A year ago today...

[WayTooTall]

I picked up my 14 plate Vrs Tdi. Race Blue with Front Assist ACC, Sat Nav and Black Pack, with about 33k miles on the clock a year ago today, and thought I would post my thoughts after a year of ownership.

 

I had looked at other cars. I tried a 14 plate Titanium X Mondeo and just found the ride too harsh, hate the look of the current Mondeo, Found the V60 a dingy dark place to be and quite cramped. V40 was just too cramped. BMW 3 Series for the price had too many miles on them, so had settled on a Vrs after a test drive. initially was going to get the Hatch, but say the light after seeing a race blue combi and realising that was the one for me.

 

After her first proper wash

 

Overall, I love the car, decent punch to overtake, easy to just cruise, decent handling and a whole lot of space. Good looking as well, which to be honest these days seems to be becoming a rarer and rarer thing.

 

But here are my thoughts after a year, and there is a lot.

 

The warranty work

Only had to have 2 bits of work done.

1) The front door seals needed changing as everytime I opened the front door after it had rained, splat, instant puddle.

2) The waterpump. Not long after buying her, she over heated. Stopped the car, waited, fired her up, all fine. Not long after she did it again, so onto the local dealer who came back to me and told me it was 99% a waterpump issue and was a known problem. Described it as overheating after going up hill not long over starting the car. Given I live in Sheffield and you can't go anywhere without going uphill not long after starting a trip, they must have seen a fair few with the problem.

 

The bad and the niggly

1) The Drivers seat. There is something about the drivers seat that just doesn't suit me. Seem just a bit too narrow at the back, and the leg bolsters that bit too firm. After about an hour of driving I would be in pain. This was going to be a real problem, a car selling problem if I couldn't sort it. So tried one of those triangular seat cushions, and it sorted the problem. Just took the pressure off, and now find the seats comfortable and can do a 4hr drive without a problem.

2) Fuel Economy. I average around 50mpg, but feel that I should be able to get more from the engine, but it can be really tricky to get it into a good cruise. It happens sometimes, but I can't do it consistently.

3) The ride. Under the standard suspension, I felt the car was never happy being on a British road. Felt like the wheels weren't in contact with the road as much as I would have liked. Also too much roll back when accelerating hard, losing too much front grip. See mods later.

4) The water bottle. Why did they put the bonnet holder right in front of the water bottle!?

5) Handbrake. For me being tall, and having the seat all the way back, Having the handbrake on the wrong side with the arm rest, it is just awkward to get at. At least the car has hill hold, otherwise it would annoy me far more.

6) The black pack just doesn't go far enough. Still too much chrome on the outside. See mods later.

7) The lighting. Why didn't they just do LEDs throughout. The mix of lighting was just a bit of a mess. See mods later.

8) That stupid hi vis vest holder under the seat. Why not just put another storage box there.

9) Having the seat all the way back, I realise that the carpets are the wrong shape, as they don't cover the bit exposed when the seat is all the way back. And that is right where I put my foot when getting into the car. I had to get extra carpets to protect that little bit, otherwise I could see me wearing a hole there.

10) Taking off the glove box. Actually it isn't the taking off that is the problem it is putting the damper back on.

 

 

The good

1) I just enjoy driving her. After all the tweaks and mods etc, I just really enjoy it when I drive my car. Couldn't ask for more than that really.

2) Love that space. Being tall I wanted this car to still be a 5 seater. With my old focus it really is just a 4 seater, unless one of them is small.

3) Love the punch from the engine. Make overtaking nice and easy.

4) Easy to drive. After sorting the seat problem, found she was easy to drive long distances in. Not long after I got the cushion, my fiancé and I drove to Stockholm and back. around 2500 miles over around a week. The trip had too really long drives in it, Belgium to Denmark, and Denmark back to Belgium. 600+ miles to be done. And as either passenger or driver it was a comfortable space to be.

5) Handling. I think the car handles very well, and has a huge amount of grip, though could do with less roll.

6) Storage. Love all the storage places. Good to have a place to put things, like 3D glasses, manual, tisses etc.

 

The Mods

Wasn't sure if I would do too much to the car, and I don't think I have done a huge amount, but was far more than expected. So in order of them being done

1) Storage box under the front seat - The hi vis vest holder is pointless. Swapped for a storage box, that holds a hi vis vest, breathalysers, rain mac etc.

2) Bins - Bought the little bins, great for disposing of tissues etc.

3) Mudflaps - Fitted mudflaps all round. Easy to fit, though didn't like that I had to drill the hole for one of the sets. Be nice if that was there already.

4) Interior LEDS. Hates the yellow light from the standard bulbs. Especially with the white of the Xenons and Drls when opening the car. Now got all the interior LEDs swapped. Using the single sided ones in the truck means that it is now flood lit.

5) Exterior LEDS. Changing the rear lights was easy. The fogs a bit of a pain with those clips, but the front indicators. Boy that is a pain. That is only for the OCD part of me that couldn't leave them as halogen.

6) Vrs Footreat from Superskoda. Really happy with this. Same shape as the standard one, but fits in with the styling of the Vrs pedals. Seems to be holding up well.

7) Vrs Centre Caps from Superskoda. My Skoda wheel caps were suffering white worm, and reading on here that it is common and that the skoda ones don't last, I went with the ones from superskoda. Look good and 9 months on, so sign of white worm.

8) ICE Upgrade. The standard stereo was OK, but not a patch on what I had installed into the Focus. So over came my Genesis 4 Channel and Mini Block along with my old sub, combined with a Audison Bit One and some Rainbow Germaniums, and some installation magic from Source Sounds, Sheffield, and I no longer have a wheel well, as it is full of amp and sub, but I am more than happy. Like Night and Day, and I don't lose any functionality of the headunit.

9) Reversing Camera. I got the reversing camera kit from SkodaDop. Had I realised that MY14 cars needed the handle opening made larger to take the camera, I am not sure I would have bought the kit. But by that point it was too late, so out came the dremel and soon the camera was in and working.

10) Footwell Lighting. I got the kit from Boldsport, though they didn't send the LEDs. Wasn't to bad to fit and completes the ambient lighting effect that is in the car already.

11) Front and Rear dashcams. I have 2 Mobius cameras set up. One front and one rear. Finally found some decents mounts for them, as previously they were held on with Velcro. Only mad things I have recorded so far was kids playing chicken running across the southbound lane of the M1!!!

12) Milotek Bonnet Lifters from Skodadop. Partly because of the stupid placement of the bonnet stay, and partly because I just liked the idea of them, I got the bonnet lifters from Skodadop. A bit more hassle to fit than the ones from Superskoda, but they do come with all the bits and I suspect kick in a little earlier due to the extra angle the extra fittings give.

13) Eibach ProLine springs. Amazed at the difference these made. Car feels so much more confident on the road. Feels like you can accelerate sooner and harder when turning, less crashy. Just a real big improvement. Think I would now like just a little bit more dampening, but will worry about that later.

14) Painted Emblems. I did have the All Black skoda emblem on the front for a while, but was inspired by the Black and White emblem thread, and painted the back Race Blue. Loved that, so did the back one as well.

15) Plastidipped rear text. So in my fight against exterior chrome, I plastidipped the Skoda, Octavia and Vrs text one the back. Easy to do and is holding up so far. Plastidip is odd stuff, especially the way it peels off.

16) Painted Black Exhaust tips. And my fight against the chrome was completed when I painted the exhaust tips black. Looks better than the chrome, especially the discoloured chrome of the genuine exhaust side.

17) ... not sure what is next. Sure there will be something

 

The VCDS Mods

Having started reading on here about VCDS, and then what I could do, I decided to by the cable rather than pay someone to do odd bits, as I knew I would constantly be paying as I discovered another bit to do, From the list above I needed vcds for the exterior leds, footwell lights and rear camera, let alone for the various tweaks on top.

1) High beam Assistant. This is definitely worth doing. Great on country roads, as reacts quickly. Not so great on straight roads as I feel it doesn't pick up cars in the distance well enough.

2) Cornering Fogs. Find these provide a useful bit of filling light when turning. Though has occasionally confused drivers at roundabouts who seem to think I am indicating left.

3) Turn down the sound actuator to 50%. At 100% it was annoying when driving up hill in sports mode

4) Traffic Sign Recognition. I need to turn this off to be honest. Too easily confused. I have had it list 20 on a national speed limit road, as it picked up a signpost for an turning. Also had it list 100 as it picked up the sign on the back of a lorry.

5) Refuel Quantity

6) Fan Speed Indication on Auto

7) Front Wiper Park - Why wasn't the set as default?

8) Front and rear tear drop wipe - Again why wasn't this set as default?

9) Dim DRL on indicate

10) Front Fogs as Coming Home lights

11) 5 Indicator Flashes

12) Boot lock delay

13) Rain closing (though need to test this is working, even though I have the right sensor)

14) Reverse Mirror Dip

 

 

The weirdest thing

The weirdest thing that happened with the car, over the year. A pigeon hitting the raised boot lid, landing on the parcel shelf and promptly expiring while coughing up blood.

 

 

Conclusion

So that is my car, and a year on, I am very happy with her, and look forward to every drive. Even if it is just the daily commute. Would I buy the same car again, definitely. So I will finish this off with a few more piccys.

 

 

[ahenners]

Great write up and some well chosen mods! Have you done a project thread with more detail on some of the mods you've done? 

[WayTooTall]

I didn't think of it at the time, so am lacking photos. But what I will do later is link to relevant information on the forum, as pretty much all the mods have been inspired by what other people have done.

[Kahunajb]

Great write up and given me a couple of ideas. Also want to upgrade my stereo. Was thinking focal 2.1 under seat sub with built in amp to also power the front speakers which i  would also replace with something better.

Edited 20 May, 2017 by Kahunajb

[WayTooTall]

You would need something to adapt the speaker line input to something suitable for the amp. That's what the Bit One does for me. Takes the speaker line input and then supplies a suitable line out.

 

 

I have the remote control for the Bit One in the drivers cubby.

[SkodaVRS1963]

6 hours ago, WayTooTall said:

The bad and the niggly

 

2) Fuel Economy. I average around 50mpg, but feel that I should be able to get more from the engine, but it can be really tricky to get it into a good cruise. It happens sometimes, but I can't do it consistently.

 

 

A very good precis of your experience but I think you're very fortunate to get 50mpg from the diesel.

 

Look in the forum and you'll find that (apart from the fanboys) most of us struggle(d) to get above 43mpg.

Edited 20 May, 2017 by SkodaVRS1963

[WayTooTall]

Useful links for the various mods I have done.

 

Rear Camera, all the info you need is in this thread

 

Painted Skoda Emblem

Storage Bin Under the Front Seat, and I had to undo the seat bolts, tilt the seat back to fit the thing. 

 

Bonnet Lifters

 

Dashcams

LED Front Indicators

Footwell Lighting

 

Think that is about it. 

 

And always happy to answer questions.

 

 

Edited 20 May, 2017 by WayTooTall
Just wanted to add a bit more to the post

[WayTooTall]

9 minutes ago, SkodaVRS1963 said:

 

A very good precis of your experience but I think you're very fortunate to get 50mpg from the diesel.

 

Look in the forum and you'll find that (apart from the fanboys) most of us struggle(d) to get above 43mpg.

 

Helps that I do a lot of A road and motorway driving, though I suspect the 800W+ of stereo in the back isn't helping my economy at times either.

 

I do find it easier to get more consistent economy at 80mph rather than 70mph.

[WayTooTall]

I should also talk about the options / features on the car

 

1) Front Assist - So far it has only beeped at me a couple of times, so can't really comment.

 

2) Adaptive Cruise Control - Great in motorway 50 zones. Set it to 55 and follow the car in front. Speeds up and slows down with the traffic. Now here is the bit they don't tell you about. If you need wheel alignment, and I did after having the springs done I did, if your read alignment needs adjusting (and I think it might be specific to rear toe), you need to have the ACC sensor recalibrated. Very few garages can do it. When you find a dealer who can do it, they want to charge £450 for the alignment and recalibration. Instead I found a place in Bristol that can do it for £220. So great option but with a nasty gotcha.

 

3) Amundsen Sat Nav, MIB1. It it OK but isn't that fast. But like the fuel station finder.

 

4) Lane Assist - I leave it on, as I don't find it too interfering, and has been occasionally useful. Just wish the pressure sensor on the steering wheel was more sensitive.

 

5) Black pack. Got to love that Black Pack look. Just wish they had done the Emblems and Exhausts as well.

 

6) Hill Hold. I live in Sheffield. Lots of hills and find this fabulous.

[Mallettsmallett]

36 minutes ago, SkodaVRS1963 said:

 

A very good precis of your experience but I think you're very fortunate to get 50mpg from the diesel.

 

Look in the forum and you'll find that (apart from the fanboys) most of us struggle(d) to get above 43mpg.

 

Really? You haven't mentioned it before.

 

 

 

 

 

 

What's the sub?

 

I used to have Series 3 genesis until it all got nicked years ago. Look after them!

Edited 20 May, 2017 by Mallettsmallett

[WayTooTall]

The sub is a Shadowworks Bronze. Made by a guy in Glasgow and was doing a deal on them for Ford Focus Owners Club. Actually a nice sub, which is why I carried it over from the Focus. I don't think he makes them anymore, which is a shame.

 

And I love my Genesis Amps. worked my way from a Profile 4, Profile 5, Series III 5 channel (which got nicked), and when I reported the stolen serial number to Geoff at Genesis, he came back and told me he had the 4 Channel and Mini Block available at a good price, so couldn't resist.

 

Before having them refitted into the VRS, I sent them off to www.ampdoctor.co.uk for a service / clean up. / upgrade. (Long story, short Geoff sold Genesis, but now repairs amp as The Amp Doctor). 

 

So yes, they will be well taken care of.

 

 

 

[Mallettsmallett]

I know Shadowworks, I recall a bit of a ding dong on a web forum years ago with the owner! Sounds like you know talkaudio....

 

Shortly before it all got nicked....

 

 

 

 

 

Edited 20 May, 2017 by Mallettsmallett

[WayTooTall]

Used to read a lot on the TalkAudio forum a few years ago, and did the install into my Focus on my own. So picked up a reasonable understanding, 

 

Bet that system sounded nice, you must have been so ****ed when it was knicked. Glad that mine all sits in the wheel well. Really stealth install. 

 

[themanwithnoaim]

3 hours ago, WayTooTall said:

 

5) Black pack. Got to love that Black Pack look. Just wish they had done the Emblems and Exhausts as well.

Oh yeah, Superskoda want €149.99 per exhaust tip

[WayTooTall]

I went with some heat proof spray paint and some swearing and cursing removing the tips.

 

The spray paint cost £8 on eBay and is holding up so far.

 

[themanwithnoaim]

Tight to get off the exhaust tips then?

[WayTooTall]

1 hour ago, themanwithnoaim said:

Tight to get off the exhaust tips then?

 

So used the paint the listed in this thread

 

On the drivers side you need to loosen or take off a underbody panel, which is easy enough. Also undo the screws holding the bottom of the rear valence, as you will need to pull that out a little occasionally. Then it really is a head under the car task to work out not only where the torx screws are but how to get a screwdriver to them. Then on the passenger side it takes a bit of work to remove it, because it envelops the real exhaust tip. 

Then I think I tried to put them back in to quickly after painting (I needed the car first thing the following day) and scratched the tops of them. But created a little shroud and sprayed the tops again.

 

For £16 (I needed a second can for the top up) it is worth the swearing.