Has anyone seen/read the shootout between the focus ST, Golf Gti, Megane, astra, civic, corrolla, mini and the new Octy VRs. They were not that impressed with the Octy. Focus came out on top, Octy 5th. :(

They look at it purely for the driving aspects, or seems that way,

I just skipped through the report in Asda, hey, why buy it when you can stand there and read it, especially while the wife shops

Not read it yet! will find time later.

They were not too complimentary about the steering, cabin quality, engine response, suspension, but the boot is big though.

Still, I m still buying one, as I cannot afford the tax on the ST and VXR, the golf is too expensive and none of them are available as an estate.

The flat engine response on the RS maybe cured when it is chipped though......

Thought it was a bit of a **** review on all the cars. Very brief.

Read the review. Thought it wasn't too bad really considering.....

a) It was meant to be a hot hatch test not a sports saloon test (personally where I put the new vRS)

The "sluggishness" of the engine was only on a specific point versus the Golf (don't forget there is 165kg difference in kerb weight). Of course it will be less responsive.

c)The car felt "big" in comparison to the other cars. Well it is!

d)It beat Honda Type-R, Mini Cooper S Works, Toyota Corolla TTE S/C.

e)The bits on noise intrusion from the engine would be expected against the Golf. That's where Skoda save money!

That said it wasn't a glowing report, but as ARG said. I'm having one!

Skoda had been known for "doing things better" than VW with any given base model line up, Octy better than Golf, Fabia better than Polo and so on,, so after my drive in the new GTi a few mths back, l thought the new VRs is goin to be some machine, but having read that test, somehow l feel maybe VW have said " you cant do it better than us", was kinda let down by the report really :thumbdwn: , guess will have to wait to drive it myself and see how it feels

The polo is quieter inside than the Fabia - that's why I added the sound proofing, it really made a big difference. The Fab vRS' has the road noise problem due to the tyres.

I'd expect that if you were to spend a bit of dosh on additional sound proofing of the Octy you'd get a nice improvement there, and I still think that size-wise the Octy (I & II) are pretty much unbeatable for the money, esp. considering the general performance and further tuning potential

Hope the new vRS is a big, big failure with the public and the car mags.

I can then pick a cracking bargain up in 12 months time

Worth noting the Octavia in the test was Left Hand drive, so probably not representive of a UK spec car.

Also same engine as golf with probably slight remapping.

Having bought and read this mag. I am sure there is still bias in the motoring press!

IE if a car has the 'right' badge eg. BMW, VW, that car is brilliant etc.

We buy Skoda coz we know better.

It really annoys me when you see a TV test and the presenter says "Its a BMW etc. SO it must be good!" before they have even driven it!

I would expect the Octy to be slightly slower, due to BHP/Tonne ratio. But out on the road I'll bet there ain't gonna be much in it.

It's just I can't get over how bland it looks! :(

From a BMW Owners Forum

The other day I was cruising along as usual in my BMW coming onto one of my motorways, which was very busy with inferior cars.

First off, I couldn't believe that the volume of traffic DIDN'T slow down for me AT ALL as I came off the slip road! I had to squeeze into a barely big enough gap between two cars in order to get onto my motorway! (The driver of the car behind me did realise his mistake though and honked an apology to me with a long blast of his horn.)

Unbelievably, I had to do the same again before I could get to the BMW lane. (Why do underlings use this lane? Surely everyone knows it is for BMW drivers only?)

Anyway, once I was in the BMW lane and posing along at 110mph enjoying the adulation that the inferior car drivers were giving me, I noticed an inferior car ahead of me which was not only in the BMW lane of my motorway, but was driving at a ridiculous 70 mph!

Naturally, I got to within a foot or so of his rear bumper and flashed my headlights to remind him he shouldn't be in the BMW lane of my motorway and to get out of my way.

Of course, once he realised it was a BMW behind him, he did just that, but I could hardly believe it when he pulled straight back out behind me! He also tried to keep up with me and when he realised I would out-run him, he put on some blue lights in his front grill and urged me to get onto the hard shoulder so that he could congratulate me on my excellent car.

Needless to say, I was eager oblige and when we had stopped, the man gave me a piece of paper confirming what I already knew - that my car goes fast! Apparently he wants everyone to know what a superior car I have, so I had to take my driver's licence to a Police Station to be sent away to have some points put on! (They're not free points either - they're

From a BMW Owners Forum

The other day I was cruising along as usual in my BMW coming onto one of my motorways' date=' which was very busy with inferior cars.

Funniest thing I have read in ages. :orb_rocki So true! Have you noticed that you never see a BMW driver smiling while driving, in fact the only way you can tell they are alive is by the flashing tell tale light on their Jabbra Bluetooth headset. And woe betide anyone who overtakes them, especially if you are female, it becomes their mission on life to overtake you

From a BMW Owners Forum

:rofl: :rofl:

Think that one's made an appearance on "UK Gold"

Tell the muppets to pay

From a BMW Owners Forum

The other day I was cruising along as usual in my BMW coming onto one of my motorways' date=' which was very busy with inferior cars.

Funniest thing I have read in ages. :orb_rocki So true! Have you noticed that you never see a BMW driver smiling while driving, in fact the only way you can tell they are alive is by the flashing tell tale light on their Jabbra Bluetooth headset. And woe betide anyone who overtakes them, especially if you are female, it becomes their mission on life to overtake you

Oh come on guys [and gals] I know we are all Skoda fans but' date=' in the money-no-object game, there are some other nice motors around. My choice? An BMW M3 for weekdays, shopping, and other chores, and a Ferrari 360M coupe for Sundays and fun-days!! Now I'll wake up and take some more tablets.[/quote']

Don

Don

I'd go along with the 246 [gosh - we're showing our age!] but apparently the Miura used to take off [wrong shape at the front].

Tablets in the post! [Don't mix with Scotch or YOU'LL take off!]

I was trying to keep my age a secret' date=' but I did have a modified Strada Abarth 130TC. Someone pass the moisturiser please :( [/font']

I was trying to keep my age a secret' date=' but I did have a modified Strada Abarth 130TC. Someone pass the moisturiser please :( [/font']

Really? I had an ancient Fiat 600 modified by Abarth to 750cc. What a crap heap! But I was only about 18 - lucky it wasn't horse-drawn I suppose.

Really? I had an ancient Fiat 600 modified by Abarth to 750cc. What a crap heap! But I was only about 18 - lucky it wasn't horse-drawn I suppose.

I always had a soft spot for Fiat/Lancia especially the Stratos, Fiat 500 and Fulvia. In a way I suppose I have a similar soft spot for VW/Skoda nowadays. Now that Porsche is part of the VAG stable, perhaps we might get a fantastic rear engine Skoda again??? I

We buy Skoda coz we know better.

It really annoys me when you see a TV test and the presenter says "Its a BMW etc. SO it must be good!" before they have even driven it!

So have you driven the Octy vRS II then? :confused: It's really annoying when people say how great a car is without even driving/experiencing one!

Chris

So have you driven the Octy vRS II then? :confused: It's really annoying when people say how great a car is without even driving/experiencing one!

Chris

Er, no. I don't think I implied that. :confused:

It's more a comment on today's buying public. The badge is more important than what lies underneath.

I believe Skoda drivers know better and are more discerning. Employing a more rational decision making progress. It's surprising how many people still have a disregard for Skoda, but in trying to avoid offence when you say mines a 'Skoda'., the answer usually is "oh they're supposed to be ok now"

It's a kind of inverse snobbery.

'Car' magazine, usually the leader in badge snobbery rated the new vRS as better than the GTI due to Skoda's own suspension set up and (of course) value for money....

I always had a soft spot for Fiat/Lancia especially the Stratos, Fiat 500 and Fulvia. In a way I suppose I have a similar soft spot for VW/Skoda nowadays. Now that Porsche is part of the VAG stable, perhaps we might get a fantastic rear engine Skoda again??? I

Well' date=' AutoExpress did rate the 911 as the best all around sporty car of all time - it's certainly been going long enough in one form or another

[darn - where did I leave that lottery ticket?']

Iknow this is slightly off the thread, but does anyone know anything about that gorgeous looking open top sports car that most Skoda sealers seem to have posted on their walls. Failing that does anyone know Danny Wildes phone number and whether he still has his Dino?