hullo there,

hopefully gonna be starting a new job in a few months time and with the increase in money will come new wheels, tempted by Octy vRS ( who wouldnt be )_and have found one at a local VAG dealer for 9.5k its an 03 plate hatch in silver with 28k on the clock, will see if i can find a link.

First off im under no illusion that the car will still be there when i get the cash together, however with two Skoda dealers within pretty easy reach i would be well equiped to source another. But before i get too sold on the idea i want to know a couple of things

How reliable is the vRS ( im coming from a 416 Rover so i suppose owt would be an improvement ), are they high maintenance regards timing belts, head gaskets, oil changes ( and also type of oil ), do they like super unleaded? Will i be able to rack the miles on with confidence and with that in mind is the mpg fairly decent?

Sorry to go hell for leather in my 2nd post, but im sure you folks will be able to offer some tips, cheers for yer time

RiK:)

How reliable is the vRS ( im coming from a 416 Rover so i suppose owt would be an improvement ),

Well my old one, never had anything major go wrong. Nothing that wasnt fixed under warranty.

are they high maintenance regards timing belts, head gaskets, oil changes ( and also type of oil ), do they like super unleaded? Will i be able to rack the miles on with confidence and with that in mind is the mpg fairly decent?

Timing belt is every 4 years or 60K, servicing if the car is on variable servicing (uses special oil) is approx every 20k or 2 years, if on fixed its every 10k or 12 months. Super unleaded helps performance and is recommended, however I just used normal 95ron in mine without any ill effects. MPG is anywhere between mid 20s and high 30s depending on the way you drive.

Welcome

You need not to worry. I bought mine (51 reg) with 34K on the clock 3 years ago. Today the clock just passed the 129K mark. No breakdowns, no other maintenance than servicing, all of which are reasonably priced. Belt needs replacing every 70-80K miles. Normal unleaded works fine, but engine runs nicer on Optimax (personal pref). Averaging 38 mpg on daily 66 mile commute door to door.

Anything else?

coolio, sounding more promising by the minute...

it was between that and a focus st 170 ( 8.5k 44k on the clock )

anywhere in the thirties is cool for mpg, im getting about 35 outta the rover ( head gasket went and no matter how lightly i feather the throttle thats as much as it'll do ).

Whats the tyres like? will i see 12-14k out of a set? i know it depends on brand, for a decent set how much per corner?

One of the best bits, performance aside, would be getting climate control, take it its pretty effective?

i didn't even have to win over the other half, she was all ' oooh i quite like that, what is it? me ' oh, its, eh, a normal hatchback dear... a skoda....very VERY sensible' :D

TBH, I have no idea how many miles I get out of the tyres. It is all depending on your driving style and what brand/type you go for. As for the climate control, I use it on one setting and thats it, no need to change it for the year

I don't seem to loose any MPG when using the climate on Auto. I've tried it on all the settings and it seems to return pretty much the same all the time. I've only had mine six months but so far so good.

I've been experimenting with all different types of petrol. Mine has been run on Sainsbury's super for a couple of weeks and it was really happy on that. I filled up with Esso 95 ron on Sunday and there is a noticeable drop in 'oomph'. The only one I haven't tried so far is Tesco 99 ron, we don't have one near us in Scarborough.

Hi, I would choose the vrs 170 bhp tdi esecially if your concerned about mpg and reliability.

John

I picked up my Octy vRS in Feb with 33K on the clock, just passed the 55K mark and not a single problem.

I've been commuting from Oxfordshire to London for most of that time and it's just eaten the motorway miles effortlessly.

I've always run it on 'super' of one flavour or another (supermarket stuff, Optimax, BP Ultimate) because that's what is recommended on the inside of the filler cap. My Skoda dealer handed the keys over to me with the fuel light on and I've never put 95 in it, so I can't comment on how it would run otherwise.

Climate control is a breeze set it at 20C on auto in Feb and never had to change it, when it's cold it clears the windows really fast and in the summer it's blissfully cool.

My only regret is that I didn't buy one sooner.

Hi' date=' I would choose the vrs 170 bhp tdi esecially if your concerned about mpg and reliability.

John[/quote']

Don't think he is looking new.

hullo there' date='

hopefully gonna be starting a new job in a few months time and with the increase in money will come new wheels, tempted by Octy vRS ( who wouldnt be )_and have found one at a local VAG dealer for 9.5k its an 03 plate hatch in silver with 28k on the clock, will see if i can find a link.

First off im under no illusion that the car will still be there when i get the cash together, however with two Skoda dealers within pretty easy reach i would be well equiped to source another. But before i get too sold on the idea i want to know a couple of things

How reliable is the vRS ( im coming from a 416 Rover so i suppose owt would be an improvement ), are they high maintenance regards timing belts, head gaskets, oil changes ( and also type of oil ), do they like super unleaded? Will i be able to rack the miles on with confidence and with that in mind is the mpg fairly decent?

Sorry to go hell for leather in my 2nd post, but im sure you folks will be able to offer some tips, cheers for yer time

RiK:)[/quote']

There is always this one for sale. http://www.briskoda.net/forums/items-sale/mk1-octi-vrs-2003-sale/61841:tempted:

On a long run I can push mine up to over 40 mpg.

Still on the original tyres after 2 years and 24000 miles.

Climate is great :D

cheers for all the help folks, just being uber cautious cause the Rover was a rush buy when i was going to be car-less and my dad bought a Laguna II in a rush a few years back and both have been lemons.

From what i can see tho the Octy won't give me to much gyp, not really too worried about the fuel ( if the job comes thru ) forty mile a day commute so 35 ( ish ) would be awesome ( i will not be rushing to work )

Gonna try and get the one at the VAG dealer out for a test soon.

No problem - but the phrase "slippery slope" comes to mind :eek::eek::eek:

On a long run I can push mine up to over 40 mpg.

Still on the original tyres after 2 years and 24000 miles.

Climate is great :D

Re the tyres, I bought my vRS new about 20 months ago. Its now got 41k on it. At 18k i had the fronts swapped to the back and the new tyres on the front (due to a rear puncture). When I got to the secnd servive at 36 k, the rears were about worn out, so again, i had the fronts moved to the rear and new on the front.

Re running costs, other than petrol tax and insurance, over the 20 months I've spent

I cant fault my vRS, i've had it from 1200 miles 3 years ago and it now has 37K on the clock. I did have a problem with 1st gear selection which was sorted by the dealer and its been faultless since.

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To be totally honest, if i wasnt having to have a company car it wouldnt be for sale.