A little background...  I have had many, many cars over the years from a Mini 1275GT, a mark 2 Golf Gti (loved that car), plus Citroen, Peugeot, a bunch of Toyotas, a few Mazda, some Fords (XR2, Capri 2.8i) through several  Lexus, Porsche 911, several Landcruiser 80 series (another favourite) and others.

 

Currently running an A4 Avant with a PD130 remapped to about 165 bhp / 290 ft lb torque. I do a lot of miles and like the VW diesel.  Really enjoy the car but to be frank I find it rather soleless.  Nowhere near as much fun as the Golf's I had before. It does handle well until you get near its limits then it all gets a little bit untidy and quite amusing.  It does pull well and is great on fuel, and easy with the long runs I do. Very reliable. Looks nice too in my eyes.

 

Prior to the Audi, I came from a PD130 Golf Estate (sold with 185,000 miles on it)  with a more aggressive map - lots of smiles per mile with that one, and  a PD100 Golf Hatchback before that (ran that up to just shy of 280,000 miles).  I really enjoyed the Golfs.

 

So the reason for a Skoda.  A very good friend used to Rally and had a rally school at one stage.  He does know how to drive.  He is now on his third VRS - a nice 2010 Octavia VRS hatch.  Kept raving about it.  So I asked him to take me for a proper drive.  That was about a month back.

 

I had NO IDEA just how good the VRS is until then.  It defies logic as to how well it handles, holds the road and behaves, and stops.  It's been a tough month since then as I find myself pretty much consumed with the thought of getting a VRS.  It won't be new. I run pretty hefty miles so I buy higher mileage older cars with history where the depreciation is almost all done.  I maintain them myself keeping everything in working order and service them on the nail. They don't want for anything and always serve me well with very rare major problems.   Ideally, I want an estate (like the look of them), must be a manual and have cruise although I can retrofit that if it does not have it.  Not fussed about high miles provided it has full service history.  I know how well my recent VW diesels have run, the Green Golf was bought with 207k , and once i got it running right and set up properly it was ace.  I sold with nearly 280k  and it was still quick, and still delivering 62+ mpg on the long runs.   So I would think an early Mark III  Octavia VRS would be about right.

 

I will update this as and when the right car makes itself known.

Welcome to Briskoda 

 

Davy

Thanks Davy

A warm welcome to the Forum  !

Many thanks.  

 

Fingers crossed - I am away on holiday now.  I am taking a look at an estate early next week when I get back.

Bought a 2008 metallic black estate yesterday.

 

Worth the 4 hour train ride and 285 mile drive home.

 

Just ordered some new tyres, servicing it later. already cleaned, clay barred and polished.  A little rust to sort out above the right rear light.  Runs really well.  Chuffed to bits with it.

Having driven that far I now understand why people rave about the VRS - the handling, braking and ride are really excellent. Feels much better than the Audi I had.

Well done and best of luck with it!  Looks good for an 08

Thank you