather at the moment, but it was still nice. I'm not going to bother with the full leather upgrade.

So you liked it? Most people here say it looks/feels cheap. And do you know, is the upgrade leather or alcantara? Since it's not the same thing. I'd actually prefer alcantara myself, if I'd upgrade to that.

So you liked it? Most people here say it looks/feels cheap. And do you know, is the upgrade leather or alcantara? Since it's not the same thing. I'd actually prefer alcantara myself, if I'd upgrade to that.

Apparently the upgrade is leather. The seats were fine though. Didn't look cheap in my opinion. Felt really comfy. 

Says  "*Contains some artificial leather" In the configurator. For the "leather" upgrade.

Edited 22 July, 201312 yr by Chronicbint

Says  "*Contains some artificial leather" In the configurator. For the "leather" upgrade.

If it is like my last Octavia that means the wearing surfaces are leather but seat sides etc that take no wear are plastic.  Most obvious place on mine that were plastic were the pockets on the seat backs.

Says  "*Contains some artificial leather" In the configurator. For the "leather" upgrade.

That is for most of manufacturers, even premium brands. Not wasting genuine leather for seat backs, quite normal really. 

Very true, I watched a video review of the new S-Class just a couple of days ago and while the interior was amazing and looked great with very classy materials in general, the seat backs clearly looked like leatherette (or however you call it).