MkI Octavia vRS was interesting so I bought one.180 bhp not bad back then.

Fabia vRS,interesting concept,bought one for the wife.Now every manufacturer is doing it and bettering it.

MkII Octavia vRS,petrol and diesel.They look very nice BUT,it struck me that the rest of the VW/Audi group use the 2.0T petrol and the diesel 170 in some pretty bog standard rep mobiles.Basic Passats,Jettas,A3's

I don't want to be laughed at.I liked the idea that there was some repect.Think at the very least the petrol should have gone the way of the Seat and the Cupra.230+ as standard.(and yes,I know you can sort it post purchase.It's not the point though):(

But so was the 1.8T :confused: , that was also dropped into the same boring rep mobiles from Audi for example. My colleague has a 1999 A4 in virtual poverty spec but with the 1.8T lump

I can't see that anything has changed much, other than keeping with the ;

VW=Prestige

Skoda = Value (within the VAG branding)

SEAT = Sporty

I do agree that they should have made the Mk2 a bit more special by learning from the mk1, it would have saved me some cash on tweak's.

But so was the 1.8T :confused: ,

Yes,but normally with only 150 bhp (Golf GTI's and A4's).In fact my A4 'Quattro sport only had 163bhp from the 1.8T.

That was the great thing,Skoda were pumping out 30 bhp more than a golf gti and others in the VAG group.

That was the great thing.Not anymore though.Would have been nice to have something over Mk V Golf GTI like last time around

MkI Octavia vRS was interesting so I bought one.180 bhp not bad back then.

Fabia vRS' date='interesting concept,bought one for the wife.Now every manufacturer is doing it and bettering it.

MkII Octavia vRS,petrol and diesel.They look very nice BUT,it struck me that the rest of the VW/Audi group use the 2.0T petrol and the diesel 170 in some pretty bog standard rep mobiles.Basic Passats,Jettas,A3's

I don't want to be laughed at.I liked the idea that there was some repect.Think at the very least the petrol should have gone the way of the Seat and the Cupra.230+ as standard.(and yes,I know you can sort it post purchase.It's not the point though):([/quote']

180 bhp is still good, but VW (as well every other manufacturer) use as many of the engines (as well as other parts) in as many various cars it helps keep down cost. Don't worry about the 170bhp tdi, as i've heard from a few people it's not as good as the 140.

Fabia is now 6 years old, of couse new rivals have come and bettered it, it's the nature of the beast.

The Cupra is a different kettle of fish, it had the better version of the 1.8t lump too, the Golf GTi never had it (the Golf gti did not have the 180 version until the anniversary version). I suppose it's because that Seat have the groups sporty image, also that the higher power 2.0l tfsi engine is an Audi development mean thats where it's staying.

The MkV Golf Gti is noly getting the 230bhp tfsi engine in very limited numbers, so don't worry about it. I'm not.

If you're judging the cars by power alone then it's not going to stack up well. Having said that, the Golf GTi mark V has 197bhp where as the Skoda Octavia vRS mark II has 200bhp. The acceleration times are officially 0.1 second difference but the Octavia has a top speed of 149mph against the Golf's 146mph.

They are small and mostly immeasurable differences but as a whole package I still prefer the Octavia over the Golf GTi and the Ford Focus ST for my purposes.

Yes' date='but normally with only 150 bhp (Golf GTI's and A4's).In fact my A4 'Quattro sport only had 163bhp from the 1.8T.

That was the great thing,Skoda were pumping out 30 bhp more than a golf gti and others in the VAG group.

That was the great thing.Not anymore though.Would have been nice to have something over Mk V Golf GTI like last time around[/quote']

Now I see where your coming from, and do agree in many ways

MkI Octavia vRS was interesting so I bought one.180 bhp not bad back then.

Fabia vRS' date='interesting concept,bought one for the wife.Now every manufacturer is doing it and bettering it.

MkII Octavia vRS,petrol and diesel.They look very nice BUT,it struck me that the rest of the VW/Audi group use the 2.0T petrol and the diesel 170 in some pretty bog standard rep mobiles.Basic Passats,Jettas,A3's

I don't want to be laughed at.I liked the idea that there was some repect.Think at the very least the petrol should have gone the way of the Seat and the Cupra.230+ as standard.(and yes,I know you can sort it post purchase.It's not the point though):([/quote']

So whats your point?

if you dont want to be laughed at, pay the extra 5k and get a Golf GTI like every other badge-snob!

Skoda is stealing market share from the VW brand, so they have to try to keep alignment.. hence why the vRS will never be available with DSG

Also the Leon Cupra had 180bhp before the original Octy vRS was even released.

Ive also yet to see a manufacturer bring out a decent rival to the Fabia vRS.. read any group test.. the fabia is still winning them.. closest rival so far is a Fiat!

Exactly what do you expect from a vRS? a rally car for the road?

So whats your point?

?

The whole point was Skoda offered a better/more powerful car than most of the other hot hatches at the time.Bought skoda to my attention too.

I love the Mk II vRS but it seems to be a badge sticking exercise now.The man who pulls up next to you in his beige 2.0t passat won't be looking at the bespoilered vRS next to him thinking wow thats fast.He will think my car is just as quick as Skodas finest.

Not trying to be funny about it.The Mk I and the Fab vRS made big impacts.I think Skoda are just using the vRS badge on cars that aren't ahead of the competitions normal cars.

The whole point was Skoda offered a better/more powerful car than most of the other hot hatches at the time.Bought skoda to my attention too.

I love the Mk II vRS but it seems to be a badge sticking exercise now.The man who pulls up next to you in his beige 2.0t passat won't be looking at the bespoilered vRS next to him thinking wow thats fast.He will think my car is just as quick as Skodas finest.

Not trying to be funny about it.The Mk I and the Fab vRS made big impacts.I think Skoda are just using the vRS badge on cars that aren't ahead of the competitions normal cars.

:iagree:

And with that they are keeping the brand below VW (which, it has to be from their point of view)

But to the same effect, every manufacturer are guilty of the same marketing exercise... M-sport, GTI, GT, SRI, ST, vRS. etc etc... they are just trim levels.

I dont agree that skoda were offering a more powerful car.. VW had the v6 4motion, that had more power and half a dozen GTI's with varying specs, the Leon Cupra's, the A3, Astra Turbo/GSI, Focus RS.. Everyone had their product in one way or another...

Recent years has seen the return of the hot-hatch/performance car.. hence its now a more important sector.. VW (after being slated that the mk4 gti was ****e) lost sales to the vRS.. its all about protecting themselves.. they want people to buy the Golf over the vRS as its a better car (or so they want you to belive)

Who knows... the vRS might get a power-hike in later life, like the leon did. altho it would be across the whole TFSI board too

I do agree where your coming from tho.. we would all like a 260bhp vRS with the engine from the new S3, but somehow doubt it will happen

But from your point of view, power seems to be the only factor. if thats the case, buy the cupra next year.. but youll loose out on build quality, and extra space.

just to ad the A4 s-line was avialable with a 190bhp 1.8T unit

but yeah i know the vRS used to lead with power but no longer the case, dont think it ever will again either :(

I always thought the VRS was about a blend of perky performance - it's hardly slow - with a decent price and more practicality than most hot hatches. In that sense it still seems to be doing what it's supposed to.