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“I already own a 2001 Octavia vRS and have had it since...”

written by jazzRS360 on 19/03/2006

Good Points
2.0T Engine is a gem, practical, stylish, well equipped and superb quality, 197bhp and just under 150mph. Cheaper than the Golf GTi.

Bad Points
Handsome, but it looks softer than the older model, not as sharp to drive hard as the Golf GTi. More expensive then before- why?

General Comments
I already own a 2001 Octavia vRS and have had it since new. Having already covered over 91,000 miles, I still think it's amazing. However, this is a review for the new 2.0T FSi engined Octavia vRS, which I have been interested in buying as a replacement. After three in depth test drives, I have decided no, and here is why...

It looks decent, as predicted. It has a pleasing shape, the usual subtle body mods. However, I can't help feeling that some of the older model's macho look has gone. The newer one seems to be visually softer and less purposeful. Now I know few will buy a sporty Octavia for glamour, but I do think this time around, Skoda could have been a little more adventurous with the looks, especially when you consider how the market has evolved and become harder.

On the road the new vRS is pleasing to drive. The chassis is great- throw it into corners and it really grips well and offers feedback, although the steering could be slightly more forceful. At low speeds it is quiet and composed, but when the revs mount, you do feel the 200bhp really thumping you forward. Needless to say the vRS is devilishly quick, and I reckon once the engine has a good few thousand miles under it's belt it will be a real killer. In a straight it doesn't feel much quicker then my 1.8T model, but this 2.0T engine sounds a lot better (the older 1.8T was awesome but too quiet). 0-60mph is supposed to take 7.3 seconds, although once the engine racks up miles and is fed super on a rugular basis, I think it could be possibly a little quicker, although thats my opinion only, and top end it's good for around 150mph.

Fuel economy is good as expected, and like the older one, it is well equipped and feels like it's built to last.

Overall it is plusher and more powerful than the older 1.8T vRS, but little else. And that is the problem. It costs £2.5k more then what I payed for my vRS back in 2001. And at the time I brought mine, the market wasn't particularly fierce: Golf GTi (150bhp, overpriced) Renaultsport Clio (172bhp, crampt and patchy quality), Focus ST (170bhp, good chassis but not enough torque to compete) and Leon Cupra (180bhp, only real comparison, but not as purposeful as the vRS), MG ZS180 (good chassis, grunty engine and tacky quality) and the vRS seemed to be the best for the pound. It was an easy choice for me. Top Gear seemed to agree as it went up against the MG and VW Bora in a grouptest and trounced them both.

For the newer vRS, you have the Golf GTi, same engine, better quality and more money, the Focus ST (same price but noticably quicker) and Astra VXR (suspect quality but fierce looks and extremily powerful). The new vRS suddenly seems overwhelmed by the competition.

In conclusion, the old vRS was the champion of it's day, a real £15k killer. The newer model, while acting as an modest evolution of the older one, is now more expensive. Skoda have thrown away the bargain price which made their last model such a hands down choice. The new one is no longer a jaw-dropping bargain the last one was, and that's a shame even if it is still very well priced. If it cost about £15k, it would be just like the older one- untouchable at the money. But for some reason, while Ford have axed the price of their premium Focus from around £21k (RS Focus 212bhp) to just £17.5k (ST Focus with 220+bhp) Skoda have done the opposite.

The new one strays into newer territory, and sadly, while I think it's still a superb car, I also feel that it no longer shines above the competition in the way the older, cheaper one did. It will still do well, and it should do because it's still one amazing machine, but it's no longer king.

So for the time being, I'm sticking to my trusty 2001 model; 91000 on the clock and it feels as fit and as fast as ever.

In it's own context, it's still the boss.