Sorry if this is in the wrong place, I'm new here and am just about finding my way around the site.

I'm looking to buy an Octavia RS (around about a Y plate - 02 reg) but there's a few things I need to find out first. I've heard from one person that they can suffer from electrical niggles and other mechanical faults, and that the build quality isn't what you would expect from VAG. I currently own a Mk3 Mondeo Zetec-S which is brilliant (except for the fact that the injectors are knackered) regarding build quality/handling etc, but is the Octavia as good or even better? What I mean is, I dont want to go from one excellent car (recent probs aside) to another only to find its problematic. I've looked on the Parker's website at the owners reviews where there seems to be nothing but praise for these cars. I also tend to be a bit lead footed too, will it take a bit of abuse or is it likely to fall to bits quite easily? I have every faith in the VAG 1.8T lump, but what this other person (and previous owner of an RS) has told me has put me off a little! Can anyone please put me straight?:confused:

Id say the build is alright, a few rattles but mines approaching 6 years old. No more problems than any other VAG car as the parts used are identical in most cases really. Ive had mine for getting on for a year and apart from routine maintenance its fine, coupled with the mods makes it even better

Hi gav,Ive had mine 4 years now from new with 65k on the clock and I am still happy with it.It is starting to show up a few niggles hear and there,but with age every car will give small problems,apart from that probably the best car Ive owned in a long time.I live and work around London, alot of stop start driving,and it gets abused.

ive had my 02 rs for 3 months now and i love it. yes it can be a boring shape to look at but and isnt as refined as my old lexus was but everytime i put my foot down i remember why i bought it and get a grin on my face.

ive done a few mods just to my own taste and have a ferw more still to do but im gonna keep her for at least a cpl of years til i get bored. having seen a mates new fsi vrs i may well get one of those next when the depreciation has taken its toll

Mate there has been nothing that has really caused me problems on mine.

The only fault that ive found is that some muppet before me has but the oil filter with the hands of i dont know what.

Seriously though i literally have gotten in the car every day for the last 18months and have just driven it

ive had my 02 rs for 3 months now and i love it. yes it can be a boring shape to look at but and isnt as refined as my old lexus was but everytime i put my foot down i remember why i bought it and get a grin on my face.

ive done a few mods just to my own taste and have a ferw more still to do but im gonna keep her for at least a cpl of years til i get bored. having seen a mates new fsi vrs i may well get one of those next when the depreciation has taken its toll

I disagree, I love the aesthetics, straight to the point and meaningful.

Also, get a remap and you can edge past those new vRS models

I disagree, I love the aesthetics, straight to the point and meaningful.

Also, get a remap and you can edge past those new vRS models

With a bit of jabba dust you'll more than edge it past!

I love mine - nearly had her 3 years, shes been the Nurburgring twice and never let me down apart from a couple of niggly first year faults. Got no plans to leave her, think I'll hang on untill she dies!

Thanks for the replies, very confidence boosting! My mind was made up a couple of weeks ago that I wanted an RS, but this has just reinforced my decision.

Couple of quick questions, what's the difference between the RS and the VRS, or are they the same thing?:confused:

And is there any difference in spec between a Y reg and an 03 reg, like did they do a facelift version with updated stuff? (on my mk3 Mondeo there were 2 facelifted versions with varying spec)

RS is european model indication, vRS is UK. No difference in them other than one letter

There's also no difference between a Y-plate vRS and an '03 vRS, they are both Mk1 vRS's.

Thanks for clearing that up for me.

ive got 2 mk1 vrs's here one a 51 plate and the other a 03 plate estate. i have to say they are still going very strong. they are great to drive, reliable and the owners who chopped them in only had praise for them. the estate is yellow and the owner just wanted something a bit less garish, and the 51 plate owner having only done 40k only wanted a newer shape as the company he was working for was paying (allright for some!)

of the ones ive seen from members on here they are excellent motors, that and the fact our police down here love them to bits means you cant go wrong! i mean whats the odd rattle when you have such a grin factor enducing car!

I am looking at getting another one after being out of one for 18months Yup they suck

Ive had mine a week and cannot fault it, I love it.

I used to have mk2 but found it too bland and not very exciting, however I just think the mk1 has a lot more character to it.

Would recommend one to anyone

Sorry to be a continual pain in the rear, but there's just a couple more questions I need to ask.

What sort of mpg do you get from a VRS Mk1? According to Parker's it says 35mpg, but I was told I would be lucky to see 25mpg. I have what you might call a "spirited" driving style half of the time, and take my time and drive quite moderately the other half of the time.

And the other thing is, how much is it to tax one of these things? I always thought it was £99 for 6 months on anything over a 1600cc, but I know there's been a few changes in the law recently and someone said it was £125 for 6 months?

:confused:

I acheive an average of about 35mpg combined.mpg does drop when you boot it though.

£112.75 for 6 months road tax, £205 for 12 months

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My daily commute of 65 miles. Cruise set at 70mph most of the journey.

Oh, and this is not an exception either...

I think tax is £190/year, but I'm sure that's changed (again :()

hello gavin, i was abit unsure like yourself but after actually buying one there truly awsome, ive had mine 4 months now, and im still not used to the power, take it from me you will be one happy pappy

My trip computer is typically 2-3mpg out but i always work it out by filling the tank up each time.Sad isn't it:O

Motorways i can average 45mpg by computer though.

My trip computer is typically 2-3mpg out but i always work it out by filling the tank up each time.Sad isn't it:O

Motorways i can average 45mpg by computer though.

You must be driving a Labia mate

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My daily commute of 65 miles. Cruise set at 70mph most of the journey.

Oh, and this is not an exception either...

I think tax is £190/year, but I'm sure that's changed (again :()

Thats quite impressive. Do all mk1 VRS's come with cruise and trip comp or were they options? (sorry, yet more questions!)

Cruise no, trip is standard.

Just to throw in another fuel economy figure. Mixed driving but with a fair few short trips and city driving - 32.4 MPG over the last 2200 miles

If you take it easy it can be very economical I prefer to just enjoy driving it.

Cruise was an option, and can be retro-fitted (like mine) as if ordered at the factory. Trip computer is standard.

Hi,

Owned my octavia VRS for about a week now. you will get realistically 380-400 miles per full tank of fuel (bout £50), they are great fun to drive and i quite like the shape. If you sink the foot this will drop dramatically although the grin on your face wont !!!!

Although some flash git made a point the other day of driving beside me in a ferrari and then sinking the boot, love to see his MPG..

Hi,

Owned my octavia VRS for about a week now. you will get realistically 380-400 miles per full tank of fuel (bout £50), they are great fun to drive and i quite like the shape. If you sink the foot this will drop dramatically although the grin on your face wont !!!!

Although some flash git made a point the other day of driving beside me in a ferrari and then sinking the boot, love to see his MPG..

Sure you don't mean GPM