https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/skoda/octavia-vrs/first-drives/skoda-octavia-vrs-245-dsg-2017-review

http://www.evo.co.uk/skoda/octavia-vrs/19473/skoda-octavia-vrs-245-review-the-hottest-octavia-gets-hotter

 

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/skoda/octavia/99663/new-skoda-octavia-vrs-245-2017-review

http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/car-reviews/skoda/skoda-octavia-vrs-245-2017-review/

The "Car" article worries me a little as returning to relying on direct injection (only) presumably brings with it the carbon build up manifold issues I experienced with my MK2. I thought the additional indirect injectors on the O3 VTS TSi helped with that? Anyone got any further info on this?

Thanks @juan27 - great selection of articles there. Unsure about your direct vs. indirect injection - perhaps time will tell with this one?

 

The thing that interested me was the "...work on the turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol engine, which gets a new turbo, oil pump, injectors, manifold, timing chain, fuel pump and pistons." (Autocar article).

 

I'd like to know the differences in all of those items to the limited production 230 I have; what and why said changes were put in place especially (i.e. turbo, oil pump, fuel pump). Assuming that the changes are 'improvements', might be an option to upgrade to those later in the older car's life.

41 minutes ago, juan27 said:

The "Car" article worries me a little as returning to relying on direct injection (only) presumably brings with it the carbon build up manifold issues I experienced with my MK2. I thought the additional indirect injectors on the O3 VTS TSi helped with that? Anyone got any further info on this?

 

Here's some info on the carbon issue:

To give you an update I had the inlet manifold replaced and after a second opinion from JKM Performance in Portsmouth left it at that. The car is now on 77K and still running well. 

1 hour ago, Ads230 said:

Thanks @juan27 - great selection of articles there. Unsure about your direct vs. indirect injection - perhaps time will tell with this one?

 

The thing that interested me was the "...work on the turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol engine, which gets a new turbo, oil pump, injectors, manifold, timing chain, fuel pump and pistons." (Autocar article).

 

I'd like to know the differences in all of those items to the limited production 230 I have; what and why said changes were put in place especially (i.e. turbo, oil pump, fuel pump). Assuming that the changes are 'improvements', might be an option to upgrade to those later in the older car's life.

 

I wouldn't rely on the accuracy of Autocar info.

 

They also feature a first drive of a FL 4x4 vRS and say it's the first time 4x4 has been available on a vRS 

 

The pre-FL 4x4 vRS was available from the end of 2015 afaik, mine's a 16 plate.

12 minutes ago, pist0nbr0ke said:

 

I wouldn't rely on the accuracy of Autocar info.

 

They also feature a first drive of a FL 4x4 vRS and say it's the first time 4x4 has been available on a vRS 

 

The pre-FL 4x4 vRS was available from the end of 2015 afaik, mine's a 16 plate.

 

"It's all *fake news*  " 

 

Good point, I did take Autocar's info as read... maybe they also left out the bit about how the reviewer vomited on the new-look lights

2 hours ago, juan27 said:

The "Car" article worries me a little as returning to relying on direct injection (only) presumably brings with it the carbon build up manifold issues I experienced with my MK2. I thought the additional indirect injectors on the O3 VTS TSi helped with that? Anyone got any further info on this?

 

Look up MPI - Multi port injection

1 hour ago, pist0nbr0ke said:

 

I wouldn't rely on the accuracy of Autocar info.

 

They also feature a first drive of a FL 4x4 vRS and say it's the first time 4x4 has been available on a vRS 

 

The pre-FL 4x4 vRS was available from the end of 2015 afaik, mine's a 16 plate.

 

This, I wouldn't rely on any of those journalist pieces for complete accuracy. There's a couple of errors in the Car article too:

 

So while the regular Octavia vRS’s dry twin-clutch ‘box has just six forward ratios, the 245 has a seven-speed wet- and dual-clutch gearbox.

 

The regular 6 speed DSG is a wet clutch, not dry!

 

The increase in engine performance is accompanied by some larger brakes, the discs now 340mm at the front and 310mm at the rear. 

 

These are the same size discs as fitted to the 220 and 230ps variants of the MK3 VRS TSI.

 

42 minutes ago, ahenners said:

 

Look up MPI - Multi port injection

 

Wasn't the MPI a basic 1.6 Octy from ages ago?   

 

Are you talking about the indirect/direct combination on the (outgoing?) O3 VRS. I know about that?    

 

I guess my question wasn't very clear...I was wondering if anyone knows:

a. Is the story true?  (ie has anyone access to the press pack)

b. Have VW/Skoda done anything to overcome the direct injection issue on the 245? 

Edited 7 June, 20179 yr by juan27
clarification

Agreed that there are lots of factual errors in these reports.  There were in the "standard" VRS reviews too a few weeks ago.  

 

I guess standards have dropped as web publishing means both a rush to finish a piece and a lack of revenue.

 

(I notice all of these reports appeared almost literally overnight)

 

Edited 7 June, 20179 yr by juan27

I don't care

 

As long as its fast & if it ain't

 

REMAP TIME

1 hour ago, ahenners said:

 

This, I wouldn't rely on any of those journalist pieces for complete accuracy. There's a couple of errors in the Car article too:

 

So while the regular Octavia vRS’s dry twin-clutch ‘box has just six forward ratios, the 245 has a seven-speed wet- and dual-clutch gearbox.

 

The regular 6 speed DSG is a wet clutch, not dry!

 

The increase in engine performance is accompanied by some larger brakes, the discs now 340mm at the front and 310mm at the rear. 

 

These are the same size discs as fitted to the 220 and 230ps variants of the MK3 VRS TSI.

 

Yes even the 2015 mk3 tdi has 340mm front discs.

1 hour ago, juan27 said:

 

Wasn't the MPI a basic 1.6 Octy from ages ago?   

 

Are you talking about the indirect/direct combination on the (outgoing?) O3 VRS. I know about that?    

 

I guess my question wasn't very clear...I was wondering if anyone knows:

a. Is the story true?  (ie has anyone access to the press pack)

b. Have VW/Skoda done anything to overcome the direct injection issue on the 245? 

 

It was the basic engine and yes I was talking about the injection on the outgoing VRS. Your clarified question makes more sense now

So I think I will just hedge against the DI carbon build up issue by buying a Skoda extended warranty. As far as I can see this is not an exclusion (as it is with Warranty Direct in my experience). 245 still on.

Edited 7 June, 20179 yr by juan27

https://www.pistonheads.com/news/ph-driven/skoda-octavia-vrs-245-review/36343

 

Pistonheads have added their review. Looks to be more factually correct and goes into some details about certain elements: namely the VAQ diff and the new 7 speed DSG.

 

It's a shame they found that the VAQ diff's calibration is still weak compared to the GTI PP, Leon Cupra etc. They found this on the Pre-facelift 230 they had on long term too. I know the Octavia is more family orientated than the Golf or Leon, but the VAQ diff is one of the main benefits of the 245 vs the standard VRS and it sounds like it's benefit over standard is somewhat reduced here compared to the Leon and Golf. As it's the same hardware I'm surprised no one has been able to change the software/calibration to make it more aggressive.

Edited 7 June, 20179 yr by ahenners

1 hour ago, Superman001 said:

Yes even the 2015 mk3 tdi has 340mm front discs.

 

But not 310mm rear, on RS 230 is much smaller, 272mm. Probably function isn't compromised, but looks are. Huge front disc on 19" looks great, but rear 19" Xtreme wheel looks so empty...

 

1 hour ago, ahenners said:

It's a shame they found that the VAQ diff's calibration is still weak compared to the GTI PP, Leon Cupra etc. They found this on the Pre-facelift 230 they had on long term too. I know the Octavia is more family orientated than the Golf or Leon, but the VAQ diff is one of the main benefits of the 245 vs the standard VRS and it sounds like it's benefit over standard is somewhat reduced here compared to the Leon and Golf. As it's the same hardware I'm surprised no one has been able to change the software/calibration to make it more aggressive.

 

While I was at Shark the other week they looked into the settings for the diff on VCDS, but couldn't find anything which was obviously settings for the VAQ.

 

There were some diff settings, though we guessed these could have been for the e-diff facility (fake diff) on the standard VRS / GTi, so left them well alone.

 

I'd love to be able to crank it up slightly.

2 hours ago, ahenners said:

https://www.pistonheads.com/news/ph-driven/skoda-octavia-vrs-245-review/36343

 

Pistonheads have added their review. Looks to be more factually correct and goes into some details about certain elements

 

 

Says DCC is standard which seems unlikely? A view repeated however in one of the other articles above (Autocar). 

 

Last time I looked DCC was not available on the configurator as an option but that may be erroneous and also be the source of the confusion?  

 

I was going to order in a day or two and certainly expected to have to pay for DCC. 

Edited 7 June, 20179 yr by juan27

8 minutes ago, juan27 said:

 

Says DCC is standard which seems unlikely? A view repeated however in one of the other articles above (Autocar). 

 

Last time I looked DCC was not available on the configurator as an option but that may be erroneous and also be the source of the confusion?  

 

I was going to order in a day or two and certainly expected to have to pay for DCC. 

 

I can't find a conclusive answer on this anywhere, as you mention a few of those reviews mention it's standard, yet when the 245 was announced press details listed it as optional. 

 

The configurator doesn't show DCC as an available option on the 245 either, but does on the standard 230 VRS. Like you say it could be an oversight, or it could be a last minute spec change perhaps?

 

47 minutes ago, ahenners said:

...,.or it could be a last minute spec change perhaps?

 

If DCC is standard the 245 is the bargain of the century.....even the Golf R has it as an option. Mind you the R has 18s as standard. I've asked my dealer to confirm.

What is the price difference compared to Superb 280?

 

1 hour ago, toni8b said:

What is the price difference compared to Superb 280?

 

about £4-5K. Probably more discount available on the Superb (15%+), but not really for me (too wide) as I've already had to replace the drivers mirror twice on my Octavia driving on the narrow country lanes where I live. Tremendous car for the money but just don't think its some kind of over-sized Golf R.