Hello Gents

I seek an advice. I am in the process of buying a new car, so far it looks it will be the new Skoda. I did the test run on the 2.0 TDI Elegance, and I really liked the car. In fact I liked it so much that I am considering vRS TDI. Money is not the issue here, but there are few others. I am not a race driver type of guy, but will be happy with the extra power, but I am worried about comfort. I have two small children that will be driving regularly (one is two years old, the other is a 2 month baby). I still did not have a chance to try the vRS with 18 inch wheels and sport suspension, and the real question is how much ''stiffer''. Any of you guys driving kids around that can confirm the suspension is comfortable enough for daily driving.

Other question is regarding the gearbox. I am considering DSG, but am not sure how exactly the levers/button on the steering wheel look like (would appreciate a photo if possible). Also, I notice that the symbols on the rod are different. D/S seem to be in the same position now, an arrow showing down pn the position below. Can someone please explain how do you actually change from D to S.

I will go for a test drive next month with vRS DSG, but till then would really appreciate some info from you guys that already have it.

Thank you

Hi I have driven both and have exactly the same dilema with the ride.

 

I too found the Elegance an excellent vehicle. I drove the VRS Tdi for a week as a fleet demonstrator and found the ride on the 18" wheels quite hard. I currently drive an Octy II VRS TDi.

I do like the extra power of the VRS.

 

So I too do not know what to do. Beiing the fleet manager for the comapny I work for I can have eithier, I just dont know which one to choose.

Having driven both I went for the vrs. However the ride in the elegance is much nicer, esp in the back (I had my parents in the back on each test drive as I take them away for a week for their holiday and I drive them there so one of them has to sit in the back)

However apart from their week away it is rare for anyone to be in the back of my car and 90% of the time it's just me in the car so I decided to go with fun drive over ride comfort. Approx 40% of the time I also have my dogs in the boot but I can't say I asked their opinion on ride quality well also I was not allowed to take them on test drives haha

Will the kids really care? Lol as a kid I can't say I ever took a blind bit of notice of ride comfort in my dads car. His car was his car and that was that! Mums car was usually crappier but we never got an option lol.

What's more important to you? If its performance go vrs if its comfort go elegance

Driving with vrsIII due to multi-link rear suspension is very comfortable. I love driving it and the seats are very comfortable.I have 18 inch wheels.

something I've noticed with the new vRS in respect to children's comfort - becuase the headrest forms part of the whole seat, I wouldn't be able to strap my portable DVD players to the seats for the kids to watch in the back

Driving with vrsIII due to multi-link rear suspension is very comfortable. I love driving it and the seats are very comfortable.I have 18 inch wheels.

Id suggest the Elegance with Torsion beam is more comfortable!

 

Also, my 7 year old didnt like the fact that she couldnt see forward through the VRS seats as the head restraint is integrated into the seat - makes it more isolated and darker back there for her imo. The non VRS models are better for carrying people in the rear imo.

I currently have a mkII vrs hatchback and getting a new MK III. Has anyone who has had both notice any difference in comfort?

I currently have a mkII vrs hatchback and getting a new MK III. Has anyone who has had both notice any difference in comfort?

 

I have had both and I personally found the ride very hard in the MKIII.

something I've noticed with the new vRS in respect to children's comfort - becuase the headrest forms part of the whole seat, I wouldn't be able to strap my portable DVD players to the seats for the kids to watch in the back

 

I really dont care about portable DVDs in the car. BTW. As a person who has children, do you find it is uncomfortable for them to drive in the back?

 

BTW. I would really like if someone could post pictures with shift gear levers on the steering wheel. 

Edited 17 September, 201312 yr by B051LjKo

Google is your friend!

Google is your friend!

 

thank you :-)

That's a Fabia in that picture, but the steering wheel is 99% accurate. Point being, there's tons of info on the web, if you just look for it...

I took the 150 Elegance and vRS both estates out for test drives.

 

I was worried about it being firm but preferred it as it cornered really well and didn't feel harsh. The road noise was a little louder at higher speeds that's all.

 

The vRS felt great with the extra power and DSG combination. These sold it for me and great fun.

 

I took three teenagers out and they liked both and couldn't feel much of a difference in the back. They preferred the vRS seats in the front and didn't think the headrests were an issue. They look at their ipads/pods and don't look up anyway! That's teenagers for you.

I think there are special fittings around for the vRS headrests to safely attach DVD screens etc.

 

If you children are small they will be in child seats for a long time but can understand if you want to know if you feel all the bumps through the vRS suspension. Firm but smooth I would say.

I took the 150 Elegance and vRS both estates out for test drives.

 

I was worried about it being firm but preferred it as it cornered really well and didn't feel harsh. The road noise was a little louder at higher speeds that's all.

 

The vRS felt great with the extra power and DSG combination. These sold it for me and great fun.

 

I took three teenagers out and they liked both and couldn't feel much of a difference in the back. They preferred the vRS seats in the front and didn't think the headrests were an issue. They look at their ipads/pods and don't look up anyway! That's teenagers for you.

I think there are special fittings around for the vRS headrests to safely attach DVD screens etc.

 

If you children are small they will be in child seats for a long time but can understand if you want to know if you feel all the bumps through the vRS suspension. Firm but smooth I would say.

 

Really small children, 2 years is the "big" one, and 3 months for the little one; I can live with firm (actualy prefer it that way) as long as itis firm. Did anyone noticed any difference between 17 & 18 inch wheels regarding comfort?

 

Also, any 1st person impressions  regarding look & feel of those gear shift levers?

I have had both and I personally found the ride very hard in the MKIII.

Ur saying the mklll is harder than the mkll Vrs?

I have had vrsII and silence and driving comfort in mkIII is much better. The vrsII have been 17 inch and now I have 18 inch wheels!!

When we test drove the vRS my little-un complained that the all in one seat design stops her seeing where we are going.

To be fair I'm buying one anyway, but might be an issue if your kids get travel sick etc.

P

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I had a mkII hatch with 18" wheels and found the ride in the mkIII a revaltion (sp?). Have you guys used the Performance Mode System? In 'normal' it was so comfortable and supple compared to a mkII and in 'sport' it was the same old crashy, but firm suspension. Have to say I'm shocked at people finding it a harsh riding car.

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I notice that the symbols on the rod are different. D/S seem to be in the same position now, an arrow showing down pn the position below. Can someone please explain how do you actually change from D to S. I will go for a test drive next month with vRS DSG, but till then would really appreciate some info from you guys that already have it. Thank you

Put it in D/S and you are in Drive. Flick the leaver backwards and you are in Sport. Flick again and back to Drive.

 

Just like when you gear down manually with the DSG

Edited 17 September, 201312 yr by Kabe111

I had a mkII hatch with 18" wheels and found the ride in the mkIII a revaltion (sp?). Have you guys used the Performance Mode System? In 'normal' it was so comfortable and supple compared to a mkII and in 'sport' it was the same old crashy, but firm suspension. Have to say I'm shocked at people finding it a harsh riding car.

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

 

How do you change the suspension settings with Mode switch? I would say it affects the throtlle and the steering, not the suspension. You would need an active suspension for that trick.

I've not driven any MkIII octavia other than the vRS and I found it extremely comfortable to drive. I found the ride good and loved the comfort of the seats. I also have two young boys, 2 and 4 and nothing during the drive made me think it would be anything other than a nice place for them to be.

At no point during the test drive did I think it was noisy or did I feel it was too firm like other sporty type cars I've had in the past or been in recently. I went for a long drive down the West Coast of Cumbria the following day with my friend in his BMW 335 coupe and that WAS very harsh and unforgiving so much so that when I got out I thought I had been repeatedly kidney punched over and over. To me it just reminded me how good the vRS ride was.

But then again the elegance maybe and probably is even more comfortable but just doesn't do it for me.

I don't think the seats block out much more than the normal car seat headrest setup.

The gap between the two is filled when someone sits on the seat and the shoulder area isn't huge in comparison

I have a Mk II FL Scout, and I test drove the Mk III VRS TSI - and found the VRS was better in terms of ride quality and noise. I was really surprised - the Scout rides well, but the VRS felt much more settled and refined. Combined with the extra poke, it sold itself to me. The only caveat is that I didn't exceed 50mph on the route, but road noise was fine. That was on 18" wheels.

How do you change the suspension settings with Mode switch? I would say it affects the throtlle and the steering, not the suspension. You would need an active suspension for that trick.

no octavia comes with adaptive dampers by the way, mode button has no impact on ride whatsoever.

Just make sure you get full leather in whatever you go for.

 

Small children and alcantara DO NOT MIX.