Why? Because I've seen a few of these around so far and they need some balancing out. 

 

My previous one was a BMW e90 320d, the cut-down EDE with 21 less horsepower. Pretty well kitted out too. Got it as a 'hand-down' out of the stock the company had standing around at the time.

Alternatives were an A4 Estate or VW Passat Estate. As we have a diesel-only policy, all are/were oil burners but because of our yearly mileage, we get a decent budget to spend (around 52k euro's) on a car.

 

So after wearing down the BMW I was offered the chance to order something new and I went with the vRS because BMW was charging through the roof for a follow-up with similar options on an estate.

 

 

So how am I feeling about this car after doing almost two months in it? 

 

 

I think it's great!

 

 

Yes, you could nit-pick on small things like some have done, but having come from more expensive cars, I honestly value the amount of kit and quality the Skoda gives me compared to the BMW. 

There are no luxury trim lines to choose so I will grant you the interior looks less expensive but we _are_ talking about a 15k base price difference between the two. 

 

I knew I was giving up rear-wheel-drive which is _still_ my preferred mode of transportation (never having owned a 4x4 to compare, I will get to that some time) so I was not surprised about the differences in handling. On dry tarmac with good tires, it behaves as good as I dare to expect from what still is, underneath, a c-class estate car built in Eastern Europe. Yes they amped it up with a torquey engine, beefier brakes and some chrome here and there and one could argue if it was enough to warrant a vRS badge, but it's not pretending to be (at least not in my opinion) to be a hot hatch. It's a family mover with a bit more oomph. 

 

Back when the original Octavia was built (were are going back to 1996 here!) they offered a 'sporty' version already. Mind you, not a lot of cars back then could boast high amounts of horsepower, many cars were supplying 'just enough' to get by and you had to put down serious money to get a real sports car. The ones that were sort-of within reach were not practical as a family car.

Coming from then to now I can understand why people could be expecting the same contrast today. They are putting down serious money (compared to the base version) and are expecting a real upgrade from the rest of the target audience's cars. Add to that the expectation of the 'RS' badge and they might feel they are getting an S500 with an Estate body glued on top of it. And that, indeed, it is not. 

 

 

So why do I like it? First and foremost it's truckloads more practical than the BMW was. All the tidbits to lug loads of stuff are there: the roof rails, voluminous boot, smart stuff like the baggage hooks, add-ons like the tow hitch and enough torque to lug most trailers and caravans. Secondly, it has enough options to keep me satisfied as a daily driver. A very comfy but firm seat, splendid audio (though I do admit I had a subwoofer and door insulation added), again the power - to move through any traffic with ease and still enough style to come off as a very normal and sensible car, which is important if you take along customers and colleagues on occasion. 

 

The third part is what appeals to the little boy inside... it's a _bit_ of a sleeper. I won't win any fast&furious drag races but I will surprise 'faster-than-usual' and with that often more expensive cars being driven by people with enough money that actually went for power and speed in the first place, foregoing practicality. It's different, therefore it stands out, and that I like.

 

 

The car has yet to let me down, even today in heavy ice, snow, slush and mud she pulled through without so much as a peep (more of a scrounging noise actually, when I traffic across frozen snow).

 

 

Not a long-lasting history to boast _yet_ but I'm every bit as confident that I will keep on enjoying this car for years to come.

 

 

Will my next one be an Octavia again? I do feel kind of attracted to the prospect of a 4x4 RS version with a bit more horsepower, which I'm sure will be possible in 4 years from now. 

Might be that I will go for a BMW again if I get a good deal, who knows. Skoda built be a cracker car for now and I think anyone in the same frame of reference cannot but agree!

Edited 28 December, 201411 yr by Diango

Fair shout for giving the Octavia a go.

I think the Mk3 is a better car than the Mk2, not by leaps and bounds but a definite improvement. Also whilst not perhaps quite as good value as the Mk2, the Mk3 still represents alot of car for the money both compared to its competition and also how well equipped they are as standard.

I have to be honest....if I had a 52k euro budget I dont think the vRS would have been on my radar (more likely a 320d M Sport touring with a few choice options) but admire your call to go with the wildcard.

The taxation on cars is far higher in the Netherlands so you have less options within a given budget. Also, while the tax band is (in this case) the same for both (touring against estate) the BMW did 10k more list, meaning a good 100 euro's more to pay a month. Also, I would have definitely wanted the 320d M Sport Touring, were it possible. Our budget, coupled with Dutch prices, made a lot of options _just_ out of reach. As I said, I had a well kitted out 320d EDE but to get the same option list on the current model would have meant paying about 6k more than my budget allowed. Guess prices went up in the last few years .

I can't really fault my vRS after 14,000 miles.  Average 55mpg long-term, love the kit and it gets plenty of side-long admiring looks.

 

It's not the passionate lover my former Alfa Romeo was, but then with that came the temprament.  The Skoda is perhaps a little dull, but it's a winner.  For a car I have to spend 2hrs+ in every day, I'd pick the Skoda every day of the week.

 

My biggest issue is missing petrol, but with my mileage a gas-guzzler just wasn't an option.  My plan is to enjoy the vRS whilst my mileage is 20K / year, and then move to working in the city so I can purchase a try weekend car (an Octavia vRS R if Skoda decide to pull their finger out?!).

Good shout OP.

 

To be honest, Id have to be paid at least £50k to be even photographed anywhere near a BMW, except for the 1999 V12 LMR... and as for mercs, I don't like having to have a trailer to pick up all the bits that fall off it along the way...  .

 

Great 'progress so far' thread and thank you. Its pertinent to me as I am awaiting my tdi vrs, my first ever diseasal car that Ive bought myself - being a petrol only fan previously, based upon test drives too... Thanks for taking the time..

 

Nick

Good shout OP.

 

To be honest, Id have to be paid at least £50k to be even photographed anywhere near a BMW, except for the 1999 V12 LMR... and as for mercs, I don't like having to have a trailer to pick up all the bits that fall off it along the way...  .

 

Great 'progress so far' thread and thank you. Its pertinent to me as I am awaiting my tdi vrs, my first ever diseasal car that Ive bought myself - being a petrol only fan previously, based upon test drives too... Thanks for taking the time..

 

Nick

 

I think the main difference for you will be that you feel you are 'missing' a couple 1000 or-so revs while accelerating. If you have a Petrol RS now you will have gotten used to actually revving it to drive sporty, something not possible (and not needed) with the TDI vRS. From then on you will be floating on the torque the engine provides and as I said, no hot hatch behavior. If driven well and on dry roads you will put her round decent corners but the main grunt is only available in a straight line. 

 

When going for maximum acceleration I will usually travel between 3000 and 4500rpm before upshifting, which is typically on the high side for a diesel but has become more commonplace on modern diesels, especially the turbocharged ones. Then again, I don't have to leave 6th gear at all to gain on or overtake any of the normal traffic I encounter on my daily commute or customer visits. Sometimes it even feels I have to upshift after gaining speed only to realize it's already in 6th - that's how quick (or should I say - torquey) the engine is. 

 

The BMW had the same amount but had to settle for 21 less HP ánd had to lug around an extra 200-or-so pounds.

Edited 29 December, 201411 yr by Diango

Will my next one be an Octavia again? I do feel kind of attracted to the prospect of a 4x4 RS version with a bit more horsepower, which I'm sure will be possible in 4 years from now. 

Skoda doesn't seem to want to offer a 4x4 vRS, but the 4x4 TDI is available with the same engine as yours. And at least on paper it's a full second quicker from 0-100 km/h.

 

vRS TDI: 8,1s vs. 4x4 184 TDI: 7,1s

Skoda doesn't seem to want to offer a 4x4 vRS, but the 4x4 TDI is available with the same engine as yours. And at least on paper it's a full second quicker from 0-100 km/h.

 

vRS TDI: 8,1s vs. 4x4 184 TDI: 7,1s

Struggle to see how that's possible as surely the 4x4 is the heavier car so doesn't make sense with the same engine 

The only possible reasons that come to mind would be the extra grip* and possibly a different engine mapping.

It's something I'd like to see tested on a drag strip. It would be nice to see if reality correlates with the specs sheet.

 

(*Maybe the FWD version has to aggressively limit power to avoid wheel spin? Do the front wheels lose grip if you floor it with traction control turned off?)

Edited 29 December, 201411 yr by kallekilponen

Struggle to see how that's possible as surely the 4x4 is the heavier car so doesn't make sense with the same engine 

 

According to the November 2014 brochure, the vRS TDI is 8.2s (and with DSG is 8.3s); the 184PS Scout (DSG only) is 7.8s.

 

(But perhaps kallekilponen may have access to other, different, figures.)

According to the November 2014 brochure, the vRS TDI is 8.2s (and with DSG is 8.3s); the 184PS Scout (DSG only) is 7.8s.

 

(But perhaps kallekilponen may have access to other, different, figures.)

I'm referring to this PDF specs sheet from Skoda.fi

 

The German brochure seems to have the same figures as well.

Edited 29 December, 201411 yr by kallekilponen

The only possible reasons that come to mind would be the extra grip* and possibly a different engine mapping.

It's something I'd like to see tested on a drag strip. It would be nice to see if reality correlates with the specs sheet.

 

(*Maybe the FWD version has to aggressively limit power to avoid wheel spin? Do the front wheels lose grip if you floor it with traction control turned off?)

 

Yes, it definitely will. Disabling ESC (or putting it in sport) gives you slightly more power because of it, but wheelspin is easy to achieve under any circumstance.

I think the main difference for you will be that you feel you are 'missing' a couple 1000 or-so revs while accelerating. If you have a Petrol RS now you will have gotten used to actually revving it to drive sporty, something not possible (and not needed) with the TDI vRS. From then on you will be floating on the torque the engine provides and as I said, no hot hatch behavior. If driven well and on dry roads you will put her round decent corners but the main grunt is only available in a straight line. 

 

When going for maximum acceleration I will usually travel between 3000 and 4500rpm before upshifting, which is typically on the high side for a diesel but has become more commonplace on modern diesels, especially the turbocharged ones. Then again, I don't have to leave 6th gear at all to gain on or overtake any of the normal traffic I encounter on my daily commute or customer visits. Sometimes it even feels I have to upshift after gaining speed only to realize it's already in 6th - that's how quick (or should I say - torquey) the engine is. 

 

The BMW had the same amount but had to settle for 21 less HP ánd had to lug around an extra 200-or-so pounds.

Cheers Diango. As soon as shes run in, shes off to a revo dealer for more torque / power.... mk2 was tuned, mainly for torque. Just like riding a Ducati...

Edited 29 December, 201411 yr by billybskoda

Hello all :-). Been away for a while, busy here and there.

 

The girl has about 80.000 kilometers on the clock now, and has a prolonged stay-over with the dealer at the moment. After a few warning on the engine she went back for service to have one of the two EGR valves replaced. During that service, they discovered a crack in the turbo housing (low pressure section) so that's being replaced as well. It might be a hunch at best (and I'm not very up to date on new engines) but the fact that she drinks oil like a templar factors in it, I reckon.

 

Anyway, since the turbo's being replaced for a brand new one anyway, I figured this would be a good time to shell out for a tuning box. 

A colleague of mine bought one from a german company and has reported very good results, so I'm pondering this one:

 

https://sage-shop.com/epages/AutotechnikSaretze_K_43902637.sf/seccb078758a2/?ObjectPath=/Shops/AutotechnikSaretze_K_43902637/Products/V4-276

 

Promises about 224bhp and 464nm. Any thoughts?