2009 1.8 TSI or 2008 Demo RS sedan. Opinions please.

[gh172]

Hi all, my first post here. I am currently driving a 2008 DSG Golf GTI. Looking at selling the Wife's Ford Focus and buying one of the two above mentioned cars. Love the GTI so Im sure the performance and drivablity of the RS will feel very familiar. Having said that, the RS Im looking at buying is the pre face lifted model. I have read some really positive reviews about the 118kw 1.8 turbo model as well. Never driven a Skoda before, but as I have a growing family I need something capable of carrying the family and pram etc... with a little more ease. Would really like to stay within the volkswagen group family and I think the Skoda Octavia is a bargain considering the cars features and huge luggage capacity! Anyone here thats driven both the 1.8 turbo and the RS that can offer any opinions or feedback. Also, what would be a rough guide to the average fuel consumption for the 1.8 in terms of real world use. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

[Antiplastix]

I was looking for a 1.8 wagon in a manual,I drove the RS first and went WOW !!!. Then I drove the 1.8 and went thats nice, I ended up with the RS manual.

[gh172]

I was looking for a 1.8 wagon in a manual,I drove the RS first and went WOW !!!. Then I drove the 1.8 and went thats nice, I ended up with the RS manual.

Yeah, I guess performance wise, the RS is going to provide more of the "wow" factor. Was the 1.8 and smooth with some punch? Im really hoping to find the time to drive both this week sometime. On one hand Im looking at the better fuel efficiency of the 1.8, and on the other hand you've got the extra performance of the RS. The only other thing is that the RS is the older model.

[spellbound]

I needed a wagon for work , tons of space, more than the liberty .

Mine is a 2008 pf , and i did drive a 1.8 , but found the rs much more fun and with the options it has was value , also i would have had to wait for an optioned up elegance .

Most of my driving is city and average in 16 months is 8.3 l/100 , and i like to move a long , but i do get it into 5th gear most days as adelaide is not a congested city .

You should be able to drive a hard bargin on the rs , i got $4000 off new price on a car sitting in the yard .

Take the rs down a b road , its a good drive .

[gh172]

I needed a wagon for work , tons of space, more than the liberty .

Mine is a 2008 pf , and i did drive a 1.8 , but found the rs much more fun and with the options it has was value , also i would have had to wait for an optioned up elegance .

Most of my driving is city and average in 16 months is 8.3 l/100 , and i like to move a long , but i do get it into 5th gear most days as adelaide is not a congested city .

You should be able to drive a hard bargin on the rs , i got $4000 off new price on a car sitting in the yard .

Take the rs down a b road , its a good drive .

What were the options you got in the RS? Are they sandard in the RS but an option on the 1.8?

[Antiplastix]

Yeah, I guess performance wise, the RS is going to provide more of the "wow" factor. Was the 1.8 and smooth with some punch? Im really hoping to find the time to drive both this week sometime. On one hand Im looking at the better fuel efficiency of the 1.8, and on the other hand you've got the extra performance of the RS. The only other thing is that the RS is the older model.

Thing was I couldn t get a 1.8 manual wagon to drive so only drove the 1.8 DSG and after the horror stories I have heard about VAG DSGs wasn t keen to buy one. The 1.8 was plenty of fun to punt along but no where near as responsive as the RS manual. If you bargain hard you ll drive away at the listed price less the on roads. They seem to be keen to do deals to get more cars out there on the road. They are also offering a $2k accesory package at the moment.(Racks, boxes, mats etc.)
Sensible driving in the RS returns about 8-8.5 l/100km and the average over the 1000 kms I ve done so far is abou 10 l/100km.
The pre F.L. RS should be about $10k below list price as they where selling yellow (urk) RS' brand new for $33k drive away last month.

[gh172]

Thing was I couldn t get a 1.8 manual wagon to drive so only drove the 1.8 DSG and after the horror stories I have heard about VAG DSGs wasn t keen to buy one. The 1.8 was plenty of fun to punt along but no where near as responsive as the RS manual. If you bargain hard you ll drive away at the listed price less the on roads. They seem to be keen to do deals to get more cars out there on the road. They are also offering a $2k accesory package at the moment.(Racks, boxes, mats etc.)
Sensible driving in the RS returns about 8-8.5 l/100km and the average over the 1000 kms I ve done so far is abou 10 l/100km.
The pre F.L. RS should be about $10k below list price as they where selling yellow (urk) RS' brand new for $33k drive away last month.

Thats an awesome price! They have them advertised here fo 36k drive away and I thought that was a good price. 33k would be a no brainer decision.

[gregozedobe]

..... they where selling yellow (urk) RS' brand new for $33k drive away last month.

Hey, I resemble that remark. Blue was my second choice, but I decided not to compromise and went ahead and signed up for the absolute best colour ! Zero regrets, and I am liking the bright yellow colour more and more after 18 months of ownership. It also shows the dirt from dusty rain a LOT less than the Race Blue

Back on topic - I test drove manual 1.8s and RS's before buying the RS.

There is a lot of extra equipment std on the RS (look at the brochures for details), and I liked the extra urge of the 2.0 engine. The 1.8 was a very nice engine, quiet, smooth and still got up and went when you asked it to. I didn't like the std seats much (well, not when comparing with the RS seats), and the handling of the RS suited me better as well.

I found the RS was a slightly more "civilised" drive (quieter, better ride) than a Golf GTI, but still very similar.

[Antiplastix]

I think you have to be an extrovert to drive a yellow one. You d never loose it in the carpark and no one could say they didn t see you if they crashed into you.

[wombatoutofhell]

I love my yellow-apart from the taxi jokes I get. I actually had some moron trying to hail me a few days ago until she realised I wasn't a cab! Maybe it needs to be brighter.

[Golf Loon]

Yellow FTW.

[NicZA]

I love my yellow-apart from the taxi jokes I get. I actually had some moron trying to hail me a few days ago until she realised I wasn't a cab! Maybe it needs to be brighter.

That would be a sight

[K1W1]

I actually had some moron trying to hail me a few days ago until she realised I wasn't a cab!

Forget her mental capabilities would she have made an attractive passenger seat adornment object?

[Antiplastix]

Must be a "Mexican" thing, our taxis are mainly white .

[BlackSuperb]

I love my yellow-apart from the taxi jokes I get. I actually had some moron trying to hail me a few days ago until she realised I wasn't a cab! Maybe it needs to be brighter.

At least you wouldn't be mistaken for a taxi here in Sydney. I suspect your car would be nice and clean, you wouldn't smell of BO and your lunch/snack wouldn't be in your lap. Also, you would know where you were going.