Skoda Octavia VRS Estate

[Edward77]

Hi everyone, I've been really impressed by the depth of car knowledge on the forum and want to ask a few questions. Ive read the various reviews online but keen to get some non car journalist perspectives. We are getting a bigger car as the family gets larger and want to go for a recent, but not brand new, Octavia VRS estate from the current generation introduced in 2017. I have test driven a 2L diesel one with an automatic. I was wondering what opinions are on:
- are the 227 and 245 petrol engines much better to drive? The diesel is slower (8 seconds 0-60) but accelerated decently when we tested it on the dual carriageway. We will have relatively low mileage as we live in London so it will be for use at weekends only, hence am relaxed about fuel efficiency
- any issues with the automatic gearbox? I have tried the manual on a non VRS Octavia and was not impressed. The automatic seemed good on the test drive
- is it worth getting it remapped? I know I'd need to declare it to my insurers
- is the Columbus much better for infotainment than the standard Amundsen one?
- any noticeable disadvantages or frustrations anyone has found with one?

Thank you all in advance

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[Mr Pointy]

It's well worth joining this site as the members have a huge amount of information:

https://www.briskoda.net/
https://www.briskoda.net/forums/

[Edward77]

It's well worth joining this site as the members have a huge amount of information:

https://www.briskoda.net/
https://www.briskoda.net/forums/

Thank you, that's very helpful

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[Liner33]

I have owned my 2015 VRS estate since new . It's the petrol tsi with the 6 speed dsg auto . I would advise against the diesel personally my economy is averaging 34-36mpg , we used to average 42-44 mpg out of our previous 2.0 diesel manual. Personally i feel the dsg is better suited to the petrol and the manual to the diesel , it's not a great manual imo

Yes the Columbus is worthwhile as is Canton if you can find one

Ours has been fab just a service every year no issues and its quick enough day to day . Remapping takes them to 300hp or so but I have never felt the need . As a family barge they take a lot of beating imo

[Michael 38]

There has been a lot of problems with the vw group dsg gearbox loads of threads on the net about them ok while they are still under warranty

[trident-7]

I don't know if the Octavia is the same, but I've got a Kodiaq with the DSG gearbox & it is awful. There's very often but not always (say 75% of the time), a lag or dead spot where nothing happens when you depress the accelerator pedal for what seems like an eternity. In reality is probably less than a second. It's like providing power when you ask for it is a last resort for the car. By then, I've depressed the accelerator pedal almost to the floor &, after the initial thinking time, it surges forwards. When I use it in manual it's fine but if I'd have wanted to use manual all the time I'd have bought a car with a clutch & manual gearbox.

[Edward77]

Thanks for all the advice so far

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[jaytip]

I don't know if the Octavia is the same, but I've got a Kodiaq with the DSG gearbox & it is awful. There's very often but not always (say 75% of the time), a lag or dead spot where nothing happens when you depress the accelerator pedal for what seems like an eternity. In reality is probably less than a second. It's like providing power when you ask for it is a last resort for the car. By then, I've depressed the accelerator pedal almost to the floor &, after the initial thinking time, it surges forwards. When I use it in manual it's fine but if I'd have wanted to use manual all the time I'd have bought a car with a clutch & manual gearbox.

Do you drive it in Eco mode? I’ve got a Superb and tend to drive that in Eco mode and acceleration is slow on the uptake. Pop it in sport though and it’s definitely more responsive.

[wotsthecrack]

I don't know if the Octavia is the same, but I've got a Kodiaq with the DSG gearbox & it is awful. There's very often but not always (say 75% of the time), a lag or dead spot where nothing happens when you depress the accelerator pedal for what seems like an eternity. In reality is probably less than a second. It's like providing power when you ask for it is a last resort for the car. By then, I've depressed the accelerator pedal almost to the floor &, after the initial thinking time, it surges forwards. When I use it in manual it's fine but if I'd have wanted to use manual all the time I'd have bought a car with a clutch & manual gearbox.

I've had a Kodiaq with DSG 190 BHP and put it in sport for all journeys, throttle response much better and improved MPG, don't know how that worked. Check out Kodiaq Forum as well as Briskoda

[chicaneuk]

I had an '06 Octavia VRS estate (petrol) - was a fantastic car and I really liked it. Would have another Skoda in a heartbeat. Only problem was oil consumption which I think is something that affected the earlier TFSI engines, and no idea if it's been resolved since. But just something to bear in mind. Needed fairly frequent top ups!

[trident-7]

Do you drive it in Eco mode? I’ve got a Superb and tend to drive that in Eco mode and acceleration is slow on the uptake. Pop it in sport though and it’s definitely more responsive.

It's certainly not as marked using Sport mode. It still feels like I'm riding a horse with elastic reins and that the car is the organ grinder, not the monkey.

[Mr Nuttington]

I'm running a pretty new (3 month old) Octavia hatch at present - Not a VRS unfortunately, a 1.5tsi manual.

Infotainment-wise I have Amundsen combined with Canton. While the Amundsen has a smaller screen that Columbus I do find the physical 'tuning' knob very useful for scrolling through menus quickly while on the move - I'm not sure the larger screen on the Columbus would offset the loss of that knob - everything would have to be done on the touch screen which I find a bit hit or miss over a rough or bouncy surface. I would caution though that I believe there are a number of different 'Amundsen' units out there with different screens and abilities, depending on age, so check out the functionality (ability to play FLAC, that sort of thing) of the particular one you are looking at if its important to you. There are mixed opinions online regarding the Canton sound but it is worth seeking out in my opinion if you like your music, so long as you feed it a decent low or zero loss source. I would describe it as a grown-up balanced sound rather than something thumpy to impress the yoof on a Saturday night, but the overall resolution and imaging is pretty good to my tired lugs.

One thing I have been disappointed with (coming from a 2016 Audi A4) is the amount of road noise in the cabin, particularly on concrete motorway surfaces. I understand this is largely as a result of the 'old school' torsion beam rear suspension rather than the multi-link setup in the A4 and it's worth noting that I am running on 16" wheels and fat tyres; I guess it would be worse with VRS wheels and low profile rubber band tyres but I don't know. I think I read somewhere that some Octavias actually have a multi link rear end but I don't know which particular models I'm afraid.

Overall I'm pretty pleased with mine - It's certainly a step down in overall 'quality of feel' from the Audi and BMW that preceded it, but then the cost reflects that. And people let me out of side roads a lot more often that they ever did when I was in the 'premium' marques.

[Edward77]

I'm running a pretty new (3 month old) Octavia hatch at present - Not a VRS unfortunately, a 1.5tsi manual.

Infotainment-wise I have Amundsen combined with Canton. While the Amundsen has a smaller screen that Columbus I do find the physical 'tuning' knob very useful for scrolling through menus quickly while on the move - I'm not sure the larger screen on the Columbus would offset the loss of that knob - everything would have to be done on the touch screen which I find a bit hit or miss over a rough or bouncy surface. I would caution though that I believe there are a number of different 'Amundsen' units out there with different screens and abilities, depending on age, so check out the functionality (ability to play FLAC, that sort of thing) of the particular one you are looking at if its important to you. There are mixed opinions online regarding the Canton sound but it is worth seeking out in my opinion if you like your music, so long as you feed it a decent low or zero loss source. I would describe it as a grown-up balanced sound rather than something thumpy to impress the yoof on a Saturday night, but the overall resolution and imaging is pretty good to my tired lugs.

One thing I have been disappointed with (coming from a 2016 Audi A4) is the amount of road noise in the cabin, particularly on concrete motorway surfaces. I understand this is largely as a result of the 'old school' torsion beam rear suspension rather than the multi-link setup in the A4 and it's worth noting that I am running on 16" wheels and fat tyres; I guess it would be worse with VRS wheels and low profile rubber band tyres but I don't know. I think I read somewhere that some Octavias actually have a multi link rear end but I don't know which particular models I'm afraid.

Overall I'm pretty pleased with mine - It's certainly a step down in overall 'quality of feel' from the Audi and BMW that preceded it, but then the cost reflects that. And people let me out of side roads a lot more often that they ever did when I was in the 'premium' marques.

Thank you. That's extremely helpful as the choice has come down to A4 v Octavia.

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[demonloop]

I’m in the VRS 245 estate with DSG box. Great to drive, goes as fast you probably need, loads of room and enough gadgets for me. The only complaint is that the ride can be a bit solid, but the seats are good. There’s an option (dynamic ride something or other) that is meant to make it better but I didn’t pay for it (lease car)

Overall very pleased with it.

[Irish boy]

Since it hasn’t been stated so far, for lower mileage use and shorter runs go for the petrol as otherwise you’ll hit dpf problems. And yes the petrol will also provide a sportier drive and feel lighter on its feet.

[njr911]

I’m in the VRS 245 estate with DSG box. Great to drive, goes as fast you probably need, loads of room and enough gadgets for me. The only complaint is that the ride can be a bit solid, but the seats are good. There’s an option (dynamic ride something or other) that is meant to make it better but I didn’t pay for it (lease car)

Overall very pleased with it.

I have the same :up only good things to report

[yumma]

Just to chime in, my wife had an Audi Q5 with the 2.0 TSFi engine and DSG gearbox (211bhp) but basically the same VAG motor used in VW's, Audi's, Skoda's and Seat's. The engine went pop at 70k and was a catastrophic failure needing a £5k top end rebuild (at an independent specialist who said this was not uncommon!). It's a great shame as it was a great engine and gearbox whilst it worked, but it has rather scared me off VAG products.

[Edward77]

Since it hasn’t been stated so far, for lower mileage use and shorter runs go for the petrol as otherwise you’ll hit dpf problems. And yes the petrol will also provide a sportier drive and feel lighter on its feet.

Thanks. I've decided to focus on petrol only exactly for the dpf reason. My mileage should mean higher fuel is offset by lower maintenance

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