New user - looking for Octavia VRS TSi

Hi, I've just found and joined the forum as I'm looking at potentially getting a used Octavia VRS (petrol), so would appreciate any hints/advice as to which model to go for.

Budget is fairly flexible - so looking between £15k to just over £20k.

I've always driven manual cars, and have had a few reasonably quick ones, but a couple of friends have said the DSG box is very good, so am considering this option and will be visiting a local Skoda dealer for a test drive in a DSG equipped Octavia to see how I get on with it, although this won't be a VRS as they don't have one at the moment.

Having done some research, I'd appreciate thoughts on the following, which would help pin down exactly which variant to go for:

220PS or 245PS engine?

Whichever, I'd probably like to get a remap to around 300BHP, so was wondering if there's an appreciable difference in the starting point.

DSG - 6 or 7 speed .... or manual?

I've read the 6 speed is slightly quicker changing gears, but would I even notice ... or would you recommend manual over DSG?

Any thoughts, comments, or other advice about what to look out for would be very much appreciated!

Thanks.