Just had my new VRS TSI DSG Wagon for 4 days now and thought I would let everyone know how it stacks up in New Zealand.

 

I have owned an Audi S4 B6 Avant manual for the last 7 years but with it clocking up 190,000k it was going to start costing me big money in maintenance bills. Having looked around for something to replace it, I didn’t want to spend the money on a new S4 as here in NZ they charge a real premium for Audis. (with a new S4 there wouldn’t have been much change from $NZ130,000 once you had checked a few option boxes).

 

I had heard about the mk2 VRS being a great car and knew there was a new Octavia out. Went to the Skoda dealer in September and drove a TSI and TDI Elegance wagon and was very impressed with the fit and finish and how well they drove. I mentioned the VRS and the salesman said they weren’t due to land till mid November but he had driven it a dealer day and said it was fantastic.

 

When I went through the spec sheet and read a few reviews online I thought this would be ideal especially when the price was around $NZ 50k (a new Passat TDI wagon with less specs was $NZ 60k), a bargain compared to the Audi S4.

 

I went down to order one to be told that all the first shipment were allocated as demonstrators around NZ and there were only a few more arriving Late Dec. If I wanted to order one it was likely going to be May next year.

 

As I needed a car urgently the dealer offered me Race Blue VRS from the November delivery that was allocated to another dealer but they could do a deal and sell it to me. It was just the standard spec other than Silver Gemini wheels (std in NZ are Pictoris) but here in NZ the standard specs are higher with Columbus, heated front seats, auto tailgate, std Cruise control, spare wheel, Bluetooth + and Park Assist as standard.

 

I did get the chance to drive a press fleet car before confirming the deal and thought what a brilliant car, performance not a lot different to my S4 and the cabin quality not much worse. I had fun trying the different Driving mode options and looked forward to this in my car when it arrived.

 

The car was finally ready to pick up this week and looked fantastic in the Race Blue in the dealers showroom. The only issue was that when I sat in the car and looked down at the control buttons ahead of the DSG there was no Driving Mode button!! Queried this with the salesman and he said that it wasn’t a standard item and had to be ordered specially. I was disappointed as was keen to use this but I would have to say the drive home was brilliant; the car was well worth waiting for.

 

When I got home I did check the NZ Skoda spec sheet and yes the Driving Mode was listed as a standard item!! Rang the salesperson the following day and he said he would check with Skoda NZ. He came back to me saying all of the first shipment VRS’s did not come with DMB even though they were all ordered with it. They are going to come back to me (and the other owners) as to what they were going to do about it.

 

I am not sure if this can be retro fitted?? Is it just a software addition along with the button??

 

My question was, for those with a VRS how often do use the button and have you used it to set up your own settings?

 

Have driven 1000kms this week and it is a simply brilliant car, cruises very comfortably and then when you want turns into a great sportscar!!

Glad you're enjoying the car!

I've had mine for two days now (RS TSI DSG Wagon) from Giltrap Skoda in Auckland.

It has the driving mode button (although not branded vRS).

It's been in normal mostly but sport is good fun and it has the option of keeping all settings in sport while the transmission remains in normal drive mode which is a nice compromise.

I haven't yet programmed individual settings as I'm pretty happy with the normal and sports options...haven't bothered with eco at all!

The Driving Mode button is overrated. I keep mine within Normal mode 95% of the time because Sport is too loud and makes the throttle too sensitive for town driving. Sport on a DSG car holds the gears for too long, and many DSG owners complain about engine glitches and cut-outs when in Eco mode.

 

My advice is to seek some compensation from Skoda NZ, but not to worry about the missing button. Normal mode is by far the best anyway.

My new one arrived off the ship in Auckland 2 days ago apparently, due at the local dealer here in Tauranga about Wednesday next week, then I can't wait to get it! Although its nice to have something a little different than the rest, still nice to know there are a few other RS's around.

I ordered RS TSI manual wagon with Canton and Panoramic sunroof and a few other bits and pieces mid November, so didn't think it was too long a wait to get it halfway round the world. Be interesting to see whether I have the driving mode button or not.

My advice is to seek some compensation from Skoda NZ, but not to worry about the missing button. Normal mode is by far the best anyway.

 

Don't worry about it but seek compensation anyway?  Good old compensation culture eh?  It's just a button, they not just shot his first born!

Don't worry about it but seek compensation anyway?  Good old compensation culture eh?  It's just a button, they not just shot his first born!

True, but if you pay for something which is listed within the brochure you should either get it, or at least receive a comparative sum back as recompense. It will be far easier for Skoda NZ to pay a few hundred $ to keep the customer happy, rather than retrofit the offending item.

 

Some folks within the UK have received such compensation after not receiving Front Assist on cars ordered before the item was cut from spec. It has nothing really to do with culture, and has more to do with getting what you have paid for (or a refund for items not delivered). It's not like anyone is claiming for stress related costs due to them not receiving what was ordered. These are real material items that went missing.

Edited 14 March, 201412 yr by Orville

True, but if you pay for something which is listed within the brochure you should either get it, or at least receive a comparative sum back as recompense. It will be far easier for Skoda NZ to pay a few hundred $ to keep the customer happy, rather than retrofit the offending item.

 

Some folks within the UK have received such compensation after not receiving Front Assist on cars ordered before the item was cut from spec. It has nothing really to do with culture, and has more to do with getting what you have paid for (or a refund for items not delivered). It's not like anyone is claiming for stress related costs due to them not receiving what was ordered. These are real material items that went missing.

 

But he bought a pre-ordered demo-car so should have carefully checked the spec because early demo cars can have odd specs....

To be honest, I reckon you'd only use the button about 5% of the time anyway, so if you can get compensation, and you really like the car you have, I would go with the compensation.

as above. I have played around with it but it's left in normal now...

I've only just stumbled across this post. I'm in Auckland and have had my new RS for just over a month now from the shipment that came in at the end of February. It's got the driving mode button and I still use it quite often especially as I'm still playing around with everything. I've recently made a custom configuration which will probably end up being the only one I use. So, bummer that you don't have the button but TBH you probably wouldn't miss it after a few months.

Ive set mine to individual mode, normal throttle (way better than sport just requires a bit more push on the throttle), sport steering and eco AC.

Ive tried other modes and combinations but always come back to my individual settings.

Throttle response in Sport (in a 150 TDi at least) is nothing to right home about, drives better with its normal setting with no less go, just a greater and more natural push of the throttle is required.

Thanks for the replies.

 

After my initial post I heard back that as there were a number of VRS in that November shipment with the missing button they were going to test retro fitting the button and the required software in one of the vehicles. Once this was tested they would contact me to get my car in to have the work done.

 

After following up with them in Feb, I was told the button had been fitted to a car and all the wiring connected and were just waiting for software updates to make it active. They have said it is a complicated job but they are confident it will work. So still just waiting!

 

I certainly agree that sometimes buttons like this are only used when you first get the car but then 95% of the time you leave it in the default setting. 

 

Still loving the car, the engine has freed up and the performance is great! Still getting used to some lack of traction off the line when pushing it, especially after having 4WD for the previous 7 years.