I traded in my mk2 Blackline for a new Race Blue Estate vRS DSG TSI on the 2nd March....After nearly 4 weeks of ownership here's my thoughts.

 

I must say, the mk3 vRS hasn't been an instant hit with me in the looks department, but after 4 weeks its certainly starting to grow on me! The 19" extreme alloys are fantastic and have drawn a lot of comments however the 4x4 like suspension doesn't do it any justice. It seems as though it's settling down a little now but I'm sorely tempted to get a set of Eibach's on it at some point. Since I've properly detailed the car (clay bar, polish and wax) it now looks a lot better - those dealers need a lesson in how to prepare a car properly...

 

I've found the new vRS to be much more refined than the Blackline, the doors close quieter and the ride is smooth....Inside there is a lot more equipment, the Columbus is a step up from the Amundsen+ in the Blackline, heated seats, heated screen, auto lights, colour maxidot etc etc are all great.

 

I find the new vRS seats are more comfortable than the old leather seats, slightly wider and softer. Having heated leather seats again is fantastic!!

 

Handling seems to be on par with the old Blackline but the brakes already feel a bit stronger (bigger discs).

 

I'm still getting used to the DSG gearbox having had a manual for 20+ years (moved to the dark side due to a back problem). I'm not sure the DSG always selects the right gear for the conditions (hills etc), in ECO or Normal it is pretty quick to change up and in Sport seems a bit keen to hang on to the revs for to long.....I've settled for general driving in Eco or Normal, intervening with the paddles when necessary and switching to manual when the road opens up ahead......Love the way it blips the throttle on the down shifts! I have to say thought that when sat in traffic the DSG is a pleasure!

 

I'm undecided on the sound generator at the moment - can't quite decide if its annoying in sport mode or not.....

 

Performance wise, The vRS TSI is fantastic. I'm still running it in (only covered 400 miles) so I've not let it fly fully yet but it certainly pulls strongly and smoothly. The mk2 Blackline CR used to pull strongly but being a diesel the power band was relatively narrow. The TSI and DSG combination looks as though it will be a lot of fun when I can open it up fully on the open road...

 

Overall I'm very pleased but if I didn't have the back problem I probably wouldn't have swapped the Blackline for the Mk3 just yet........

Good to read a positive, enjoy your new ride...

I stuck with the standard 18" rims, mainly didn't see the point in changing them, but also lots of comments, not just Skoda, that big rims mean less cusion on the road. In 20 days I will have had mine a year( or so the oil change indicator told me today).still love the way its well away from traffic lights before most others have selected a gear. I have dsg. Luckily for a cyclist at 05-30 this morning there was a car in front at the lights. He peddled across without lights when we went to green. Expect in court it would still have been my fault....

Yeah great to hear, I'm chuffed with mine but hadn't had one previously to compare to. I tend to use Eco (well I use individual mode set to engine Eco but rest standard) during the work week as I genuinely find it hard not to find myself going quicker than I need to in other modes.

Also agree the DSG is possibly not as intuitive for B roads but most of my driving is A roads, town and motorways which it's great for - the wife drives the B roads to her work hence we've stuck with the manual in her scout (also the ride height and more forgiving tyres pls 4x4 suit our location and these roads).

Don't discount the sound generator until you can give it the beans in second and third - it sounds fantastic and complements the TSI nicely.

Upplugged my sound gen as the wife complained of the loud noise. Then after a while put it back on. She still thinks it unplugged, psychological..... As for Dsg on b roads, I'm in eco all the time, sport steering all the time,and just pull back on the stick to S when I approach the bendy bits in the road. In town I pullbto S for roundabouts, red lights etc, as the engine braking helps.

I have been playing around with different driving styles with the DSG on my VRS TDI.

Normal driving is let the car warm up in normal mode then when on the motorway stick in ECO mode.

When up for some fun either knock the gear shift left and use the gear stick.... (Simple knock forward to shift up, pull back to drop down). Or

Use the flappy paddles.

I only tend to drop it in sports mode when I pull up to a junction in auto and can see it's going to be a struggle getting out.