Hey guys,

I'm looking at getting a 2006 56' petrol, manual vRS in blue. It's on 35k miles backed up with MOT's, FSH and receipts/invoices. These for me are the most important things when buying a used car, mileage and history but now I'm moving on and looking at the spec I'm a bit confused?!

It would appear the car has the 17" alloys - Thoughts on this?

Also it appears it doesn't have maxidot, how good is this?

It does have factory xenons and F&R PDC, also aux and USB in glovebox and retro fitted parrot BT. Also it has full size spare

I was really hoping for cruise, easy to retrofit?

I'm lead to believe that the Mk2 came out in 2006 on 55 plate, with limited standard spec. Then in late 2006 they changed the interior spec to give rear leccy windows, dual zone climate control and jumbo box as standard. Then in 2009 interior was completely upgraded and later that year the exterior was updated? Have I got that right?!

So I guess it's hard to come by an 07' plate or older with rear leccy windows, dual zone climate control and jumbo box? We're many specced with this maxidot in 06/07?

What would you say are crucial/decent options to have on a Mk2 vRS? Do any vRS's of this age have a MFSW? Do all Mk2's have an air conditioned/cooled glove box?

Thanks

Id choose condition, mileage and history over toys any day of the week. To find a 56 plate car with that lower mileage and fsh is quite a rare thing.

Maxidot is good but you can always buy a maxidot cluster and have this fitted. Also to be fair 2 zone climate and elec rear wins are all things to go wrong, xenons and front and rear PDC are nice to have's and i think make up for the lacking spec elsewhere.

I have a '57 Mk2 VRs with rear electric windows, maxidot, cruise, dual zone air-con, air-con glove box & armrest box and it's sitting on 17". All of this is absolutely essential for a comfortable drive. Maxidot is fantastic for doing basic fault finding too. You can pick later models up now with slightly higher mileage (and you shouldn't be put off by that at all - I'm on 175K and running fine) for similar prices.

 

I have noticed there has been a decrease recently in the general cost of MK2's anyway due to the Mk3's appearance and this shuold eventually filter it's way down to the lower end of the market/price spectrum so if you're not in too much of a rush (I waited a year to find mine) there should be lots of new-ish vehicles available as the Mk3 becomes more prevalent. 

You can retrofit cruise control providing your power steering ECU is the later type not the early version. In all fairness I have it on my 2006 Octy and rarely use it as the volume of traffic on the roads is too high to maintain a constant speed (other than 53mph)

Edited 13 August, 201312 yr by Octyman140

17" alloys were always standard fit. It was just that around 2007 Skoda put on a free options pack with 18" alloys, jumbo box, dual climate and rear elec windows. Pretty much every car after mid 2007 - FL (2009ish) has that spec even though it wasn't 'standard'.

 

Maxidot was always and extra but not expensive. It was poorly explained in the brochure. I didn't realise I wanted it until too late in the build. It is retrofittable but it's a big job.

 

Cruise is an easy retrofit especially if you have a mate with VAGCOM. I use mine a lot but the roads are quieter up here.

 

I think everyone has the cooled glove box. But it's pretty useless and I've never bothered with it.

I believe that the Mk2 vRS came with 17" alloys until the facelift appeared when it moved to 18".

 

Maxidot - in truth I hardly ever use mine, it gets left on the phone setting most of the time.

Rear electric windows - how often do you need them? If you have air-con then opening rear windows will hardly ever get used.

Air-con as opposed to dual-zone climate - again it's never been an issue before unless you and your passenger prefer wildly different temperatures.

Jumbo-box - I like a centre arm-rest to lean on, but the cars at work don't have them and it's not something that I miss unless I'm on a very long journey.

 

Xenons - very nice addition and provide a useful addition to night visibility.

Front & rear PDC - again a useful addition - especially the rear as the back end does stick out quite a way.

 

If it's in good condition, low miles, checks out etc, etc, then I wouldn't let the "lack" of equipment put you off. It would seem that whoever the first owner was ticked quite a few of the options boxes when they ordered it - useful additions and not just the extra "luxury" ones.

Great advice, cheers guys. Here's the car:

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201308128270967/sort/default/usedcars/price-to/6000/maximum-mileage/up_to_40000_miles/model/octavia/make/skoda/onesearchad/used/onesearchad/nearlynew/onesearchad/new/keywords/Vrs/postcode/bs328bd/page/1/radius/1500?logcode=p

@Bigbadrob - I see what you're saying. But if I wait a year then my 6MPS will be on over 60k mikes (currently on 47k) and out of Mazda warranty so will be worth less, so I guess it's all relative? Plus this really is at the top of my budget. I was looking at £5k max really but with this one only having 35k miles it should hopefully last me and the family a lifetime as I hope to keep for ages, whereas if I buy one now with 80k miles its going to get 'older quicker'.

What do you think, on my way to see it now...

You can retrofit cruise control providing your power steering ECU is the later type not the early version. In all fairness I have it on my 2006 Octy and rarely use it as the volume of traffic on the roads is too high to maintain a constant speed (other than 53mph)

How will I know if the power steering ECU is the later type?? It's a 2006 56' plate...I really want cruise but not £300+ want it, £150 or less that's fine!

You'll need someone with VCDS (Ross-Tech diagnostics cable & laptop) to check to see which controller is fitted.

 

I had cruise on my 2007 (57) vRS and never used it, it spent most of the time on the motorway too. The roads are just too congested for it to be on long enough, the idea of cruise is to set and forget, in the UK it is set, cancel, resume, cancel, resume, cancel etc. etc, it's easier just to keep using your right foot!

 

Xenon's are a nice option, as are rear sensors. Front sensors are extremely rare.

 

Maxidot is nice for the first 3 minutes of ownership, then, once you have set everything up to suit it offers no real benefit over the standard display, other than looking a little better.

Thanks silver, that's some really useful info, cheers

 

I think everyone has the cooled glove box. But it's pretty useless and I've never bothered with it.

 

My 2012 Elegance has it. I find it pretty handy. I've used quite a few times over the last few weeks to keep my lunch cool after I bought it. It also cools down ~6 cans of beer in about 45 minutes of driving.

I use cruise everywhere and wouldn't be without. Stops clock watching and allows me to concentrate on the other numpeties on the road instead!

 

Cruise can be retrofitted for £120 (http://www.jkm.org.uk/performance/cruise.htm - top option) and so isn't a massive job. Would be worth speaking to someone like them to get an idea (or Shark)

Electric rear windows I could live without but not an armrest. 

 

Good luck with the purchase if you go through with it 

Spec was changed late 2007 early 2008 to have 18s, jumbo box and rear windows.

So the spec you're looking at has had some factory options added.

I fitted cruise to mine a few weeks ago, about £70 for a brand new stalk from TPS and about 1.5 hours to fit, including tea break.  I do have VCDS though.

I know cruise is always a marmite thing, but I really really find it useful, especially on the motorway. Unless I'm only doing a short local journey, it's always usually on at some point. I feel it helps me keep to the speed limit a lot easier, removing temptation to speed etc Also putting it on a few mph more to take in the inaccurate speedo, like in the numerous temp 50's everywhere. My ankle gets uncomfortable aswell after an hour or so, cruise gives your feet freedom! So for me this is something I really do want and if it can be done for circa £100, happy days!

as for the interior change, that was mid 2007.

 

My vrs, according to a dealer i visited, is loaded with options. 56 plate with 18's, hids, rear pdc, dual zone climate, maxidot, cruise etc. He said, as above really the early ones were low spec because they rushed to get them out the doors. Then later on in mid 2007 upped the spec so 56 plates with any of the above spec is rare really as they will have been options.

 

Cruise is very useful on long journeys. I went to crew at the weekend and for 90% of the journey (m4/m5/m6) didnt touch the accelerator. Its one of those, once you have it you wont want to be without it things

Edited 13 August, 201312 yr by ryan-re

Find a car with Maxidot already fitted. Retro fitting it will cost c.£500 if you can find someone to supply the module and then fit it.

C can be done easy for less than £50. I did mine for £25 and I'm no mechanic but I do have VCDS.

Xenons can't easy be retro fitted, so decide if this is important to you and find a car accordingly.

Dual zone climate control was not on Ambiente or Classic spec Octavias. I'm not sure if it was an option either.

Maxidot wasn't standard on either spec either.

TBH I'd avoid 'Classic' spec cars and look for an Elegance spec.

Yer fair enough ^^

I bought it in the end, see here: http://www.briskoda.net/forums/index.php?/topic/285220-Just-bought-a-56'-petrol-vRS!

I really don't think I'll miss the rear leccy windows, jumbo box would be nice but if I'm missing an arm rest that much I guess retro fit could work. Climate would be nice, but again, hot air cold air, I'm happy!

It has a really nice parrot kit in it which does BT, music from USB or aux and charges iPhone with album art etc.

But best of all is the Xenons and F&R PDC, nice touch!

I think Maxidot might be the one I miss, and the look of the 18"s but there was no way I was not buying this car with that mileage, SH and condition just because of that!

But thanks everyone for the info, very helpful

Sounds a good example. Good luck with it and if you do decide to fit cruise I'm sure a fellow member with vcds nearby will help.

Adam

Cheers Adam

I'm near Loughborough but often visit Bristol...watch this space!

Cheers Adam

I'm near Loughborough but often visit Bristol...watch this space!

I live near derby and have VCDS if you need a hand. Also derby TPS are happy to sell to the public.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 4

^^^ That's very kind of you buddy, thanks very much. I might be in contact very soon...

^^^ That's very kind of you buddy, thanks very much. I might be in contact very soon...

First step would to use VCDS and find out what steering controller you have and see if it will take cruise.

Drop me a PM and we can arrange to meet up.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 4

Good deal that, looks v well cared for.....also nice its mapped

Nice purchase dude, should see you right for a wee while that