Hi all

I ran a petrol Mk3 Octavia vRS for four years (2016-2020) and 35k miles and enjoyed it a LOT. Then a Karoq from Covid to 2023. Currently driving an Audi A4 Avant, 2 litre, 187 bhp, which is a great car in many respects but it's time to start thinking of changing.

The Octavia vRS is on my long list. I'd be looking at used, from 2023/4 onwards, up to around 35k miles on the clock.

I remember early on, there were many posts about the Mk 4 suffering from electrical/infotainment gliches and useability issues. I know there's been a few changes since the Mk4 was launched (Mk4.5?), including some changes to the infotainment system, apart from headlamps/frontal area and other cosmetic tweaks.

Purely relating to the vRS, both Mk 4 and Mk4.5, what's the current view of it out there in Briskoda land? And it seems a reversing camera is a rare thing. Anyone had one retrofitted?

Cheers everyone.

14 hours ago, FlyingGecko said:

Hi all

I ran a petrol Mk3 Octavia vRS for four years (2016-2020) and 35k miles and enjoyed it a LOT. Then a Karoq from Covid to 2023. Currently driving an Audi A4 Avant, 2 litre, 187 bhp, which is a great car in many respects but it's time to start thinking of changing.

The Octavia vRS is on my long list. I'd be looking at used, from 2023/4 onwards, up to around 35k miles on the clock.

I remember early on, there were many posts about the Mk 4 suffering from electrical/infotainment gliches and useability issues. I know there's been a few changes since the Mk4 was launched (Mk4.5?), including some changes to the infotainment system, apart from headlamps/frontal area and other cosmetic tweaks.

Purely relating to the vRS, both Mk 4 and Mk4.5, what's the current view of it out there in Briskoda land? And it seems a reversing camera is a rare thing. Anyone had one retrofitted?

Cheers everyone.

I just bought a brand new base spec 4.5 and it has a reversing camera.

Edited 24 April24 Apr by davegr
clarify age of car

Not vRS specific but provided an early-ish mk4 has had the updates then it will be fine - ok, as well as any modern with all the tech in them (infotainment gremlins are not unique tonŠkoda/VAG). After three weeks of ownership I very nearly rejected my late 2020 car, now, after 70k miles, I’m thinking I’ll keep it longer than I would normally.

As for reversing cameras, East Yorkshire Retrofits have a good reputation and use genuine VAG components (note, I have no association with them, just read a lot about them in these forums).

Edited 24 April24 Apr by SteveTheElder

Mk4.5 vRS has a new infotainment unit and I've had absolutely no issues with it, none of the crashing and other issues assicated with the Mk4 (I suffered the same issues with my 2020 Cupra Ateca). Reversing camera also standard on the base vRS.

If infotainment and reversing camera are two of your primary concerns then getting the Mk4.5 alleviates both.

2 minutes ago, Graeme1978 said:

Mk4.5 vRS has a new infotainment unit and I've had absolutely no issues with it, none of the crashing and other issues assicated with the Mk4 (I suffered the same issues with my 2020 Cupra Ateca). Reversing camera also standard on the base vRS.

If infotainment and reversing camera are two of your primary concerns then getting the Mk4.5 alleviates both.

I’ve had one glitch with the 4.5 infotainment. One time only, CarPlay would not accept any screen input at all.

Thanks chaps

Strangely, the current configurator says a reversing camera is an option on SE Technology and SE L trims, part of an options package at £710. You'd think a "Technology" trim would have it. Only Sportline and vRS is it shown as standard. 🤔

The Audi scroll/clickwheel system is excellent, but the non-touch screen is low-tech and Android Auto is clunky to the point of unusable. I could upgrade it to a touchscreen but that's expensive. Pity they dropped the scroll system after 2021.

I used a company in Knutsford to fit a camera on the Audi, similar setup as EY retrofits probably. But i'd prefer not to have ther hassle or expense.You're right about gremlins too.

I like the Audi, but there's a big gap in power/performance figures for both their A3 and A4 since around 2023, nothing currently around 200 bhp in the A3 or 250 in the A4, until you get to their S3 and S4 (and RS3 and RS4!). The vRS Octy fits right in that gap.

So for me an early Mk4.5 seems to be my best option if/when I change. Budget is always a constraint!

I had a late 2022 Mk4 VRS with a reversing camera as an extra.

Apart from a period of around a month early on when the infotainment system kept restarting I had no issues with it at all.

Changed to 4.5 VRS last year & it's an all round better car, a bit more refined & better equipped (reversing camera, blind spot recognition standard).

If you've got the budget definitely go for the 4.5

I don't really want to put a fly in the ointment, but just be aware that if you buy a new vRS you will be paying £625 pa VED for the next few years as a new vRS has a PIID value of over £40000.

And that will be £625 & increase by an estimated £20 pa each year from years 2-6.

If you don't want that and consider an EV in lieu, then be aware that this scumbag government will charge you £200 pa VED, plus the £20 increase from years 2-6, plus another ~£300 pa EV mileage tax for 10k miles.

49 minutes ago, TheWanderer said:

I don't really want to put a fly in the ointment, but just be aware that if you buy a new vRS you will be paying £625 pa VED for the next few years as a new vRS has a PIID value of over £40000.

And that will be £625 & increase by an estimated £20 pa each year from years 2-6.

If you don't want that and consider an EV in lieu, then be aware that this scumbag government will charge you £200 pa VED, plus the £20 increase from years 2-6, plus another ~£300 pa EV mileage tax for 10k miles.

I got a very good price on mine so that reduces the sting of the “luxury” car tax a bit. If you’re not too fussy about the colour and don’t need a specific extra feature, you can find them for £7-£8k off the list price. The only catch was that I had to drive quite a bit to collect mine because I needed it quickly, otherwise it could have been delivered.

Edited 25 April25 Apr by davegr

57 minutes ago, TheWanderer said:

I don't really want to put a fly in the ointment, but just be aware that if you buy a new vRS you will be paying £625 pa VED for the next few years as a new vRS has a PIID value of over £40000.

And that will be £625 & increase by an estimated £20 pa each year from years 2-6.

If you don't want that and consider an EV in lieu, then be aware that this scumbag government will charge you £200 pa VED, plus the £20 increase from years 2-6, plus another ~£300 pa EV mileage tax for 10k miles.

Is the estimated £20 increase annually?

Yes that's the estimated annual increase. So it gets very expensive very quickly.

At the rate that the wicked witch has stated, it will soon make owning & driving a car a luxury that many can't afford.

If you can find a nearly new 4.5 hatch you should be able to avoid the extortionate premium car tax (depending on spec).

My July 2025 hatch came in at just under 40K, glad I bought it when I did.

29 minutes ago, Wyatt64 said:

If you can find a nearly new 4.5 hatch you should be able to avoid the extortionate premium car tax (depending on spec).

My July 2025 hatch came in at just under 40K, glad I bought it when I did.

If only my dog would have approved 🤣

You might be in for a nasty surprise when your VED is due.

11 hours ago, TheWanderer said:

You might be in for a nasty surprise when your VED is due.

List price (not dealer price) was under 40K given the spec so I'm OK.

The estate was over in standard form.

On 26/04/2026 at 05:13, davegr said:

I got a very good price on mine so that reduces the sting of the “luxury” car tax a bit. If you’re not too fussy about the colour and don’t need a specific extra feature, you can find them for £7-£8k off the list price. The only catch was that I had to drive quite a bit to collect mine because I needed it quickly, otherwise it could have been delivered.

Don’t see how that works as the tax is related to the list price not what you pay.

To the OP you’d be silly to not go for a 4.5. Not only is the infotainment vastly superior the extra 20hp really gives the car a top end zing the 4 doesn’t have. It produces more hp from 4300rpm and is quite noticeable in back to back driving. Then the front end styling is different which I prefer (subjective) and little touches like the brushed door handles, higher output and cooled phone charger pad, higher output usb c ports etc..

9 minutes ago, whippersnapper said:

Don’t see how that works as the tax is related to the list price not what you pay.

Because even with the extra tax I’m still significantly under the list price?