I know this might be biased section to ask on but Im going to be replacing my beemer estate with something bigger pretty soon.  Looked at all the alternatives and was pretty much certain on a FL Mk2 estate as it was around the same value as the beemer.  However I much prefer the look and overall spec/toys of the Mk3 as its very to my current car but we are speaking about another £10k and finance to buy.

 

My car is all bought and paid for so my question is is the Mk3 worth that extra over the Mk2 FL?  It will be a manual Tdi Im going for.

 

 

 

I drove my current MkII Scout against a MkIII VRS and it is a step change in refinement I think, I thought the VRS rode much better than the Scout even with the latter's longer softer suspension. The MkII is long in the tooth now.

I went from a BMW 320d to a mk2 VRS, and it's a noticeable step, the massive price difference being the main comfort however It would be a different experience going to a mark 3, it's a massively refined car over the mk2 in every way.

Hi yes

Go for the mk3

The mk2 was good but my 58 plate a4 was better than 12 plate vRS I tested

The mk3 vRS is great car

The mk3 is going to be better.

Only you can decide if it's £10,000 + finance charges better.

You could argue they effectively do the same job.

 

The mk3 has more warranty and the mk2 will depreciate less.

I'd say it depends what's important to you.

I'm delighted with my mark 3 vRS estate (217 bhp petrol), and the improvements over the mark 2 are worth having:  but I'm not sure that the diesel vRS (184 bhp) is worth the extra over the Elegance 2.0 TDI (150 bhp).  Have a look at the specifications and if possible test drive both.

but I'm not sure that the diesel vRS (184 bhp) is worth the extra over the Elegance 2.0 TDI (150 bhp).

 

You took the words out of my mouth

I've spotted some nearly new Mk3 vRS estates on the Skoda website going for nearly new Audi A6 money

You pays your money and takes your choice........the vRS is good, but I'm not sure it's that good

Have a decent test drive in both and go from there as it's you who will be driving it (and paying for it too). Some will be happy driving the mk2 and saving money as a result, while others would rather pay the extra and have the mk3. Which camp you end up in is up to you. BTW there is no wrong answer!

I've spotted some nearly new Mk3 vRS estates on the Skoda website going for nearly new Audi A6 money

You pays your money and takes your choice........the vRS is good, but I'm not sure it's that good

 

Just for info there are some huge discounts available on the A4 and A6 through people like drive the deal.

Huge discounts in some situations.

For example, A6 Estate 3.0tdi 4x4 S-line, £42k list, DTD deal price £33k.

Certainly way more discount than you'd get on a Skoda.

 

The price gap isn't as big as people think.  I was surprised.

Just a shame the specs are a bit low and you have to add basic things.

Funny enough I started looking at the elegance spec and with everything added it was almost exactly the same price as the VRS I specced. That was the 150tdi 4x4 model. Helps with the winters we get up here.

I've spotted some nearly new Mk3 vRS estates on the Skoda website going for nearly new Audi A6 money

You pays your money and takes your choice........the vRS is good, but I'm not sure it's that good

You can't compare a VRS To an A6, they live in different worlds, supply and demand for The VRS is pushing the price up!

Just for info there are some huge discounts available on the A4 and A6 through people like drive the deal.

Huge discounts in some situations.

For example, A6 Estate 3.0tdi 4x4 S-line, £42k list, DTD deal price £33k.

Certainly way more discount than you'd get on a Skoda.

 

The price gap isn't as big as people think.  I was surprised.

Just a shame the specs are a bit low and you have to add basic things.

 

There was a UK car broker recently offering a £43k BMW 335XD MSport Touring for £32k.

 

That's a 155mph, 0-62 in 5s, and 50mpg average motor..........for £32k.

 

The link was on HJ's website.

 

There are some amazing deals around if you take your time to look.....................

Edited 17 June, 201411 yr by Herschel

You can't compare a VRS To an A6, they live in different worlds, supply and demand for The VRS is pushing the price up!

Exactly

Given the choice, for the same money it would be Audi every time

If there was still a £10k price difference it would be a different story

Cars are subjective aren't they - horses for courses. 

 

It depends what you want from a car. I came from a pre-fl mk2 petrol to a mk3 diesel (both vRS) so I can't comment on the performance as that wouldn't be fair. 

 

My biggest gripe has been some obvious areas of cost cutting over the previous model. Have a look at the door cards on a mk3 and compare them to those on a mk2 - the  mk2's are much, much better quality. Also, in a few other areas around the car I've noticed a similar attitude to cost cutting. The glove box for example and lack of embroidered floor mats. All relatively small points but if you are paying more for a newer car you would expect there to be a stepped improvement in quality across the board. 

 

On the other hand, it looks stunning from every angle and there are loads more toys as standard (bluetooth, voice control, digital radio, driving modes, watch you home lights, etc) which are all a welcomed addition. I also like the dials doing a sweep as you turn the key and the stitching and quality feel of the steering wheel is lovely. The seats look amazing too and are a more practical colour but the lumber adjustment isn't as good as the mk2 and the integrated headrests make the back quite a dark place to sit; especially if you're a child. 

 

Like I said, I can't give a direct comparison on performance but I have been simply astounded by the competence and ability of the mk3. There is almost no detectable understeer - despite there being a heavy diesel lump up front - and the only time I have got it unsettled was going round a corner in the wet and there was a metal drain cover. Even then, it was just a brief bit of wheel spinning. It is so good that it makes me wonder why you'd want a mechanical diff and/or haldex 4WD. I would say though, if you want a more involved steer then a mk2 is better. The mk3 is much more competent but a little removed. 

 

So which is better? Well I love my mk3. I think it is a brilliant car and I am so pleased with it. I think the point is that the mk2 is also a decent motor so it isn't a straight forward choice. If I could only have one, it'd be a mk3 but ideally, I'd have one of each on the drive. 

There is almost no detectable understeer - despite there being a heavy diesel lump up front - and the only time I have got it unsettled was going round a corner in the wet and there was a metal drain cover. Even then, it was just a brief bit of wheel spinning. It is so good that it makes me wonder why you'd want a mechanical diff and/or haldex 4WD. I would say though, if you want a more involved steer then a mk2 is better. The mk3 is much more competent but a little removed. 

 

The main benefit of Haldex for me is traction from lower speeds.

When I test drove the mk3 VRS diesel DSG I gave it the beans and sat there watching the traction control lighter flicker for what seemed like a few seconds while the car hardly moved.

The main benefit of Haldex for me is traction from lower speeds.

When I test drove the mk3 VRS diesel DSG I gave it the beans and sat there watching the traction control lighter flicker for what seemed like a few seconds while the car hardly moved.

 

4x4 is great with this 150ps diesel, I have floored it in first several times in the wet and not even a hint of wheel spin. It's great! unlike when I test drove the 150ps DSG and it wheel span several times when flooring it.

 

Obviously, flooring it isn't something I do all the time, but it's good to know that whenever I plant my foot the car will move predictably. Also I find this car corners fantastically for its size, even when accelerating around a bend, not sure if that's the XDS doing the braking on the inner side wheels?

Question on the 4x4, does it intrude into boot space?  I have 4motion golf and boot floor is higher than normal. 

 

Like i said I specced up an elegance with the things Id have and it was a fwe hundred difference to the VRS I specced. 

Elegance has variable boot floor so don't think it intrudes on the space, it might reduce the space below the VBF though? The boot is pretty darn big anyway!

 

I mostly picked Elegance over VRS because of the wait time and I wanted 4x4 over an extra 34ps for the VRS diesel, can easily make that up in the future with a remap or tuning box and always have the power on demand.

The main benefit of Haldex for me is traction from lower speeds.

When I test drove the mk3 VRS diesel DSG I gave it the beans and sat there watching the traction control lighter flicker for what seemed like a few seconds while the car hardly moved.

 

I've not found it a problem to be honest - sometimes it becomes overwhelmed though. Having said that, I haven't once dumped the clutch or pulled away harshly. 

Question on the 4x4, does it intrude into boot space? 

 

It doesn't on the Mk2. I don't know for sure about the Mk3....I imagine not. 

Edited 18 June, 201411 yr by booke23