I'm decking my back garden so nipped out to selco to pick a load up. I loaded 16x 3.6m lengths of 38mm thick decking and 4 3.6m lengths of 2x4".

All I did was whip the back seats out, drop the passenger seat flat and boom a 140mph+ van!

I actually needed more lengths but thought I was pushing my luck on weight as I struggled maneuvering the trolley but the suspension barely dropped (not like the back end squat with 10 bags of gravel yesterday!) but I could have loaded a bucket load more in and it wouldn't have flinched.

Add that to the collection of a washing machine and a tumble dryer. When I picked up the washing machine the guy helping me load it walked up to the car and said 'erm... Don't think you'll get it in there Mate...!' I laughed and smiled 'want to pit a wager on it Mate?!' Guess what in it went without any issues, back seats up still with my 3 year old all strapped on the back seat and my wife in the front.

It's just a testament to how versatile these cars are for such little money!

They certainly are an amazingly versatile car.  As much as I coveted mine and cleaned it all the time, it was also the family work horse and like you was used to cart all sorts of stuff around.  Rubble sacks, trees, top soil all went in and it never complained once.  Cracking car.

They certainly are an amazingly versatile car. As much as I coveted mine and cleaned it all the time, it was also the family work horse and like you was used to cart all sorts of stuff around. Rubble sacks, trees, top soil all went in and it never complained once. Cracking car.

Truly brilliant machine and I totally agree with all the comments. Just out of interest buddy, I'm presuming you've sold your vrs and from your pic looks like a vectra? Wondering how it compares.

I got a 2 seater leather sofa into mine a few months back, rear seat squabs out,

and dropped the back seats, in it popped and the hatch still closed!!

 

I know exactly what you mean about versatile,

though mine only burns deezel - so 140mph is alittle beyond my reach

I got a bath in mine once. With the hatch shut down. Amazing!

I got a bath in mine once. With the hatch shut down. Amazing!

Lmfao!!! A bloomin bath! Brilliant

Yeah I know! Never ever thought it would fit until I measured up and thought Wtf!! The guys face at the scrap yard was ace too!

Yeah I know! Never ever thought it would fit until I measured up and thought Wtf!! The guys face at the scrap yard was ace too!

I'm guessing that's where you dropped the bath off, not where you bought it from!?!

Truly brilliant machine and I totally agree with all the comments. Just out of interest buddy, I'm presuming you've sold your vrs and from your pic looks like a vectra? Wondering how it compares.

 

They don't compare really. The Vectra is a bigger car all round - although the boot isn't quite as big - and it feels more grown up.  The Octavia is a much better compromise all round than the VXR.  It is cheaper to run, nearly as practical and when remapped it's reasonably nippy.  The Vectra is definitely quicker - 280bhp as standard - and it handles a lot better than the vRS ever did, even with a rarb fitted.  The figures are very different too.  0-60 takes 6.1 seconds and it'll top out at 161mph but I reckon there is less chance to use all the power compared to the Octavia.  To feel like I'm making progress I have to be into triple figures (on a private road) which is just plain daft.  I have more fun in the Ignis to be honest as I can use all the power all the time.  Where the Vectra excels is at whisking all five of us on long journeys with ease.

 

If I could wave a magic wand and turn back the clock I'd have the vRS over the VXR, purely because it has more character.  There are people on here that have gone from a MkI Octavia to the MKII but have returned because the latter doesn't have the same attraction.  I need a bigger car due to having three children and even in standard form the Vectra is quite quick, but my heart is still with the Mk1 vRS.  I can't explain it as I've had faster, more exciting cars over the years but I still want my old Octavia back.

They don't compare really. The Vectra is a bigger car all round - although the boot isn't quite as big - and it feels more grown up. The Octavia is a much better compromise all round than the VXR. It is cheaper to run, nearly as practical and when remapped it's reasonably nippy. The Vectra is definitely quicker - 280bhp as standard - and it handles a lot better than the vRS ever did, even with a rarb fitted. The figures are very different too. 0-60 takes 6.1 seconds and it'll top out at 161mph but I reckon there is less chance to use all the power compared to the Octavia. To feel like I'm making progress I have to be into triple figures (on a private road) which is just plain daft. I have more fun in the Ignis to be honest as I can use all the power all the time. Where the Vectra excels is at whisking all five of us on long journeys with ease.

If I could wave a magic wand and turn back the clock I'd have the vRS over the VXR, purely because it has more character. There are people on here that have gone from a MkI Octavia to the MKII but have returned because the latter doesn't have the same attraction. I need a bigger car due to having three children and even in standard form the Vectra is quite quick, but my heart is still with the Mk1 vRS. I can't explain it as I've had faster, more exciting cars over the years but I still want my old Octavia back.

I have admired the vectra vxr since they came out but I had a bad experience with a mk1 vectra Sri 150 years ago so it sort of put me off the brand. I did look at buying one a few years ago then seen the road tax and nearly vomited! Nice car though. As for the vrs, well I don't know what I can say that hasnt already been said. With all the seats folded flat they are huge. Rack up big miles reliably, great performance with a map. I know it can't go on forever and if I had the money and space I'd semi retire it and fetch it out on nice days because it will shatter me if I sold it on to someone who let it go down nick and then I found it lying in my local scrap yard stripped of its parts!

I'm guessing that's where you dropped the bath off, not where you bought it from!?!

Ha ha yeah I was dropping it off!!

I have admired the vectra vxr since they came out but I had a bad experience with a mk1 vectra Sri 150 years ago so it sort of put me off the brand. I did look at buying one a few years ago then seen the road tax and nearly vomited!

 

I'm impressed with the build quality of the car to be honest.  It's similar to the Octavia and the bits you touch like steering wheel & seats are really nice.  As for the road tax, I've got my head round it now.  It's another £18 per month on top of the Octavia's tax or £4.26 per week depending on how you break it down.  I'm willing to pay that for the extra poke as it'd cost me a lot more than that in modifications to get the vRS up to the same level of performance. 

 

I'm with you on letting your car go to someone else and worrying what they'll do to it.  I've often wondered if I'd really want that particular car back after someone else has done stuff to it.  It's on it's second owner since me selling the car and as daft as it sounds I've likened it to women.  Would I want my wife back after she'd been married to two other blokes?  Maybe but I'd always be thinking about what had happened to it in the time away from me.

it will shatter me if I sold it on to someone who let it go down nick and then I found it lying in my local scrap yard stripped of its parts!

 

THis is exactly why Billy broke his down and had the chassis crushed when he couldnt  justify putting the money into it anymore

and couldnt bring himself to sell it, after owning it from brand new out of the dealers....

 

couldnt bear someone else having it and not caring for it the way he would want.

Its madness getting attached to cars. Its a ruddy lump of metal! But its the places they take you and the enjoyment. I've had mine that long now I still remember picking my daughter up from the hospital in it when she was born and she's nearly 9.

It is irrational to become attached to a car.  We were the same to be honest, our vRS brought all three children home over the years and took us all over the country, creating a lot of good memories.  We had that car longer than some people stay married!

Not really had to put anything big in my octy vrs but i know what its capable of if needed. I know you can get a washing machine in with folding the back seats down. Dont know if i could sell mine tho if i ever wanted too

You just cant beat a good clear out! Bags of old carpet, shelves out of the daughters bedroom, old storage boxes and underneath all that is an old wooden fence. And she swallowed it all again!

You are right mate.....this is one reason I still love mine.....

Last year when I returned from vacation I had 7 packs of potatos,each one weighted 50 kilos,one big suitcase,one mtb with the wheels detached,me,my wife and our dog......Also I had my jet ski on trailer at the same time.....imagine.....

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You are right mate.....this is one reason I still love mine.....

Last year when I returned from vacation I had 7 packs of potatos,each one weighted 50 kilos,one big suitcase,one mtb with the wheels detached,me,my wife and our dog......Also I had my jet ski on trailer at the same time.....imagine.....

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350kilos of potatoes??? I kind of want to ask and don't want to ask at the same time :-S

Edited 26 May, 201412 yr by OctyCal

350kilos of potatoes??? I kind of want to ask and don't want to ask at the same time :-S

Lol. I do like chips but!!

350kilos of potatoes??? I kind of want to ask and don't want to ask at the same time :-S

 

My parents live in Naxos island and they grown them..........They are not all for me...I deliver them to our relatives in Athens.....

My dogs head out of the sunroof....

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One single bed and mattress, also i have had a new washing machine in the boot with it closed! (it did rub like a bitch on the plastic tho)

One single bed and mattress, also i have had a new washing machine in the boot with it closed! (it did rub like a bitch on the plastic tho)

Surely that must of been a bad nights sleep?

Just removed my big sub box ready for a camping trip, I'd forgot how big the boot is. Will be fully loaded soon including trailer tent, roof bag 5 people and out luggage still amazes me how much this car will fit in lol.

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