Just bought this month's Top gear magazine, which has a hot hatch special. I was amazed to see that my lovely octy vRS only ranked 17th in terms of available hot hatches. Having test driven most of the top ten (and found them wanting on price, performance, style, refinement, all of the above) before going for the octy, I find this bizarre.

Ironically, elsewhere in the issue they criticise others for badge snobbery after naming Skoda as the new top car maker. Practice what you preach please!

jonjonvRS,

Yep it does seem rather at odds with the whole brand in terms of customer satisfaction. Of course it's only an opinion and yours is the most important!

However before I ordered my vRS I obviously did alot of review reading. The only negative comments I could find were on the Top Gear web site. They were not critical of the abilities of the car as per say, but more the image it creates for the driver. Something about a "railing" young driver in his red vRS compared to the owner of a Passat....can't remember the exact comparison and don't want to mis quote. Hence it does not come as any surprise that Clarkson et al have placed the vRS at 17th.

Far more valid is the opinion of the latest edition of 'What Car?' in their Car of the Year results. Here, the vRS is given the crown as best hot hatch over £17,000 although it doesn't win Hot Hatch of the year (the Mini does), it seems a more acurrate reflection of the qualities you mention "price, performance, style, refinement" etc.

Incidently, I was born in Aberdeen. Rather cold. In the late 60s my dad had a Hilman, rather dangerous in the snow!

Marwood.

You are absolutely right, top gear is almost unique in its less than stellar praise of the new vRS. I was much more guided by this year's and last year's Whatcar reviews/awards.

It is a bit strange considering the Golf GTI came a close second to the winner then to give 17th to a car that uses the same underpinnings, engine and gearbox etc. It's definitely the badge thing (cool wall etc) with TG with Clarkson and Co offering views and recommendations more for effect than anything else. Much prefer the workman like unbiased views of What Car and the more informed writers in EVO - both mags rate the vRS much higher and rightly so.

It's not that suprising really to be honest, the VRS isn't really an out and out 'hot' hatch, it's a 4 door family car, think of all the other 2 door proper 'hot' hatches there are out there.

The smaller, lighter, faster, better handling cars will always come out on top in a comparison of 'hot' hatches.

If you were comparing 'hot' saloons (which is more where the Vrs is placed, despite having a hatch) I think it'd come out significantly better off.

I had a CTR, it was Bloody hard work most of the time, the new one is 150 Kgs more weight wise. I notice that the vRS will out perform it and if a Golf is faster than the new CTR by a second or so i suspect that the vRS will match the CTR or only just be behind it.

Now seeing how a heap more bhp is just a remap away......i can't see why you bother with the CTR?

Honda already see this, a lighter version is on the way (can't see WHERE they save weight) and the same engine is going in the next CRX (two seat based on the Jazz platform) which is expected to weight in under 1100 Kgs.

Nope, your choice are:-

Focus ST

Golf

vRS

Just wish they give us the DSG box!

Mike

Obviously this doesn't count then -

http://www.whatcar.co.uk/news-special-report.aspx?NA=218154&EL=3147085

What Car? Car of the Year 2006

Best hot hatch 20 January 2006 - Skoda Octavia vRS 5dr

Highly recommended

Ford Focus ST

Price: £17,495

Target Price: £16,632

Mini Cooper S 1.6 16v

Price: £15,495

Target Price: £15,495

Volkswagen Golf GTI 3dr

Price: £19,995

Target Price: £19,995

the same engine is going in the next CRX (two seat based on the Jazz platform) which is expected to weight in under 1100 Kgs.

If that would be RWD, that could be interesting!

Steve

Certain it will be FWD However having got kicked about the steering you can expect Honda to make a REAL effort here.

Cheers

Mike

It's not that suprising really to be honest, the VRS isn't really an out and out 'hot' hatch, it's a 4 door family car...

I agree with you here. I have a Mk1 vRS; I love it, think it's a brilliant car but it's not really a hot-hatch. It's faster than a lot of hot-hatches (& slower than some others, before anyone jumps on me!) but to me it seems more of a 'GT' than a 'GTi' if you get my meaning.

The vRS is comfortable, it looks relatively 'staid'. It makes an excellent motorway cruiser & it's 'safe' because it always seems to have plenty in reserve. It's relatively inexpensive. In short; ideal for an inpecunious 41yr old with two young kids like myself but not for Top Gear which seems to be increasingly populist, showy & out to shock.

That's not knocking Top Gear, it can be good entertainment but they're just not going to rate a Skoda vRS.

The Mark 1 does NOT have as much grip as most of my other Hot Hacthes.......Yet to find out if the Mark 2 has any more.

Mike