Leaving Skoda but not this forum!

[dunc69]

11 minutes ago, shyVRS245 said:

Dunc what fuel do they recommend? Guess it's super unleaded 97/99 ron.

They say 95 and up okay. 

 

But the forums and YouTubers say 97/98 will improve performance and mpg.  

 

But don’t they always!! 🤣

 

I’ve always gone 95 for my standard 220. Will probably go 97 for now with the Stinger and assess mpg.  Too early to assess the average, but will post up soon. 

 

The vRS 220 easily does 40mpg on a decent run, especially with all the speed limits on the motorway network now, but I average 33-34. I do drive it quite hard! 

 

If I can squeeze 30 on average out of the Stinger, I’ll be delighted.  

6 minutes ago, logiclee said:

 

I'm sure the one I drove said 95Ron 

Correct! 

[shyVRS245]

Just now, dunc69 said:

They say 95 and up okay. 

 

But the forums and YouTubers say 97/98 will improve performance and mpg.  

 

But don’t they always!! 🤣

 

I’ve always gone 95 for my standard 220. Will probably go 97 for now with the Stinger and assess mpg.  Too early to assess the average, but will post up soon. 

 

The vRS 220 easily does 40mpg on a decent run, especially with all the speed limits on the motorway network now, but I average 33-34. I do drive it quite hard! 

 

If I can squeeze 30 on average out of the Stinger, I’ll be delighted.  

Thanks that's why I asked because I remember you saying you found no advantage using anything other than 95 ron in the 220.

[dunc69]

So, early driving impressions vs the vRS. 

 

Initial thoughts on taking the Stinger away were that it felt very quiet, heavy and solid. 

 

In comfort (Skoda = Normal mode) it really is a GT type of car. The weight, obvious easy power and torque-converter auto reminded me very much of my brother’s (Canadian-spec) 2013 E-Class 550 V8.  

 

But, as soon as you put your foot down even a little, it seems to really up the speed quickly, with little drama.  Not a surprise I guess with 365bhp. 

 

I initially thought though that it didn’t feel quicker than the vRS (which I have always thought had more than 220PS) but loved the way the Stinger felt sooo torquey, like only heavy powerful cars can.  

 

But then, Sports mode (haven’t tried Sports+ yet!) changes things.  Subtlety, but still

noticeably. It doesn’t halve the throttle travel response like the vRS, but rather just tightens everything up by, say, 20%. Steering, throttle and suspension. 

 

If you half open the throttle in Sport, it simply flies forward at an incredible pace.  Rear wheel drive traction is stunning after the front drive Skoda. 

 

I haven’t checked yet (tmw morning!) but I’m

pretty the sound actuator is off.  The V6 exhaust under power (and at start up) sounds epic. So much so, that I’m convinced the internet rumours that Kia have listened to criticism about the quiet exhaust and made it louder for MY20 are true.

 

The steering is very, very quick and accurate. It obviously helps that the front wheels don’t have to pull the car along too!

 

As I said, brief early thoughts. 

 

Today, I took the vRS to work. I was hoping to get it washed and valeted prior to taking the ‘for sale’ pics (but failed as ran out of time!)

 

Although it instantly felt like a faithful and familiar old friend, it also felt (sorry guys) suddenly very noisy, in a different class and quite slow. It still goes very nicely, of course, but doesn’t have that inexorable pull that the Stinger has. 

 

Of course, this isn’t a surprise, the cars are at different price points. I love my vRS, and will always miss it (when it goes!) 

 

I have said this on here before, but I still think the Mk2 vRS 200 (197bhp) DSG was the high point of the range.  More solid, better built. Less tech maybe, but a better car at the time. 

 

I had my Mk2 vRS for 7 years from new.  That is now the plan with the Stinger. 

[logiclee]

13 minutes ago, dunc69 said:

 

 

Although it instantly felt like a faithful and familiar old friend, it also felt (sorry guys) suddenly very noisy, 

 

I have said this on here before, but I still think the Mk2 vRS 200 (197bhp) DSG was the high point of the range.  More solid, better built. Less tech maybe, but a better car at the time. 

 

I had my Mk2 vRS for 7 years from new.  

 

Two points I absolutely agree on.

 

My Mk3 was the most economical commuter I've ever had, but at the same time my commute was miserable due to the refinement issues at high speed. It now costs me another £25 a week in fuel to get to and from work and worth every penny. 

Our Mk2 feels solid and has been 100% reliable so I've no intention of selling it after 7 years. 

[dunc69]

@logiclee just tried Apple CarPlay (been a busy week). 

 

Was playing a song via Amazon Music when I plugged it in. There was an instant increase in sound quality and volume once BT was taken out of the equation. 

 

Suddenly felt properly like a 720W 15-speaker system. 

 

I’m sure it could sound even better with a lossless source, but for now I think I, and crucially my daughter, will be very happy with what we have.  

 

Appreciate your advice though buddy. 

 

Also having Waze or google maps or Apple maps gives me lots of choice for my navigation now.  

 

I guess lots of you will have had Apple CarPlay or Android Auto for a while, but my vRS didn’t have it, so it’s an exciting novelty! 

[logiclee]

Bluetooth is great for convenience but until it's lossless it will always be compromised.

 

For my mobile music I use a Galaxy S9+ with B&W P7 Wireless headphones with FLAC files on the phone or streaming FLAC from my NAS.  There's a marked improvement actually plugging the headphones which is why I won't buy a phone without a headphone jack or without the ability to play lossless.

 

Of course people will say there's little difference but if you are listening to compressed music through earbuds or a cheaper sound system then the difference is not as wide.

[maffyou]

57 minutes ago, dunc69 said:

 There was an instant increase in sound quality and volume once BT was taken out of the equation. 

Just to say, often if you’re connected through Bluetooth you will need to turn up the volume on the device your music is playing from (i.e. your phone) because otherwise you are sending a quiet signal through to the stereo, so it will sound ropey. 

 

A wired connection will output at line level so not necessary in that scenario. 

[dunc69]

42 minutes ago, maffyou said:

Just to say, often if you’re connected through Bluetooth you will need to turn up the volume on the device your music is playing from (i.e. your phone) because otherwise you are sending a quiet signal through to the stereo, so it will sound ropey. 

 

A wired connection will output at line level so not necessary in that scenario. 

Thanks @maffyou. Understand the first part - have my iPhone at about 2/3 volume on BT normally.  

 

The line level part is interesting but now can hear it in practice.  Cheers.  

[dunc69]

Tried to upload a video (and failed). 

 

Edited 27 July, 2019 by dunc69

[vRSAnt]

Interested to see you went down this route, congrats you have a fun proposition there

We were bantering years ago about how this would become the used bargain of the century on another thread you recall Then I spotted you actually seem to recently bought one, wow well done !

They still be selling for £30k now.....so seem to be holding prices strong. I'm guessing you would have had to spend that much so whilst quite a chunk off the new price its still a bit rich for me.

Anyway interesting to see how you develop on with the car keep us posed.

[dunc69]

On 27/07/2019 at 16:07, vRSAnt said:

Interested to see you went down this route, congrats you have a fun proposition there

We were bantering years ago about how this would become the used bargain of the century on another thread you recall Then I spotted you actually seem to recently bought one, wow well done !

They still be selling for £30k now.....so seem to be holding prices strong. I'm guessing you would have had to spend that much so whilst quite a chunk off the new price its still a bit rich for me.

Anyway interesting to see how you develop on with the car keep us posed.

Will definitely keep you all posted. So far so very good. 

 

I remember that depreciation banter @vRSAnt. Re-read the thread yesterday.

 

Didn’t depreciate as much as I had hoped!  Hopefully that won’t change now I have bought one!! 

Edited 1 August, 2019 by dunc69

[dunc69]

In the meantime, my vRS is now advertised in the Briskoda ‘Cars for Sale’ section. 

 

A strange and slightly sad moment, but I hope someone else can enjoy the car as much as I did!  

[john999boy]

@dunc69 Your thread on PistonHeads was highlighted in the PH Latest From The Gassing Station email! 

[dunc69]

Hi John, many thanks!  Hadn’t seen that! 
 

Hope all well over here? 
 

Cheers 

[john999boy]

3 hours ago, dunc69 said:

Hope all well over here? 

We're missing out on the Stinger updates! 😢

[dunc69]

Ha, well, I could always post up a link to the thread?? 
 

Here you go guys:

 

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&t=1829074&d=0#seperator

Edited 9 April, 2020 by dunc69

[dunc69]

My Atera Aluminium aero roofbars have just been posted in the Classifieds. 
 

Cheers guys. 

[dunc69]

Guys, quick resurrection of this to update.

 

Stinger lasted 2 1/2 years.  A BMW 530e replaced it in September 2021.  Brilliant, albeit quite different, car.  Reasons here p27:

Kia Stinger GTS 2019 - Page 27 - Readers' Cars - PistonHeads UK

 

But, a change in circumstances - dog - means the BMW has to go already!  It is for sale as of yesterday.

 

So, a fast dog-friendly dog wagon?  I have missed Skoda and have decided to come back.  I have paid a deposit on a 2018 (68) Superb 272 L&K Hatch.

 

It's good to be back and I look forward to linking up with some of you guys on the Superb 3 forum. 

Edited 9 August, 2022 by dunc69

[dunc69]

Beemer deal agreed. 
 

Hopefully back in Skoda ownership this time next week!! 👍🚗