Big thanks to Mark in Phoenix Motors Prussia St for the overnight test drive of his vRS Diesel .

So what did I expect - wasn't sure to be honest as theres so much mixed comments floating about, but I was very impressed. Theres no doubt it seems to be quicker than the petrol from the kick up the ar$e ya get, but was it ?

After driving it about for a while I met up with a friend who I had mentioned to that I was getting it. He has a Petrol version.

Off the line I was very impressed with the amount of traction of the diesel with the traction control on, I was really expecting the light to flash like mad with the torque but it was the Petrol which seemed to struggle just a little bit. But once the two get going together there ain't much in it. Once you hit about 80Km/hr the Petrol started to have the legs and pull away.

50-70Km/hr in 3rd & 4th again I found very little in it, maybe the Diesel started to pull maybe 1/2 a car length at the start but that levelled off, but once you needed to change gear beyond 70Km/hr the Petrol had the legs. Maybe it was just me but in 3rd gear at about 50Km/hr I was really expecting it to give a good kick the second the accelerator was pressed, maybe it was me but I thought there was a little lag before the turbo kicked in.

I'm sure someone could rag a lot more out of the car/s but it wasn't the case to give them hardship. It was nice to see how they compared when driven in an everyday manner.

In terms of noise, at idle theres no difference to the Petrol, I'd also say the same for cruising on the motorway. When you press the loud pedal you'll obviously notice it alright.

Handling - Seems the exact same. On roundabout it was very tidy, the weight of the engine didn't seem to want to push it away. The brakes seem to have more bite than my own but then again I've noticed that mine have a little less bite compare to other Petrol vRS models.

Fuel Consumption, in a way I was a little disappointed. My own Petrol averages about 28mpg on backroad with a little city driving. Motorways I'd get about 35-37 ish mpg.

With the diesel I only got 33mpg coming out of town which was about 9 miles of driving...and no I wasn't pushing it. Afterwards I did a good bit of Motorway (to see what it's like on a journey), which on its own averaged about 48 mpg, that was sitting just over 70mph on motorway with cruise on, with the odd squirt of the loud pedal. So combined I got 37mpg over a 170 mile distance. I dunno if it would affect it much but this car only has 800miles on it.

The colour I had was Silver, I must say its very tasty. Subtle but yet very sporty looking. It shows off the cars features very well.

Overall, I was impressed. One thing I found is that it feels like the Diesel wants to be driven quick the whole time, even more so that the Petrol. But saying that I don't think theres a hell of a lot between the two. In a way I was expecting the fuel consumption difference to be more. To me that would be the main justification in buying one, the extra cost versus reduction in fuel bill, well depending on your annual mileage (on the other hand the fuel bill ain't the reason I bought the Pertol )

Thanks again to Mark.

Great review Gaff

Nice one GAFF. I took a 5 min test drive in the Diesel RS and thought it was very much "all or nothing". It would probably benefit me to go for a diesel with the driving I do, but I will wait and see what happens over the next while with the diesel engine - all these reports of DPF lights coming on is a bit of a worry.

Silver is a colour I was very sick of, but I think it is probably the nicest of the RS colours, and it is so easy to keep clean compared to the black.

Good reading Colm,

My local dealers got a new silver TDI RS in as well yesterday. Must get a spin when its PDI'd.

Silver is the best colour!

Gaff,

good review.. I was just thinking that we should set up a little group and a web site ( maybe "testdriveIreland") because you are always in the garage ( LOL ) and me and BPM are in these places WORKING.

I will say the following about the Vrs TDI (now called the power diesel by SKoda) having now passed 15000 miles on mine.

I noticed that anyone who is not used to driving a Diesel ( and no offense to BPM ) tries to drive is like a petrol. The driving technique for the diesel is short shifting as I find that the max torque is between 2k and 3K revs. After 3K revs it does feel like you are accelerating quickly but if you had changed up at 3K, the lift is better.

I tested my car against a new Goft GTI with DSG ( driven by my brother who normally drives a BMW 320 coupe)

0-> 100kmph Golf was ahead by about a car length.

0-> 120Kmph pretty even.. Golf nicked it just

80 -> 120 kmph in 6th Vrs was ahead by about 2 car lengths.

50 -> 120 kmph in 4th looked like a whitewash for th Golf but ended up even as the TDI torgue kicked in

I was dissapointed about the fuel economy for about the first 5k miles, but I recently checked the long term count on the computer and over 93 hours of engine start, it had averaged 47.1 mpg. Given the way I drive I was pleasantly suprised.

I can now average up to 900kms to the tank on long runs.

My biggest complaint is still with DPF. A morning visiting a few places in the city centre, or a bad morning on the M50 will result in the light coming on. The car then idles at 1000-> 1200 rpm until you find 5km of clear road where you let rip and wait for the light to go out.

I will agree that the car feels like it wants to be driven hard all the time. It feels like your trying to walk a great dane in heat at times.

Very informative review lad.

nice to see u got on well with it, i found the samething with it in 3rd but its a nice car! Great review i really want to see one remapped by chippedire or someone, the torque go right up as well as BHP, but its one to think about!

Interesting review indeed Gaff.

i choose my 2.0 tdi 140 bhp elegance because of this dpf and his light coming on in slow motion trafic in the vrs tdi , but i can get 175 bhp from it with a modification in ecu (intend more after waranity period)

nice car the vrs version petrol or diesel , i prefer the white color

the disesel consumption should get normal after aprox first 10kkm

brilliant as allways gaff...im going to be byest:cool: oil burners rock in anyway:thumbup:

pd170...is brilliant

silver... the best colour (no offence blue possie)its nice to but...

when im in the market hopefully soon that 1st choice wud probely have 1 if i could trade furby in:thumbup:

as usual phonix motors come up trumps in my opinion they stand out ahead the rest....and the md gave you his own motor:thumbup:

good review gaff . was tinkn of changn my 2.0tdi for the petrol vrs but after ur review tink ill b going for the vrs tdi . anyone lookn for a good 06 tdi ???LOL

nice car the vrs version petrol or diesel , i prefer the white color

A pity; we can't get the White vRS in UK - Sprint Yellow is a bold alternative though.

With the diesel I only got 33mpg coming out of town which was about 9 miles of driving...and no I wasn't pushing it. Afterwards I did a good bit of Motorway (to see what it's like on a journey), which on its own averaged about 48 mpg, that was sitting just over 70mph on motorway with cruise on, with the odd squirt of the loud pedal. So combined I got 37mpg over a 170 mile distance. I dunno if it would affect it much but this car only has 800miles on it.

My PD140 improved by more than 10% in the first 7000 miles.

I'm sure the PD170 would do the same and driven sensibly would get close to 50mpg

I've been driving my Vrs Tdi steady this week to see what kind of range i can get from a tank of fuel, my journey is 53 miles door to door with all bar 10 miles or so on dual carriageway/motorway. I've been taking it at a steady 65mph and being gentle on the throttle and i'm getting between 50 and 53mpg, the trip is on 505 miles and the range on the computer says i've got another 100 miles left in the tank.

It's quite therapeutic taking it steady on the motorway actually rather than my usual tearing around.

Edited to add that i have finished my weeks cruising to work and i've managed to get 570 miles from the tank and it took 50 litres to fill it up, think that works about about 51mpg for the tank, so the economy is there if you want it.

Gaff,

I noticed that anyone who is not used to driving a Diesel ( and no offense to BPM ) tries to drive is like a petrol. The driving technique for the diesel is short shifting as I find that the max torque is between 2k and 3K revs. After 3K revs it does feel like you are accelerating quickly but if you had changed up at 3K, the lift is better.

I totally agree. Having tested the TDI vRS myself this was one of the points I looked at and found that the gear ratios are WELL spaced. Using a change up point of 3,000rpm I found that the revs fell back, approximately, as follows:

2nd to 3rd - 2,000

3rd to 4th - 2,200

4th to 5th - 2,400

5th to 6th - 2,600

This is a great progressive spread on the ratios and means that by changing up at 3,000rpm you are always coming back into the fattest part of the torque curve.

Good read.

I noticed that anyone who is not used to driving a Diesel ( and no offense to BPM ) tries to drive is like a petrol. The driving technique for the diesel is short shifting as I find that the max torque is between 2k and 3K revs. After 3K revs it does feel like you are accelerating quickly but if you had changed up at 3K, the lift is better.

None taken man I know exactly how you mean. I had a diesel for a day when the hearse was in getting a job done and its a total different driving style.

If you drive it like a petrol (i.e. rev the nuts out of it), you don't get the best out of the engine torque and fuel consumption and will notice that it isn't as good as the petrol. However driven properly, as Cathal said, short shifting at say 3k rpm, then the diesel is faster than the petrol up to about 110mph (just a guess here - never actually have done this!) when the petrol will really come into its own. But thats only good for Autobahn drivers..

Good review by both Cathal and Gaff

A couple of pics I meant to post

first picture is very good and if i can say parking can be better and a contrast with wite colour car !?

just my!

first picture is very good and if i can say parking can be better !?

just my!

:rofl: I pulled it quickly in there to get the background in the picture, btw it was closing time so there wasn't going to be anyone fighting for the spot

a contrast with wite colour car !?

just my!

White ??? Its Silver

Nice right up. Just making me want one even more and more. I wont be online till Tuesday but I'll try and get a small write up on my test drive tommorrow in the diesel version.

Good review , was thiking of changing in 08 to the estate TDI VRs, havent seen prices for it yet over here. Thought the mpg would have been a bit better though. Never get time these days to log on much, seem to be a few people having some problems with their mk2 vrs's, me toooooo!!!!!!!!

Good review , was thiking of changing in 08 to the estate TDI VRs, havent seen prices for it yet over here. Thought the mpg would have been a bit better though. Never get time these days to log on much, seem to be a few people having some problems with their mk2 vrs's, me toooooo!!!!!!!!

From Skoda.ie

RS Hatch

2.0 TFSI / 147kW (200bhp)

Gaff,

I noticed that anyone who is not used to driving a Diesel ( and no offense to BPM ) tries to drive is like a petrol. The driving technique for the diesel is short shifting as I find that the max torque is between 2k and 3K revs. After 3K revs it does feel like you are accelerating quickly but if you had changed up at 3K, the lift is better.

I tested my car against a new Goft GTI with DSG ( driven by my brother who normally drives a BMW 320 coupe)

0-> 100kmph Golf was ahead by about a car length.

0-> 120Kmph pretty even.. Golf nicked it just

80 -> 120 kmph in 6th Vrs was ahead by about 2 car lengths.

50 -> 120 kmph in 4th looked like a whitewash for th Golf but ended up even as the TDI torgue kicked in

I was dissapointed about the fuel economy for about the first 5k miles, but I recently checked the long term count on the computer and over 93 hours of engine start, it had averaged 47.1 mpg. Given the way I drive I was pleasantly suprised.

I can now average up to 900kms to the tank on long runs.

My biggest complaint is still with DPF. A morning visiting a few places in the city centre, or a bad morning on the M50 will result in the light coming on. The car then idles at 1000-> 1200 rpm until you find 5km of clear road where you let rip and wait for the light to go out.

I will agree that the car feels like it wants to be driven hard all the time. It feels like your trying to walk a great dane in heat at times.

The standing start & mid range start looks like a similiar experience to the one I had,

Video [Essaie] Octavia II RS TFSI VS TDI - Skoda, Octavia, vRS, RS, TFSI - Dailymotion Share Your Videos

The standing start & mid range start looks like a similiar experience to the one I had,

Video [Essaie] Octavia II RS TFSI VS TDI - Skoda, Octavia, vRS, RS, TFSI - Dailymotion Share Your Videos

Yes for someone who can't drive a Diesel the way a diesel should be driven..:P

Watch ayou will see hime redlining the frist two gears.. wrong