Guile1

Hi Guys,

Maybe someone with experience can help.

I currently own a 05 Skoda Oct VRS (1.8t 180bhp), It's a mint car with 32k on the clock and i really enjoy driving it.

I chose the Octavia because its grown up (things change when your 30 )

The problem is I'm starting to enjoy car maintenance and its slowly developing into a hobby (I have even booked myself a evening class).

The problem is the Octavia is hard to work on, it's big, heavy, parts are expensive (VW parts bin), everything is over engineered and you need three tools just to take off a mirror

Everything is electronic - take the seat out = warning light on the dash

take the steering wheel off = warning light on dash

fit air intakes = car goes into limp mode

you catch my drift :

I have recently been thinking of trading the VRS for a fiesta ST (150bhp).... for a number of reasons

- The fiesta would make a fun track day car (I guess)
- I assume it's easier to work on
- it's just as invisible as the Skoda
- Things are cheaper and it's easier to take apart


Does anyone see the method in the madness OR am I being a tool (i have ruled out a 182 clio bacuse i have heard they are hard to work on AND unreliable)


Any input would be apprciated, maybe my theory is totally wrong!

Ohh and being 30 driving a fiesta hmmmm i'm not so sure

Petr

LHD220Turbo

iTrader: (4)

the Skoda VRS is an awesome car, personally i'd never swap it for a Fiesta ST.

also, i would never have a daily driver and take it on the track too, you are better off keeping the Skoda and buy a cheap track toy whereby you can fiddle around with.

incidentally the clio 172 & 182's make awesome track cars and are reliable.

if your budget doesnt strech that far, buy a pug 205 gti and use it as a track car (i'd love a 205 fitted with a gti-6 engine). plenty of track cars for sale on pistonheads/ ebay

RichieST

iTrader: (2)

Sounds like a good plan. The VRS's are supposed to be very good cars, just a shame they are styled on my Zanussi washing machine.

The ST's are pretty easy to work on, loads of spares available as they share engines with the 2.0 mondeo. Quite a light weight engine as its an aluminuim bottom end and they respond well to a bit of tuning, slap a set of throttle bodies on it and it will totally transform the car!

Guile1

hey LHD,

Thanks mate, i think deep down I agree with you (I just needed confirmation)

im thinking saving up for a 172 - 182 toy....

although both arguments have a strong case (see rich 170)

rs-tuner

iTrader: (1)

Keep the skoda all new cars are the same nowerdays. I worked at skoda for 7 years they are by far one of the easiest cars to work on and will take alot of abuse.I'm building a leon cupra track car at the moment there pretty much the same car just a different body.

Saaamon

iTrader: (2)

Buy a 172 + trailer. Driving cars to and from trackdays is not ideal, its likely something will break and you'll be left with the problem of getting your car back. A good earlier 172 can be had for Ł2k'ish and a useable trailer from Ł700+.

Dicko&Vacant

iTrader: (3)

octavia vrs will make a miles better track car then a fiesta imo they handle superb in standard form and even better with a decent suspension setup, there not that hard to work on tbh mate things like tremoving turbo is a pain in the arse though.

rs-tuner

iTrader: (1)

There a bit tight. But at least every bolt becomes undone and doesent snap off in the head lol

juddzey455

Removing the seats, steering wheel is'nt a proplem on skodas,vw's, audis if you don't turn on the ignition, turning the ignition on with a airbag disconected will throw the light up

MrBroadside

One car I miss is my Octavia VRS no way would I go for an ST over it, had mine remapped, filter, exhaust, went really well, keep it pal

dakar

iTrader: (1)

Got a vrs too,longest i have ever kept a car and has been my most reliable motor .I would hang on to it

vaughant

iTrader: (1)

Like the fiesta St but would certainly do as a few have said above,shove a towbar on the vrs,nice trailer and pretty much anything that suits the trackday scene.I personally detest French shite as they break so easily and are totally shit to work on,although many on here disagree.it's up to you what you want really but don't wreck your daily driver on the track.I've always thought a nice mr2 173bhp version would do well round a track.pretty tough motors but not easy to work on,although you learn more that way IMHO.

Saaamon

iTrader: (2)

French is ok, cheap when the break but they do break often. My trackday VTS broke the other day on track, camshaft pulley snapped .

1.9 xr2 on 40's

1st thing, get it mapped , then go from there

i have a leon cupra and its mapped

www.seatcupra.net

loads of info there, there a vrs in a local scrappers i may go rape for some bits

vaughant

iTrader: (1)

Gutted!!just going on what we see in the workshop all the time,clios seem to blow a coilpack weekly!!!when it went cold,my sprayers Clio just refused to start,turn over for about 5 seconds and just stop,no starter coming in.put a booster on it,left it 5 minutes,same,tried it again,started fine?WTF!!!have heard they make great track day stuff but have never done a trackdaybso wouldn't know!!!

Saaamon

iTrader: (2)

Yeah french stuff is good for trackday, done a day in my mates r26 and was very impressed, just felt lacking in power when compared with corner speeds.

That was reliable but only had 3-4k on the clock

smithy20vt

If your interested get a copy of VAG Com you can get leads from Gendan for less than Ł30 and a shareware version of Vag Com from Ross Tech, you can then run fault code checks and clear any errors, also you can run data logging too, so you can check N75 duty cycles and MAF Values etc,

As has been said get a turbo back exhuast, a panel filter and a front mount and with a stage 2 map you will see 230 - 240 bhp out of your Ko3s turbo,

Theres a guy on here Furry who runs a VRS as his track car

furry

I have a vrs and love it!

Bought it in 2005 to replace the escos.
Done 145k and so far this year I've done 2 uk track days and a 1200mile weekend round trip to the ring and didn't miss a beat. Certainly won't be getting rid of it in the near future that's for sure!!!

stevos

I had an octavia vrs for two years and loved it, had a blue flame cat back piper cross air filter baily dump valve and mine nevr threw up any fault codes. had to do a few minor repairs on it but i found the parts to be pretty cheap for it.
Good owners club is BRISKODA.NET good bunch of guys on there.
I now have a clio 172 and its a great wee car takes a hell of allot of abuse from me and keeps going, sure build quality isnt as good and there is a few rattles but they handle well and go alot better than a fiesta st.

nick8saff

Iv just done a deal on my focus rs with a octavia vrs and have to say its alot better than i thought it would be. Its got a bmc on it, pro alloy front mount, spax coilovers, Miltek exhaust, r32 rollbar, remapped and a few other bits and it goes really well and still nice and tight. Nothing like the focus but a good allround car. Il get some pics up later

nick8saff

cabrio zo

Stick with the vRS

Mines done 140k, still made 182bhp and 184 lb ft on the rollers Saturday (standard obviously)

Another guy had bought an Octavia 1.8T, put the Cupra R BAM engine in, got 229bhp on the rollers, standard - sure he'd gone on to uprate suspension etc (was to be used for a track car) http://briskoda.net/forums/blog/14-t...tavia-lk-blog/

Wouldn't want to take it on track regularly as chance it could ruin it, not everyone can have the luxury of a dedicated track car though!

for parts, GSF or Eurocar parts

STAFFY OWNER

What made you trade in a Focus RS for an Octavia VRS? Don't get me wrong mate i'm not asking this question in an arsey tone as i like both cars just curious as i am hoping to get an FRS if i can get my house sold soon. Also how do the 2 cars compare with each other?

Cheers mate.

cabrio zo

Before bought my vRS test drove a FRS, lovely car, but for an everyday car I personally found the vRS more inconspicuous (so not worried too much about leaving it in a car park) economical, cheaper to insure, practical, good all rounder (and cheaper to purchase!) - of course usually have a 'toy' car in the garage too though
of course the FRS is more of a performance car with more bhp, sportier looks/feel etc, two different animals really, but the vRS are very capable car

STAFFY OWNER

Cheers for that info mate. As i said before, i like both cars and i'm sure either would be a vast improvement over my existing Mondeo rat car (it's not intended to be a rat car it just is one lol).

W17GLE

I've had two clio 172's and would have another they are great cars and pretty easy to work on. Get a Ł1500 ph1 and use your new found mechanic skills getting it in tip top condition. More than likely you'll have to change engine mounts at a bare minimum on one at that price range. They are quite a bit quicker than a fiesta st in standard form.

nick8saff

To free up some cash for house as i have a baby on the way plus its got 5 doors and more easy for the misses than a three door to get baby in and out.
Cant really compare it to the focus as its was purely driver focused but i used it daily for 3 years and it never missed a beat. Really miss it but a guy from work has it now and really looks after his cars so might buy it back one day