So you want a vRS with VW's XDS?

[selurs]

The have stated all along its being placed as a premium product, but really it's not meant to be.

The Australian market is often treated a bit strangely like that. Ford did a similar thing with Volvo, tried to move it premium. Except that most people, strangely enough, baulked at paying premium prices for a dressed up Ford Focus/Mazda 3 (c.f. C30/S40). I suppose its a matter of perception - if you get people to think of Volvo/Audi as a premium brand then they'll pay what you ask for it, even if the C30 is a Ford Focus or the A3 is a Golf (or the A1, which will be built on the Polo platform).

I remember the statements when Škoda first re-entered the Australian market that they were positioning the brand to compete with the Japanese manufactures, and weren't even planning to mention is relationship to VW. Guess that went out the window with the slow uptake...however it does somewhat explain the prices. E.g. Mazda 3 MPS at around $47K drive away compares quite favourably to the RS at $45ish (depending on options). Also the Subaru WRX and Lancer RalliArt are both around the $42-43K mark drive away, which with its superior fit still leaves the RS ahead. I know from personal experience having tested all those cars before making my decision that while the MPS/WRX was definitely more powerful (and the MPS is a *stunner* in person from the outside), they didn't compare at all to the handling and quality interior of the RS, so it doesn't really need to be cheaper than them to compete.

So, in short, it's all about the perceived competition. They don't want us to think about Škoda as a "cheap Volkswagen" but as a "superior Japanese car". Anyway, just my 2c as to why the Škoda's are the price they are here...

[K1W1]

The other thing to keep in mind with the UK pricing is what features are included standard on each car. I don't know about the VW but in the UK a spare wheel and tool kit are an option on Skodas/ likewise the Maxidot display appears to be an option as well. To do the exercise properly you would need to spec up identical cars in both the UK and Aus and see how the comparison worked but I guess the overall point is that in the UK Skoda's seem to have less of a "premium" price tag than they do here.
In truth it doesn't worry me. I don't live in the UK and I think that I got a pretty good deal on my vRS compared to what I would have had to pay for other equivalent cars in Australia.

[Pietra]

I don't live in the UK and I think that I got a pretty good deal on my vRS compared to what I would have had to pay for other equivalent cars in Australia.

This is pretty much the approach I took and the way I would try and sell the car to anyone else. As i said in my first post I bought an Octavia RS DSG Wagon because it ticked the boxes marked roomy, sporty, auto and just squeezed into the budget. The new Liberty was nice and the mazda6 was my wife's preference. The Skoda has the best interior (in our opinion), is on parr for the luxuries, has a decent spare wheel and the best performance and handling (in my opinion).

Interesting we didn't even consider the GTI - its just a completely different car and I don't think they can be compared that readily.

A R36 Estate or a S4 Avant would have also been nice and met my requirements except their prices didn't quite squeeze into the budget.

After a month on the road I am very happy with the RS, it looks good, i love the engine, the gearbox and the room and am proud to have it in the garage and the brownie points required to bypass the mazda6 were all worth it.

Mind you, this XDS does sound the business and I wouldn't say no if it could be retrofitted to the car and i could justify the upgrade
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[4thchicken]

Did some quick research........it's all software. An electronic diff so I guess you would need a VAGCOM to determine that?

would that suggest that a dealer might be able to update/upgrade rs's to have electronic diff? (that prevents wheel slippage right?)

[Antiplastix]

would that suggest that a dealer might be able to update/upgrade rs's to have electronic diff? (that prevents wheel slippage right?)

Nope there is more to it than that, you need the hardware as well. Think of it is a really complicated limited slip diff. The software only tells which drive wheel to drive.

[pwcar]

Hasn't there been a recent revelation or admission that it is just selective brake application?
I thought I read recently that it just used the ABS mechanism to brake the spinning wheel.
There is no difference in the differential (punny me).

[dodgey]

A little bit more than that. It requires a couple of extra sensors apparently. (Well, that's what they say about the MkVI GTI) Very good when i got to try it out at Eastern Creek (skid pan). It is more an extension to ESP, traction control (works at faster speeds) Slots in between that and a real diff

[Bayford Skoda]

XDL (Extended Differential Lock) will be standard on MY2011 Octavia RS... June 2010 production.

[bobski]

Any idea what other features the new model will have? Tempted to rip up my contract and order another one...

[Antiplastix]

Well if people dont know if they have it or not, it cant be that earth shattering. Its probably only something you d use at 10/10ths anyway. My RS isn t a track car,its a quiet,comfortable, quick road car.

[dodgey]

It's more like traction control at faster speeds. Works well especially in the wet over 40km/h. So, not necessarily a track oriented option, but more a safety option, I think, anyway. I'd be happy to have it on my car, but I don't know if I can justify the price increase. (If it's anything like the GTI MkVI option price)

[Bayford Skoda]

Any idea what other features the new model will have? Tempted to rip up my contract and order another one...

I wouldnt go ripping up an order just yet...

MY11 RS gets the XDL and new door sill plates...

The rest of the Octavia range major changes will be...
90TSI engine in place of the 1.6 Petrol.
103TDI engines will now be common rail in place of Pumpe Duse.

New 16" Alloy wheels for 118TSI and 103TDI models

And a few other minor changes...

Superb will get a new options called KESSY (Keyless Entry & Start System) for $690 factory fitted.
Same size Bolero system as the Octavia.

And a few more minor changes for both models....

[dodgey]

Apparently the door sill plates will be smaller and more streamlined..

The dash is supposed to change a bit too, no?

I like the idea of the engine changes, and KESSY on the Superb though

[Bayford Skoda]

Apparently the door sill plates will be smaller and more streamlined..

The dash is supposed to change a bit too, no?

I like the idea of the engine changes, and KESSY on the Superb though

I don’t know about them being smaller... they just have a different design, more like a chequered finish now. As far as I know the dash won’t be changing.

[dodgey]

Cool! That's good news then