I lease my cars and actually pay very little interest as to what I am getting until I have made a decision, primarily because all new cars essentially do what they say they will on the tin, so if it costs what I want to pay I don’t really mind. The bloke who recommended it to me had a kind of knowing air of excitement about him.

I picked up my little vRS from Swindon and left my 2 year old Almera behind, thinking wholeheartedly I’d miss it something rotten, When the lady gave me the keys, she said she was sure I’d ‘enjoy’ my new car. Not a word I was expecting – ‘pleased’ or ‘happy’ perhaps I’d have expected. She had a kind of knowing air of excitement about her.

First impressions were a mixed bag, the back is a touch ‘sensible’ – perhaps some flaps could help. The sides I liked, though I became immediately worried about boot space, alloys and brakes looked ace, and although the tires seemed more low-pro in the flesh, a lower ride, or at least lower wheel arches couldn’t help but improve the lines, I think. The front hit me as gorgeous; meaty and business like – my first smile.

The dash is neat, almost contemporary in sparseness. An air-conditioned coin box did strike me as a little odd though. The only usable drinks holder (I need my morning coffee & long distance water) is designed for the rear passengers, though with a little practice it is usable, though I know my elbow will cause a coffee flood sometime in the future.

The cigarette lighter is positioned to the right of the handbrake, which makes for awkward routing of power to me PDA/TomTom thingy, but once I locate a non-coiled cable I reckon this will be ok – I wish the power to the lighter could be turned off when the ignition is off – perhaps there is a hidden option is the software for this.

I like the way the air direction can be turned a full 360 degrees in any direction giving effective mid point options, important if you are going to de-mist the side windows for effective mirror usage AND get some hot air onto yourself.

The driving position is easily adjusted and the steering wheel especially has a surprising amount of movement. The seats are firm and comfortable, offering great cornering support, without making it feel as though you are clamped in place. Lack of lumbar adjustment is a shame though, especially as I havn’t found a suitable cushion which will fit the seats as of yet.

The boot will fit a sports bag in, though I doubt a set of golf clubs. Lowering the back seats is a bit of a pain, as you have to remove the head rests and do some jiggery-pokery with seats themselves, lifting and pivoting them into place behind the front seats, which I also needed to incline slightly for the manoeuvre. With a little careful perswasion I was able to get a 26” mountain bike in the rear without removing the front wheel – though I now have covers to hand now to protect the lighter fabric on the rear of the front seats. The mud marks were effectively cleaned off using oxy fabric spray. 

Initial impressions of the engine were dire. Really, it sounded like a transit van and revving slightly made things shudder, where normally I would be expecting a hum. Once a gear is engaged and movement started, this dissipates rapidly, though.

I have since grown to look forward to hearing this din, though. I consider it a cheeky feign on the cars part, to distract and disorientate the un-initialised.

My first 90 miles were M4 & M25 motorway driving back to chez me. On the B roads leading to the M4 I was immediately aware that the vRS was a slightly different animal to what I was used to, and I was also aware that converting an assertive driving technique from that of a revvy 16valve Japanese engine to the Tdi was going to be challenging. I must confess I stalled on my second round about, after scaring myself a little in second on the first. Throttle control is sensitive to those with a heavy right foot… I’m not used to any torque below 4000 revs, and when you find it slightly above 1500 for the first time it surprises you.

The motorway itself had me thinking mostly about the radio reception, which, as an XFM listener, could be better – I shall be investigating a higher gain arial, BBC stations and the CD Player, however are fine, very average, but fine. First thing I had to do when I got home was lower the setting for the auto volume control though, as this kicks in rather obtrusively, I found.

Ride on the motorway was pleasant, older concrete slab sections were noisy, but not to an unpleasant volume.

Overtaking on the motorway was and still is, breathtaking; it’s a little bit like being in a powerful automatic, but smoother. At anything over 50mph, even in 6th gear, you can pretty much put your foot down and scoot around anything, without a stutter or a groan, all the way up as far as you want to go. On the ride home I found myself slowing to 50 on the inside lane and then frog-hopping traffic just for fun. Right foot down, you pass a car. Marvellous. I was smiling.

On leaving the motorway onto my local A and B roads, I still felt I had perhaps sacrificed space and pride for being a little tight with my money and wasn’t overly impressed. The Almera would have done the same thing for me, though with more effort, a new A3 would have done the same thing but with more money.

I left the slip road, negotiated a familiar roundabout and headed up a steep road, which, from experience is steep enough to cause a down change. I exited the roundabout in 4th and depressed the accelerator slightly. She pulled hard. To my amazement, where I would normally be considering a change down, I changed UP and still she pulled. I was slightly confused, so I darted off onto a well-versed B road, tight corners, sweeping bends and moderate hills were all taken confidently and easily and I was very pleasantly surprised by the road holding and nothing short of startled by the engine. I reached my turn off and as I slowed for the residential area I discovered I was no longer smiling. I was grinning. Rather than go straight home, I did it all again. Twice.

I have since learned to adore the effortless acceleration, especially when you get used to changing short. The noise is terrific, not a growl, nor a purr – just a confident murmur. It’s feels like being a kid and pretend boxing with your father, you know he’s not even trying, but you still want to push it more and have more fun.

After a few days I realised that I was looking forward to driving somewhere. Not since I owned my first car, a Renault 5 GT turbo, almost 15 years ago have I had enthusiasm! After all, I’m a 30 something old fart now and my boy-racer days are long past.

I now know why you guys refer to it as a Furby. With so much character, a car deserves a nickname.

Yesterday I picked a friend up from the station, he asked if he could drive it back to the office, with a knowing air, I handed him the key…

PS.

I’m getting upto 56 MPG when sensible and insurance is only £25/month.

Firstly welcome and glad to hear you are enjoying Furby!

Ive had mine 9 months now and it still manages to surprise me (and other drivers!).

Sounds like another convert to the 'Dark Side'.

great review.... I think that's how it effects most people.. I still enjoy getting into it to drive it every morning... and I drive for a living.. 74,000 miles now in 23 months, and I still grin after a good "blat" down one of my favorite roads

A smashing review. I admire your ability to get 56mpg as I'm still struggling with this after 6 months of vRS ownership.

I lease my cars and actually pay very little interest as to what I am getting until I have made a decision, primarily because all new cars essentially do what they say they will on the tin, so if it costs what I want to pay I don’t really mind. The bloke who recommended it to me had a kind of knowing air of excitement about him.

I picked up my little vRS from Swindon and left my 2 year old Almera behind, thinking wholeheartedly I’d miss it something rotten, When the lady gave me the keys, she said she was sure I’d ‘enjoy’ my new car. Not a word I was expecting – ‘pleased’ or ‘happy’ perhaps I’d have expected. She had a kind of knowing air of excitement about her.

First impressions were a mixed bag, the back is a touch ‘sensible’ – perhaps some flaps could help. The sides I liked, though I became immediately worried about boot space, alloys and brakes looked ace, and although the tires seemed more low-pro in the flesh, a lower ride, or at least lower wheel arches couldn’t help but improve the lines, I think. The front hit me as gorgeous; meaty and business like – my first smile.

The dash is neat, almost contemporary in sparseness. An air-conditioned coin box did strike me as a little odd though. The only usable drinks holder (I need my morning coffee & long distance water) is designed for the rear passengers, though with a little practice it is usable, though I know my elbow will cause a coffee flood sometime in the future.

The cigarette lighter is positioned to the right of the handbrake, which makes for awkward routing of power to me PDA/TomTom thingy, but once I locate a non-coiled cable I reckon this will be ok – I wish the power to the lighter could be turned off when the ignition is off – perhaps there is a hidden option is the software for this.

I like the way the air direction can be turned a full 360 degrees in any direction giving effective mid point options, important if you are going to de-mist the side windows for effective mirror usage AND get some hot air onto yourself.

The driving position is easily adjusted and the steering wheel especially has a surprising amount of movement. The seats are firm and comfortable, offering great cornering support, without making it feel as though you are clamped in place. Lack of lumbar adjustment is a shame though, especially as I havn’t found a suitable cushion which will fit the seats as of yet.

The boot will fit a sports bag in, though I doubt a set of golf clubs. Lowering the back seats is a bit of a pain, as you have to remove the head rests and do some jiggery-pokery with seats themselves, lifting and pivoting them into place behind the front seats, which I also needed to incline slightly for the manoeuvre. With a little careful perswasion I was able to get a 26” mountain bike in the rear without removing the front wheel – though I now have covers to hand now to protect the lighter fabric on the rear of the front seats. The mud marks were effectively cleaned off using oxy fabric spray. J

Initial impressions of the engine were dire. Really, it sounded like a transit van and revving slightly made things shudder, where normally I would be expecting a hum. Once a gear is engaged and movement started, this dissipates rapidly, though.

I have since grown to look forward to hearing this din, though. I consider it a cheeky feign on the cars part, to distract and disorientate the un-initialised.

My first 90 miles were M4 & M25 motorway driving back to chez me. On the B roads leading to the M4 I was immediately aware that the vRS was a slightly different animal to what I was used to, and I was also aware that converting an assertive driving technique from that of a revvy 16valve Japanese engine to the Tdi was going to be challenging. I must confess I stalled on my second round about, after scaring myself a little in second on the first. Throttle control is sensitive to those with a heavy right foot… I’m not used to any torque below 4000 revs, and when you find it slightly above 1500 for the first time it surprises you.

The motorway itself had me thinking mostly about the radio reception, which, as an XFM listener, could be better – I shall be investigating a higher gain arial, BBC stations and the CD Player, however are fine, very average, but fine. First thing I had to do when I got home was lower the setting for the auto volume control though, as this kicks in rather obtrusively, I found.

Ride on the motorway was pleasant, older concrete slab sections were noisy, but not to an unpleasant volume.

Overtaking on the motorway was and still is, breathtaking; it’s a little bit like being in a powerful automatic, but smoother. At anything over 50mph, even in 6th gear, you can pretty much put your foot down and scoot around anything, without a stutter or a groan, all the way up as far as you want to go. On the ride home I found myself slowing to 50 on the inside lane and then frog-hopping traffic just for fun. Right foot down, you pass a car. Marvellous. I was smiling.

On leaving the motorway onto my local A and B roads, I still felt I had perhaps sacrificed space and pride for being a little tight with my money and wasn’t overly impressed. The Almera would have done the same thing for me, though with more effort, a new A3 would have done the same thing but with more money.

I left the slip road, negotiated a familiar roundabout and headed up a steep road, which, from experience is steep enough to cause a down change. I exited the roundabout in 4th and depressed the accelerator slightly. She pulled hard. To my amazement, where I would normally be considering a change down, I changed UP and still she pulled. I was slightly confused, so I darted off onto a well-versed B road, tight corners, sweeping bends and moderate hills were all taken confidently and easily and I was very pleasantly surprised by the road holding and nothing short of startled by the engine. I reached my turn off and as I slowed for the residential area I discovered I was no longer smiling. I was grinning. Rather than go straight home, I did it all again. Twice.

I have since learned to adore the effortless acceleration, especially when you get used to changing short. The noise is terrific, not a growl, nor a purr – just a confident murmur. It’s feels like being a kid and pretend boxing with your father, you know he’s not even trying, but you still want to push it more and have more fun.

After a few days I realised that I was looking forward to driving somewhere. Not since I owned my first car, a Renault 5 GT turbo, almost 15 years ago have I had enthusiasm! After all, I’m a 30 something old fart now and my boy-racer days are long past.

I now know why you guys refer to it as a Furby. With so much character, a car deserves a nickname.

Yesterday I picked a friend up from the station, he asked if he could drive it back to the office, with a knowing air, I handed him the key…

PS.

I’m getting upto 56 MPG when sensible and insurance is only £25/month.

A 'different' review from the norm

I’m getting upto 56 MPG

Never got that!! But I dont do 50 on motorways!!

One more thing. ... I dont like your font choice. Why not just use the one we use on here?? I've changed it for you!

I thought I'd use a little bit of artistic impression

Verdanna it is then... If you thought times new roman was wacky, I can't imagine what you would have said if I'd used Comic Sans

I have read a few posts about people complaining of less that ideal MPG...

I drive from St Albans to Canary Wharf, averaging 45 - which aint bad - 70- ish on motorway, 40 on A13 and got 55

A coastal trak over the weekend on moslty B roads, enjoying the journey got me 54.5 over 180 miles...

A trip to a multistorey in town and back on congested roads will get me about 40... Though I don't look at the trip computer so much in town as I tend to hit things.

...headed up a steep road, which, from experience is steep enough to cause a down change. I exited the roundabout in 4th and depressed the accelerator slightly. She pulled hard. To my amazement, where I would normally be considering a change down, I changed UP and still she pulled.

That's why I ordered this car, even though it is quite expensive here. You see, when I get to work I have to drive from 100m to a 650m height (in 13km). Having good roads, I still cry for not having my vRS right now! 'Till then, my 63bhp Fiat will have to do... :(

Mine arrived today too, am very very satisfied

No point writing a review of my own as couldn't really compare with the above lol...

Great review. Best I managed was 67MPG as an average on the way back from Ireland. 50mph in 6th gear.

Was considering buying an Almera 2.2 TD SXE (whatever), then changed our (my) mind.

Glad to hear, by the sounds of it, that we made the right choice.

Engine noise, had Cavalier diesel before - that growled. This one sort of purrs - but then I like 'feedback'.

Good review - blinkin eck, you must like writing (-:

Was considering buying an Almera 2.2 TD SXE (whatever), then changed our (my) mind.

Glad to hear, by the sounds of it, that we made the right choice.

Engine noise, had Cavalier diesel before - that growled. This one sort of purrs - but then I like 'feedback'.

Good review - blinkin eck, you must like writing (-:

Yep, great reading, enjoy your Furby

ChrisRs - was there a point to quoting the whole of the opening paragraph, then giving a 6 word comment ?:tired:

BTW, it's an air conditioned can holder, not a coin holder

Stick a can of Diet Coke or something in there and pull the plastic tab to On and you'll get a chilled can (as long as your AC is cold ).

You will also find that the glove box has AC too... To keep your lunch chilled.

The vRS just gets beter & better great review glad to see no v's other car & as this chap seems to be a very high mile driver he should know what is good to have in the cabin.

I wasnt aware of the chilled glovebox & can cooler very good extras.

The rear seats have exactly the same mechanism as any other VAG hatchback.

Excellent write up, makes me want mine even more now.

I agree about the engine note to a degree. The PD130 is a rough old thing when cold but warm it up and it's a lot more civilised. It's not as quiet as my missus HDi but it vibrates less into the cabin, revs better and is much more punchy which more than makes up for it.

After a bit more ownership you'll become acustomed to cleaning the seats, fixing loads of stonechips and re-attaching your teeth after going down a bumpy road.

Good luck with your ownership.

Chris.