So I am in need of a new car and I have liked the Octavia VRS for quite some time and recently started to look at them more seriously.

 

I was put off a while ago as a lot of people say they are quite thirsty on fuel, and whilst I wouldn't be buying one for hyper mpg figures, i will be doing around 15k miles a year and need something that will hit at least an average of 36+mpg, but some people are seeing an average of 26-28mpg, which will just cripple me on fuel.  I know I can't expect 45-50mpg plus, but would still like a reasonable return.

 

Anyway, after a further dig about online and on here it would appear that on a reasonable journey you can see over 40mpg, which is more than ample.  It is just nice to have the power there if needs be.

 

So originally after some of the fuel figures scared me off the VRS I started looking at the Seat Leon 2.0 190bhp, which seemed to have a nice mix of power/performance and mpg (40-42 average mpg isnt out of the question and 0-60 in about 7 seconds), but I have now come back to the Octavia VRS.  I much prefer the VRS and the room available and the looks, but I have a budget and requirements and it is just what falls within.

 

I have found a lovely red 2017 VRS which still has about 6 months of warranty on it (which is a big thing for me), heated seats, electric memory seats etc and just about falls within my monthly pcp budget.  For comparison I can get a less than year old Seat Leon 190, for around the same monthly cost etc.

 

Seat are also offering the next 2 services for £149 when going through a PCP route, which minimises future costs, so service charges are something I need to look into.  Any thoughts on what I should be looking to pay for a minor and major service at Skoda?

 

Anyway, i have rambled on enough - i am still hopeful of finding a VRS for my next car, but i need to be realistic with budget etc, so i may end up with a Leon (or something else entirely), but the VRS is my first choice.

 

Thanks all

Not sure on your servicing question, but if you are going down the PCP route for a used car I would check out Admiral. Typically lower APR and lower end term valuations than dealerships, presumably because there is rarely manufacturer support for used. 

as in look at Admiral for a loan?  

1 minute ago, sheriffwoody said:

as in look at Admiral for a loan?  

PCP.

 

https://www.admiral.com/loans/car-finance/pcp-personal-contract-purchase

ah ok, thanks. i will have a look. most PCP deals are around the 7.3-8.5%

14 minutes ago, Tazdaz said:

PCP.

 

https://www.admiral.com/loans/car-finance/pcp-personal-contract-purchase

just tried but they are "having difficulties" right now and tells me to call them - meh!

just had the Admiral quote back and whilst it is at 5.9%, the monthly cost is over £60 more than I have been quoted previously through dealerships.

 

Granted, the final payment at the end is much lower £2.3k rather than £6-7k, but the monthly cost falls outside of budget.

Make sure the dealer has the correct mileage for you in that deal when working out monthly payments. Most pcp run for 4 years so you would need 60,000 miles adding into the deal or you will pay excess miles at the end of the deal.

yep - all over the mileage and making sure they have it in. I almost got caught out with that from a Seat dealer who came back well within budget, but in the small print it was only 10k miles a year, so when i told them i need 15k miles (i had told them 3 or 4 times before) it bumped it up to about £10 a month over budget.

If doing 15,000 miles a year you really want Variable / Flexible servicing between 18,000 - 20,000 miles.

 

Do not get landed with a Service Plan with 2 x fixed services at 10,000 miles or 1 year, which ever comes first.

do Skoda offer service plans like that?  Like i say, Seat were offering it if you took out PCP finance, so if Skoda offer the same then thats a bonus

You have to check what the terms are.

 

No point you needing the car in for a service after just 9,600 miles then after another 9,600 miles.

You want oil / filter services just once a year or each 14 months or whatever.

Can someone help me out with the services

 

what gets done at a major and minor? I am guessing a major follows a minor and so on and so on? 
 

the car is chain driven yes?

 

what mileage should the dsg service be done? 

I think you will struggle to average over 36mpg in a petrol vrs unless the majority of your miles are cruising at motorway speeds and you have a very light foot. 

The car I have seen is just over 2 years old, so still a years warranty and has only done 5k miles. 
 

So I am hoping they will service it and then how do I go about getting it put into variable servicing rather than the standard 10k/12 months plan? 

11 minutes ago, Octaviarse said:

I think you will struggle to average over 36mpg in a petrol vrs unless the majority of your miles are cruising at motorway speeds and you have a very light foot. 

a few people seem to think they can/do. 
 

my commute will be 15-20 miles each way of 40/50/60mph roads with only the last mile or so being stop start, so I can travel to work fairly sedately. Then a few times a week there will be 40 mile journey home via a motorway, so cruise at 65/70 ish and should be ok? 

Two servcie interval options:

 

1) Fixed - 12 months or 10,000 miles, whichever is reached first

2) Variable - up to 24 months or 20,000 miles, the car decides for itself based on the feedback from various sensors.

 

Nothing is changed other than the engine oil, oil filter and pollen filter before three years old irrespective of which service interval it is set to.

 

The third fixed service or second variable service should see the fuel filter (diesel), spark plugs (petrol), the air filter and brake fluid changed in addition to the oil, oil filter and pollen filter.

Thanks for that. 
 

so I assume the spark plug, air filter and brake fluid service is a major. What we talking, £300 or so? 

Servicing costs differ between places. You can get an independent garage who use genuine Skoda parts to service the car at a lot less than a main dealer would. I wouldnt bother with a service plan.

I would also say that you doing things right by asking questions. No point in going all in and then finding out the running costs are more than you can afford. I opted for the diesel VRS as I do high mileage and wanted the guaranteed economy.

Skoda Main Dealer Servicing has changed.  The Fixed Price Servicing.

 

There is the Oil / Filter Inspection Service, Only Oil & Filter and plug as consumables. 

Then the Extended Scope at 3 years on top. Brake Fluid on Top, and things like Pollen, Air Filter, Fuel Filter are paid over and above as are spark plugs.

 

£238 for oil & Inspection Service and Extended.  then plus plus plus... pure crazy.

Edited 9 March, 20206 yr by Roottootemblowinootsoot

If you're doing 15k miles a year, are on a budget and concerned about fuel, why not get a diesel?

 

The only real budget is my monthly pcp amount - I can afford what ever the VRS throws at me mpg wise, it would just be nice if it returned north of 35mpg (or if I could get at least 100 miles from £20 which I can’t get currently in my car) 

If you get a pcp through the skoda at the moment you will get a 2 year warranty and the option of the next 2 services for £169.

9 minutes ago, mdk1 said:

If you get a pcp through the skoda at the moment you will get a 2 year warranty and the option of the next 2 services for £169.

 

really? That is what i am looking for, similar to Seat (although they are wanting £149 for the same thing).

 

The car i am looking at is at a manufacturer approved Skoda dealership, so hoping they can offer something similar (the car will still have one full year of manufacturers warranty on it, but the 2 services will come in handy)

cor - didn't realise how many different options and variants of the Octavia VRS there are.

 

In the Leon I was looking at the FR Sport, which seemed to come with everything lumped in for one price.  I have just discovered that the VRS can have the upgraded Canton sound system (10 speaker with sub and equaliser, but loses the underseat umbrella), can have DCC which is apparently a must have - both of these things the one i am looking at doesn't come with, but there is a slightly older estate version (2017 vs 2018) which comes with both (and in a rather nice looking grey colour).

 

This is going to be a hard choice!!

 

Thing is, whilst all these things will be nice, i am coming from an old Lancer estate, with literally electric windows and manual air con and thats about it - so i won't miss what i have never had before i guess.