Hi,

I'm new to the site, so hopefully I'm putting this it the best place.

I'm looking at the vRS estate - need performance while carrying the family and dog around! I have a couple of queries I'd be grateful for help with:

1. How are you finding the seats in the vRS, specifically the "white" fabric type centre sections? Looks like it will scag easily and look tatty quite quickley. I looked at and drove a 2 year old vRS hatch and the seats already looked grubby and picky!

2. I've read the stuff on the 16" and 17" issue on the estate - so assuming I can't have the 17" what am I missing out on? Handling better? Ride worse? Estate in the showroom had 16".

3. What's the typical servicing costs for 10k, 20k and 30k?

thanks,

Marc.

Hi Marc, some answers for you

1. How are you finding the seats in the vRS, specifically the "white" fabric type centre sections? Looks like it will scag easily and look tatty quite quickley. I looked at and drove a 2 year old vRS hatch and the seats already looked grubby and picky!

After 18 months of use mine still look ok, well except for the drivers seat and thats because I tried to clean a small but major stain and made it worse. its all in what you use to keep the interior clean, I use 1001 carpet cleaner on the carpet and the white part of the seats, and use autoglym leather care on the rest.

2. I've read the stuff on the 16" and 17" issue on the estate - so assuming I can't have the 17" what am I missing out on? Handling better? Ride worse? Estate in the showroom had 16".

16" standard on the estate, I expect the ride to be slightly softer.

3. What's the typical servicing costs for 10k, 20k and 30k?

thanks,

If you go for variable servicing then service interval is likely to be 20,40,60k etc depending on how driven at arount

Hi Marc,

Welcome to Briskoda.net

I have had my vRS hatch for about 1 year now and the seats still look like new, I just make sure that I drive in clean clothes. The only dirt I had was when the dog jumped into the front seat in an attempt to steel the car; fortunately he didn't get too far! I used some Halfords carpet shampoo to get them clean are they came up great.

This leads me to the real problem.... the carpets. They may look cool but they sure are a bitch to keep clean. I regularly clean mine as the get dirty after a couple of weeks. I think it is because they show up dirt so easily. I am of course talking about the front carpets, as in the back it's only the mats that get dirty generally.

I wouldn't write off the hatch though as it is also a very versatile car. I regularly take the dog and kids in it without fuss. Recently I have carried a fridge/freezer in the rear with the seats down.

With regards to the 17'' wheels, they probably make no difference to handling or ride, but in my opinion they make the car look much better (personal thing). I haven't seen the vRS estate yet but did see an imported vRS hatch with 16'' wheels.

With regard to servicing costs, I think all vRS's are on the variable servicing schedule with can be up to 20K. I have done 14k in mine and still waiting for the computer to let me know when it is due for it's first one. Maybe someone else can help you with that one.

Good look with you purchase, make sure you use other peoples experiences to get a deal. I know showroom4cars.co.uk are doing the estate for 1k off list.

Mike

Well, saw my first RS estate this morning, in the showroom.....

First opinons are it looks very "chic" in black, black and white leather, but those wheels stand out! Don't understand it as mine (with tons more ground clearance) does not look as underwheeled on 16's. If they had to put 16's then they should have gone for a different design. Swish tho.

Secondly, at

Hi Marc,

Welcome to Briskoda!:wave:

I've had my RS since September 02 and done approx. 8k miles. I treated the white seat bits, door inserts and the carpet with Simonez Teflon and so far so good. :thumb:

Also we've a 2 year old nipper and no stains so far and because of the Teflon any marks come out easily.

I'd imagine with the 16'' wheels you may get a slightly softer ride due to the higher tyre profile. But handling should be the same. The only down side is look; those wheels definately look to small. The 4x4 alloys do a much better job of feeling the arches. I think it's due to the design pattern.

I know what Mike is saying about the carpet in the footwells. I've used the delivery mat protectors (white paper sheets) under the proper mats and made sure they covered up the exposed grey/white carpet. No dirt on the carpet! Just change the "paper sheets" when required. Sorted!

As for servicing I have no idea. This is my second Octavia and the previous one I got 3 years free servicing so I'm no the wiser. Still undecided whether to keep to the 10k intervals or change to variable.

We've had various threads here on this; check them out using the search engine.

Seeing as our last Octavia was an estate moving to a hatch was a concern. But I tell you it's huge! You only really loose out on maximum depth due to the hatch. The braces are a bit of a pain with big items like a fridge/freezer as you have to put it at an angle (and probably some padding to stop dents/scratches etc). But that's about it.

If you can get a test drive without the salesman have a good go over the car. That's what we did. We've bought both our Octavias from Sherlodge in Kent and they just give you the keys and let you "play". Why can't all garages be like that......

Anyway hope some of this helps. Enjoy!

Adrian.

We opted for an Estate so that we can take our dog (American Staffie) with us, but secured in a cage. A 31"L x 21

Service costs? I can help out here:

10k -

Denis, would a roofrack hold the weight of the cage? Just a thought as you could then give your lovely pooch a bit more room to breathe.

:mrgreen:

My RS is over 12 months old now, so i suppose its due its 1st service?

{6200 miles only}

Ive been quoted

My RS is over 12 months old now, so i suppose its due its 1st service?

{6200 miles only}

Ive been quoted

I tend to agree with Ian here. I like the vRS estate, but if I were buying an estate car, I'd definately go for the 4X4 rather than the vRS. You miss out on some leather, but you can easily chip it if you want more oomph, I'm certain it'd be easier to clean and you get more choice of colours.

If you do opt for the vRS, get the Supagard treatment (or whatever alternative your dealer offers). It'll really help keep the interior clean!

Steve

You should check your Service Schedule to see what your Dealer entered in the Next Service section (directly under Delivery Inspection). That should tell you what type of service interval you are on. Also look at the sticker on the right hand edge of the dashboard which should show the same details.

I agree about 4x4 Estate rather than vRS Estate, but I would like that rear spoiler... 8)

My service book says 10k or 12 months?

Steve

Get to the dealer asap and say you thought the car was on variable servicing but now see from your Service Schedule that it apparently isn't. I say that because meeting the servicing requirements is a condition of the warranty. Assuming that you haven't had any indication on the instrument display that a service is due, your car should be set for variable service intervals. If that is so, the Service Schedule has been filled in incorrectly. That has happened to other members.

Happened to me on the day I picked my car up. The dealer wrote 10k on the book until I queried it, then he said it was variable. I checked the sticker and that confirmed the long servicing schedule. Denis is right about the warranty so I would check your logbook sticker and go off that. It seems some dealers are confused by the idea of variable servicing.

Mike

Sorry if this seems dim but what logbook sticker?

On the first page inside the service shedule{vehicle data} i have a load of 3 digit numbers/letters.In the bottom left corner i have QG1,does this refer

to variable service intervals?

cheers

Steve

Steve

QG1 is indeed the code for variable servicing , but this doesnt mean your car is on it , as the dealer could have 'switched' it back onto fixed services whilst doing the PDI , if this is their policy. Best go in and find out from them which schedule youre on.

Get the vRS estate.

So what if it has smaller wheels, put bigger ones on it (yes I have seen the Skoda memo and I think it is pure bull****)

Don't listen to the riset of the site, they are all just jealous puffs.

Listen to me, I am the sane one...

:lol: sane, you?

I'd have to agree with my partner in crime and say get the RS.

:mrgreen:

Steve

I think SilveRS means the sticker on the RHS of the dashboard which should have the same info on it as the Next Service box in the Service Schedule. It is possible, as in his case, for the sticker to be right but the Service Schedule to be wrong. If there is any confusion, you will have to get your dealer to connect up a VAG 1551/2 to your car to interrogate what service interval it has been set for.

Phoned the dealer{s} today and explained what was writen{10,000miles}

and what the sticker in the book/boot says ,{QG1} and they both agreed it

must be set to Variable.

HL Austin thought that 20,000 miles / two years was too long though?

They also said

Steve,

Just to clear up any confusion I was indeed referring to the first page inside the service schedule. Quote "{vehicle data} load of 3 digit numbers/letters." QG1 does refer to variable service intervals as you mentioned. I was one of those sad folk who actually took the time to read the manual when I first got my car. I even got my name and address on the security register.

I do remember the dealer saying all new (2002) vRS's were set to variable servicing with the high-grade synthetic oil. This was after I questioned the service schedule which they wrote 10k in the next due box.

It would seem therefore highly likely your car will have this high-grade synthetic oil, platinum spark plugs etc, so I would not worry until your computer tells you to get a service. I have now done 15k and the computer still says zip. I did speak to Claybank about a month ago who told me to wait until the computer says service, which could be as much as 20k.

I hope this clears up any confusion.

Mike