Octavia VRS Estate (petrol) - any advice appreciated
Discussion
I'm looking at potentially getting a used Octavia VRS Estate (petrol), so would appreciate any hints/advice as to spec to go for.
Budget is fairly flexible - so looking between £15k to just over £20k.
I've always driven manual cars, but a couple of friends have said the DSG box is very good, so am considering this option and will be visiting a local Skoda dealer for a test drive in a DSG equipped Octavia to see how I get on with it, although this won't be a VRS as they don't have one at the moment.
Having done some research, I'd appreciate thoughts on the following, which would help pin down exactly which variant to go for:
220PS or 245PS engine?
Whichever, I'd probably like to get a safe and reliable remap (assuming this is possible) to around 300BHP, so was wondering if there's an appreciable difference in the starting point.
Any recommended tuners in the NW London area (Harrow/Wembley)?
DSG - 6 or 7 speed .... or manual?
I've read the 6 speed is slightly quicker changing gears, but would I even notice ... or would you recommend manual over DSG?
Any thoughts, comments, or other advice about what to look out for would be very much appreciated!
Thanks.
Budget is fairly flexible - so looking between £15k to just over £20k.
I've always driven manual cars, but a couple of friends have said the DSG box is very good, so am considering this option and will be visiting a local Skoda dealer for a test drive in a DSG equipped Octavia to see how I get on with it, although this won't be a VRS as they don't have one at the moment.
Having done some research, I'd appreciate thoughts on the following, which would help pin down exactly which variant to go for:
220PS or 245PS engine?
Whichever, I'd probably like to get a safe and reliable remap (assuming this is possible) to around 300BHP, so was wondering if there's an appreciable difference in the starting point.
Any recommended tuners in the NW London area (Harrow/Wembley)?
DSG - 6 or 7 speed .... or manual?
I've read the 6 speed is slightly quicker changing gears, but would I even notice ... or would you recommend manual over DSG?
Any thoughts, comments, or other advice about what to look out for would be very much appreciated!
Thanks.
I have just bought a 2.0 litre Octavia estate 4x4 with auto box, well pleased with it, comfortable, roomy and well equipped. Why do you want the VRS model? The two litre is pretty fast without paying more road tax, fuel and insurance. Is the VRS more like to attract car thieves?
Only had the car three months so early days but so far so good, I am retired so do not do a lot of miles but for the size it gives about 46MPG on a run including driving across Edinburgh at peak time.
I am sure PH will provide owners with more experience of the car, debatable if mk3 or mk4 only you can decide.
Only had the car three months so early days but so far so good, I am retired so do not do a lot of miles but for the size it gives about 46MPG on a run including driving across Edinburgh at peak time.
I am sure PH will provide owners with more experience of the car, debatable if mk3 or mk4 only you can decide.
I was going to get exactly the same as you are looking at, but in the end went with a Golf 1.5 Tsi 150 DSG.
Performance is pretty good, often rivalling competitors with 170/180hp. 7 speed DSG.
Plus the benefit of 45-50mpg on the motorway.
Living in a high crime area, it's pretty likely a VRS would be taken sadly
Performance is pretty good, often rivalling competitors with 170/180hp. 7 speed DSG.
Plus the benefit of 45-50mpg on the motorway.
Living in a high crime area, it's pretty likely a VRS would be taken sadly
I've got a 18 plate vrs 230. Id say get a 245 if you can, it gets you the LSD and 7 sp DSG box.
The 6 sp DSG is great when you're on it, but can be a bit dopey in normal driving.
I had a manual VRS before this ONE, personally I found it more fun. DSG is almost too good if you know what I mean but the flip side is the DSG makes the car so easy to drive.
The 6 sp DSG is great when you're on it, but can be a bit dopey in normal driving.
I had a manual VRS before this ONE, personally I found it more fun. DSG is almost too good if you know what I mean but the flip side is the DSG makes the car so easy to drive.
I have owned my ‘63 plate estate vRS TSI for 6 years. 216Bhp rather than the later 245, but it’s got enough power for where I use it. Comfortable, enough toys to play with without being overly distracting. Cruise; heated seats; full leather with silver piping; lane departure assistant that is easy enough to turn off. Just had an oil and DSG service and the system-calculated MPG easily hits 40 on a country drive. I like DSG, it’s 6 speed in mine. No issues choosing this over manual. Major spends so far have been an engine fuel pump and secondary engine coolant pump. Apart from that it’s only been brakes and tyres. Just having it under sealed this week as the rear axle seems prone to corrosion. All major servicing has been done within Skoda network and I’ve been very happy with my local dealer.
Thanks to everyone for your replies - plenty of food for thought!
Regarding road noise, I don't think it's likely to worry me too much given the wide tyres and complete lack of sound deadening in at least one of our other cars in which we've done some pretty long trips. I'm also retired, so it won't be used for long daily commutes - more trips away kayaking/camping/mountain biking (hence why looking at the estate for the space).
In terms of theft, I'd always thought one of the appeals of a Skoda as opposed to "performance" VW and Audi models was the relative anonymity. Is this actually a problem? If so, is it easy to de-badge the VRS so it stands out a bit less? The area we live in isn't particularly high crime, and there are quite a few decent cars locally M4, RS3 etc.. One close neighbour has had a Golf R32 on the drive, another a Mitsubishi Evo X and an AMG Merc for several years without any problems, although I understand this is a small sample size!
Finally, any thoughts on tuning/remapping? It would be good to have some additional performance (when would that not be a good thing?), but not at significant risk of grenading the engine - been there, done that before, so now more a fan of relatively modest rather than extreme power increases.
Cheers.
Regarding road noise, I don't think it's likely to worry me too much given the wide tyres and complete lack of sound deadening in at least one of our other cars in which we've done some pretty long trips. I'm also retired, so it won't be used for long daily commutes - more trips away kayaking/camping/mountain biking (hence why looking at the estate for the space).
In terms of theft, I'd always thought one of the appeals of a Skoda as opposed to "performance" VW and Audi models was the relative anonymity. Is this actually a problem? If so, is it easy to de-badge the VRS so it stands out a bit less? The area we live in isn't particularly high crime, and there are quite a few decent cars locally M4, RS3 etc.. One close neighbour has had a Golf R32 on the drive, another a Mitsubishi Evo X and an AMG Merc for several years without any problems, although I understand this is a small sample size!
Finally, any thoughts on tuning/remapping? It would be good to have some additional performance (when would that not be a good thing?), but not at significant risk of grenading the engine - been there, done that before, so now more a fan of relatively modest rather than extreme power increases.
Cheers.
I have not read past posts, but I'm a very happy 04 Fabia 1.4TDI owner with 130k on clock and Octavia folks tel me that petrol Octavia love petrol stations. Most 1.9 Octavia blokes tell me that my little baby is low on economy compared to my 1.4.
Things to look out for on PD models is oil change / cam belt changes.
Things to look out for on PD models is oil change / cam belt changes.
C n C said:
Thanks to everyone for your replies - plenty of food for thought!
Regarding road noise, I don't think it's likely to worry me too much given the wide tyres and complete lack of sound deadening in at least one of our other cars in which we've done some pretty long trips. I'm also retired, so it won't be used for long daily commutes - more trips away kayaking/camping/mountain biking (hence why looking at the estate for the space).
- I can easily fit a 26" MTB in the back of my Hatch (with the rear seats down) without taking a wheel off. Definitely easier if you can loosen the handle bars though.
In terms of theft, I'd always thought one of the appeals of a Skoda as opposed to "performance" VW and Audi models was the relative anonymity. Is this actually a problem? If so, is it easy to de-badge the VRS so it stands out a bit less? The area we live in isn't particularly high crime, and there are quite a few decent cars locally M4, RS3 etc.. One close neighbour has had a Golf R32 on the drive, another a Mitsubishi Evo X and an AMG Merc for several years without any problems, although I understand this is a small sample size!
- They don't seem quite as in demand as the more "premium" versions. Providing you don't get a "Hyper Green" or "Race Blue" I can't imagine you'd draw too much attention, so long as you don't fit a non-resonated straight piped exhaust.
Finally, any thoughts on tuning/remapping? It would be good to have some additional performance (when would that not be a good thing?), but not at significant risk of grenading the engine - been there, done that before, so now more a fan of relatively modest rather than extreme power increases.
-Plenty of tuning/remapping options, it's a very common platform. There will always be a risk of grenading your engine, but plenty of people (with DEEP pockets) have achieved some frankly daft numbers from the little EA888 four pot. A user on here took a Skoda Superb from 280ps to 560ps.
Still, a "Stage 1" (Just software) remap will see you anywhere between 280 and 310 fairly easily.
Cheers.
Hope that helps!Regarding road noise, I don't think it's likely to worry me too much given the wide tyres and complete lack of sound deadening in at least one of our other cars in which we've done some pretty long trips. I'm also retired, so it won't be used for long daily commutes - more trips away kayaking/camping/mountain biking (hence why looking at the estate for the space).
- I can easily fit a 26" MTB in the back of my Hatch (with the rear seats down) without taking a wheel off. Definitely easier if you can loosen the handle bars though.
In terms of theft, I'd always thought one of the appeals of a Skoda as opposed to "performance" VW and Audi models was the relative anonymity. Is this actually a problem? If so, is it easy to de-badge the VRS so it stands out a bit less? The area we live in isn't particularly high crime, and there are quite a few decent cars locally M4, RS3 etc.. One close neighbour has had a Golf R32 on the drive, another a Mitsubishi Evo X and an AMG Merc for several years without any problems, although I understand this is a small sample size!
- They don't seem quite as in demand as the more "premium" versions. Providing you don't get a "Hyper Green" or "Race Blue" I can't imagine you'd draw too much attention, so long as you don't fit a non-resonated straight piped exhaust.
Finally, any thoughts on tuning/remapping? It would be good to have some additional performance (when would that not be a good thing?), but not at significant risk of grenading the engine - been there, done that before, so now more a fan of relatively modest rather than extreme power increases.
-Plenty of tuning/remapping options, it's a very common platform. There will always be a risk of grenading your engine, but plenty of people (with DEEP pockets) have achieved some frankly daft numbers from the little EA888 four pot. A user on here took a Skoda Superb from 280ps to 560ps.
Still, a "Stage 1" (Just software) remap will see you anywhere between 280 and 310 fairly easily.
Cheers.
C n C said:
Thanks to everyone for your replies - plenty of food for thought!
Finally, any thoughts on tuning/remapping? It would be good to have some additional performance (when would that not be a good thing?), but not at significant risk of grenading the engine - been there, done that before, so now more a fan of relatively modest rather than extreme power increases.
Cheers.
They remap very well, it's worth getting the transmission done if you have DSG. I'm probably going to go for RacingLine OEM+ for both on mine once it's out of warranty.Finally, any thoughts on tuning/remapping? It would be good to have some additional performance (when would that not be a good thing?), but not at significant risk of grenading the engine - been there, done that before, so now more a fan of relatively modest rather than extreme power increases.
Cheers.
My manual was remapped and used to get through clutches quite quickly.
C n C said:
Thanks to everyone for your replies - plenty of food for thought!
If so, is it easy to de-badge the VRS so it stands out a bit less?
Not sure if they still do it, but the vrs used to have a long reflector strip at the bottom of the rear bumper. Makes it very obvious it's a vrs even from a distance. If so, is it easy to de-badge the VRS so it stands out a bit less?
Who me said:
I have not read past posts, but I'm a very happy 04 Fabia 1.4TDI owner with 130k on clock and Octavia folks tel me that petrol Octavia love petrol stations. Most 1.9 Octavia blokes tell me that my little baby is low on economy compared to my 1.4.
Things to look out for on PD models is oil change / cam belt changes.
I don#'t know about the 1.9 but I have an 18 plate DSG 230 2.0 petrol and a typical mixed 70/50mph UK dual carriageway journey will easily give 40+. Things to look out for on PD models is oil change / cam belt changes.
In good traffic 50 mpg is just about possible with a light foot. 45 is more typical.
For reference, this was Dunton to Southend this morning (good traffic, mostly 50 limit, some congestion at Progress rd.)
Round town is where it's not so good, i get around 30-35, and lower in stop start traffic.
And of course if you drive it hard, you can expect much lower
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