Wanted to catalogue my new purchase and its journey.

 

Bought my "lightly" used manual MK3 VRS 245 Black Magic in August 2018 from Skoda, chipping in my MK2 face-lift in racing blue (it's off to auction heaven). 

 

I'd never considered a black car as I get a little OCD but very limited options with the 245 with only three colours to choose - especially on the used market and in manual. But when it's clean it's a mean looking machine.

 

 

Being the 245 it has as standard:

Black 19" alloys,

Sport exhaust,

Glossy black front grill,

Heated alcantara seats,

Electronic Limited slip differential,

Larger brakes

 

Added extras include:

Kessy start stop and entry,

Adaptive cruise control.

Edited 15 September, 20187 yr by JimmyUK

First owner was Skoda and was used in their lease program. The car is now 8 months old. Who ever leased the car certainly drove it hard looking at the wear on the discs! 

 

Also two of the alloys had slight rim damage so I insisted on wheels being refurbed or replaced. Skoda chose refurbishment and susprisngly they did a good job!

 

Car is already going in under warranty at the end of the month due to a weird rattle in the drivers B pillar or doors. So while it's in I'm going to see what Skoda are prepared to do about excessive brake wear on such a low mileage car (just over 5000). Will see...

 

Front and rears:

Edited 15 September, 20187 yr by JimmyUK

After a few weeks of ownership I'm now adding some bits and considering a few options. 

 

But first job was to clean engine bay. Skoda gave me the car with a dirty engine, not impressed. 

 

Job done:

 

First thing I noticed was the battery didn't have a full cover with flap lid. I spoke with Skoda who insits this has the correct part and no flap cover is available. Spoke with my local Skoda parts department and I can get a full cover for £35 so I may consider it IF I can replace without removing battery.

Edited 15 September, 20187 yr by JimmyUK

Looks great. 

 

With my last Mk3 vrs I also had the B pillar buzzing. Disconnected the sound generator and it it was cured. Was two birds with one stone for me. No more rattle and no more fake noise. 

Got the car detailed today and had some scratches removed. Received some parts from Superskoda so started to fit.

 

First full set of rubber mats for cab and boot. Then changed the foot rest to match pedals.

 

 

Rear sill protectors fitted:

 

Also added black bumper protector:

Edited 15 September, 20187 yr by JimmyUK

23 minutes ago, SC03OTT said:

Looks great. 

 

With my last Mk3 vrs I also had the B pillar buzzing. Disconnected the sound generator and it it was cured. Was two birds with one stone for me. No more rattle and no more fake noise. 

 

Mine sounds more like a cable slapping against metal. Or like the window or door is rattling when going over small bumps or hard right turns. OR the belt tensioner is activating off and on. Really hard to tell when driving. Just hope when Skoda pull my interior apart their super careful! It's certainly put a dampener on my new car experience.

 

I was think soundaktor sounded quiet compared to a DSG 245 I test drove. Mine only becomes lively in 2nd and in high revs. Was planning on having Skoda tell me current volume. It's very annoying this isnt a feature we can control ourselves.

Edited 15 September, 20187 yr by JimmyUK

You can change the sound actuator volume in the infotainment settings I think. 

 

Very nice car BTW! 

Edited 15 September, 20187 yr by dunc69

35 minutes ago, dunc69 said:

You can change the sound actuator volume in the infotainment settings I think. 

 

Very nice car BTW! 

Not seeing it. Can only change how it responds by changing driving mode from "eco" through to "sport".

Planning on a rear words debadge (way too busy on the back end). Unsure about taking off rear VRS badge though? On the other hand almost tempted to take off all the badges, front grill and all! The only trouble is what happens when I sell on - realistically will I be expected to replace them all?

 

Much preffered MK2 badge placement = VRS, Embelm, Octavia. There's really no point having Skoda word badge now, that's what the Embelm is for. Kinda think the VRS logo is going to look lonely and out of place on bottom corner.

 

Also Black Skoda emblem badges in the coming weeks.

 

Edited 15 September, 20187 yr by JimmyUK

11 minutes ago, JimmyUK said:

Not seeing it. Can only change how it responds by changing driving mode from "eco" through to "sport".

 

In individual mode there should be an option that says engine sound or similar.

57 minutes ago, ahenners said:

 

In individual mode there should be an option that says engine sound or similar.

True, but can only change sound mode not volume as far as I can see.

Edited 15 September, 20187 yr by JimmyUK

A few of us have taken the “Skoda” and “Octavia” badges off the boot and just left the Skoda Logo and vRS badge. 

 

Cleaner, but still clearly a Skoda vRS. 

 

Mine is like this now now and I much prefer it. 

1 hour ago, JimmyUK said:

True, but can only change sound mode not volume as far as I can see.

 

Sport is pretty much full volume, Eco practically off, normal somewhere in between.

 

You need something like VCDS or OBDEleven to change the actual volume figure.

Edited 15 September, 20187 yr by ahenners

Best 245 on here 

On 15/09/2018 at 23:47, ahenners said:

 

Sport is pretty much full volume, Eco practically off, normal somewhere in between.

 

You need something like VCDS or OBDEleven to change the actual volume figure.

 

My sound actuator is only on in sport mode. 

 

Its off in both normal and Eco

Rubber boot mat, nets, parcel shelf tray and boot leds (superskoda) installed.

 

Edited 17 September, 20187 yr by JimmyUK

On ‎15‎/‎09‎/‎2018 at 23:08, dunc69 said:

A few of us have taken the “Skoda” and “Octavia” badges off the boot and just left the Skoda Logo and vRS badge. 

 

Cleaner, but still clearly a Skoda vRS. 

 

Mine is like this now now and I much prefer it. 

Soon my 245 will be the only one in the country with all of it's original badges still intact as Skoda intended!

Sounds surprisingly like mine... I got an ex Skoda exec car with a scuffed alloy and worn brakes (in black!) And I have the same rattle in the b-pillar but on the passenger side. it drives me nuts. Going for a service in a week to fix it.

Nice mods by the way.

5 hours ago, StealthRS245 said:

Sounds surprisingly like mine... I got an ex Skoda exec car with a scuffed alloy and worn brakes (in black!) And I have the same rattle in the b-pillar but on the passenger side. it drives me nuts. Going for a service in a week to fix it.

Nice mods by the way.

Mines going in on Monday so I'll update.

8 hours ago, shyVRS245 said:

Soon my 245 will be the only one in the country with all of it's original badges still intact as Skoda intended!

Aesthetically I think the line on the boot where the top row badges are now looks right. It flows with the top section of rear lights. If Skoda had carried on with badge placement like the MK2 face-lift and put the VRS badge were the Skoda word badge is I'd be OK with that. I could do this myself but then I'm changing it from spec and it will stand out as a strange "why did he do that" mod. While debadging is considered normal (ish).

 

This is why I'm thinking the VRS being in the bottom corner would look weird on its own as it's doesnt line up of flow with anything.

 

Really want to switch out the silver logo badges with my new black ones but have not committed yet. I know it will make the front look stealthier but it does mean the other badges have to come off the rear.

2 hours ago, JimmyUK said:

Aesthetically I think the line on the boot where the top row badges are now looks right. It flows with the top section of rear lights. If Skoda had carried on with badge placement like the MK2 face-lift and put the VRS badge were the Skoda word badge is I'd be OK with that. I could do this myself but then I'm changing it from spec and it will stand out as a strange "why did he do that" mod. While debadging is considered normal (ish).

 

This is why I'm thinking the VRS being in the bottom corner would look weird on its own as it's doesnt line up of flow with anything.

 

Really want to switch out the silver logo badges with my new black ones but have not committed yet. I know it will make the front look stealthier but it does mean the other badges have to come off the rear.

I understand that polishing the car is easier when it's de-badged but hardly have time to clean my car let alone polish it. It is areal workhorse and definitely not a show pony so many scratches already after 13 months, so will probably get it wrapped rather than a respray as this is a keeper for me and not trading it in anytime soon as it has everything I need in a car and plenty of performance for the money. Enjoy polishing!

51 minutes ago, shyVRS245 said:

I understand that polishing the car is easier when it's de-badged but hardly have time to clean my car let alone polish it. It is areal workhorse and definitely not a show pony so many scratches already after 13 months, so will probably get it wrapped rather than a respray as this is a keeper for me and not trading it in anytime soon as it has everything I need in a car and plenty of performance for the money. Enjoy polishing!

I'm definitely being anal with keeping my car looking as good as possible at all times. I appreciate it's a car for driving and the elements are going to ruin it but this is my second largest purchase after my house. 

 

Personally I'm just trying to tweak my car to my taste aesthetically and there's too many damn badges. I'd like to remove all the external silver and colour from the car and really make it stealthy - but the wheels are cut, the rear red reflector is a legal requirement as is the disgusting yellow number plate and the VRS badges are for show. Damn.

Roof leds installed, need to work out what units replace footwell lights as these are sealed units. Also stickers over passenger air bag warning labels on sun visor. Would have preferred to not use stickers but didn't want to ruin visor trying to use chemicals and haven't been able to source a European replacement.

 

 

 

Another pose shot

Edited 23 September, 20187 yr by JimmyUK

On 23/09/2018 at 07:38, StealthRS245 said:

Sounds surprisingly like mine... I got an ex Skoda exec car with a scuffed alloy and worn brakes (in black!) And I have the same rattle in the b-pillar but on the passenger side. it drives me nuts. Going for a service in a week to fix it.

Nice mods by the way.

Turned out it my was the drivers door catch/slam causing the door to rattle. Skoda just refitted so fingers crossed it's solved.

 

They gave me a s-hitigo for the day, what a piece of crap. Fuel flap missing, manual key, fixed seat adjustments. Drives like a bumper car with a tractor engine! But its got black alloys and tinted windows 

 

Edited 24 September, 20187 yr by JimmyUK

34 minutes ago, JimmyUK said:

Turned out it my was the drivers door catch/slam causing the door to rattle. Skoda just refitted so fingers crossed it's solved.

 

They gave me a s-hitigo for the day, what a piece of crap. Fuel flap missing, manual key, fixed seat adjustments. Drives like a bumper car with a tractor engine! But its got black alloys and tinted windows 

 

Also given a Monte Carlo Citigo when my 2016 Superb went in for it's first service. Made the 1.4Tsi engine in the Superb feel like a rocketship when I drove it home later that day. It was priceless the look on the service receptionist's face when they had to explain my luxurious courtesy car for the day. Very pleased to hand it back, at least it hardly used any fuel!