VRS release

[pologti18t]

i probably sound like a broken record now but.....
VW Aus decide on the pricing for Skoda Aus!!
They decide on everything to do with Skoda Aus. What models come in, what options, levels of stock, spares, warranty, servicing. u know name it.
Even the Skoda Australia website is owned, and managed by VW Aus.

That being the case... why bother introducing Skoda to Australia? It can only be costing VW Aus money in the long term if Skoda doesn't pay its way.

Though you could make a case that the recent upgrade of the Polo GTI with standard convenience pack, RCD510 and bluetooth was a calculated move to ensure it had a perceived advantage over the Fabia VRS.

One of the advantages of the Fabia is the ability to choice 1 of 4 wheel colours and 3 roof colours and two interiors. Not to mention the Skoda colours seem nicer than the Polo GTI colour schemes


Interesting... In NZ the Fabia RS is only $900 cheaper than a Polo GTI 5 door.

[dArK5HaD0w]

I'm still struggling with the price and trust me I am trying all I can to justify this purchase. But even now I'm looking at UK websites and reviews and it's THREE THOUSAND POUNDS CHEAPER than the GTI. A few bells and whistles (irrelevant ones at that) here in Australia on the VRS can't justify it being the price it is, a bloody missed opportunity for Matthew Wiesner (Skoda MD) in my opinion!!!!

i probably sound like a broken record now but.....
VW Aus decide on the pricing for Skoda Aus!!
They decide on everything to do with Skoda Aus. What models come in, what options, levels of stock, spares, warranty, servicing. u know name it.
Even the Skoda Australia website is owned, and managed by VW Aus.

that being the case, VW is going to protect its own range, and not allow Skoda to undercut its earnings. and the best way is to price a skoda similar to its vw counterpart, knowing very well that the consumer is going to pick a known brand over the other unknown.

everywhere else (rest of the world), in the major markets like Europe, India & China, VW has no control or say in what Skoda does.
skoda stands on its own two feet, reporting directly to VAG (Volkswagen Audi Group).

[pologti18t]

The problem is not that the Fabia VRS is expensive it's that the Polo GTI has been priced VERY competitively here in Australia.

Also, the Fabia VRS here is loaded with just about every option. From the UK configurator it ends up being about UKP1500 of optional equipment!

[MJKooLio]

The Fabia RS is AUTO-only...

Sorry, but would have gotten one instead of the Polo GTI (6R) if the Fabia vRS was out earlier... though I sat in the Monte Carlo and the interior wasn't up to my standard... Octavia vRS yes... Polo yes... Golf NO THANKS and Monte Carlo... ughhh.... will go test drive one tomorrow.

[Lucas_R]

Just took the Fabia vRS for a spin - the red one from the pics i posted on the previous page. Its a fun and quick little car. The engine is a potent little unit and really gets the car moving along quite swiftly. Makes all sort of whooshing and whistling noises as it revs and transitions between supercharger to turbocharger.

I wasnt expecting this much grunt after stepping out of my 204kw Golf R, but was pleasantly surprised at the pace and smooth powerband.

I'll clarify that the LED lights i mentioned are actually DRL's in the traditional fog light position - not tailights as i first thought.

The interior trim is nice quality and the seats are nicely bolstered and comfortable.

[Scout]

I'm still struggling with the price and trust me I am trying all I can to justify this purchase. But even now I'm looking at UK websites and reviews and it's THREE THOUSAND POUNDS CHEAPER than the GTI. A few bells and whistles (irrelevant ones at that) here in Australia on the VRS can't justify it being the price it is, a bloody missed opportunity for Matthew Wiesner (Skoda MD) in my opinion!!!!

[Jake02]

Same what they did with the Octavia vRS when it was first launched in Australia when Skoda came back. Manual ONLY. I think it's stupid and they've lost sales from people who would have bought a vRS or Fabia for that matter in Auto. Auto market with Manuals to introduce to country and sell? Makes no sense.

The Fabia RS is AUTO-only...

[MJKooLio]

Same what they did with the Octavia vRS when it was first launched in Australia when Skoda came back. Manual ONLY. I think it's stupid and they've lost sales from people who would have bought a vRS or Fabia for that matter in Auto. Auto market with Manuals to introduce to country and sell? Makes no sense.

[Jake02]

Thats the other point i forgot to mention - by looking at the Polo area of the forum, it would seem that the Polo GTi still has a long waiting list.

There's your main advantage over a Polo GTI. No way in hell would I wait 6+ months for a POLO!

[Lucas_R]

Does the Polo GTI still have the 6+ month waiting list?

Thats the other point i forgot to mention - by looking at the Polo area of the forum, it would seem that the Polo GTi still has a long waiting list.

[Jake02]

Does the Polo GTI still have the 6+ month waiting list?

[Scout]

Cheers Lucus.

Agree on the "looks piece" and that's what the buying public usually go for.

Coming out of a Mark 5 GTI to a Octavia 118TSI wagon (the 1.8 version) wasn't as big a shock as I thought, bigger, but marginally slower and not nearly as tight in the corners, but those days had ended with the arrival of kids.

Moved on to a Scout DSG last August and as the family wagon it is it performs amazingly well 25,000.00k's with an average 6 L/100k's for that period.

The GTI has all the above bar the sensors. I guess the trick will be to be patient and haggle hard on a demonstrator / factory VRS in 6 months time.

[Lucas_R]

I havent got the Polo spec list handy but the vRS comes with the following:

- LED lights
- Cornering headlights
- Tyre pressure sensors
- Rear parking sensors
- Electric climate control

Although i havent driven this vRS yet, i have driven several Fabia's over the past few months as well as several Octavias and a Scout. The Skodas are a nice car, but in my opinion the VW's look better visually and from a quality point of view. Certain things - like the Polo GTI's nicer steering wheel and better appointed dashboard give it an advantage over the Fabia.

[Scout]

Hi Lucus,
Points accepted but being the nerd I am I'm sitting here with the spec's of both cars and the VRS actually seems to loose out on some the GTI's "nicer" bits and pieces, since the Comfort Pack became standard, not to mention the chrome steering wheel bits, RCD 510 Touch Screen, Standard MDI, Low Tyre pressure monitors versus the Rear parking sensors on the VRS and two additional speakers (8 versus 6).
Not to mention 5 star GTI versus 4 star VRS crash rating.
Am I missing something because I would love to justify buying a VRS if only to be a little different!!

[Lucas_R]

^ its actually much better equipped than the Polo GTI and the equipment is standard, whereas on the GTi its all optional.

So if you spec up a Polo GTI to the same specs as the Fabia vRS you will be paying more.

In saying that, i do prefer the looks of the Polo GTi over the Fabia vRS. And i agree that the GTi would be worth more come resale time.