A Cool Car For Young People: The Mk1 Skoda Octavia vRS

[@JayEmmOnCars]

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[@ChuckFickens1972]

OH my, are you going to get bored reading comments about 20 cylinder 1.8 turbo engines :)

[@steventspoon7468]

Also it's a 20 year old car - not a 24 year old car as stated - as it's a 54 plate. He must have been in a rush to get this video out as I've never noticed any mistakes in his other videos.

[@Ben-d3k2e]

@@steventspoon7468 private plate m8

[@Carrera-gp9od]

It must be a v20 , you’d never fit a straight 20 under the bonnet 😂

[@lorddoobsworth144]

as soon as he said that i went down to the comments lol

[@JonnyJayJonson]

The other 16 cylinders are in a separate engine, at the rear!

[@colinjones2505]

Still got my bog standard 05 reg Fabia vRS in mint condition even with 147,000 with the wonderful PD engine. Absolutely love it, even after 18 years of ownership.

[@MrCaterhamr500]

What a life!

[@vrsmartin2981]

It wasn't a saloon James. Looked like one but it was a hatch. The whole boot, window and shelf lifts to open up to a MAHOOSIVE boot. Most practical car I've ever owned. The vRS was hindered though by the 2 \/ braces. The estate didn't have them and the estate came with 16" rims where the hatch came with 17s Amazing cars.

[@stippolyte]

I bought a 51plate 4x4 turbo hatch over the vRS (for the haldex) and owned it for 17 yrs, for the last 10 it had gained various TT, Audi S3 parts, switchable rev2 remap to 240, kw suspension, miltek exhaust etc. So many lower cost VAG parts available to repair or upgrade them and now ,Thoroughly recommendable as you say James.

[@RoundMangos]

Literally a dream car when I was a kid, weird I know. 20 years ago our family car was a Mk1 Octavia Combi 1.9 TDi and when I found out there was a sporty version of our car, through the Skoda catalogues I would collect from the dealer when my dad dropped the car for a service, I just thought that was the coolest thing in existance. I still have those catalogues to this day. I will always have a soft spot for Skoda and will always love fast estates. This video is a nice coincidence because I've been literally looking at these cars today (and the past few days), I kinda want to buy one for my parents but they don't need another car and I don't think they created an attachment to the that car like I did, so I would just be buying it for myself for nostalgia's sake. :)

[@kaczik944]

"1.8 liter turbo 20 cylinder" made me giggle 🤭😁😜

[@zlatkosokolovic5715]

I have had it, ... never again 🤮 oil burner. No new VW petrol engines for me thanks.

[@kaczik944]

@@zlatkosokolovic5715 I had the 2004 RS and I liked it, didn't use any oil compared to my next car which was the Astra Coupe Bertone Turbo that burned at least a liter per 800miles. Now my younger brother has the so hated Golf 6GTi with it's infamous TSi engine and again, no oil consumption and the car has got 200k miles on the clock. It's all about the user. If you got a car that was used by a moron and was neglected, you better pass on it. They're not bad cars at all, but require good oils, frequent changes and careful watching the oil temperatures.

[@kaczik944]

@@zlatkosokolovic5715well, considering how many of these run today without any oil loss between changes I'd say that you bought a peace of crap that was neglected and or overheated 🤷 Opel's 2.0T ecotec from the same year can't even handle a moderate tune cause it blows into peaces. The 1.8T is considered the next best Audi motor after the 2.2 20V. The same story goes for the majority of 2.0TSi motors. People chiptune them, boil the oil making changes every 10-15k miles and wonder why their engines are so bad cause the timing chain glides crumble, cylinders get ovalized and burn oil. For some people bicycles are too much to handle and as a mechanic I'm very happy that I don't need to attract customers from the street and deal with their stupidity. But I'm already an old, grumpy man and couldn't care less about what people think 🐷

[@zlatkosokolovic5715]

@@kaczik944 I bought it brand new! It was dead at 74 000 km! Oil was changed between 10-12 000 km one owner. Never, but never again. Diesel VW is ok, but petrol, .... big no!

[@stonylawncottagepipe4429]

It seems to be one I could like😊

[@Encom0]

Have a mk1 Fabia rs and Octavia rs from new, and still love them both. My forever cars. Tragic I know but they get under your skin.

[@Carrera-gp9od]

I bought a hatch one of these 20years ago . My mates would not believe I had bought a Skoda until they actually saw me in the car . No matter how much I told people it was a great car , no one could see past the badge . I also had a mk2 version , again great car .

[@thedetailingdoctor5746]

Wouldn’t that be a saloon? I wasn’t aware they made a hatch thought that was the fabia

[@Carrera-gp9od]

@@thedetailingdoctor5746 It wasn’t a saloon , it was a hatch , they never made a saloon Octavia . Even the Superb was a hatch. They styled them to look like saloons I suppose .

[@thedetailingdoctor5746]

@ yes they did make a saloon a stove Owen’s a vrs saloon auto Alex owns a saloon being miles the high mileage hero there is loads of them ! Unless your referring to the style of boot opening

[@Carrera-gp9od]

@@thedetailingdoctor5746 They are either hatch or estate. I suggest you Google it A saloon is a three box design , a hatch is referred to as a 5 dr . I repeat they never made a saloon , they still don’t .

[@the1nvented3ye]

Correction for you: The non-estate was a 5-door hatchback, not a 4-door saloon (I had one!). It looked like a saloon, with a fastback-and-notch style rear.

[@vvarioPL]

Exactly!

[@luisguillermoguerreroulate4915]

Hmmm... So what gen has a rally versión, because I knows there was a rally versión of the Octavia and was a saloon Even it apeear in a videogame calles Mobil 1 Rally Championship

[@tREVVA1]

Sounds like the ancient but effective Estelle? Air cooled rear mounted engine. Just like Porsche 911. Well, kinda 🤭

[@jarokenny]

actually liftback

[@AlejjSi]

@@luisguillermoguerreroulate4915 Mk1 had the WRC version, aswell as Kit Car before that. But they were hatchback/liftback too. It is a booted shape, but with whole opening tailgate. There was never a simple saloon version of the Octavia, as the mail selling point of it was the opening rear liftback tailgate. If in the game it was a saloon, then that is a mistake made by the developers. The Mk1 Octavia WRC was ran by the Skoda Motorsport team between 1999 and 2003, in mid 2003 it was replaced by the Fabia WRC.

[@JonathanLittleGAMER]

Loved my Mk1 vRS , I got it new in 2002 , and only sold it last year for a Mk3 vRS , absolutely fantastic car the Mk1 , my friend now has mine , only failed 1 MOT in her life , on a spring , miss it still now

[@andrewwright5841]

I have a gorgeous black saloon sitting on the driveway, just turned 105k miles. I too am 26, if you had’ve told me 10 years ago when I passed my test that I would own one someday I would have said no chance. But nowadays they are getting rare and a shiny clean OEM+ example such as my own really does catch the eye. Had it for 3 years or so and it’s going nowhere any time soon, love it😁👌🏻

[@In_memory_of_Dad]

Brilliant review. James you really are the Clarkson of your era!!!

[@jathomas9928]

No need to hurl insults ;-)

[@heyhey3887]

😂😂😂 - now that's a funny statement!

[@AntoniusTyas]

This generation of Octavia vRS will always be remembered as the car that started Skoda's modern rallying legacy. In fact the Octavia WRC got an overall podium in P3 during 2001 Safari Rally with Armin Schwarz/Manfred Hiemer behind the wheel. Most of the time the plucky Octavia was a midfielder, but they fared better than Hyundai UK's tragic result with the super-unreliable Accent WRC. The subsequent Fabia WRC was plagued with reliability issues that not even Colin McRae, Gilles Panizzi or Harri Rovanpera can make up for, so Skoda ended their top-class WRC run in 2006. What came up after, though, was the Fabia S2000 for lower class in WRC, and it was a monster of a car. Even today the Fabia RS Rally2 still pretty much the dominant machine in WRC2 rallying. And I think we can all thank this plucky Octavia vRS for making Skoda cool again.

[@Nickoboss29]

Well it all started in the 80s with the 130LR

[@Interestingcars66]

Octavia is 5 door hatchback, not saloon. Or a combi. This is a second UK video which confuse hatchback with saloon. Othervise this generation Octavia RS Combi is a rare car, with about 4 500 cars produced worldwide.

[@lucky65strike]

I had a silver estate a number of years back when they were still 'cheap but interesting runabout' money. It was an excellent all-round car - comfortable, quiet and economical enough for motorway commuting, yet just about small, powerful and entertaining enough to enjoy it on twistier roads; it certainly felt like one of the better executions of the mk4 golf platform. I remember it fondly.

[@iceblue298]

Skoda and cool were never heard in the same sentance for many years

[@AntoniusTyas]

However, Skodas from 2000 all the way to, lessay 2020 are cool. This, the subsequent generations of Octavia vRS, all Fabia vRSs, Roomster and Yeti are cool. And very usable.

[@Lenrigas]

@@AntoniusTyas cool? Nah.. its ordinary, super usable and practical car. Looks decent, drives decent. Great MPG, reliable, but that is all. There is nothing cool about Skoda - even the RS versions are "meh".

[@stoicapetruliviu8840]

😂​

[@DeanVRS20VT]

Shame I missed the boat to offer mine. I’ve got unmolested ‘05 Corrida Red vRS Hatchback. Optional Extras as standard; Maxidot/MFD1 Satnav with TMC/GPS Aerial, Factory Xenons with washer jets, factory vRS Heated Seats, Parking Sensors, Cruise Control, OEM Leather Armrest.

[@brutaldeluxedetailing2109]

I’ve had 3, the last being an estate. I upgraded to the S3 quick rack, superpro bushes all round and the 17 inch spiders. The wheels do make a big difference to improve the spongey feeling. The vRS has a more rigid body than the standard car as found by people trying to upgrade the 4x4 to a vRS. Theres extra bracing in the boot on the hatch. Lots fit the whiteline or eibach rear brace to negate some of the under steer. Great cars and an absolute bargain but try find a standard one now! Seat bolsters fail and are a pain to replace but it is doable. Top tip, don’t ignore the coolant warning light, I had a temp sensor fail and it dumped the coolant causing a head gasket failure. Briskoda is a great resource for Mk1 Skodas. Personally I found this better to drive then the MK4 Golf and Leon. vRS estates are quite rare now. They rust on the tailgate and the front of the sills are susceptible to corrosion. Red and yellow paint fades and can suffer lacquer peel. The rarest version is the white WRC but there’s a lot of ex plod cars claiming to be them. They only made the specials in 2001.

[@Luke-yh6nm]

I'm in Sydney Australia. Does Skoda have weaker resale value than equipment Volkswagen models in your country also? Used excellent condition Skodas are fought over in the used car trade over here. Yet, the ratio of Volkswagen to Skoda dealers here is like 4:1 ratio.

[@brutaldeluxedetailing2109]

@@Luke-yh6nm probably not for things like the vRS and equivalent cars from this era. You could likely pick up a Leon Curpa, Golf GTI 1.8T or even an Audi S3 1.8T for similar money but you would probably get a better condition vRS. The problem with all of these is they’ve entered the low value plateau meaning lots can buy them but few will be willing to maintain them properly.

[@Luke-yh6nm]

I hear you. The Skoda Superb got a great many deposit orders when first shown at the Sydney International Motor Show decades ago. Here was a superior offering. Snobs in our country sadly kept making "Bouncing Czech" jokes about the company however.​@@brutaldeluxedetailing2109

[@lagundafire]

I had one of these as my first ‘fast’ car. It was awesome and I loved it! Just need to make sure you carry around coil packs in the boot and a smug grin for all the GTI owners you take to Gapplebees

[@Revup1]

On the subject of car insurance I see Mark McCann has a petition up and running to push for an investigation into the practices of the car insurance industry. We should all sign it as car insurance is a ripoff and it seems many companies are ignoring the regulations on sales and pricing.

[@MrStevecrasher]

Mine took a tiny tap on the rear bumper but most of the force went up the exhaust into my seat and back, the Corsa was destroyed (as was my back) but the car just needed a new Jetex exhaust and the bumper repaired as they are obsolete. The wanker assessor for the insurance company tried to write it off and we told him to do one. Back on the road with no lasting damage, except to my back!

[@michalrajnic758]

They did a special GT 193 version for the Greek market. Also an extra long wheelbase for Czech officials though that wasn’t an RS

[@peterhawthorn3670]

I'm 23 I bought one in December last year after having a MK3 for 2 years and I love it as much as my MK3 such a cool cool underrated car

[@stanislavczebinski994]

My father owned a mk1 Oktavia - albeit a Diesel. Like the mk4 Golf (I made my license on) - it's big on the outside - but quite tight on the inside, in particular for your elbows. Years later, he got a new Fabia hatchback. Although one size smaller - it's a lot roomier on the inside.

[@stanislavczebinski994]

6:00 The pedals are indeed real stainless steel - same design as Audi TT or Polo GTI (and probably - Golf GTI but IDK for sure). To be precise - the steel bit is only for decoration. They are mounted the same way the stock rubber things are - simply pulled over the metal pedal itself and holding on by fit.

[@gavinequinn]

I had a MK1 Saloon. Loved it! So practical and I had loads of options for fettling with. Had it for 5 years and still regret selling 😢

[@Adam-mt7jd]

I had an 02 plate silver hatch and absolutely loved it. Coming from a 1.4 MK4 Golf the 1.8 VRS was a welcome step up in performance and compared to what my friends were driving at the time it felt a cool niche despite the stigma around the Skoda badge.

[@joshwaterfield2483]

I had a MK2 vrs. It was a diesel so engine wise, a little bit soulless. But I think the bright yellow paint countered that. The fact that it was insanely good at literally everything it did makes it my 3rd favourite car I have ever owned. Great machine. Unfortunately I never got to sample a MK1!

[@colinblick8946]

I’ve the Fabia Mk 2 Monte Carlo……had belts and just waitin on EGR valve change….. but I still love it 😎👌🏽

[@leozivica5187]

23y old here, bought a silver estate vRS with xenon headlights and heated seats, great great car in very good condition I would recommend this car as a daily to anyone. also car is sexy af.

[@leviathan5207]

I got the second gen vRS with the EA113. After 170tsd km, 16 years and 4 owners it has been very good to me thus far. You can go as low as 7,2L/100km, when trying to get very far. Or, you can throw that out of the window and enjoy the rather short gearing. The best part, they are way cheaper than the equivalent Golf 5 GTI and can usually be found in better condition as they don't attract as many muppets wanting to ruin them with "mods".

[@BenSchofield]

My parents had one from 2006 to 2020. It was black like the one in the video, had cruise control, a sunroof and reverse park sensors. My dad bought it with just under 20k miles on the clock, and sold it to a fella from Czech with just over 210k on the clock. Loved that car. I did recently go and look at a lemon yellow one for sale but it wasn't the right car for me.

[@MrStevecrasher]

I have had my 2003 Magic Black 1U5 VRS (identical to this car) for 18 years and will never part with it. I fitted a new genuine exchange engine and turbo when I bought it (owner neglect and sump sludge) and have maintained and modified it ever since. APR stage 2, KONI Active’s, EIBACH and Powerflex throughout plus a six speed 01M conversion.

[@BigHumz155]

This was the first car I ever rescued a few years ago when I started selling cars. Had a blown gearbox and 177k on the clock. Rebuilt the gearbox and sold it on, it has 200+ on the clock and the owner loves it!

[@3th4n1_]

First car was a vRS 1.9tdi, 200hp with terrible handling, so much weight over front axle. An inexperienced driver would crash one on the first drive. A good car for young people is anything light, not too powerful and thirsty, reliable so they can save up and carry on their dream without digging themselves a hole.

[@JonnyJayJonson]

Was that a Fabia? Presume you had it modified to have 200bhp?

[@3th4n1_]

@@JonnyJayJonsonyes exactly 200hp before a few boost leaks lol, a cheap car, really good car if you baby it but rust issues and self control is absolutely needed!

[@thedarkknight1971]

EVEN THE 1.9 PD engined Octavia Mk1 IS a SOLID choice! 'AutoAlex' has a 450,000 mile example that, when he bought it and inspected the motor, it STILL had the original head gasket! Alex called it 'Miles - The High Mileage Hero'.. For those NOT in the know, VW PD motors are in LOADS of VW group cars (Seat, Skoda, VW, AUDI), they are pretty much 'Bomb proof', and come in various states of tune from factory. So, if you find a 1.9 PD 150bhp (or whatever power level they put out) the PD lump IS EASY to tune and get a lot more out of. One tuning firm that specialises in these motors is UK based (Barnsley) - Darkside Developments... I once had a Skoda Fabia 1.9 PD, and even with a mild tune from them, the car got A LOT MORE FUN! (Just simple things like K&N air filter, bigger injectors, bigger intercooler, bigger exhaust and an ECU remap from Darkside gave me LOTS MORE 'Smiles per hour'! 👌🤣🤣🤣 😎🇬🇧

[@leviddesign4537]

I remember back in the 80's my friends dad purchased two Skoda's. the reg plate was the same except one number.

[@thedetailingdoctor5746]

Good tip with the oil light if it’s yellow it’s low oil if it’s red your pickup is blocked

[@rupertorgan7749]

Back in 2002 I nearly bought a vRS with a 225bhp re-map. The deal was good, but I couldn't get past the badge and bought a Focus ST instead. Ten years later I bought a mark 2 vRS estate and it's the most reliable and best all-round car I've ever owned, a 150mph dog transporter I called it.

[@Maurice_Moss]

Came to the comments to rinse you about the 20 cylinder comment, but i see everyone's done it already. 😂 Emjoyed you on behindtheglass podcast btw 👍🏾

[@Lewis_Treff97]

My dad has owned a few mk1 and mk2 octavia vrs. His mk1 octavia had the wrc rear spoiler and looked pretty smart. At 22 I owned a mk2 octavia vrs estate limited edition. Just to note on the mk1 octavia lifespan in the uk was up to around 2008. Most of the late models were sold to taxi firms as pretty basic models

[@mej6519]

my brother had a mk1 octavia vrs as a company car, the company actually paid my brother to drive it. free company car plus a nice little kick back at the end of the month sorted. he chipped it and added a sports exhaust n it went like the clappers, from the 240(ish)hp up to 280hp, it was no slouch.

[@duncanhamilton5841]

Ah, the Mk1 vRS... the car that almost killed me by trying to save me. Had one on evaluation test to replace my company Nissan 200SX. Pulling onto a busy fast dual carriageway from a rural side road I needed to give it some beans or sit there for literally hours. Spying my gap between lorries I pulled off swiftly, short shifted into 2nd, at which point the TCS kicked in. Not being familiar with VAG traction control of that period I kept the boot in assuming it would regain traction of it's own accord from the wheel braking. What actually happened was the damn thing completely killed the power so hard it was like I'd turned the engine off. It wouldn't give me anything back until I took my foot off, which is completely counter-intuitive when there's a lorry bearing down on you and there's no power.

[@AndyB365]

@duncanhamilton5841 the old vRS had a programme in it that would completely kill power if it sensed any pressure on the brake pedal to prevent issues with people accidentally pressing the throttle whilst braking in emergencies. Mine had a slightly faulty brake light switch that caused it to do the same to me. You could keep your foot flat to the floor and it wouldn't care. No power until you take it completely off and reapply even if the brake pedal was touched for a tiny fraction of a second. The ASR (rudimentary traction control) would just stab the brake of the wheel that was spinning.

[@boristabacsplatt6609]

I had the saloon version, which was a great car, with no issues during the 75K miles I ran it. I found the best tyrers for it were Pirelli's which were super grippy , but needed changing every 16K miles. Only buy a vRS with full service history, and make sure it has had an oil change once a year or 10K miles. The car manual service intervals were ridiculous, and the VW garage I bought it from recommended the more frequent oil change.

[@AntoHooper]

Hey Jayemm your problem when the engine seized was the pick up pipe in the sump. They clog up and the oil doesn’t get to the head of the engine. But if you check the oil it looks fine. Pick up pipe is the only flaw in this almost perfect engine.

[@sirpotatoboy9490]

This is my best friends car! Now he has made many more upgrades, new and bigger tires that are a darker grey! The car is mean!! Thanks for all the amazing comments! Justin’s pride and joy!

[@Jo3man96]

Been tempted by these a few times, could potentially be a stop gap car when I get the opportunity to send my car in for the body work to be done.

[@simonh870]

My first fast car was a Rover 827 Vitesse. Someone had fitted a front grille that made it look a bit like the Skoda.

[@knightofcydonia07]

I still remember the insinuations after the Autocar test example posted suspiciously TT 225 times against the clock.

[@annoymouse890]

My dad bought an mk2 facelift vRS 2.0tdi cr in 2012 with only 1000 miles on the clock and hes kept it ever since and over the 140 000 miles he’s done in it it’s never failed him and the only issue it’s really ever had is the thermostat broke but that’s it. the massive boot has made it great for work and he swears he’ll never sell it 10/10 car would recommend 👍

[@888johnmac]

one overlooked thing about an Occy estate for young people ... they make great festival campers ( and if you have the 1.9 TDI with 6 speed box , 500 mile range easily )

[@MrQuazzymojo]

I’ve had my 04 Octavia vrs for 2 years now, I paid £1200 for it. It’s easily the best car I’ve ever owned. Can’t seem to bring myself to part with it.

[@jezschofield]

Great video as always. And a great car too. I have a mk3 hatchback (there's never been a saloon, although they do look like one) and i love it. A decent mk1 is a valuable yet cheaply bought asset. Interesting that you pronounce Škoda properly but not Porsche!

[@iancharlton678]

My daily is a Yeti with the 2 ltr TD in 150 guise, 4x4 and DSG cog swapping……… not a very exciting thing, but swift and sure footed. Currently 3 plus dog doing Durham from Essex….. having left the XC90 at home for the first time……. Son has a Citigo at 18yrs, group one insurance, which is super rare….. However, a friend apprenticed at a Skoda dealers and we used to bang around in Skoda Estelle’s or 105’s and 120’s - cue the jokes 🙂 Anyhow, owning a Trabant 601LX, an Estelle is posh 🙂

[@chris.p.bacon_666]

had a 2001 Fabia with the 1.9 PD, and a 2011 Superb 2.0 CRD. both very reliable.

[@timsyoutube6051]

Some say the perfect car.

[@MiniEggs1999]

Please review the new Superb 4x4 petrol. Thanks

[@matthewashby-pickford1599]

I've got a 2018 two litre turbo superb and it's a great thing.... Wanted a 4x4 but we're not many about that didn't mean going to Scotland for!

[@stuianwood]

Happy to support the channel today with a Car Vertical purchase, with your code James!

[@JD-qd1bp]

There’s a yellow saloon mk1 vrs currently being work on at my friendly business neighbours Stealth. Sounds like it’s making a lot more than 180bhp!

[@rizydude]

Full option list for a MK1 Vrs: - Xenon's - Cruise Control - Side Seat Airbags - Sunroof - ESP - Heated Front Seats - Sat Nav + Instrument cluster display in between the two dials. - Rear Parking Sensors - OEM Armrest - Octavia branded Side Sills - Rear manually retractable window blind (Hatchback only) Also the "Saloon" variant has a tailgate so it has more of a hatchback opening :)

[@JanHejn]

Not many of those survived (tuners, crashes and rust) but they still have iconic status in Czech Republic especially due to the WRC campaign. The suspension is always tuned slightly on the softer side in Škoda because it is usually tested on our positively shit roads. The same goes even for the modern cars even the new Superb is softer than the Passat.

[@RandallSlick]

A mystery of our time is why that period of sporty Skodas had the grey upholstery that showed every mark. I loved my Fabia VRs, but that grey nylon! What were they thinking? I'm still on the lookout for a low mileage LE with leather but no luck yet. Octavia is a solid choice but good luck with that MPG.

[@AlejjSi]

2:08 the Car's name was pronounced "Octavia RS" elswhere outside the UK, but the vRS badge was used elswhere too. I guess simply to have to manufacture just one. Same with the Fabia and al the following all RS versions even of today. It's also true it took two years since it arrived in UK, because, quite incredibly, the designers back ten did not style a RHD dashboard, so they began to style it later when it became apparent that the original LHD dashboard is being criticised quite a lot for being dull. So they designed a new dashboard including the RHD version and then the Octavia apeared in the UK. In LHD countries the new dashboar was first made standard in the SLX versions, in GLX as optional extra and the poor LX had to make do with the old dash until the 2000 facelift. A main difference to the normal Octavia looking from the front is the front bumper with the skirt - that distinguishes it from the regular Octavia and in the interior of course the three spoke steering wheel. Interesting think is that the Octavia was available with the Golf GTi version if the 1.8 too, branded as "20V turbo" and also with the normally aspirated version of that engine branded as "xLX 20V"

[@cleyland1996]

I absolutely love my MK1 vRS estate!! About time there was a good UK based video about them. I bought a low mileage blobeye Subaru Impreza 2.0 WRX for £7000 3 days ago and honestly.... I think I still prefer the £1500 Skoda! I'm scared of blowing the WRX up where the vRS will literally take a hammering 24/7... Had the vRS for 2 years, had nothing but worry free motoring, the only repair it's ever needed was when I crashed it so that was through no fault of its own. I'm on the lookout for a clean MK1 hatch to join the collection they're that good! Has to be a yellow though as my estate is black.

[@robc8892]

I have a red one with 52000 on it if you want to.make a decent offer 😍

[@olneydetail1487]

A what a shame offerd my 55plate hatch a while back but rain stopped play. I didn't bother chasing that power bunny down that expensive hole, but light tune better exhaust help. But fixing the handling is way way more useful. So simple stuff. Swap the 205 tyres for 225 with the correct profile. The reason the handling sucks is lack of rear ARB and thin front ARB. So Whiteline RARB and R32 FARB. While the subframe is open take off the 3.2 rack and fit the 2.7 TT rack. Fit TT Strut brace and S3 subframe brace. I fitted KYB shocks but kept OE springs, better pads and brake fluid so it is still a smooth ride. When I first bought mine I could find the cars limit, but now I'd need too be on a track too legally find it's limit.

[@JustinD93]

Brilliant cars, had ones couple of years ago in the best colour red. Went really well, good engines but the gearboxes are terrible. Fun cars to drive when fully working. Seats are very comfy and handled well enough, when you start to modify engine it drinks like an old Irish man

[@8draco8]

The cool Skoda for me is Fabia RS MK2 with one of the weirdest VAG feats of engineering, 1.4 TSI which was both turbocharged and supercharged. Absolutely disastrous engine from reliability point of view but so cool to have a twin-charged engine in little Skoda.

[@AntoniusTyas]

Remember, mk.2 Fabia also marked the arrival of the Fabia S2000 rally car. The car that started Skoda's dominance in customer rallying championships like ERC or WRC2.

[@cvillalobos27]

Got a 2012 Mk2 hatchback black on black. My dream car. Cool as a cucumber

[@vrsmartin2981]

Problem why the engine seized was poor maintenance or crap blocking the oil pick up. Hence the low oil pressure light. These cars were on longlife services so upto 20k and that was too much. Service regular and they go on and on.

[@admiralalcatraz6080]

I have a 2003 Hatchback in the same colour, great car....

[@samdavidson8918]

Those 1.8, 20 cylinders were bomb proof engines.

[@shulme89]

I know exactly what went wrong with it would be the oil pickup filter !! Same engine that was in my seat Leon r.

[@elektra5how]

Have almost the exact same car as this, only mine is 06 plate MK2, same colour has ram air filter and dump valve, even has wind deflector’s, 190k on mine fantastic car, done the NC500 in it

[@S2XTM]

I do love those 20 cylinder VAG engines! :)

[@cvillalobos27]

Ferdinand Piech was a wonderful creator

[@MarkAtchison-v6m]

Pre VRS was called SLXi. No turbo, but still had 20 valve.

[@keesie75]

That engine is not as nice to drive sadly.

[@jfv65]

If you are more into rare 'luxury' cars there was also a Skoda Octavia 'Laurin & Klement' That was the topspec in the early days of this Octavia. Rare as hens teeth these days. It had pretty good spec like AC, leather, power everything, cruisecontrol. Pretty posh in those days.

[@JonnyJayJonson]

VRS has all that as well mind.

[@Jesko_VRS]

Good luck finding one over here, would love to own one.

[@neighbourhoodmusician]

A reasonably fast and cheap estate is a thing of utility and joy for all ages.

[@BiglumpADV]

James, the VRS was ONLY available as a 5dr hatch, or 5dr estate. No such thing as a saloon in those. I've owned two, both with the glass lifting hatchback boots.

[@Yet_Another_Steve]

Do you remember being 17 and invincible? (I'm not being serious) This will cost about £5 million to insure. We just bought a 2016 1.25 Zetec Fiesta for £5k for our two sprogs to drive. One's learning, one's due to learn in a couple of years. If I could have, I'd have bought an ST so I could also have some serious fun. But, £5 million to insure. As it is, the Fiesta reminds me of my MK1 Focus & subsequent Smart Roadster Brabus rolled into one. Flawed but plenty of fun with so little power.

[@Lewis_Treff97]

I'm sure he means people in their early 20s. I had a mk2 octavia vrs estate at 22 and it cost me £850 a year to insure

[@lukebarron9336]

Car insurance in the uk is very strange and is now calculated through algorithms rather than engine size or power, a fiesta is a car teenagers crash (from what I’ve seen personally quite a lot). I’m 19 now with a E36 saloon but at 17 I had an E38 7 series fully comprehensive on my own policy in London for far less than 5k (apologies just realised you meant the car was 5k not the insurance)

[@doyle7877]

​@@lukebarron9336I just got a new car, Went from a mk8 2.2 cdti diesel civic to the type r of the same age, valued X2 the price. And my insurance went down. Originally when looking at cars got a quote on the type r in interest at how silly the quote would be. Whatever algorithm they run I don't understand it.

[@vRS20]

Insurance companies also take into account how many of that make/model are involved in crashes.I remember reading somewhere might have been on owners group a woman saying it was cheaper to insure their daughter on a mk1 fabia vrs(1.9tdi 130bhp) than it was to insure a corsa 1.0 .Before I got my mk1 octavia vrs in 2017 I got a quote for a 1.4 polo and that was a couple of hundred pound dearer than my octavia vrs.

[@Lewis_Treff97]

@vRS20 insurance prices are strange but that makes sense. I had a 1.9tdi fabia but couldn't afford to insure a vrs at 18 so that cost me around £800. Then when I bought a really tidy mk5 golf 1.9tdi the insurance price went to £2500. Despite the fact the golf had the same engine and being a bigger car, was slower

[@BALHAM69]

introduction was very top gear vibes.😮 Very nice.😅

[@maz500]

Octavias have hatchbacks, they have the liftback shape, similar to the larger Mondeo/Vectra

[@TheM5Dog]

The oil pickup pipe was probably blocked, it's a common issue.

[@pompeyjustin97]

Hi I'm Justin the owner, the pickup wasn't blocked as I couldn't resist taking it apart to find out, however the top end where the camshaft chain is appeared to have been starved of oil and seized the top end, I'm thinking it was likely a blockage of oil to the top end somehow. Shouldn't have ignored the warning but it all worked out 😅

[@TheM5Dog]

@@pompeyjustin97 unusual! The pick up pipe must have been replaced at some point as they are a common problem. I never experienced it on mine, but I bought mine in 2008 with 36k miles on it and sold it (stupidly) to buy a shitter of an Impreza WRX, when I could have spent the money making the vRS better. Live n learn.... I think.

[@leozivica5187]

Love this car.

[@kateandrews8506]

I wouldn't be surprised if they were popular with Traffic Officers not so long ago.

[@DeanVRS20VT]

They were. Up north used them, even made an appearance on Traffic Cops!

[@Afraz_9n3]

​@@DeanVRS20VTalso on police interceptors back in the 2010s

[@DeanVRS20VT]

@@Afraz_9n3 ah cheers! I know it was one of them. I believe it was a black vRS. Video is on here somewhere.

[@Danny2k77]

i'm pretty sure the mk1 octavia was so succesful amongst private hire fleets that they're with some minicab variant sold only to fleet that i remember them having 06-08 reg

[@stanislavczebinski994]

This 1.8T engines are usually quite bulletproof. I guess this one was tuned and driven hard by it's pre-owner.

[@thedetailingdoctor5746]

Dump valve is a no no on vag 1.8t engines the dumping of the air confuses the ecu it’s expecting X amount of air when you re apply the throttle which isn’t there leading the car to momentarily run in open loop running rich and over time burning the already weak intake valves.

[@DantesDentist]

Wait, did you say this has a 20 cylinder engine!?! Fuel economy must have been mental, even back in 96 with it's "cheap" fuel costs 😂😂

[@michaelb6729]

now review a Mk3 Superb 206 ! I love mine !

[@LesterLovesWatches]

I have a 1.4tsi and I actually think it’s a slightly dangerous car. As you say, the A pillars are huge and you can lose a whole SUV in them. Secondly the rear window gives you zero visibility, and you can’t see any corner of the car. Thirdly when you pull off from a stop you either creep slowly or, if you press harder there is a 1-2 second lag then it shoots forward like a scalded wildcat.

[@JonnyJayJonson]

I have one, the road tax is currently just shy of £34/month and, even with me being nearly 40 years old old, it's recently cost me about £500 to insure (zero claims or convictions, 8k/yr). So that's approximately £900/yr straight away. I adore my car but the Mk1s are ancient now and can't see it appealing to younger drivers. If you do want one, get some new shocks (bet you it'll still be running around on the originals), checked for cracked springs, worn bushes, make sure the top mounts aren't worn out (they wear prematurely, thanks VW) and figure out whether it's using coolant. Don't go trying to get more power out of it, these are old cars and probably not brilliantly maintained by previous owners.

[@LesterLovesWatches]

It’s like when you first see the rather plain girl next door in a skirt and heels, and you think “shit!”

[@fabokavrs]

Back in the days of Briskoda 👍

[@Zlin0035]

I do like an Octavia VRS. but im overall not a fan of VW group cars. Hard to think this is only a year older start production than my Volvo 480, which ended in 95'.

[@user-tn1vc1xz5d]

A hot wagon in black 🥰🥰. I have the Spanish variant; stealth mode activated 😂😂❤❤

[@buggs9950]

10:41 I'd put money on the oil pick up strainer being gunged up, these motors are known for it. Never assume it's just-a-sensor.

[@mathewjohnson5090]

Leon 1.8 20vt cupra and sport if same age had the 180 with 6speed.

[@robc8892]

Ragnit around in 2nd and 3rd, now end of turbo fun

[@andrewsmith7636]

Iv got a mk 1 2005 vrs, had from new 80,000 miles and now looking to sell, its been off the road for 7 years now in store is anyone interested in it, excellent condition 😊