Who here knows the difference between the vRS and most other models (apart from engine/ exhaust/ interior). I am specifically refering to the TDI but I assume a TDI is not much different to a 1.6?

I think these may be the main differences:

Springs/ Suspension

Steering Rack?

Brakes

Wheels

Lights?

Spoiler?

Does anyone actually know?

Thanks all.

I know for sure that the Octy II vRS has a stiffened body shell.

I am talking about the mk1 vRS and Octavia.

I know and I was pointing out that I know the MKII has been and therefore there is a chance the MK1 might be.

Oh I see. Thanks Stu. Any other differences that you know of?

Octavia VRS has braces behind the rear seats. These act to stiffen the chassis and make it difficult to lay larger things in the boot with the seats down

The VRS Estate doesnt have these braces so Skoda engineers decided to fit smaller wheels because they thought the larger ones fitted to the hatch wouldnt be suitable without them (so the story goes).

The VRS will have ASR and ESP was an option, an early TDI may not have either of these.

All VRS are MK1b Octavias that have the revised clear lenses on the front lights and the tweaked rear light clusters. These are, however, the same as an Elegance/TDi of the same age.

Xenon headlamps were an option and can be spotted on a VRS by the headlamp washers (though on an Elegance you got the washers as standard without the xenons)

VRS suspension is lower and stiffer than the other models. This means both the springs and the dampers are different.

The brakes are larger and vented all round on the VRS. An early 1.6/TDi may have drum brakes at the rear.

No idea about the steering rack though.

Thanks Phil.

Are the drum brakes any worse than discs at the rear?

Thanks Phil.

Are the drum brakes any worse than discs at the rear?

Depends what you mean by "worse". Many old cars used drum brakes and discs at the rear have only become common in recent years. They're not as efficient as discs and the drums will *probably* weigh more too.

For hard road driving or track use, drums would overheat very quickly as there is no direct cooling on the braking surfaces (inside the drum). For trundling round town you probably wouldnt notice the difference.

Having said that, my Astra SRi had discs front and rear and I really noticed the difference when I drove a courtesy SXi with the same discs at the front but drums at the rear - the car felt like th efront brakes were working harded and it was less balanced under heavy braking.

Its probably not cost effective to change to rear discs, before you ask

May be worth reading this too: http://www.briskoda.net/forums/octavia/introduction-octavia/11120/

on the brakes I can confir that it does make a differnce on the octi's. I drive both a vrs and a TDI and the vrs breaks are a lot keener. the TDI's need quite a lot more shuving to work. having said that the TDI ones are fine you just have to rembner when jumping from one to the other :-)

diff 1) Octy vRS - beep beep zip bang!!!!

Anyway I thought the Xenons are standard on the vRS along. The cruise control is on the indicator stalk instead of the steering wheel. No multi function display.

Yea stiffened suspension, all four discs, low profile tyres, Headlamp washers, Rain sensors, and a lowered front bumper.

cruise, rain sensors, xenons etc were options on the vRS not std

I would guess that the gearbox is specific to the RS model as well. (but I don't know that for sure)

The gearbox on the VRS is the same as the non-vrs FWD 1.8T Elegance.

Xenons were an option.

The VRS does have the MFD in the UK.

Well the vRS here is fully loaded. I think all options available in UK are standard in India. Except the 17" wheels unfortunately. We have the 16" wheels, but that must be due to the road conditions.....the 16" one are hard to maintain as it is....folks keep bursting their tyres in potholes....

UK Octy Elegance MK I TDI 110/130 (I don't know about 90) get disc brakes at the rear

will a standard full vrs suspension kit fit my tdi 110bhp??

on the brakes I can confir that it does make a differnce on the octi's. I drive both a vrs and a TDI and the vrs breaks are a lot keener. the TDI's need quite a lot more shuving to work. having said that the TDI ones are fine you just have to rembner when jumping from one to the other :-)

You are aware that the vRS has significantly larger front discs than a TDi 90 or 110 does?

Frankly, with the way the dynamic weight distribution under heavy braking goes, rear discs are mostly to make tuning a 4-channel ABS system easier.

will a standard full vrs suspension kit fit my tdi 110bhp??

It'll fit, but I suspect the spring rates and possibly the dampers will be all wrong for a car with a heavier nose so handling may become interesting....

Chris