Just signed up as I ordered a new Octavia VRS 230 hatch on Friday. I got interested in these when the really good 245 lease deals were released, but the long lead times put me off. I finally managed to secure a stock car in the right spec last week, and after lots of thinking decided to go for it. I had also tried to get an A4 avant lease, but the stock cars got hoovered up within the same week the deals were released.

 

After going round a few dealers and test driving one I was pretty sold, I especially liked the interior and seats. I was after a used one so I could have it before xmas, but knowing how cheap the leases were I couldn't get close with a PCP on anything nearly new/low mileage. I meant to go for an auto diesel to keep things sensible, but settled on a petrol manual. I'd be interested to hear some opinions on the manual box and the real world economy of the petrol, as this is supposed to be my practical daily driver I've taken a bit of a risk here - but I couldn't resist having a manual hot hatch.

 

My main car is an F type S, and the Octavia is in matching red, with big black wheels (black design pack plus). Very opposite cars, but as the F type is an auto I think I'll appreciate the manual in the Skoda. It should arrive at the beginning of Jan, and at around £7k all in for 2 years incl. spare wheel, alcantara seats, black design pack plus and winter pack I reckon it's a bit of a bargain!

 

Should look very similar to this one:

 

 

Current toy:

 

 

 

 

Edited 10 December, 20178 yr by shrimpvende

Welcome! Nice F Type, not sure how the Octavia will fare against that, but in isolation it's a good all rounder!

 

Can't comment on the manual (DSG is nice though!) And fuel economy tends to be 30s for shorter round town stuff, and 40s for motorway journeys within the limits.

Edited 10 December, 20178 yr by ahenners

Cheers - that's really good. The F type is a solid 18-20mpg, the Aston Vantage that it replaced did around 14, so anything over 30 is great. 

 

It doesn't need to stand up to the F type, but as I very nearly went for a 1.4TSI A4, or a diesel rep mobile, this is (hopefully) going to be far far more fun. At the last minute I realised I should get a daily that I wouldn't mind taking on a roadtrip or fun drive rather than the F type if the opportunity arose, and as these are way more practical than a golf GTI and much cheaper it seemed like a good idea! 

What engine is your F-Type?

My nephew has the open top version with the V6 supercharged and claims to get 34mpg on his regular commute around the M25.

I enjoyed my short joy-ride as a passenger in it. He showed off a bit and certainly would not have got over 20mpg for that bit  

Just now, Gerrycan said:

What engine is your F-Type?

My nephew has the open top version with the V6 supercharged and claims to get 34mpg on his regular commute around the M25.

I enjoyed my short joy-ride as a passenger in it. He showed off a bit and certainly would not have got over 20mpg for that bit  

 

I have the same engine, 380bhp V6 S. My commute to work is country lanes, then city traffic. Lots of speeding up/slowing down and stop start so not very good for mpg's. I've seen it do 35mpg on a run so it's definitely possible, but mine spends most of its time in Dynamic mode with the exhaust on - it wasn't bought to be sensible! As long as the octavia does 30mpg or over on the same commute I'll be happy.

You  should have no problem with beating 30 mpg in the  vRS petrol on that sort of commute.

The vRS wagon, err sorry estate, is one of the best value puntable, practical vehicles around. But you probably worked that out for yourself.

Of course all turbo cars are capable of getting through fuel if you get a bit enthusiastic.

sounds perfect. I'm really hoping I won't regret not getting the estate version - it was more the case that this one is a stock car with the right options. An estate might have been better, but the boot is impressive on the saloon and folding seats help. 

 

Are the stock speakers any good? I went for the upgraded meridian system in the jag, but as the vrs is a stock car I didn't have the choice. I was really impressed with the infotainment and carplay on the test drive - far better than the jag system. Sadly I didn't really get the opportunity to test the stereo properly.

Comparing my vRS with my old Volvo with HP audio and my current Mercedes with BOSE Audio (both older cars) I’m a little underwhelmed by the standard Skoda stereo but I haven’t set it up for my ear yet, hopefully with some adjustments it’ll be better. Me likely the red too, and the Jag! My vRS partners a Mercedes CLK55 AMG so I can relate to having a fast car and a daily haha, though up till yesterday the daily was a 1.0 Citigo! Awesome little car and as my other half is having it I’ll still get to use it but once I haul my sorry backside out of bed I’ll be going to work in the Octy if only for the heated seats!

The standard sound system isn't terrible, but isn't anything to write home about either. It's perfectly sufficient but if you're used to Jag Meridian then you're going to be slightly disappointed I think. 

 

The Canton sound option improves things significantly, but as you didn't have the option it's a moot point 

9 hours ago, shrimpvende said:

I'd be interested to hear some opinions on the manual box and the real world economy of the petrol, as this is supposed to be my practical daily driver I've taken a bit of a risk here - but I couldn't resist having a manual hot hatch.

 

Absolutely no risk, VAG has very nice manuals, and this one on vRS petrol is even more polished. Slotty, (too) easy and guiding your hand itself, pulling into gears on its own. Nice manuals are dying breed, I also couldn't resist maybe last opportunity for driving such a car. On the affordable higher segments no manuals paired with good engines, only automatics.

 

You will enjoy. Good  choice and good luck.

21 minutes ago, nidza said:

 

Absolutely no risk, VAG has very nice manuals, and this one on vRS petrol is even more polished. Slotty, (too) easy and guiding your hand itself, pulling into gears on its own. Nice manuals are dying breed, I also couldn't resist maybe last opportunity for driving such a car. On the affordable higher segments no manuals paired with good engines, only automatics.

 

You will enjoy. Good  choice and good luck.

 

Thank you for that. I too have ordered a manual without getting the chance to drive one. 

1 hour ago, ahenners said:

The standard sound system isn't terrible, but isn't anything to write home about either. It's perfectly sufficient but if you're used to Jag Meridian then you're going to be slightly disappointed I think. 

 

The Canton sound option improves things significantly, but as you didn't have the option it's a moot point 

 

+1. 

 

I have Canton sound upgrade in my 2015 manual petrol, which is ok with certain DAB stations and definitely better when linked with my iPhone music. I think the Facelifted Octavia which you have ordered has a reasonable sound system without Canton. I say this because I drove a new FL Octavia courtesy car recently and it sounded ok. As a budget brand of VAG, Skoda is content to install ok sound systems rather than very good ones. You get what you pay for. Nice car colours btw Jag and new VRS. 

Totally agree with @nidza - the 230 manual is very very nice, indeed. Pedals aren't optimal for heel-toeing, but probably won't be doing that much on a commute. Also the VRS 230's kit over the standard 2014 "220 is a massive bonus, and makes it a very lucrative deal on leasing atm. 

 

Even though I bought mine and am modding the nuts off it

So I'm still waiting on the Skoda, I tried to stick a private reg on it but for some reason VWFS wouldn't let the car be registered with it (they're blaming DVLA) so will have to attempt that one again once the car is delivered, otherwise save it for something else. A bit annoying as I bought the reg for the car after I was told it wouldn't be a problem to put it on. Again a bit naive as I've never leased before. 

 

Do these need running in? I know the standard used to be take it fairly easy and no redlining for the first 1k miles or so - not sure if this is still the case? 

 

Hopefully I'll have it by the end of next week! I've been using our old family runabout recently as the weather is too poor to daily the Jag, P Zero Corsa's have very little grip in the cold and wet :( It also ends up looking like this after a couple of days commuting from the countryside

 

 

On 10/12/2017 at 21:45, shrimpvende said:

 

 

 

 

 

On 10/12/2017 at 21:54, ahenners said:

Welcome! Nice F Type, not sure how the Octavia will fare against that,

 

 

The boots not very big though, not as big as an Octavia     ( Epic motor though )

That Jag is sweet! Not fancy the Jag estate? If I ever had the money I'd be in one of those, client gave me a lift in one, absolutely lovely...

Hope you enjoy the octy

2 hours ago, the_r_sole said:

That Jag is sweet! Not fancy the Jag estate? If I ever had the money I'd be in one of those, client gave me a lift in one, absolutely lovely...

Hope you enjoy the octy

 

Funnily enough there were a few cars in the running for the new daily, but the Skoda won it for me. Looking around the lease deals I could have had a beemer 4GC, numerous Audi's, a Volvo XC60, an XF R Sport...basically all manner of other cars. But, for pure value for money, I couldn't seem to get close to the VRS. Audi's/Jags are nice and all that but the smaller petrol engines and lower models on the deals just didn't do anything for me, and with the sports seats, styling and everything else at least the Octavia feels like a proper (larger) hot hatch. I have a bit of a soft spot for stuff that hasn't necessarily got the brand strength but produce a really good product and represent good value, and the Skoda ticks all those boxes for me. 

 

I'm still fairly young (24) and the Skoda just appealed to me in ways the other cars really didn't....I should get real driving pleasure from it being completely opposite to the F type and any other daft cars I'll hopefully get my hands on this year. Fingers crossed it lives up to my expectations! 

 

 

It's arrived! Unfortunately it's now filthier than the F type in my other post after a weeks worth of dirty lanes. I only got a couple of pics of it when it arrived, need some better weather to wash/wax it properly.

 

Mega impressed with it, done around 650 miles now so started revving it out more and I'm impressed with how quick it is! I'm finding the seats really comfy, infotainment/carplay far better than the Jag offering, standard stereo isn't bad at all and it looks great in the flesh. I haven't found anything I don't like so far and I'm really happy I went for it. I'm getting mid 30's long term average but managed 41mpg on a long motorway trip - I'm hoping it'll increase slightly with the miles but I'm happy enough with that for now.

 

One thing I have noticed - there's always condensation at the bottom of the headlights (all 4). Is this normal? Doesn't seem right to me that I always notice it after parking up. You can see some of it in the offside light in the pictures below - fairly warm day and no rain beforehand.

 

Edited 21 January, 20188 yr by shrimpvende

Condensation by the DRL strips was common on the Pre-facelift too. Seems to affect VAG cars this - I've also seen it on the Leon (Pre-facelift and facelift). Never noticed it on non-VAG stuff.

Very nice. How does it drive with the manual gearbox?