Morning all.

After getting rid of my mk1 vrs about 12 years ago, a decision I regretted from day one! I'm now in a position to jump ship from mundane family busses and get myself another RS.

I've set myself for a Mk3, ideally pre face-lift, tho that's not nailed on.

My dilemma comes to whether I go petrol or Diesel. 

I want something exciting, don't do a great deal of mileage, and am an (ageing) petrolhead, so that seemed the obvious choice. That said, I did say I wanted my next car to be a 4x4, so have found myself looking at the Diesel variant 😕 (and also the petrol superb, sportline plus 4x4, but thats a different story) I just don't know if I can go diesel, I just imagine it to feel lacking in the power department and can't imagine it being a 'fun' drive.

I guess the next option would be to consider a remap on the Diesel, is it worth it? Does it cause any issues I.e with the Dpf?

Obvious I'm gonna read around the site when I get more opportunity, just thought I'd throw my thoughts out there for anyone to help me make a decision!

Thanks guys

Welcome,

I too regret my mk1 Octavia sale, both of them for different reasons. 
 

From the sport line plus 272 side, it’s a point and squirt in comfort kind of drive. Yes she’ll hustle down b roads, but it’s big and even on dcc sport, not an Octavia RS experience. 
 

I had a remapped Superb diesel, did ok, neutralised the transmission losses, def did begin to cause some pain, but probably not due to the remap. 
 

the fun for the diesel drive was in rising the torque wave. If you feel you can adapt and acknowledge that it will never sound great… 

 

however if you don’t do a lot of miles, I’d really think twice about diesel. Friend who is a travelling sales, actually went to a 1.5tsi and reckons still saves him over diesel, due to cost difference at the pump and the whole magic Act cylinder stuff.

 

the challenge/245 rs with the electronic diff is a difference fwd experience and apart from the odd wet junction launch a worthy challenger to 4x4 Haldex.

 

hth.

I'd echo Colin's points.

 

Don't bother with a 4x4 if it's a want, rather than a need.  Extra drive train weight, servicing costs and needs.  Many posts on here of problems with haldex units where they've not been properly maintained.

 

You really need to be doing (IMO) upwards of 20k miles a year to warrant choosing a diesel.

 

My previous 2015 vRS was a mere 220.  A stage one remap took it to north of 300bhp and made it a fair bit more sprightly.

 

Gaz

 

Welcome to the forum.

 

Real world. Fuel & servicing costs to look at.

  What has the car had done before you get it and what needs doing.

 

Just some of them.

Age might well make a difference but you need to check history of what done, and Full Service History is not enough if not done to Manufacturers Guidelines, Recommendations or Schedule.  Even Skoda Approved used cars might not be serviced fully, and ones that were on a service plan might not have been. 

 

TDI's,  good economy if you do the right kind of journeys, usual servicing and hopefully no DPF issues.  If you have a DSG then servicing every 40,000 miles or some first at 80,000.

Cam belt / water pump etc as and when.

If Haldex service 

 

TSI 2.0. 

Fuel according to how you drive / use, servicing as expected, as above, as and when. 

If VAQ Diff that is servicing @3 years / 30,000 miles.

 

TSI 1.5 ACT. 

Like the others, but Cambelt change in the region of £1,000 it is turning out to be if done at 5 years or later.

DQ200 DSG so no servicing of that. 

Edited 3 April, 20233 yr by toot

Thanks for the replies guys.

A bit to think about. @ColinD it's a big IF, but if I did go for the Suberb, I would only really consider the petrol. And it was only a consideration due to the petrol power and 4wd. Another Octavia is really what I want.

@Gaz I wouldn't say 4wd is a must, but I do, do a lot of b road driving, and was a consideration for the 1 or 2 weeks of winter weather we get. How does the petrol tend to cope in the snow and ice?

Also, im under the same impression you want to be doing 20k a year to benefit from a diesel. I probably do half that. Another reason for me looking at the diesel route, and maybe stupidly, I've set my mind on rally green. Trying to find the model and price range to suit, it seems to be the diesels are more available.

I wouldn't say I'm in a rush to find exactly what I want, but I'm a little impatient 😬

Hehe b roads.. for fun now I’d go and root out a Yaris GR.

 

then get some dental insurance.

 

I dare not go and find one as I’ll not be able to resist.

 

the superb 272 on factory ice skate tyres in winter was dire. More in heavy rain. With a set of all season, or winters, I’d have no doubts bar ground clearance. My old superb4.4, 170> 200ish was a lot of fun in the snow, Meadowhall car park most notably after I was distracted by food while it snowed heavily. Drove out eventually, got lost and had to go around a few times

 

the odd few weeks of bad weather; I’d still be happy fwd, with winters on. The citigo I had was brilliant in the snow and heavy rain on full winters. I left them on all year for those rainy days and muddy parking spots.

 

do you need the size of an new Octavia?

 

they are a bit bigger than they used to be. 12years of pies. Right on the end of b road. Plus low profile tyres in the roads now scare the hell out of me. So much so a xtrail is on my short list… totally concede to the old fart within.

 

I’ve been half tempted to find a mk1 that’s not been too messed about with.

 

not rushing is smart in this market too.

Edited 3 April, 20233 yr by ColinD

1 hour ago, ColinD said:

Hehe b roads.. for fun now I’d go and root out a Yaris GR.

 

then get some dental insurance.

 

I dare not go and find one as I’ll not be able to resist.

 

the superb 272 on factory ice skate tyres in winter was dire. More in heavy rain. With a set of all season, or winters, I’d have no doubts bar ground clearance. My old superb4.4, 170> 200ish was a lot of fun in the snow, Meadowhall car park most notably after I was distracted by food while it snowed heavily. Drove out eventually, got lost and had to go around a few times

 

the odd few weeks of bad weather; I’d still be happy fwd, with winters on. The citigo I had was brilliant in the snow and heavy rain on full winters. I left them on all year for those rainy days and muddy parking spots.

 

do you need the size of an new Octavia?

 

they are a bit bigger than they used to be. 12years of pies. Right on the end of b road. Plus low profile tyres in the roads now scare the hell out of me. So much so a xtrail is on my short list… totally concede to the old fart within.

 

I’ve been half tempted to find a mk1 that’s not been too messed about with.

 

not rushing is smart in this market too.

I can see where you're coming from with the Yaris, but sadly I drive B roads more for necessity than fun these days. 

With 2 young kids, I think the octavia is the perfect size for my needs, not to mention the itch of wanting to own another.

I think realistically, I'd never be fully happy if I was to choose a diesel, so it sounds like the petrol and a set of winter wheels might be my best option.

Also, on the subject of a remap... not that my licence says I should be ever considering it.... to be Frank, I wouldn't wonna declare a remap to my insurance company, and I know that's a whole other can of worms, but are there any quality plug and play boxes I could use as and when?

If you have to declare a remap to keep your insurance valid and you do, then the same applies with a tuning box.

If you are in an accident and you or or your loved ones are involved or anyone else you are not removing a tuning box to have anyone think there was not one fitted. 

I have a pedal box, transforms the feel. Decided after that I don’t need a remap… yet.

 

declared at no cost, other than the box of tricks.

 

tbh, fwd and 245 is naturally limiting, even with a trick diff. Can’t change the laws of physics after all.

47 minutes ago, toot said:

If you have to declare a remap to keep your insurance valid and you do, then the same applies with a tuning box.

If you are in an accident and you or or your loved ones are involved or anyone else you are not removing a tuning box to have anyone think there was not one fitted. 

I appreciate what you're saying. And upping the power wouldn't be a necessity, but tbh I am a bit of a d!@#head, if I had power on tap I'd want to use it.

Going back a fair few years ago, a mate of mine had a box with 3 presets for his S6, plug it into the obd port and I assume it overrode the ecu, when you've done just unplug it.

I was thinking something similar, for those once in a blue moon times I get now, to jump in the car on my own, and go have a little fun, then stick it back away in the garage 🤷‍♂️

@ColinDhow did you get around the insurance? All the dealings I've ever had with any insurance company, they jump at the chance to up your premiums!

@BT_11vRSIt would have made no difference if your mate had a Superchips plug, switchable maps, or any other device in the OBD and they killed someone or maimed them and then unplugged it. 

 

There are insurers that do not load your premium if you have remaps, tuning boxes, pedal boxes or even modifications.

There are others that will not touch you with a barge pole.

 

There will be someone along shortly from a forum sponsor saying to contact them.

In the Insurance section on here you will see companies, and threads on insuring. 

Edited 3 April, 20233 yr by toot

29 minutes ago, BT_11vRS said:

@ColinDhow did you get around the insurance? All the dealings I've ever had with any insurance company, they jump at the chance to up your premiums!

I use Chris knot insurance. Because the throttle thingy is not a power/handling change, it’s akin to a visual change; my take on it, thus no premium charge. Or I’m paying enough already they took a hit for me… 

30 minutes ago, toot said:

@BT_11vRSIt would have made no difference if your mate had a Superchips plug, switchable maps, or any other device in the OBD and they killed someone or maimed them and then unplugged it. 

 

There are insurers that do not load your premium if you have remaps, tuning boxes, pedal boxes or even modifications.

There are others that will not touch you with a barge pole.

 

There will be someone along shortly from a forum sponsor saying to contact them.

In the Insurance section on here you will see companies, and threads on insuring. 

Appreciate the heads up, thanks

At tuning box is still possible. Also helpful to remove it before garage etc.

Many moons ago, apr did a selectable map, one was valet mode. Killed boost and capped at 4k. The garage were adamant there was a problem with the car and I should leave it with them to investigate. 
 

be nice if we could do similar, handing over keys to car park folks… while not a 250gto, ferris Bueller, springs to mind frequently.

I have a 245 VRs challenge edition. It’s a nice car but honestly if I was buying again I would probably poney up the extra cash for an RS4 or an S4 anyway.

 

The skoda is grand but with it being a big car even with a remap it’s a bit pedestrian.

8 hours ago, toot said:

.  If you have a DSG then servicing every 40,000 miles or some first at 80,000.

 

 

Wish there Mr toot! Did you just drop a magic bit of info that the 80k service is just the first one? Then 40k after that? Shirley we would have heard of that one before now?

A 7 speed wet clutch DQ381 DSG as might be fitted to newer 2.0 TDI's or TSI's FWD or AWD have a Service Schedule of 80,000 miles then again at 80,000.

(If you think you could actually leave them that long, as in car maybe ready for the scrap yard on a low annual mileage car and the DSG never got to a second service.)

Edited 3 April, 20233 yr by toot

Not seen them listed like that. Can we assume that the 382 is a variant of 381? So why are they different schedules? Like you suggest, just don't leave it that long. Considering how sensitive the 250 is to it's 40k service, just call them all 40k. But then you get the other man's going with differences again. I'm sure Audi did the 250 at 38k. 

The DL382 is the revised version of the DL501.

 

Audi's 38,000 miles S-tronic service intervals is probably Audi being one up on VW / Skoda / Seat.

I think it was for the USA first and foremost but maybe not.  (i will stick with that though.)

 

 

Edited 3 April, 20233 yr by toot

What we're the warranty/service options on the mk3? I'm guessing at 80k, there's unlikely to be a stamp for the gearbox service unless servicing has been kept upto date at a main dealers?

The records are online. No service book for stamps.

You need to be checking for proof of what done when. 

 

Manufacturers Warranty is 3 years unless before first registration the option of 4 years or 5 years was bought.

 

3 minutes ago, toot said:

The records are online. No service book for stamps.

You need to be checking for proof of what done when. 

 

Manufacturers Warranty is 3 years unless before first registration the option of 4 years or 5 years was bought.

 

Fair enough, what isn't online these days!

Thanks

@toot do you know what the double asterisk is on the dq400? Asking for a friend.

@MarkyG82 'Fitted to hybrid models, only Electric Vehicle qualified technicians should work on them'.