NEW vs OLD Skoda Octavia vRS - the best car in the world?

Think about it. What's the best car in the world, really? We're not talking about a Rolls-Royce or Ferrari, but the best car you might actually be able to afford one day. We think it could be the Skoda Octavia vRS, so for the first of our fresh 'new versus old' series, Jordan Katsianis finds out where the vRS legend began by pitching the original 2001 model against its modern counterpart!
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00:00 Intro
00:29 Octavia
00:39 Uncool?
00:50 vRS: a history
01:15 Ambition
01:24 Skoda: a history
01:40 the odd years
01:55 Skoda's VW age
02:28 Mk1 Octavia vRS
03:04 Mk1 driving impressions
04:00 Mk1 design
04:26 Mk4 Octavia vRS
04:56 Mk4 practicality
05:09 Mk4 engines
06:33 Octavia vRS good points

[@safdarrizvi9885]

Btw it was a 20 Valve engine.5 valves per cylinder.A safe remap would give 213BHP and felt pretty fast.Common issue boost leaks on PCV but that could be cured by new PCV kit or oil catch can.

[@ofirs5830]

3:22 not a 16 valve. 20 valve 1781cc

[@greglee2657]

Thank you. people don't know about the 1.8T.

[@hexshcwadie571]

The mk1 Octavia VRS was 20valve not 16valve as it clearly says on the engine cover!

[@JohnnyPaton]

There was plenty of Skodas available in the UK before the Favorit. The Estelle (120), Rapid and 130.

[@jamessheehy4895]

Lets be honest… the police made the VRS cool!!! As they did with the V70 and X5

[@jo05dk]

The mk1 Octavia VRS has always done it for me..especially in red. I think i may have to buy one at some point, eventhough i have no doubt the newer cars are better. Good video. Love that these cars are getting their time in the spotlight. Sidenote: If memory serves me the mk1 had a 5 valve engine, which would make it a 20 valver.

[@michaelhorsman3380]

Yep it's a 20 valve,1.8t

[@safdarrizvi9885]

If used as a summer weekend car and maintained as a minter they will eventually become collectors cars as people will want them.

[@michaelhorsman3380]

They are a quality car,I'm on my 2nd car

[@DanBee22]

The Favorit was sold in the UK actually as was its predecessor the 130. Some of us are old enough to remember those cars on UK roads and being sold in the UK

[@safdarrizvi9885]

I sold my 2004 350Z in 2011 and bought a 53 plate Mk1 yellow VRS with WRC spoiler.Drove it back from Scotland.Good cars.

[@JonathanSmith87]

I own a manual petrol '22 vRS estate & absolutely love it. I wish they would do a R/Cupr equivalent with 4WD/300hp engine. Would be a great combo

[@TsLeng]

That would kill some of the golf R sales. I have the AWD superb with 280ps which is the closest thing albeit a barge size wise. A true sleeper.

[@milanstokrp9387]

NX 2.0 TSI 4X4. Stage1 for 12.2 C.ratio engines is 302hp/425Nm. For ECU MG1CS031 / TCU DQ381GEN2 Map is not ready 😳, also for Haldex gen6 no any news ⏳

[@nickandsue1]

I had a red MK1, a black MK2, a red facelifted MK2, had 3 golf gti's now back in a new Octavia as I just didn't like the mk8 GTi interior. It's a perfect all rounder

[@jamieboyd448]

20v not 16v

[@Birmingham_racing]

Mk1 is my favourite

[@Roadwarrior92]

Miss my mk1, sadly sorn for the last two years 😢

[@garchie5150]

Skoda is pushing upmarket. Not the budget brand it was.

[@MrCaterhamr500]

The old one looks better, the rally car version of it in tarmac spec looked fantastic

[@jamiep61]

I enjoyed watching the Video. I like the latest Model as It Is more Sport with a better Interior 😊

[@v-gun9735]

This guy needs to talk slower, I kept rewinding and listening again so I could understand what he was saying.

[@PlazmaBooy]

Haha I did the same. But yeah, a thing that would also help, is visualize things like engine size, hp and torque figures on screen, makes it easier to "hear".

[@oxcart4172]

U can slow down the video

[@pablos3563]

💯

[@michaelhorsman3380]

I stopped watching when he said the mk1 was a 16v

[@GBFeb72]

Skoda are expensive now..

[@anthonystevens8683]

I had a 2014 VRs 220 petrol DSG and it was brilliant. Incredibly versatile and so much space everywhere. It drove well too. OK it was not on the same handling terms as the Golf GTI but it was more comfortable and versatile. A sleeper car as well, it didn't scream hot hatch but my word for a car of the size it could shift. It just worked.9 years later if I was in the market I'd certainly give the latest iteration a close look. A great video and thanks for sharing.

[@bp19870]

I like my 2021 model. Who would of thought you could get 50mpg out of a 240odd hp petrol 😂

[@greglee2657]

man's talking like he's gonna run out of film.

[@jirijankovec7575]

I wanted to buy the new one but there is a big problem with infotainment software. It doesn't look that they will fix it till facelift.

[@devilax03]

I'd say it was the Fabia that really changed Skoda's fortunes rather than the vRS

[@yoog]

yes it probably was fabia.... The fabia VRS rally car.

[@alancobbin]

What’s not to like 👍😉💪

[@VRSWeb]

Talks way too fast

[@rogerdaily3367]

16v🤔🤔🤔🤔 how can I possibly consider your opinion now 😔

[@MrSkoda105s]

Probably didn’t even looked at the rear badge or opened the bonnet.

[@yoog]

I have a mk 3 estate. And its so much better looking than the coupe.

[@MrSkoda105s]

20 V

[@julien42230]

I was looking for a vrs tdi 184 . I ended with an infiniti q50 😄

[@chriswilliams-dm9tx]

Shhhhhhhhhh koda..

[@richardgadsby6642]

Too big and too expensive. The original was a much better value proposition.

[@jamesmiller113]

Sure, the new car is better, but it's not ten times better!

[@Koulis_]

Your history of Skoda's presence in the UK is poorly researched and inaccurate I'm afraid

[@michaelhorsman3380]

The Octavia vrs ain't a 16v

[@serz1885]

best octavia not VRS but Laurin and klement any year for me 2011 year