Can only answer the one Im afraid..

Service intervals can be set to 10k fixed servicing or if the car if filled with longlife oils to the proper spec, variable servicing anything up to 20k - depends on driving style etc but most people reckon on 14-17k from what I gather. New models seem to come set to variable (QG1 servicing).. Can check this with dealer anyway and he can check it during the pre delivery inspection before you have it.

Im retro fitting cruise to mind probably so can report back then.

Paul..

hi dr. pepper, welcome to briskoda!

Is the cruise control any good (some systems aren't great or are too fiddly)?

What's the service interval on the vRS, got the brochure but no mention ??

ANyone recommend one of the Northwest dealers, either Preston , Blackpool, Bolton or Warrington as I am within 30 miles of them all ??

Anyone know of when the Octavia is due a facelift or replacing ?[/quote:926e070316]

1. i've had cruise retro-fitted in mine and when traffic allows, i think it's great with very little of that annoying surging or engine braking effect you often feel on other cars. very straightforward, imo.

2. service interval can be 10,000 miles or variable ( using long life oil ) depending on your preference, so is entirely down to how the car is driven.

3. i can heartily recommend horner's inmanchester. superb service department and the sales are very good too.

4. i think about 2004 and i'm praying that a 4x4 RS is on the cards!!

hope that helps. if you'd like to see how an RS goes, give me a shout, and you can experience it in normal and chipped modes. BIG difference!

regards,

Drpepper,

Eveing and welcome.

New model is meant to be close2003 opening 2004. Although has we all know dates will slip I guess.

Glad to see another "Northerner" close to the epicentre of roadworks, Thewall

Echoing Hucks comments, cruise is worth it in my book, can easily be retroed if you find a bargin without. Please do come and have a ride in a 4x4 and a vRS. Then test at the dealers. Once again I'll echo hucks comments that Horners are very good service.

For the record, I found mine (a 4x4) for 11k at 6 months from a small trader, there are bargins to be had, down south I hear of registered models with 100 miles or so going for circa 12-13k.

as said service intervals up to 30k or every 10k your choice, personally I've gone to 10k and oil changes every 5k. Possibly overkill, but then she has a lot of short journeys around thewall...grrr

Hopefully see you soon.

Cheers for that guys, will add the Manc dealer to the list as only about 30 mins away.

Have been looking around for an ex-demo model but not really found much guess i'll have to look a bit harder ! Not seen anything in the press relating to the replacement date so was suprised to hear close 2003 as normally the press know well in advance, oh well suppose given that they are a bit of a bargain anyway we'll just have to grin and bear the drop in used value when it happens - that or swap for the new one !!

Just a guess but as thevRS lump is shared with the TT I'm guessing that it's fairly easy to get it to chuck out 225BHP as per the top TT any idea what sort of cost is involved in this (excluding Insurance of course!)

Yep the lumps in the vRS and 4x4 are nigh on the same.

Cost from 400 or so for a Jabba remap, 400+ or so for APR (depending on options), although things are changing I'll try and get an update on this for the site today.

There are a few posts relating to chips and what's good and bad in the myPerformance forum.

Jabba and APR chips are roughly throwing out 222BHP and 230 to 250ft lbs of toruqe.

So it's a definite option in my book. You can get the 1.8T's up to 280/90 with about about 2k including new turbo/injectors etc etc.

Again Ian is ona jabba remap, I'm along with Huck on the APR setup. More than welcome to have a "feel" for it. I did with Ian and less than a fortnight I was following him in my own Skoda

The 2003/4 date was sourced from a dealer.

If your intrested Gorners in Warrington should have a WRC vRS ex demo already chipped coming up soon. Having seen the WRC vRS in the flesh on the road, it has a few more toys over the vRS, namely xeons and ESP.

ESP is what the 4x4 members enjoy, I had it described to me as "the hand of a dinky car driver" It keep you in trim up to the point of physical laws of course.

Hope that helps.

pm me for contact info if you want to meet etc.

Echoing the comments above really, come out for a blast with us, then you can compare....

A standard RS (huck's on standard mode)

An APR'd RS (huck's on optimax mode)

A standard 4x4 (Colin's on standard mode)

An APR'd 4x4 (Colin's on optimax mode)

A Jabba remapped 4x4 (mine, always in full nutter mode )

..driven as they are supposed to be, then go to horners for a "sane" drive and look at what they have.

Whereabouts are you? I'm nr J5 M61.

Cheers, sounds like a plan ! Am a bit stuck for time at the moment as working away until end of Jan, should hopefully be back oop north then, so if your planning a meet or anything around early Feb count me in !

Have looked at a few ex-demos and they are no cheaper than a new one from a UK Broker (which then put you in touch with a pukka dealer who do the deal), therefore don't see why I shouldn't be able to get one of the local dealers to match the price, looking about

Great, let us know when you are free and we'll sort something.

Round here we don't so much "organise a meet" as say "see you in the pub tonight" That said, our northern numbers are growing so might be worth organising a weekend drive out.

I'm sure Horners would do a good deal to get the business, only Huck and Robmawer purchased theirs from there, the rest of us just use em for servicing etc etc.

I'm not on commission, honest, just know what a "country road drive" can do as a demonstration - just ask Colin!

Buying from Horner's was pretty good - I was buying second hand so I

don't know how much they negotiate prices on new cars.

However, they've been in business a while and probably appreciate that

a satisfied customer will use them for servicing and future purchases,

and that any reduced profit from the first sale can be made up there

I managed to get a fair bit off the screen price, but it's not the sort of

place that advertises at overly inflated prices anyway, as most of their

business comes from attracting non-local people.

They will also try and sell you some car protection stuff (Supaguard?),

which I didn't end up opting for but I did enjoy the demonstration of it

working. The other one they try and sell you as GAP insurance, but again

I chose not to get that.

When I picked the car up it was in a pretty good state, had been cleaned

and they'd even thrown in a big bunch of flowers for the missus. There

was a couple of things wrong with the car - the door lock motor, which

I'd picked up on inspection, and a broken rear speaker which they'd

found when checking the car over. They hadn't managed to get the parts

in time, so I had to go back, but then I did push them to let me pick it up

quick!

I did have to wait about 3 months for my carpet mats, but that was a

problem at Skoda itself

Hope that helps,

Rob.

Just to add my feelings on the vRS (and yes I agree with everything everyone else has stated!)

it also makes a great choice for the company car driver....

yes diesels are becoming the common choice (tax liability being fixed for the next 4 years as under 18% threshold) and yes they have come on leaps and bounds and yes they are no longer smelly, slow and sound like tractors, but....

isn't there something nice about opening a car up and hearing that engine note? something you just can't get with an oil-burner...

It also makes people rather envious as they have just opted for a BMW 318 or Audi A4 and they realise you are still paying a lot less tax!

Without boring you guys rigid the tax liability for a car changed last April to be based on co2 emissions rather than mileage. To work it out now you calculate:

p11d price (purchase price - say 15,100 for vRS although p11d tend to be lower

Just to add my feelings on the vRS (and yes I agree with everything everyone else has stated!)

it also makes a great choice for the company car driver....

Russ[/quote:d56d1eec34]

Spot on - mine is a company car and I got a lot more car for my money than I would have with an "equivalent" Golf etc. Thoroughly recommend the vRS - stereo is reasonable, although not great and I find some of the plastics inside a bit hard not too nice, but other than that it is great! Lots of fun to be had and not too many of them on the road, although if we keep telling everyone about them, don't know how long that will last........ :?

Hi Dr Pepper,

If your after a local dealer then Riding & Co at Preston we're very good, I travelled down from the South Lakes because they seemed very keen, but not too pushy.

Hope this is of some use.

Ta Paul.

First post for me ... hi guys and gals!!!

Just to echo the comment on Company Car taxation amonst other things.

I used to own a Lexus IS200 (long story, I still have nightmares about it even now!) ... it was a rubbsih drive and I got completely hammered in tax.

When I came to look around at new cars I couldn't believe the savings I'd enjoy over the vRS. I had no problem with the badge as most of the guys at work are BMW or AUDI drivers and I took a preverse joy in getting up their noses.

To be quite honest, I didn't realise how good this car could be. I've got 5000 happy miles under my belt in a bog std machine (with 'leccy sunroof as the only option) and it is simply fan-bloody-tastic.

Why there are so few round where I live (High Wycombe) is a complete mystery.

Whenever I fill up - I get plenty of approving nods, comments from other drivers and forecourt staff - and on the open road I can either drive sedately returning 40+ mpg (if I've the time) or if I'm pushed for time, hammer it with a smile a wide long and getting ti my destination in no time.

.... there, I feel a whole lot better now ...

Mike

Welcome on board Mike!

Gotta welcome anyone that uses the phrase "hammer it" in their first post!

hi mike, good to see you!

just wait till you've got even more miles, it gets better!

Re the next generation Octavia , I'm sure i heard on WRC online forum that it is due 2004 in Europe , maybe late 04 , early 05 here , anyone else know the score with this? Oh and will there be an RS in the new range , remember the WRC car changes to the Fabia later on this season , and rumours of a Fabia RS abound , although ive never heard anything definate about this car either! Skoda must be the most secretive maufacturer going , as for any new Vauxhall , Ford , Rover ect you seem to see spy pix in mags about 3 or 4 years before the car is due out!!

Cheers Paul, seeing as they are the nearest dealer and somebody has said something nice about them i'll give them first go ! Have an amount in mind I want PX for the Alfa and an amount in mind I want to add cash, if they can match this, ie. come under 15k with the parking sensors and cruise I'll be happy enough !

and rumours of a Fabia RS abound , although ive never heard anything definate about this car either! Skoda must be the most secretive maufacturer going[/quote:72ec4a737c]

I don't know if anyone has posted this allready elsewhere, if they have i can only apologize.

In the January issue of Autocar, i quote:

Even Skoda is getting in on the act. The Fabia RS concept, shown at last year's Paris Motor Show, is likely to appear in the summer. It's yet another car powered by the VW Group's 1.8 turbo motor, but detuned to 150bhp to avoid treading on the toes of the Polo GTi. Hmmm

Cruise is a dodle to use, on left hand indicator stalk, one touch to set, can adjust cruise speed up or down on stalk + switch off or by touching brake or clutch, neet installation and easy to use and with the power of the 180 engine will cruise all day at 100 smoothly if required up and down hill was I have tried with a smile 8) in Europe, In the uk I find it excellent as a speed limiter so you dont keep watching the speedo. In my opinion reversing sensors are the number 1 option.

John