What to replace the VRS with...

Bif

Having driven and liked my Mk2 Octavia VRS TDI for a good few years the time has come to think about replacing it. I would like something with at least the same power, similar handling, as much space, auto, hatchback or estate but more refined than the VRS in terms of comfort, noise and equipment. What would you recommend? I drove the newer VRS a while ago and didn't like the noise levels, interior or choppy ride. Suggestions please! Thanks.

bazz26

Golf GTD?

If you want extra refinement then your probably looking at the next class up like a Passat or Superb but they won't handle like vRS type warm hatches.

bazz26

And around 53k to boot.

mloc123

Bif wrote: »

Having driven and liked my Mk2 Octavia VRS TDI for a good few years the time has come to think about replacing it. I would like something with at least the same power, similar handling, as much space, auto, hatchback or estate but more refined than the VRS in terms of comfort, noise and equipment. What would you recommend? I drove the newer VRS a while ago and didn't like the noise levels, interior or choppy ride. Suggestions please! Thanks.

What budget? Size wise... maybe a Leon ST... Cupra? I have not driven one, the interior always put me off as it didn't look as nice as VW/Skoda.

kooga

import a golf r estate from the UK

declan123

Volvo v40, v60 or s60. They are quieter and more refined than the VRS and well put together, D4 variant puts out 190BPH so no slouch either

Bif

Thanks for the replies. I was thinking about a 3 series or c class estate ...maybe 2/3 years old? Need to start driving a few cars!

166man

bazz26 wrote: »

And around 53k to boot.

Utter madness really!

OP the newer Volvos are really good. I'd look at a V60 D4.

Brian Scan

166man wrote: »

This is exactly why I can't stand this forum and so rarely post on it these days.

I said it's no doubt a nice car. I'm sure it's fast, comfortable and refined. I didn't "run" down his car, in fact I just find the price of it absolutely mad!

That's NOTHING against the poster, that's a comment relating to the PRICE of it. Can you read that?

I know you drive some 4 pot Audi so of course you're king of the road, but if you'd get down off your high horse there, I actually get on well with 90% of people on this forum.

Did you read that word? Yes this is a forum, where people have DIFFERENT opinions.

It no doubt is a sleeper, without question, but it's still €50k and in my "opinion" that is such a huge amount of money.

You're the one with the attitude problem here, Sir.

OSI wrote: »

Superb Sportline. 280BHP, 4WD, Auto and as refined as the regular Superb.

bazz26 wrote: »

And around 53k to boot.

166man wrote: »

Utter madness really!

OP the newer Volvos are really good. I'd look at a V60 D4.

Still stirring the 4 pots?

AMKC

Renault Megane GT 205 is an option. Thats 205hp from a 1.6 by the way. It also comes with 4 wheel steer. Stunning car.

Honda Civic Type R only like 40 or 50k. Ok maybe not but it is an awesome car.

166man

Brian Scan wrote: »

Still stirring the 4 pots?

Nice try.

Not sure why you went back through my posts to bring that up though - nothing better to do I'm guessing.

Anyway, €53k for a Skoda is nuts, and I stand by my earlier comment, and it appears others have the same sentiment.

Why don't you contribute something useful to the OP?

Mr Chuckles

Bif wrote: »

Thanks for the replies. I was thinking about a 3 series or c class estate ...maybe 2/3 years old? Need to start driving a few cars!

A lot of garages are importing estates from the UK, as they are popular there. Should be a good selection to chose from.

mloc123

166man wrote: »

Nice try.

Not sure why you went back through my posts to bring that up though - nothing better to do I'm guessing.

Anyway, €53k for a Skoda is nuts, and I stand by my earlier comment, and it appears others have the same sentiment.

Why don't you contribute something useful to the OP?

No doubt people thought the same about your 166 when it was bought new... overpriced, bad depreciation and all the rest. Luckily for you somebody saw beyond 'sensible' and bought it.

OP - I assume you are comparing to a diesel VRS, in which case maybe take a look at Mazda 6.. although I think the cabin will be noisier than the Octavia. A budget would help people pick out better suited cars too.

ShadowHearth

166man wrote: »

Nice try.

Not sure why you went back through my posts to bring that up though - nothing better to do I'm guessing.

Anyway, €53k for a Skoda is nuts, and I stand by my earlier comment, and it appears others have the same sentiment.

Why don't you contribute something useful to the OP?

Actually I kind of had an argument with fellas at work. We are all car nuts, but with our own preferences. I like small, but powerful petrol, another one likes big cars, but with only highest specs, the last one is pure jag or bmw head, and when I talk bmw/jag head, he had 750i and other 7 series, xjs etc. Now he switched to jags and drives xf.
So they were laughing about 50k skoda. Like why would you pay 50k for a skoda! You can get new jag for that!
I said: well, that 50k skoda is superb, 4x4, 280hp petrol engine and full spec. Basically everything that you want. For 50k you would get a 2l diesel jag with basic trim. I know if I had 50k I would spend it on that skoda, not jag. They both looked at me like I am an idiot.

Maybe not as helpful to op, but I wouldnt be a brand snob. Ffs I drive seat, and I never though I will ever drive a car made by a Spanish fella. :pac: You can get better spec cars for a,way better price if you dont look down on the badge.

Bif

ShadowHearth wrote: »

Actually I kind of had an argument with fellas at work. We are all car nuts, but with our own preferences. I like small, but powerful petrol, another one likes big cars, but with only highest specs, the last one is pure jag or bmw head, and when I talk bmw/jag head, he had 750i and other 7 series, xjs etc. Now he switched to jags and drives xf.
So they were laughing about 50k skoda. Like why would you pay 50k for a skoda! You can get new jag for that!
I said: well, that 50k skoda is superb, 4x4, 280hp petrol engine and full spec. Basically everything that you want. For 50k you would get a 2l diesel jag with basic trim. I know if I had 50k I would spend it on that skoda, not jag. They both looked at me like I am an idiot.

Maybe not as helpful to op, but I wouldnt be a brand snob. Ffs I drive seat, and I never though I will ever drive a car made by a Spanish fella. :pac: You can get better spec cars for a,way better price if you dont look down on the badge.

Not a badge snob at all as I have had Skodas since 2003. However I am looking for refinement with nice interior in an Octavia sized car. 53k out of my budget though!

Pkiernan

2013 or 2014 Mercedes CLS 350D AMG.

Blazer

bring in a 161 BMW 330e from the UK for around 26K cleared.
Or go for a 530D touring...loads of them in the UK.

mloc123

Blazer wrote: »

bring in a 161 BMW 330e from the UK for around 26K cleared.
Or go for a 530D touring...loads of them in the UK.

Would you really get a 330e for 26k? They are still about 40k here?

Pkiernan

mloc123 wrote: »

Would you really get a 330e for 26k? They are still about 40k here?

The cheapest 330e on AutoTrader is 22k sterling. Can't see how you could land one here for 26k euro

mloc123

Pkiernan wrote: »

The cheapest 330e on AutoTrader is 22k sterling. Can't see how you could land one here for 26k euro

22k sterling is 25k euro.. plus flights/ferry and VRT. More like 31/32k cleared?

Blazer

there was a discussion on the 330e thread and they reckon with the low vrt etc for it, it would come in at approx 26k.
hell of a deal if so.

just checked and vrt is 2.5K on a 1 year old jul 16 330e..nothing wrong with that.

Blazer

mloc123 wrote: »

Would you really get a 330e for 26k? They are still about 40k here?

because the dealers are scamming..new is only around 42k for msport with the grants yet you see 2nd hand ones going for 40-45k on their sites.

166man

mloc123 wrote: »

No doubt people thought the same about your 166 when it was bought new... overpriced, bad depreciation and all the rest. Luckily for you somebody saw beyond 'sensible' and bought it.

OP - I assume you are comparing to a diesel VRS, in which case maybe take a look at Mazda 6.. although I think the cabin will be noisier than the Octavia. A budget would help people pick out better suited cars too.

Alfa Romeo was never marketed as a budget brand and as such could justify the asking price for a 166 - given it rivalled the BMW 5 Series benchmark.

Skoda is a "budget brand" and as such, €53k for one, is mental.

166man

166man wrote: »

Alfa Romeo was never marketed as a budget brand and as such could justify the asking price for a 166 - given it rivalled the BMW 5 Series benchmark.

Skoda is a "budget brand" and as such, €53k for one, is mental.

Surely they were cheaper than BMW. Petrol 156s were popular as repmobiles in Ireland back in the 90s. They rivalled the likes of the Vectra, Carina & Avensis though not the 3 series.

I don't think folk in BMW Ireland were overly worried about the 166.... my boss had one in 2001.... boat of a thing to drive.

JoeA3

166man wrote: »

Alfa Romeo was never marketed as a budget brand and as such could justify the asking price for a 166 - given it rivalled the BMW 5 Series benchmark.

Skoda is a "budget brand" and as such, €53k for one, is mental.

Every 2nd sales Rep in the country was in a 156 back in 00/01. The "VRS" of the day. Unfortunateky though the vast majority of them didn't survive far beyond their lease period I reckon.

166man

Augeo wrote: »

Surely they were cheaper than BMW. Petrol 156s were popular as repmobiles in Ireland back in the 90s. They rivalled the likes of the Vectra, Carina & Avensis though not the 3 series.

I don't think folk in BMW Ireland were overly worried about the 166.... my boss had one in 2001.... boat of a thing to drive.

I wish to stress I don't want to bring this thread off topic and this will be the only reply I make here.

Petrol 156's were common alright in the early noughties because people liked them. They weren't hugely cheaper than an equivalent 3 Series (must check the original invoice I have at home).

166 was right up there with the price of the 5 Series and actually a better car, but of course you won't believe that.

JoeA3 wrote: »

Every 2nd sales Rep in the country was in a 156 back in 00/01. The "VRS" of the day. Unfortunateky though the vast majority of them didn't survive far beyond their lease period I reckon.

Most didn't get past their lease period because of a lack of care. After the first year Alfa revised the timing belt interval from 72k miles to 36k miles.

Do you think anyone listened?

166man

166man wrote: »

I wish to stress I don't want to bring this thread off topic and this will be the only reply I make here.

Petrol 156's were common alright in the early noughties because people liked them. They weren't hugely cheaper than an equivalent 3 Series (must check the original invoice I have at home).

166 was right up there with the price of the 5 Series and actually a better car, but of course you won't believe that. .................

166s were a better car than the 5 series (it competed with the E39 and for 3 years the E60) ?? Are you having a laugh?

Soooooooooooo anyway, 156 common as people liked them, if the 166 was a better car than the 5 and not more expensive people must have hated the fnckers as only a tiny number were sold

166man wrote: »

................


Most didn't get past their lease period because of a lack of care. After the first year Alfa revised the timing belt interval from 72k miles to 36k miles.

Do you think anyone listened?

Ah stop, the dealer network was full of troublesome ones that were serviced on schedule. Grandons in Cork service dept used to be door to door with them while the sales folk were telling people in the showroom the reliability issues were a thing of the past.

Bif

Folks,
To update this thread....I'm still looking to replace the VRS but it looks like I have it sold privately so game on. My attention has wandered to importing a 2017 Lexus IS300h hybrid as a replacement for the VRS TDI? I would prefer a hatchback or an estate but want a more refined drive than the VRS without losing the economy, poke, handling, braking etc. of the VRS. Other possibilities include an A4 Avant, possibly quattro, but like the idea of leaving diesel...I do 30k kms a year. All opinion welcome.

GustavoFring

Superb Sportline? Addresses the main issues I had with the mk2 and to a lesser extent the mk3 - refinement, ride and build quality. 190 feels the same poke wise as the VRS 184, much better spec and economy is on a par.

It's very much a cruiser though and a lot softer than the VRS.

The IS300h is a relaxing drive.... great bus IMO. Totally different to a VRS.

Incomparable to a diesel in terms of refinement..... torque junkies don't seem to like the CVT / hybrid mix though.

Feels slower than a 200 ish bhp diesel but isn't really and as good if not better handling than a VRS

ba_barabus

Augeo wrote: »

The IS300h is a relaxing drive.... great bus IMO. Totally different to a VRS.

Incomparable to a diesel in terms of refinement..... torque junkies don't seem to like the CVT / hybrid mix though.

Feels slower than a 200 ish bhp diesel but isn't really and as good if not better handling than a VRS

My only bug bear with the IS300H is the fuel economy. It's great for a 2.5l petrol but in comparison to a diesel you'd surely feel it in the pocket.

Don't get me wrong I'd love one but that's my biggest bug bear about them

Over 30k kms / annum I reckon one would be OK.
No DMF, DPF etc too. No timing belt....rock solid 4 cyl engine. A genuine oil, filters, plugs & tyres type car

ba_barabus

Augeo wrote: »

Over 30k kms / annum I reckon one would be OK.
No DMF, DPF etc too. No timing belt....rock solid 4 cyl engine. A genuine oil, filters, plugs & tyres type car

Already being given to me by my Toyota Appliance d4d

Great to hear, but their presence alone presents the chance that they might fail at some point
The IS offers incomparable refinement IMO to any 4 cyl diesel.

ba_barabus

Augeo wrote: »

Great to hear, but their presence alone presents the chance that they might fail at some point
The IS offers incomparable refinement IMO to any 4 cyl diesel.

I absolutely agree about the refinement. I'd love one for that alone.