Afternoon All,

 

I have taken the plunge and bought myself a kodiaq VRS as got a great price on it at 40k new.

 

Looking for any real world reviews on the car from anyone that has the VRS.

 

looking forward to posting on here once I get it. 
 

cheers

The Good: The looks (very subjective, I know).

The Bad: The fuel consumption (especially for the first few thousand miles!)

The Ugly: The gearbox, and the adaptive dampers (the gearbox is hopeless and the dampers are pointless - too soft in comfort and too hard in sport, so they just get left in normal).

 

It's not a fast car, but it makes a very good GT car. As I've said elsewhere, it can do a bit of everything competently, but doesn't do anything exceptionally - but where else can you get a sprightly 7-seat load lugger for less than £50k? Love mine, would buy again.

 

Out of interest, how long did the dealer reckon it would take to arrive?

8 minutes ago, Yogi-Bear said:

The Good: The looks (very subjective, I know).

The Bad: The fuel consumption (especially for the first few thousand miles!)

The Ugly: The gearbox, and the adaptive dampers (the gearbox is hopeless and the dampers are pointless - too soft in comfort and too hard in sport, so they just get left in normal).

 

It's not a fast car, but it makes a very good GT car. As I've said elsewhere, it can do a bit of everything competently, but doesn't do anything exceptionally - but where else can you get a sprightly 7-seat load lugger for less than £50k? Love mine, would buy again.

 

Out of interest, how long did the dealer reckon it would take to arrive?

Thanks for the reply Yogi Bear. 11 weeks for delivery and I’ve ordered the autonomous cruise control and heated windscreen and wheel. 
 

out of interest what mpg are you getting?

6 minutes ago, bigmeg said:

out of interest what mpg are you getting?

 

Anything from about 20mpg (or less if I really try 😎) for really short journeys around town to 40mpg for long motorway cruises @ 65mph.

 

For the first few thousand miles, don't be surprised if you get low teens for short journeys and not much over 30mpg for longer ones.

I’ve currently got a superb 272 bhp and prob get mid to high 20s on short runs but on motorway on cruise control at about 75mph I’ll get 37 ish

 

im looking forward to getting the car. It looks great I think. 

When it was introduced I thought I’d be a VRS buyer. What’s not to like? I assumed.

 

But no.  The hype was greater than the reality.

 

Press reports don’t rate it above lesser models and I wholeheartedly agree.

 

The pros and cons don’t add up for me.

 

So my third SEL is in the post.

Edited 5 February, 20233 yr by BoxerBoy

12 hours ago, BoxerBoy said:

Press reports don’t rate it above lesser models and I wholeheartedly agree.

 

Does it do anything a 'lesser' Kodiaq doesn't? Not really, no.

 

Does a Q7 do anything a Kodiaq doesn't? Not really, no.

 

I've seen a few more recent press reviews (long-term ones instead of one-day drives) where they've understood after living with it that it is a very capable, comfortable, spacious, nice to drive car. Besides, the motoring journalists always question the value of higher-spec cars, especially when it comes to Skoda. I can remember them saying it was pointless buying anything other than the original SE when I got my Edition.

 

Do I really care what others think anyway? Not so much. You make your choice and you pay your money.

Edited 6 February, 20233 yr by Yogi-Bear

I love dampers. Could be even softer with Comfort settings.

Adjusting to speed driving wheel gear (or whatever it is called) - best extra I ever had.

 

As diesel RS is out of production, started to look towards SQ5  - my god, how much extras you`ll get free with RS for which Audi charges a fortune.

 

2 hours ago, linni said:

I love dampers. Could be even softer with Comfort settings.

Adjusting to speed driving wheel gear (or whatever it is called) - best extra I ever had.

 

As diesel RS is out of production, started to look towards SQ5  - my god, how much extras you`ll get free with RS for which Audi charges a fortune.

 

The suspension tune of the RS is by far the best I've found in the price category. 

 

I'm test driving the Touareg this week. WIth the updated model (new steering wheel) they've revised the spec for the NZ market so some lot of the stuff that was optional (area view, air suspension, rear wheel streering) are now standard so it'll be interesting to see the difference.

 

R-Line in Silver with the black pack makes my knees weak...

 

Edited 6 February, 20233 yr by ZacDaMan72
Pre-morning-coffee spelling

8 hours ago, Yogi-Bear said:

 

Does it do anything a 'lesser' Kodiaq doesn't? Not really, no.

 

Does a Q7 do anything a Kodiaq doesn't? Not really, no.

 

I've seen a few more recent press reviews (long-term ones instead of one-day drives) where they've understood after living with it that it is a very capable, comfortable, spacious, nice to drive car. Besides, the motoring journalists always question the value of higher-spec cars, especially when it comes to Skoda. I can remember them saying it was pointless buying anything other than the original SE when I got my Edition.

 

Do I really care what others think anyway? Not so much. You make your choice and you pay your money.

Yeah I agree mate. I can’t wait to get my hands on mine and at 40k I think I got a great deal. 
 

do you know if the heated windscreen is like the one in fords which have an element in it like a back window as I’m sure I read someone say it’s just a different type of blower which would annoy me.
 

 

3 minutes ago, bigmeg said:

do you know if the heated windscreen is like the one in fords which have an element in it like a back window as I’m sure I read someone say it’s just a different type of blower which would annoy me.

 

Nope, it's a heated element. invisible to the eye unless you really peer at it, and even then...

 

Works really well too, imho - but I don't think it gets quite as cold/frosty/snowy down here compared to up there 😂

3 minutes ago, Yogi-Bear said:

 

Nope, it's a heated element. invisible to the eye unless you really peer at it, and even then...

 

Works really well too, imho - but I don't think it gets quite as cold/frosty/snowy down here compared to up there 😂

Yeah it’s a tad chillier up here mate. Thanks for all the info man. Appreciate it

1 hour ago, bigmeg said:

Yeah it’s a tad chillier up here mate. Thanks for all the info man. Appreciate it

Once you’ve enjoyed hot seats, hot wheel and hot screen, there’s no going back 😀

 

This is my Build Week so I’m visualising my car rolling along the line as I type.

 

Shouldn’t need too many microchips just to warm things up.

 

(not that I’m betting any money on it)

On 05/02/2023 at 18:14, bigmeg said:

Afternoon All,

 

I have taken the plunge and bought myself a kodiaq VRS as got a great price on it at 40k new.

 

Looking for any real world reviews on the car from anyone that has the VRS.

 

looking forward to posting on here once I get it. 
 

cheers

Hello bigmeg, does your configuration include blind spot monitoring as standard? 11 weeks looks quite fast. 

 

Here in Swiss, the order was placed in November, and delivery is expected in May and blind spot monitoring is missing due to chip shortage🤦

 

 

4 minutes ago, ThreeSixty said:

Hello bigmeg, does your configuration include blind spot monitoring as standard? 11 weeks looks quite fast. 

 

Here in Swiss, the order was placed in November, and delivery is expected in May and blind spot monitoring is missing due to chip shortage🤦

 

 

just saw your post on blindspot in the other thread.

1 hour ago, ThreeSixty said:

Hello bigmeg, does your configuration include blind spot monitoring as standard?

 

It has never been standard on the vRS in the UK (at least not on the facelift one, no idea about the pre-facelift diesel variant).

3 hours ago, ThreeSixty said:

just saw your post on blindspot in the other thread.

Yeah can’t even get as an optional extra due to the shortage in chips. I was wanting that as well lol.

2 hours ago, Yogi-Bear said:

 

It has never been standard on the vRS in the UK (at least not on the facelift one, no idea about the pre-facelift diesel variant).

So Yogi. How quick is the VRs. On paper seems nippy but heard a few reports saying it’s not that quick. 

51 minutes ago, bigmeg said:

How quick is the VRs

 

The million dollar question.

 

It's not quick. It is let down by a bloody infuriating gearbox - or, to be more precise, the programming/mapping on the gearbox - and a throttle pedal that is as quick to react as a sloth who has OD'd on sleeping pills. It's never in the right gear and it takes too long to change down. Doesn't help that it is a 7-speed box so you invariably need it to change down 2 or 3 gears instead of the 1 or 2 that you would in a 'normal' 6-speed box. Sport mode is pretty much unusable around town unless you like driving round in a low gear and everyone staring at you for the resultant noise (although you can partly solve that by using the 'custom' mode and turning the noise generator off). On the other hand, sport mode is the only one that has an even remotely responsive throttle... it's a shame the 'drive' component of the 'custom' mode controls both the gearbox and throttle response - if you could change them independently then it would be a whole lot better.

 

Having said all of that, learn the gears, hit 'sport' and shove the 'box into semi-auto, then point it at a typical UK B-road... and it can make very rapid progress, and for what it is (a big lump, not a sports car), it's a pretty decent drive and can be good fun. I've no idea what the power curve actually looks like, but keep the needle up above 3k-3.5k revs and it's responsive enough. Overtaking with a full load doesn't require a second thought (don't be stupid though), and if you keep the engine purring at the higher revs, you can end up going faster than you realise pretty darn quickly... but that's the biggest problem that I think most (if not all) large SUVs suffer from, they just don't have that sensation of speed because you're high up off the road.

 

If you need something big enough to fit your family, dog, and enough crap (sorry, luggage) for a couple of weeks in the south of France, and still have a bit of fun now and then, I've yet to see something that offers the same package for less money. I love mine, and don't regret getting it at all. If I end up keeping it past the end of the PCP (I probably won't, just because I like new cars), then I'd look at tuning it (it's the venerable old Golf GTI lump so there are plenty of options) 😎.

 

(Edit: tl;dr - not quick, but fun (and practical) nonetheless).

Edited 8 February, 20233 yr by Yogi-Bear

4 minutes ago, Yogi-Bear said:

 

The million dollar question.

 

It's not quick. It is let down by a bloody infuriating gearbox - or, to be more precise, the programming/mapping on the gearbox - and a throttle pedal that is as quick to react as a sloth who has OD'd on sleeping pills. It's never in the right gear and it takes too long to change down. Doesn't help that it is a 7-speed box so you invariably need it to change down 2 or 3 gears instead of the 1 or 2 that you would in a 'normal' 6-speed box. Sport mode is pretty much unusable around town unless you like driving round in a low gear and everyone staring at you for the resultant noise (although you can partly solve that by using the 'custom' mode and turning the noise generator off). On the other hand, sport mode is the only one that has an even remotely responsive throttle... it's a shame the 'drive' component of the 'custom' mode controls both the gearbox and throttle response - if you could change them independently then it would be a whole lot better.

 

Having said all of that, learn the gears, hit 'sport' and shove the 'box into semi-auto, then point it at a typical UK B-road... and it can make very rapid progress, and for what it is (a big lump, not a sports car), it's a pretty decent drive and can be good fun. I've no idea what the power curve actually looks like, but keep the needle up above 3k-3.5k revs and it's responsive enough. Overtaking with a full load doesn't require a second thought (don't be stupid though), and if you keep the engine purring at the higher revs, you can end up going faster than you realise pretty darn quickly... but that's the biggest problem that I think most (if not all) large SUVs suffer from, they just don't have that sensation of speed because you're high up off the road.

 

If you need something big enough to fit your family, dog, and enough crap (sorry, luggage) for a couple of weeks in the south of France, and still have a bit of fun now and then, I've yet to see something that offers the same package for less money. I love mine, and don't regret getting it at all. If I end up keeping it past the end of the PCP (I probably won't, just because I like new cars), then I'd look at tuning it (it's the venerable old Golf GTI lump so there are plenty of options) 😎.

 

(Edit: tl;dr - not quick, but fun (and practical) nonetheless).

Great review mate. Thanks for typing that. I was thinking of getting it chipped but will see how it is when I get it. I’ll let you know once I have it fella. 
 

cheers again

3 minutes ago, bigmeg said:

I was thinking of getting it chipped

 

Tuning or chipping the engine won't solve the biggest issue of the gearbox tune/map. I've seen remaps for that advertised, but for some reason it seems more risky to me than doing something to the engine (and/or using a throttle box).

 

As I said, put the effort in to learn how to get the most from it, and it can be pretty rewarding. You probably shouldn't have to do that, but VAG are never going to make an SQ7-killing Kodiaq now, are they 🤣.

Seems petrol RS has different gearbox mapping than diesel RS, or my remap has tuned the gearbox too. Nothing familiar to me what you described.

Only downside is too short first gear.

 

First, I changed throttle pedal behaviour myself with VCDS. From predictive to linear. It was possible on pre 2020 cars to use VCDS.

Second I remapped ECU to 292 HP / 600 Nm. Totally different beast than the originasl 240/500.

It just accelerates and accelerates up to 200 kmh (haven`t tried more) in a blink of an eye.

3 hours ago, linni said:

Seems petrol RS has different gearbox mapping than diesel RS

 

It has a completely different gearbox... isn't yours a 6-speed? I had a 150PS TSI Edition before this with a 6-speed gearbox, and while the throttle response was as laggy as I think it is in all Skodas (a deliberate choice by VAG), the 'box was actually quite responsive and changing down a gear would help loads. I honestly think the introduction of another ratio just hasn't helped. It's like there are too many gears to choose from, and it never seems to be in the right one. I don't doubt that more ratios = smoother ride and probably greater fuel consumption, but it doesn't seem to help with the sportiness. Having said that, BMW use 8-speed 'boxes (not dual-clutch though), even in their M cars, so what do I know!?

 

But... once you get the petrol vRS going, it goes - there is no doubt about it. The problem is convincing it to get going in the first place. It's annoying that - as good as it is when you learn how to drive it - it could have been so much better if VAG hadn't intentionally hobbled it. But then it would be approaching Tiguan R territory and no-one is going to buy that ugly pile of rust when you could have a Kodiaq instead 😂. At least I still have air-con dials you can see and use in the dark!

No, mine has 7 speed DQ500.

 

VAG accelerator pedals works in a "smart" way. You press the pedal and ECU decides how much to fuel the engine. That`s what causes all the problems with acceleration.

However you can change the behaviour with VCDS to direct acceleration, as it was in good old days.

There are 2 options under the coding:

A - Gradual, controlled by time
B - Directly controlled threshold value

I note the TSI VRS is fitted with the DQ381 rather than beefier DQ500 gearbox.  DQ381 is lighter but also has a lower spec'd torque limit of 'only' 420NM.  I personally find that uncomfortably close to the 370NM put out by the stock TSI engine to consider much in the way of tuning.  YMMV.