So last Monday I waved goodbye to my beloved vRS hatchback after 96,000 faultless miles. It nearly ended it tears before it began after a suicidal brick made an escape from a lorry on the M5 and wiped out the radiator, grill and headlight. That was 200 miles in.....

However, I grew to love the vRS. It's looks weren't as sculptered as the new one but nevertheless with a set of Eibachs fitted and a colour coded grill it certainly looked impressive.

Whilst my colleagues have dived into Audi, Mercedes and BMW brochures I also had a hankering for another one. First pictures of the 'new' Octavia looked poor and almost weak next to the old model. I toyed with a few cars until one evening whilst looking at some pictures on the internet (ahem....) I came across this one.

At last, I thought. A new vRS! She will be mine....

Seven months passed and and after going back to my bookmarked image of the vRS above she finally arrived. True, like the photo editer in the picture above I've had to tweak it slightly. In come some subtle tints and a set of Eiback springs, out goes the 4 x 4 look...

The car itself? It's impressive. I'm luckily not to be one of those Octavia drivers who have a constant felling of pressure in the ears and even though it's lowered and on 19" wheels I promise the ride is no harder than my last vRS.

The inside of the car is a slight step back if I'm honest. The plastics feel, well, very plastic and the seats whilst look impressive seem a notch down on the old model.

However from the outside the car is a winner. Whereas the old car looked like its nose had melted this one looks like it's about to drop 200kg over Syria. It's certainly a step up in design and quality.

So finally I get to delete one of my bookmarked internet pages. After all, like all internet fantasies it's never as good as the real thing...




Deleted at last...

Edited 1 October, 201411 yr by Moley RUFC

Very nice mate.  I'm hoping to embark on the same journey, minus the bricks on the M5 with any luck!

 

On the Eibach's, were these a factory fit option and were they expensive.  I'm going to order mine with the Black Design Plus Pack, which allegedly gives you the 19" Xtreme's , but must admit I was worried about the 4x4 look.

 

Any advice, including whether it looks that bad without the Eibach's, would be greatly appreciated

Without...

Hmmm...deffo rides a fair bit higher hey?  So...were they a factory fit option?

Funny what you say about the interior - that is one of the things that will probably mean that I won't make the change from a F/L Mark II vRS to a Mark III vRS.

 

I've just extended the warranty for two years on my current 2011 vRS and will probably keep it for those two years.

Hmmm...deffo rides a fair bit higher hey? So...were they a factory fit option?

No, you can't get them factory fitted. You can however track down a Skoda dealer who will supply and fit.

I agree, the design of the interior in the Mk3 is unquestionably nicer but still far from convinced it's as solidly put together as the Mk2 was. 10k/9 months in already have a few very annoying buzzings/rattlings going on inside. Dare I say it....it does feel a bit tinny, but given how light it is for its size that's not to be totally unexpected.

Also Moley very nice indeed. Not usually a lover of blue cars but have to say I am very fond of race blue....possibly consider it if I ever bought another Skoda...

Nice one buddy, she looks a peach.

You should have gone for the white - it is the new Race Blue LOL

 

Only kidding - it is a shame you can get the lesser variants in Race Blue now. The Rallye Green doesn't quite do it for me, there is only one green you should have on a 'performance' car and that is British Racing Green. (the 'performance' bit is aimed at the 1960's cars that would be deemed 'unperformance' nowadays)

Nice initial post. Interesting to read your thoughts on MkII and mkIII. Thanks for that.

Damn that looks FINE!

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Having started the journey with your Mk2 I'm glad I saw you at the beginning of the Mk3. The lines are more angular than the Mk2 and pleasing from all sides. Pictures of the Xtremes don't do them justice and the DRL's and front end look awesome. Fantastic looking motor. Enjoy!

it is a shame you can get the lesser variants in Race Blue now. )

[emoji6]

I agree, the design of the interior in the Mk3 is unquestionably nicer but still far from convinced it's as solidly put together as the Mk2 was. 10k/9 months in already have a few very annoying buzzings/rattlings going on inside. Dare I say it....it does feel a bit tinny, but given how light it is for its size that's not to be totally unexpected.

Must admit that's what partially put me off changing my mk2 fl vrs for the mk3. It does look great on the Xtreme wheels but didn't feel overall it had significantly moved on both in quality and styling . Controversial to say on here but I ended up changing it for a mk3 leon fr estate. Slighlty less interior space although boot space is near as damn it the same as the octavia estate. Personally I felt the leon looks better and has the better interior. Deals are fantastic and the price difference was huge by the time I specced up an equivalent octavia (panaromic roof, led lights - headlights are better than the xenons on my mk2 and not available on mk3, sat nav, metallic white, privacy glass, alcantara interior, front park assist). I await to be shot down for mentioning another brand! (It's still vag though lol!)

I must admit I was very tempted by the Leon FR ST Neil but whilst the front is attractive the back end is a bit bland. Also IMHO I would prefer a Skoda Octavia on my drive than a Seat. I agree that you get more spec for the money and it probably drives better but for me and as a company car user the Octavia is a bit more serious. If it was my own cash perhaps it would be a different story. All IMHO of course.

Edited 2 October, 201411 yr by Falkster

Nice. I have to confess that I have looked over those very same images a lot. SWMBO made me settle for economy.

Unfortunately I am one of those people who have gone and bought a non VRS Race Blue car.
 

Someone has stuck blue circles on the back of your car.  vandals!  :(

Nice. I have to confess that I have looked over those very same images a lot. SWMBO made me settle for economy.

Unfortunately I am one of those people who have gone and bought a non VRS Race Blue car.

Bit harsh mate, your motor is not exactly a run of the mill "inferior model". But yes, shame on you for choosing blue! Lol

Ooh Race Blue [emoji106][emoji16]

A "Lesser" model [emoji6]

Very nice. I need to stop reading these threads as I start to drowel

Sent from my Galaxy S5

Another piccie for ya then :p