What is it?
A grey Skoda. Not the most tantalising of propositions. But this one has the same 242bhp engine and electronic locking differential as the Volkswagen Golf GTI Performance, making it the most powerful Octavia to have made production yet. My colleagues have already driven the model in estate form and with optional dynamic chassis control (DCC) suspension but, this time, we’re in a hatch suspended on the vRS’s standard dampers, which, perhaps surprisingly, come fitted to 95% of vRSs.
Experience suggests that this less practical, less adjustable specification will fall short of offering the USP its more broadly talented sibling flaunts. But consider this: the hatch costs £1200 less than the estate and not opting for DCC saves £850, which equates to a sum hefty enough to represent 7% of the car’s £27,595 starting price. What you’re looking at here, then, could well be the best-value (read: most Skoda) vRS 245 available. The bargainist rocket on sale, perhaps?
Take a look at the car’s lengthy standard specifications list, which is far too long to show in full here, and that theory stands strong. Compared with the already generously equipped regular vRS, the 245 gains 19in gloss black wheels as standard (an inch larger than the vRS's) and Alcantara-wrapped sports seats, which also come with electric adjustability as standard. A colour multifunction trip computer, complete with a lap timer (how very un-Skoda), is added to the infotainment armoury, which is centred around an Amundsen 8in satellite navigation system offering integrated wi-fi.
Join the debate
Sam_notts
Should I buy one? No
Then how on earth does it get 4 stars? I yes, i remember...
WallMeerkat
Have they improved the
Have they improved the rattling boomy bootlids that seemed to plague early 2013/2014 versions of this generation Octavia?
jamesf1
DSG - iffy?
Having recently evaluated wether to take advantage of Audi PCP deal to switch to an A4 with DSG box, my research revealed various VAG forums which have threads of discussion about hesitation whilst setting off with the DSG gearbox. The upshot is there seems to be a fault which VAG are refusing to acknowledge.
Coincidentaly to my wifes Merc was in the garage last weekend and the hire car she was given was a VW Passat estate TDI with DSG. When I asked what she thought of it she complaned "it didnt set off properly"
Jimrod
jamesf1 wrote:
Something I'd be very wary of with the current A4 is the miniscule 40 litre fuel tank (put in to save weight for emissions/mpg tests - how very VW group...).
reckless fox
DSG
You will always get some people on forums complaining. You need a statistical analysis to know how bad it is which would be useful for Autocar to investigate to see if it exists.
For what it's worth I've had man A6, A7 and Q5 with DSG for 6 years in total so far without a single gearbox issue
legless
reckless fox wrote:
The thing to bear in mind I think is that there are several different gearboxes (and from different manufacturers) all called DSG. The longitudinally-mounted gearbox in the A6, A7 and Q5 is a completely different design to the gearbox in the transverse-mounted models. Not only that, but some models are dry-clutch and others wet-clutch, again with their own characteristics.
legless
"We drive the hatchback version of Skoda's most powerful car"
Most powerful of course only if you ignore the existence of the 280bhp Superb.
Paul73
what the heck is a "loafy"
what the heck is a "loafy" feeling?
bowsersheepdog
Paul73 wrote:
It's only available if you part with enough bread.
I don't need to put my name here, it's on the left
scrap
I'm confused. Autocar says
I'm confused. Autocar says this has the same driveline as the Golf GTI Performance Pack, which has an electro-mechanical diff. But in the review it suggests it has an electronic diff which 'mimics' the actions of a proper one. Which is it?
Pages
Add your comment