well the time has come to upgrade, and I've decided to trade in my 2012 170 4x4 combi for a 2016 280 4x4 dsg combi in quartz grey, with black interior. you cant get an L&K here with the 280 bhp engine (they reckon they will none of them so dont list them and wouldnt, even with some poking)

 

I went a tad nuts on the options list, but am looking at end of feb hopefully for delivery. 

 

I havent been able to test drive one (there isnt one in the country as far as skoda know) but I have driven a cupra R 280 in anger, and several golf Rs, so am impressed enough by the engine, and I've always loved the DSG gearboxes, so this looks like a good mix. 

 

how are folks finding them in terms of rapidness? are they really a sub 6 second car to 60? I'm asking as I just moved on my v10 s6 and my old c5 rs6, and if this car is as nippy as claimed, then I may be sorted with just one car of mine on the driveway

 

t

 

 

0-60 mph is a figure I'm not greatly interested in, other than use as a comparison. I'd never try to test/prove a manufacturer's claimed figure. Those are obtained by performing four opposing runs on a perfectly level, high friction, closed track in perfect wind-still and dry conditions by a race-trained test driver, who is basically thrashing the nuts off the engine.

I'm not going to try to have a burn-up with Harry Hardon and his souped-up hatchback. That's why he's paying £2000 for his TPF&T insurance and I'm paying 10% of that amount for fully-comp and (bizarrely) less than I paid for the 170 diesel.

For me there's more than enough acceleration from stand-still to get out from a junction into those gaps in the busy traffic that I'd never have dreamed of trying in my 170.

 

My main interest in going for the 280 was the mid-to-upper range acceleration, giving me the on-tap power and confidence to get in those quick overtakes where you'd never manage or even contemplate it with the 170.

Flick the DSG into Sport, move out, drop a cog or two (or just kick down), job done.

No more being stuck behind Doris in her Zafira on the school run who can't get round the slightest bend without braking to pedal cycle speed, the OAPs on their weekly drive in the country who always drive everywhere ⅓ below the speed limit, or those one/two/three/four cars that won't overtake that damn heavy until they get a written invitation.

 

No surprise that with adaptive suspension, the Sport driving mode and the gen-6 Haldex 4x4, the 280 will get you round bends safely and much, much, faster without generating the Goodyear Concerto - so long as you remember that not even Škoda can overcome Newton's Laws of Motion!

On the other hand, chill out and go with the flow, switch on the ACC, turn up the Canton, and it's as calm and sedate as the 170 ever was.

Billy hit the salient points. I'll keep mine short.

Yes it's rapid :-). Coming from TVR, Cobra and Westfield.

One thing I will add... Don't expect it handle like a Cupra.

You have to remember you're driving a Super Star Destroyer not a Tie Fighter....

Edited 26 November, 201510 yr by Nick_H

I'm waiting for Skoda to do a black Friday deal of 50% off or buy one get one free and I will get a 280!!

Wow!!  Now that is going to be a rare sight on Irish roads and possibly the only one for a very long time!  Well done on making the brave move away from the usual diesel engines which seems to be almost obligatory in this country.  Hopefully I'll see it around some time!

Edited 26 November, 201510 yr by Superb170

yup - officially placed the order this am, and end feb delivery date (hopefully). 

 

there is another (to quote star wars) but i believe its a saloon. here's hoping there are a few more....

 

I am down around kilkenny a bit so maybe a mini briskoda meet at some point

 

t.

re: speed - thanks folks. I think it will be rather quick, so here's hoping. 

Welcome to the club.or at least you will be.over the moon with my 280,yes they are rapid cars,as nick and alex say,the 0-60 time compared to the cupra is imppresive,thats down to 4x4 traction,but you must understand there a bloody big heavy car,so its more of a cruiser with guts than a pocket sling shot round the corners rocket,does handle very tidely though.fuel economy isnt that great,didnt expect it to be,looking at some of youre previous portfolio should think that would be too much of a worry for you either,over 2000 miles have ave 31 mpg,mostly motorway miles.its great to see people taking a left field choice,so many take the bmw/audi/merc route,i would say its like buying a saab turbo,as you no longer can buy one of those,i think the stealth fighter 280 for me has taken that mantle.good on yer,you wont be disapointed.kevin.

P.s the saab i was refering to was the rather lovely very short lived 9-5 that they introduced not long before they hit the wall,a car i would have bought if things looked more rosy in sweden.shame.

Out of interest I assume you've purchased a UK car if Skoda Ireland don't (won't) officially supply that particular model. Does that mean you have to go to N.I. to have it serviced, as the Ireland dealer may not have (or be allowed access to) the technical knowledge, software updates etc, or be allowed to service a non official model due to complications with the warranty, unofficial specification etc. 

If it's a UK spec car the main speedometer will be in MPH so I guess the small KPH readout will be sufficient to cover that side of things, although the distance shown will be in miles not km.

Anyway, you'll end up with a great car, hope you enjoy it when it arrives. 

Out of interest I assume you've purchased a UK car if Skoda Ireland don't (won't) officially supply that particular model. Does that mean you have to go to N.I. to have it serviced, as the Ireland dealer may not have (or be allowed access to) the technical knowledge, software updates etc, or be allowed to service a non official model due to complications with the warranty, unofficial specification etc. 

If it's a UK spec car the main speedometer will be in MPH so I guess the small KPH readout will be sufficient to cover that side of things, although the distance shown will be in miles not km.

Anyway, you'll end up with a great car, hope you enjoy it when it arrives.

Interesting question that. You can choose between mph & kph on the odometer in the settings alright though.

Out of interest I assume you've purchased a UK car if Skoda Ireland don't (won't) officially supply that particular model. Does that mean you have to go to N.I. to have it serviced, as the Ireland dealer may not have (or be allowed access to) the technical knowledge, software updates etc, or be allowed to service a non official model due to complications with the warranty, unofficial specification etc.

If it's a UK spec car the main speedometer will be in MPH so I guess the small KPH readout will be sufficient to cover that side of things, although the distance shown will be in miles not km.

Anyway, you'll end up with a great car, hope you enjoy it when it arrives.

It's the L&K 280 that is not listed in Ireland. I think that's the point that tmg was making. The Style version of the 280 is being sold here so it should be an Irish car. It's a pity they don't offer the L&K as it would be an amazing machine. If I wasn't doing such high mileage I'd nearly consider one myself! The only petrol models sold in Ireland (at present anyway) is the lowly 1.4 125bhp in poverty spec, the 1.4 150bhp in Ambition (SE) only and the 280 Style. The 220 doesn't even get a listing yet.

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Edited 26 November, 201510 yr by Superb170

Fantastic car and fantastic choice, im sure that will be more of them in Ireland, motor tax its not high on that car, im just concern about petrol quality as there its no RON98+ here :( and this will have impact on car performance. Anyway just waiting on Sportline model and i will order one of them in Dublin.

I think it is a shame the 220 and 280 do not get the variable ratio steering rack from the VRS as this would help the driving dynamics feel more sporty I guess.

I think it is a shame the 220 and 280 do not get the variable ratio steering rack from the VRS as this would help the driving dynamics feel more sporty I guess.

If you want sporty buy an RS6 ;-)

I did - I had a c5 avant and a c6 avant RS6, and a c6 s6 saloon most recently alongside my superb combi. 

 

steeringwise, the c6 is pretty dead, the c5 is heavy but much more involving

 

re: the l&k point above, i did get some movement on price, as I basically specced everything available bar the door bin things and i fought the fight with them that the L&K bundle was much cheaper than buying all the bits separately and adding to a style. 

 

cant wait  until feb now

It's the L&K 280 that is not listed in Ireland. I think that's the point that tmg was making. The Style version of the 280 is being sold here so it should be an Irish car. It's a pity they don't offer the L&K as it would be an amazing machine. If I wasn't doing such high mileage I'd nearly consider one myself! The only petrol models sold in Ireland (at present anyway) is the lowly 1.4 125bhp in poverty spec, the 1.4 150bhp in Ambition (SE) only and the 280 Style. The 220 doesn't even get a listing yet.

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Thanks Superb170 - I assumed the 280 (or any petrol variant)  wasn't listed in Ireland at all.