… Skoda Octavia vRS …
When I first clapped eyes on the Skoda Octavia vRS I wasn’t sure about the colour. Skoda call it ‘Meteor Grey’ but probably the kindest comment I heard was it looked like polished primer or more unkindly was asked, what colour will it be once you’ve painted it? Nor did I like the alloy wheels. Call me a traditionalist if you like, but I prefer spokes, proper spokes, not hexagons linking hub and rim.
Still, one has to do what one has to do, so I plonked myself down in the driver’s seat. Nice. It was really comfy and very quick to set up in my preferred driving position. Then I fired up the 227bhp, 2 litre motor and went for a drive. Even nicer.
Time to go for a run then. Not just any old run. The Skoda was pointed north towards Blairgowrie and Glenshee through Braemar and turning left to Tomintoul. With very few tourists about, the only real hazard was watching out for folks praying at the side of the road, no not jihadists, just hardened skiers and frostbitten snowboarders praying for more frozen flurries of mountain dandruff.
It’s a great road on which to enjoy any sporting car and also to find out how the suspension copes with bumps and cambers, tight bends, fast open sweepers and also how the brakes cope with stupid sheep, and there were a few about.
It was on the return journey that I switched from ‘Normal’ mode to ‘Sport’ through the mode selector options on the central dashboard touchscreen panel, and what a difference. It wasn’t huge but it was noticeable. The suspension firmed up as did the steering and the engine response was a bit sharper. The exhaust note also got a bit more threatening.
That was a great run. Nothing fazed the surefooted Octavia and although it is physically quite a big car, it didn’t feel it inside. Although I was reminded of how big it was trying to get past a foreign registered car. It couldn’t make up its mind which side of the road it should be on because of the lack of road marking white lines! Dumkopf.
Seriously though, this was a most enjoyable way to dispatch the miles on a great road. It’s no track car and there was no sling-shot effect between corners just satisfying surges of power as and when needed. Aided by VW’s electronic ‘LSD’ the front wheels coped with the power and enhanced the traction inspiring a feeling of planted solidity through the corners. It also provided complete reassurance when the four legged woolly jumpers wanted to cross the road. It’s geared for 150mph plus and will address the 0-60 sprint in just under 7 seconds so it’s not so much hot-hatch, more warm-estate.
With that in mind, and the huge space in the boot with the ear seats down, this would make the ideal chase/management car on rallies. Less conspicuous than large 4x4s and vans, this could swallow a full set of wheels and tyres plus trolley jacks and toolbox. With the rear seats up, this is a roomy 4/5 seater and still has a huge boot space
It’s one of those cars that is easy to live with, but one would have to resist the constant nagging need to switch to ‘Sport’ mode, it’s just so addictive. There is also an ‘Eco’ mode which softens things up further and an ‘Individual’ mode where the driver can play about with settings to suit him/herself.
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The basic car costs £27,550 but the Meteor Grey paint finish added £360 and there was a comforting spacesaver wheel at £100 inside the boot. Much better than the glue and blow job that is becoming more standard these days, and also a more practical option for rural roads in empty landscapes. Skoda claims 44mpg in the official lab tests but I was perfectly happy with 38mpg in amongst the Scottish mountains.
A car for all reasons, work, rest and play. If you want a tarmac terrorist this isn’t it, but if you want a fast and comfortable cruiser it’s hard to beat. I liked it. I really liked it a lot. Would I have one? In this case, a silly question. And you know what, I even started to like the colour. Still not sure about those wheels though!