Just test driven a vRS and I was 95% sure of buying one prior to it. I've serious reservations now after seeing those stupid struts in the rear boot area which completely **** up the whole adea of a hatch!

The normal Octavia's don't have them, and they ring of a typical manufacturers '**** we have a problem, how do we fix it on the cheap' scenario.

I do a lot of seat down load lugging in my hobby, so the struts will be a nightmare as they effectively reduce the full boot length by 50%.

Can they be removed or replaced with something more 'load lugging' friendly?:(

I agree they are a pain. You could buy the estate, it doesn't have them.

Welcome to Briskoda!

And then imagine vRS estate owners queueing to have them retrofitted...

You should put them up for sale!

And welcome indeed.

Am I right in thinking that the boot struts and the size of the wheels are linked or did I dream that? ie the estate has 16" wheels and no struts plus comes with a severe warning about invalidating the warranty if you fit anything bigger. The RS comes with 17's and struts and you can fit what you like.

I thought that the statement on warranty was applicable to hatch or estate - I've just put 17's on my L&K Estate!

John.

why would biggers wheels require struts? both have the same width/brand of tyre and would generate roughly the same lateral grip? mind you im on 18s so what do i care?

The answer is out there in Briskoda search land and I don't know where, but that's exactly the reason Skoda fitted 16's to the vRS and not 17's to do with suspension loads / flex and stiffness.

What do I know but I would have thought that it would all be a bit marginal and risky in the absolute extreme. The same logic should apply to Golfs and Leons as well shouldn't it ? Odd