90% Sure on new car now! Not what I expected!

Randell Floyd · 8 Mar 2006 at 15:57

Well I was speaking to some friends about the DC5 or S2K thing, and one of them being the typical rep came out with the Skoda VRS thing. His other car being a 400bhp STi I thought he was joking when he said it was a superb car, with great power and tourqe standard, and super when chipped.

So being bored today we both went for a drive and passed one of the local big car firms, unknown they now have a Skoda garage!

Destiny must have been around as they have a VRS that I could take a look and drive on the spot.

http://www.slaters.com/kcom/ucl/response.asp?querytype=7&vscoid=10&magic=28468

What can I say! Superb all round car.

The power is superb ( coming from a ITR ) for what I was expecting ( it's 180bhp of diesel powaaa! ) and with the chip it should be plenty to keep me happy ( well exhasut and filter are a must ). The handling isn't anywere near the Teg but thats too be expected, but it wasnt as soft as some people say, same goes for the brakes.

The interior is of course VAG quality, the leather looks superb! Postion was a little high, but I'm sure theres a height changer somewere.

Overall they offerd a decent part ex for my other car ( dead on glass book ), but they didn't seem so happy to shift from the £9500 too £9k as I told them I had another one at another delear that was priced at 9 ( theres isnt really ).

The guy in charge was out on his brand new Haybusa so I told him too give me a bell when he did, and another guy walked in and asked for a test drive for the car!

So what are peoples thought on the price?
Badge snobs take a test drive!

Randell Floyd · 8 Mar 2006 at 16:12

Scottland said:
Thats my local Skoda place Only live 2 miles down the road.

Slaters are typical Dealer prices, but my family have used them for years and find them very good as a dealer.

I'm in Bangor, never new slaters had a skoda, and didn't knwo Threways was there either!

Randell Floyd · 8 Mar 2006 at 16:14

lordrobs said:
What was the age and milage, any optional extras?

2003 ( 53 ) , 1 owner, 38k miles, full Skoda history from the that garage. Not sure what optional or not too be honest at the moment!

Randell Floyd · 8 Mar 2006 at 16:17

Del Lardo said:
Sure it's a very nice car but he S2000 & ITR are going to be in another league when it comes to driver involvement. It really depends on what you want from a car. Do you want a comfortable car that can go reasonably quickly or do you want a sports car? Also do not underestimate how much fun top down motoring is, since I tried it I can see no good reason to ever go back to a tin top.

The two Honda's would mean 6k finance, the Skoda would mean me paying for it straight off. Also running cost for 2 years means when my Shares from work come out I will have a fair few thousands more too play with on top.

Randell Floyd · 8 Mar 2006 at 16:22

Why im gods name did I think it was a diesel :confused:

? Do they do a diesel VRS? Im sure my mate gets nearly 40mpg on a 65% motoway use?

Even better if it's a petrol!

For my defence I didn't hear the car startup and it's very quiet once inside! ( and the fact there where some new STi reving in the garage next door....honesty! )

Randell Floyd · 8 Mar 2006 at 16:25

Del Lardo said:
After the ITR it probably felt like a diesel

Thanks for the save!

Was out in a work friend Elise the other day, if I could actually get in and out of it, and it wasn't a Lotus I would buy one

Saying that he hasnt had any trouble, bar getting the underside off when a bold snapped :eek:

Randell Floyd · 8 Mar 2006 at 17:42

Scottland said:
Where did you take it out for a drive? I know a nice route about 5 mins from there where you can really get a feel for what it's like.

Not sure where it's called but it was straight from the roundabout and then a nice sweeping run towards the next roundabout.

Just had a call back and they won't shift from the £9500 price tag as he said that the part ex value is higher than it should be.

Randell Floyd · 8 Mar 2006 at 18:15

Scottland said:
If you end up taking it out again for an extended test drive (), head into Abergele town, take a left turn at the traffic lights (sign posted A548 Llanwrst, LlanfairTH etc) and follow the road. About 5 mins down the road it a much better drive, but at the same time the roads are plenty wide enough and there's places to turn around. If you went all the way upto Llanwrst and back it would take you about 30-40 mins.

As for the price, well if it's any relevance, Mitchell's Skoda Chester have a VRS in on an 03 plate for £9995.

Thats only what I drove, the guy drove it for around 20 minutes before I had a go.

If I had my way it would be straight too Betws > Beddgelert > Caernarfon > Llanberis as thats my usual haunt with the Teg!

Randell Floyd · 8 Mar 2006 at 19:21

Del Lardo said:
No probs

You could always go for a VX220, it's a Vauxhall I managed to get the hang of getting in and out of mine within a few days and at the time I was 6 foot and 15-16 stone (bit lighter now ) Just outta interest how old are you, no claims, points, etc?

Insurance renweal due in couple of months and it will be

25yo/full 7 years no claims/0 points but 3 points ts20 ( capel curig, good story! ) 01/03 but have too declare.

Tesco staff insurance, modded VRS would be £500 protected.

Randell Floyd · 8 Mar 2006 at 20:39

Del Lardo said:
Alas I fear that that insurance quote will make the decision for you.

I'm 25 with 5 years no claims, 1 x SP30, living in a low risk area and I'm currently paying £980 on a modified S1 Elise. For a VX (un-modified) I'd be looking at £800 and for an S2000 £1400!!!

I phoned them up for a quote on the S2000 and it was a rather decent £980, most other weighing in around £1200.
Back when I was 21 with the ITR it was around £1200 for the first year, second being closer too £900. It's not so bad when you have the free option of monthly payments instead of a yearly one.

Must admint the low insurance quote for the VRS is also very tempting, getting around £10k from shares in two years kind of leaves me feeling why should I be pushing my means too buy a S2000, when I can have a pick of the bunch in two years, and a much lower insurance quote too boot!

Randell Floyd · 10 Mar 2006 at 11:38

Picking her up Wed, the price and the partex along with running cost and insurace took the decision out of my hands!

Like I said before people keep saying s2k, I would have had too gone for a 6k loan, be skint for a while, high insurance. I've got enough self control to wait two years for my £10k shares too mature and then purchase the S2k/350z that I want, not a pre 2002 with high milage then I want.

I'll of course post pics when the cars been properly detailed by myself.