Individual countries can pick and choose what they want the factory to build them, based on what they believe will sell in their market.

The two obvious reasons why these have been dropped in the UK is either because they aren't selling well enough to justify the effort in marketing them, or they are about to be replaced with something better. Time will tell which it is.

Individual countries can pick and choose what they want the factory to build them, based on what they believe will sell in their market.

The two obvious reasons why these have been dropped in the UK is either because they aren't selling well enough to justify the effort in marketing them, or they are about to be replaced with something better. Time will tell which it is.

So this might be a Skoda UK thing rather than a total world stop on them. From what i have read i believed both the 230 and the VRS 4x4 were both doing well, to sat they have not been out that long. I am not that bothered there stopping them as it might make mine worth more on trade in, as there are not many of them about. I am guessing the 4x4 might be rarer than the 230. 

The planning and tooling required to produce cars on a production line is complex. A facelift may appear to be a few cosmetic changes but from a production pov then the planning is huge. It just wouldn't be feasible to produce a pre facelift car alongside.

 

I run a car related business and bought my vrs in a trade way - some frank discussions with the supplying dealer confirmed the 230 was a success in terms of sales and their view is that they will fare OK on the used car market.

 

If/when they do bring out a 4wd dsg 300ps version ala golf R then this will not necessarily scrub out the 230. For a start people don't always want dsg, also the fuel economy will be less and the road fund higher. I honestly think the 230 with its trick diff, limited number and an easy 315hp remap will become an appealing proposition on the used car front.

 

I owned a golf r - 5 door dsg. I bought it new and owned it for 2 months! Great car but the actual build quality was flaky. I rejected the first one as the paint was atrocious and the second one had poorly aligned doors on the passenger side. Given its weight (like 150kg more than the 230) and drivetrain power loss then it felt only a smidgen faster than the 230 does (not off the line but through the gears)

 

I also owned a civic type r recently - now that was fast!

 

 

 

If/when they do bring out a 4wd dsg 300ps version ala golf R then this will not necessarily scrub out the 230. For a start people don't always want dsg, also the fuel economy will be less and the road fund higher. I honestly think the 230 with its trick diff, limited number and an easy 315hp remap will become an appealing proposition on the used car front.

 

road fund tax will be £140 across the board for cars under £40k as of April next year anyway.. unless you own a zero emissions car.

Sorry, what I was getting at as that not all residual values depend on condition and mileage. Although your Focus CC was mint, the fact it was not really a niche model with limed production figures won't have helped the depreciation.

 

We're hoping the vRS230 with its relatively short run, the diff and spec will fare better than the regular vRS as further down the line it will be something that appeals to an enthusiast that's all  :sun:

I hope so for those who bought it.

 

But 230bhp in the modern pistonhead world isn't cutting edge.

 

I don't know why Skoda thought it would be when there's a 290bhp unit readily available to them.

 

Unless it **isn't** available to them?

what's the difference between the 230 and 290ps VAG units (apart from 60ps!)

I hope so for those who bought it.

 

But 230bhp in the modern pistonhead world isn't cutting edge.

 

I don't know why Skoda thought it would be when there's a 290bhp unit readily available to them.

 

Unless it **isn't** available to them?

Skoda is not really seen as the cooking sector of their buyers demographic - SEAT is their 'performance' or racy arm of the VAG group. Audi is their prestige, VW is their core brand that appeals to one and all and Skoda is more of the 'value' brand.

 

As a manufacturer, in order for all their brand acquisitions to harmonise and not interfere with one another VAG has to stick to the brand core values.

 

A cheaper vRS should never rival a VW or Audi in terms of pace, tech and style yet be 5-10k cheaper. That's why Skoda has the hand me downs and gets it's mitts on tech once the higher brands have moved on.

I'm hoping (for those who still want one) that Skoda UK might have the same situation which they did with the Blackline, and that after the books have "closed", they'll find a few more down the back of the proverbial sofa (that's how I got my Blackline)

 

the Diesel 4x4 was indeed short lived, but it didn't help that it seemed to come to the UK after every other country had been selling it for a while.

 

fodder for a separate thread perhaps, but why does the UK branch seem to be so far behind the others in terms of new things being announced (these octavias, superb sportline) and actually getting to us ?

what's the difference between the 230 and 290ps VAG units (apart from 60ps!)

The 290 will remap to 350!

I'm hoping (for those who still want one) that Skoda UK might have the same situation which they did with the Blackline, and that after the books have "closed", they'll find a few more down the back of the proverbial sofa (that's how I got my Blackline)

 

the Diesel 4x4 was indeed short lived, but it didn't help that it seemed to come to the UK after every other country had been selling it for a while.

 

fodder for a separate thread perhaps, but why does the UK branch seem to be so far behind the others in terms of new things being announced (these octavias, superb sportline) and actually getting to us ?

 

From talking to my Dealer he thinks the Superb Sport line will most likely be a Cosmetic change, ie :- Sort seats, lip spoiler, lower suspention, boby kit perhaps, etc etc but not turned into a Vrs. You could get a Sport Octavia once which I think was only a cosmetic change as well.

The 290 will remap to 350!

 

angd the 230 should remap to around 310

angd the 230 should remap to around 310

 

so does anyone know what mechanical differences the 230 has to the 290? ie- bigger turbo, valves, exhaust. I wouldn't want to be remapping a 230 to 300+ and something go pop after 12 months!

Perhaps the 2017 vanilla VRS TSI will be given with the VAQ diff as standard. That would make the current 230 largely irrelevant, because the diff is the best bit of the package.

so does anyone know what mechanical differences the 230 has to the 290? ie- bigger turbo, valves, exhaust. I wouldn't want to be remapping a 230 to 300+ and something go pop after 12 months!

The main difference will be a larger turbo which maintains boost throughout a wider & higher rev-range. Smaller turbos choke at higher-revs unless you spin them up really fast, which then impacts upon reliability. There may be some minor changes (strengthening) to engine internals and the exhaust system may be a little more free-flowing but the majority of extra horses will arrive courtesy of a larger turbo. For comparison a VRS TSI and Cupra R pull similarly below 4500rpm. It is only above 4500rpm where R stretches its legs. The R doesn't produce significantly more torque, it just holds it for longer.

From talking to my Dealer he thinks the Superb Sport line will most likely be a Cosmetic change, ie :- Sort seats, lip spoiler, lower suspention, boby kit perhaps, etc etc but not turned into a Vrs. You could get a Sport Octavia once which I think was only a cosmetic change as well.

 

Yes, the Sportline is more a "trim level" using existing engines rather than a different "version", but my point was more that it was announced some time ago, is already selling in other regions but has always been "wait and see" from Skoda UK until recently - someone linked a web aritcle with  a price list on one of the threads, but nothing concrete from dealers or officially from Skoda UK yet

Edited 4 August, 20169 yr by Wet Kipper

I think that there is a difference between 'not taking orders' and 'dropping a model'. As there is definitely a facelift which will include some body design elements it makes sense to close orders on the special models which will be lower numbers other than standard models which they will have stock.

I will imagine the current VRS range including the 4x4 will still be available but in the facelift. Not sure about the 230 as it was always proposed as a short run special for the 40 year aniversary

I think that there is a difference between 'not taking orders' and 'dropping a model'. As there is definitely a facelift which will include some body design elements it makes sense to close orders on the special models which will be lower numbers other than standard models which they will have stock.

I will imagine the current VRS range including the 4x4 will still be available but in the facelift. Not sure about the 230 as it was always proposed as a short run special for the 40 year aniversary

 

 

Agree, there will be a Facekift Vrs and a 4x4 ( not a Vrs ) but it will be a petrol. I think Diesels are be coming old hat, ( emissions etc etc )  as Modern Petrol engines can do almost as many MPG as the diesels

 

 

Disclaimer :- Just my opinion

Edited 4 August, 20169 yr by Auric Goldfinger

Being a radio 4 bore, if one believes reports then the government will be actively seeking to reduce sales of DERV cars. One of the things mentioned is a showroom tax/premium.

 

Also, If I were the chair of VW then I'd be moving away from diesel - VW recently announced huge investment in Hybrid and electric cars. The emissions scandal has caused major damage to VW.

 

It's a shame as there are some very good reasons for Diesel engined cars and I do like the way they drive.

 

As Auric Goldfinger says - nearly all petrol engines in development are turbocharged and produce similar torque levels but higher outputs in power due to the higher rpm available.

 

eta - BMW don't even have a non turbo car in their line-up

Edited 4 August, 20169 yr by Wakey

I wonder if this will result in a hoovering up of existing 230's sat in showrooms with too little / too much kit on.....

I wonder if this will result in a hoovering up of existing 230's sat in showrooms with too little / too much kit on.....

 

Don't think there will be that many, if any 230's sat in showrooms, not new ones anyway

Don't think there will be that many, if any 230's sat in showrooms, not new ones anyway

 

There are a few around - Mostly Black / White with standard spec (so no canton, etc)

Also, If I were the chair of VW then I'd be moving away from diesel - VW recently announced huge investment in Hybrid and electric cars. The emissions scandal has caused major damage to VW.

As if Dieselgate wasn't enough of a problem for VAG, it's being reported that VAG now plan to fit DPFs (with the attendant purge problems for anyone who only does urban driving) to petrol (gas in US speak) engine versions as well http://www.autoblog.com/2016/08/03/vw-particulate-filters-gas-engines/

Skoda is not really seen as the cooking sector of their buyers demographic - SEAT is their 'performance' or racy arm of the VAG group. Audi is their prestige, VW is their core brand that appeals to one and all and Skoda is more of the 'value' brand.

 

As a manufacturer, in order for all their brand acquisitions to harmonise and not interfere with one another VAG has to stick to the brand core values.

 

A cheaper vRS should never rival a VW or Audi in terms of pace, tech and style yet be 5-10k cheaper. That's why Skoda has the hand me downs and gets it's mitts on tech once the higher brands have moved on.

 

Very well put but I'd have thought that, at the end of the day, all sales and revenue end up effectively in the same bank account.

 

If I'm offering 4 cars of different brands, each one offering a 290bhp petrol version, that's 4 chances I've got of poaching a potential BMW / Mercedes pistonhead rather than just the one?

 

I'm sure your version is closer to reality though

As if Dieselgate wasn't enough of a problem for VAG, it's being reported that VAG now plan to fit DPFs (with the attendant purge problems for anyone who only does urban driving) to petrol (gas in US speak) engine versions as well http://www.autoblog.com/2016/08/03/vw-particulate-filters-gas-engines/

They will have to be fitted in Europe too, even the latest direct injection petrol engines have PM limits to pass the Euro 5 and Euro 6 standards.

https://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/fuels-and-environment/euro-emissions-standards.html

Ian

As if Dieselgate wasn't enough of a problem for VAG, it's being reported that VAG now plan to fit DPFs (with the attendant purge problems for anyone who only does urban driving) to petrol (gas in US speak) engine versions as well http://www.autoblog.com/2016/08/03/vw-particulate-filters-gas-engines/

 

 

They will have to be fitted in Europe too, even the latest direct injection petrol engines have PM limits to pass the Euro 5 and Euro 6 standards.

https://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/fuels-and-environment/euro-emissions-standards.html

Ian

 

Blimey - glad I got one before the dreaded dpf get introduced! I used to own an X3 3.0d and had no end of issues with the bleedin' dpf, clogged inlet tract etc