Hi

As some of you may be aware i looked at a vRS yesterday, and i got the chance to test drive one for the first time, they are lovely cars:cool: , im surprise that i loved the seats, not usually a fan of coloured inserts, but they look wicked. The car looks even better when you are looking at one rather than looking at pics all the time!!! great cars:D , i found to drive it was the same as the 03 Leon Cupra i drove, but its better looking, and for the money for a good Cupra against a good vRS, no contest, with over £1500 difference, vRS everytime

However, the one i went to look at im not buying, as the car was up for £6995, had 61,000mls and was an 02 from a trader, however the car was ex police, (so thrashed) it has no service history, a hole in the interior roof lining for the camera and some hole in the parcel shelf!!! and the overall condition was just not up to it for a 4 year old car!! so with all that, i dont think its worth anywhere near the asking price!! so will continue to look. But if i could ask some questions, so next time when i look at one i know more about them.

So, questions:

When i started the car up, it had a loud tapet type noise, he said it was the injectors and would clear once warm, but its didnt make much difference after the test drive, do your cars make alot of noice from the injectors?

When i got there, the car was already warm, poss covering up a start up problem?

When holding the rev's at 2,000, the exhausted sounded like it was vibrating against the bottom of the car, do you think this is just a bracket holding it got bent?

On the rear archs, where the side skirts joins the arch it looks like something plastic is broken off, is there supposed to be a small deflector there? cannot see from any pics.

When i first went out, the brakes where really juddery, made the pedal vibrate alot, although near the end of the drive they where a bit better, is this cos the car has been left standing for a month or so?

The car has 205/40/17 tires, but speaking with a Skoda dealer previously about wheels (didnt know they come as 16" aswell!!) he advised they where something like 215/45/17?? cannot remember fully, but what is the common or std size for tires?

The footwells in the front are a bit damp, do you think this is the seal problem people keep having?

I think thats it, is there anything else i should keep an eye out for next time?

Thanks:thumbup:

Gav

Excellent, glad you like the vRS beast! The thing you must do now is control your excitement and hold out for a perfect example! Do not buy the car you saw; an '02 vRS should look, feel, smell and drive like new!

exactly, this one was way off, but i really want one!!!!!!! will have to be patient!!

exactly, this one was way off, but i really want one!!!!!!! will have to be patient!!

There are lots about just wait for the "good one" ....I had a 53 with 11,000 on the clock and it was like new ....

Not an expert on VRS but my Octy (the opposite end of the spectrum!) has the little plastic deflectors in front of the rear wheel arches. I suppose they would be quite cheap but don't know how they're fitted (or if they do any good, for that matter.........).

SR

tyres should be 205/50/17 or most people go to 225/45/17 aftermarket

defo should not be 205/40s this will make it behave and ride in an awful manner.

They only had 16" wheels as std on the Estates or irish import hatchs from motorpoint.

interesting, there is a vRS hatch with 16" alloys at a Skoda dealership, its on Autotrader now for £6995!!! wierd that its got them then!!!

Any advise on the noise or brakes?

Cheers

Gav

there were a few very very early cars had them (sub100) that did have 16"

I think a car in that condition is very expensive, 2 years ago i looked at a taxi vrs

70k on the the clock with full history from dealer for that same price,

The bodywork needed a respray due so much stone chip damage an drilled holes in dash but even so 2k would have sorted it , so think how much money to get the car back to a standard you like,it maybe not worth it

Wait like i did and get a decent one

The 1.8T engine makes a variety of unusual noises which need not be cause for worry - have a read of the FAQ below. The injector noise from my car when warm isn't particularly noticeable unless I listen closely for it. From what you say that ex-police car was the sort you should walk away from. There are plenty of good ones out there for sale, and some real bargains on here from time to time.

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/maintenance-performance/14529-should-i-worried-about-unusual-noises-my-1-8ts-engine.html?highlight=engine+noises+startup

If it's dirt cheap and you just want a hack car to mes about with, an ex-police car would be fine. As for the interior, you could strip it out rally-style.

Otherwise, I'd hang on. My 52 car is like new and others I've seen are too.

When holding the rev's at 2,000, the exhausted sounded like it was vibrating against the bottom of the car, do you think this is just a bracket holding it got bent?

My 2002 vRS went in for a service recently & they told me the mid exhaust bracket had come away from the car. "You might hear a slight vibration" they said. Didn't hear anything but got it welded for the MOT a couple of weeks later.

According to the dealer, this is quite common.