Evening all,

My names Dom and im new to the forum. Ive test driven a Petrol VRS up at Simpsons Colne on Sunday and am test driving a Diesel VRS in Leeds tomorrow. Im looking to get a diesel model. Just got a few questions for when I start hagling with the dealer tomorrow for a deal.

Has anyone got a preference to wheel size on the Octy VRS? I know they are offering free 18" wheels on new models but I drove one on 17's and thought it was an excellent drive. Anyone notice any major difference in ride quality on 18's?

Also, the Light assist option that comes with the Auto Dimming rear mirror and rain sensor, is this Automatic headlight illumination when dark outside or something else?

Im gonna get cruise, Maxi-dot, Park sensors and the Light assist kit.

My idea is to forego the 18" zeniths and use the £450.00 they cost to get the above options.

What do you guys think?

I don't think you can have the cash in lieu of the free upgrade pack but saying that you might be able to haggle a bit extra off the price of the car if you drop the upgrades which isn't recommended TBH.

Go for the free upgrade pack which is the 18" alloys, electric rear windows, 2 zone climate control and the centre armprest/MP3 socket.

If nothing else, get the MaxiDot display and parking sensors.

The light assist turns the lights on when dark, if raining fairly hard and if you do in excess of 90mph on the motorway for 10 or more seconds but you'll never see that one working will you More applicable to the Autobahn.

17's may well offer better handling due to the slightly lower unsprung weight of the car.

Dont forget to haggle money off also - id say £1500 to 2k should be easy enough. Be aware also of some of the issues that exist with the 170 TDI and the DPF sooting up under certain conditions - just chatting to a friend 10 minutes ago who is having regualr dealer visits to regenerate the DPF and take off the dash lights off every time. :(

Best of luck with it

Lee

No major difference in ride quality 17s vs 18s AFAIK; the car is more sensitive to tyre brand and pressure. Get the 18s/jumbo etc upgrade; it will be worth it at resale time and the 18s DO give sharper handling.

IMHO give Light assist a miss; you have your own brain and eyes to tell you when to put your lights on. Instead get XENON headlights (with washer system) they are streets ahead of regular lamps.

Maxidot and rear parking sensors - good selection.

Enjoy your test drive ... and ... oh .. by the way; WELCOME to Briskoda

PS: what do you drive at present?

Surely the improved unsprung weight would be offset by the incresed sidewall deflection? Go for the 18's and get some Koni's later on

The DPF should be fine as long as your daily commute consists of a good run at decents speeds. If it's all traffic such as anywhere within the M25 I wouldn't risk it.

- just chatting to a friend 10 minutes ago who is having regualr dealer visits to regenerate the DPF and take off the dash lights off every time. :(

Lee

On the contrary I have done 11,000 miles and not had the DPF light on once or had the car go through its 'regeneration' cycle.

On the contrary I have done 11,000 miles and not had the DPF light on once or had the car go through its 'regeneration' cycle.

Not sure what her problem is then as she doesnt sit in traffic and lets just say she doesnt exactly waft around either. Maybe its because she has an Audi badge on hers then.

My unsprung weight coments were aguess on the Octy tbh - Ive had four or five sets of wheels on my previous car and that was best on 17's, even more so, lightweight 17's as opposed to 18's. It felt more nimble with a sharper turn in response imo but as I say Ive never swapped them on the VRS.

Lee

On the contrary I have done 11,000 miles and not had the DPF light on once or had the car go through its 'regeneration' cycle.

Thats a point, SWMBO has done 4000 miles without a peep from the DPF despite long term traffic problems on the A27 at Lewes due to roadworks. She is however under strict instruction to give the car some stick on a regualr basis

It would be interesting to get an accurate picture of the DPF issue as a whole. It can't be as bad as some people say............can it?

I would go with 17" wheels TBH. 18's may look nice but the

ride can be harsh at times

I have 17" wheels on mine. Got cruise control instead and a cheaper price. Happy with that.

I would go with 17" wheels TBH. 18's may look nice but the

ride can be harsh at times

I disagree. Maybe for a normal family saloon but the VRs is a performance hatchback. I've got 18"s and the ride is fine.

Thanks for the Advice, im gonna get the car on the Finance package they are offering at the moment. Do you still think ill get a good discount if paying on Finance? Also my daily commute is on a good statech of dual carriageway and I do around 10,000 Mway miles a year so that should keep the DPF ok I would have thought. Take your point about the Light Assist, will definatley want cruise and will definatley get the Maxi-dot screen.

Not sure what her problem is then as she doesnt sit in traffic and lets just say she doesnt exactly waft around either. Maybe its because she has an Audi badge on hers then.

What does she feed it on? :confused: My vrS only gets fed best Shell VPower and recently I've been adding Millers DieselSport 4.

My unsprung weight coments were aguess on the Octy tbh - Ive had four or five sets of wheels on my previous car and that was best on 17's, even more so, lightweight 17's as opposed to 18's. It felt more nimble with a sharper turn in response imo but as I say Ive never swapped them on the VRS.

Lee

17s vs 18s is a looooong running discussion; there are point for and against both.

Most people today, and the marketing men know this, will by 18s for the looks and keep up with the Jones' effect.

For the discerning buyer, like most Briskodians I trust, handling is a consideration and (for the vRS) the 18s ought to give better ultimate handling and grip in the dry but there will be an advantage to the 17s with their taller and therefore more supple and forgiving sidewall to the tyres in the wet. There is in all honest probably a small advantage in ride quality to the 17s, but it is small and probably of no consequence to someone who wants 18s, for whichever reason.

Ooo, and on the subject of wheel size and the effect on handling - check out the EVO tyre test. They take the Golf (same chassis) around the track with the factory 17's and the factory 18's and do actually back up my earlier post regarding turn in etc. They thought the handling superior on the 17's with the taller sidewall. My view has always been that some compliancy in the suspension/tyre setup can improve grip and handling, not just improve ride comfort.

Lee

Ooo, and on the subject of wheel size and the effect on handling - check out the EVO tyre test. They take the Golf (same chassis) around the track with the factory 17's and the factory 18's and do actually back up my earlier post regarding turn in etc. They thought the handling superior on the 17's with the taller sidewall. My view has always been that some compliancy in the suspension/tyre setup can improve grip and handling, not just improve ride comfort.

Lee

Agreed; but wasn't that in the WET?

The ride isn't 'that' harsh on 18". Personally if I'd been offered money off or other extras instead of 18" wheel I think I'd have stuck with 17".

They were free when I got them, I wouldn't have bothered otherwise.