Octavia vRS Mk3 Pics - They're finally here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[mmmRacer]

Looks much better with the black interior.

[FSI 220]

Looks orright in Black, shame I am never owning black again though...

Interior looks orrite, I like it... just needs the right spec...

[K1W1]

I'm really surprised that they have stuck with the mechanical handbrake. It really does put the look at the interior into the bargain basement class these days.

[woofy]

I thought the earlier pics showed it gone. They may have put it back in the RS for performance reasons, a lot of people complained when it looked like it was getting taken away. Not everyone does handbrakeys, but track and rally people do.

[K1W1]

Not everyone does handbrakeys, but track and rally people do.

And the percentage of owners of vRS who fit into the "track and rally" category is? My guess is that there would be a decimal point with a very small number after it.
It's either cost saving (which I doubt) or a deliberate ploy from Head office to make sure that other brands in the group are seen to have newer technology.

[Ideo]

I'm really surprised that they have stuck with the mechanical handbrake. It really does put the look at the interior into the bargain basement class these days.

I don't like electronic handbrakes, so I'm not going to complain when manufacturers retain them.

[Ideo]

Probably much more people had to like it than not, if that design made it to production.

I like the new look better than the old one, almost from every angle.

It's a bit like the Mk 4 Golf in that it is a very understated and classless design, in that it can fit in anywhere.

Any word on an Australian launch date?

[K1W1]

Any word on an Australian launch date?

If it's typical European 6 months or so after the Europe release. I'm thinking the first stock will be here not longe before Christmas as it will be built immediately after the summer factory shutdowns.

[Tigger]

I'm really surprised that they have stuck with the mechanical handbrake. It really does put the look at the interior into the bargain basement class these days.

You are one of the very few people kiwi who have a problem with the proper handbrake!
The electric brake is the most stupid gimmicky thing ever adopted by manufacturers. I am so glad that reason has prevailed and skoda have retained a proper hand brake....

[FSI 220]

The fact it has a normal handbrake is awesome, push button handbrakes are slightly less bad than foot operated ones...

Avoiding a three point turn is good for the environment.

[K1W1]

Read what I said before you jump in. I never said that I was against mechanical handbrakes I said it gave the car a budget look.
Mechanical handbrakes whether any of us like them or not are in their death throes just like gear levers on auto trans vehicles. Another 5 years and new drivers won't know what they are except that dad has one in his old car.

[woofy]

Well they did say that the head of VW after spitting the dummy two yrs or so ago vowed to make Skoda more barebones to stop tem stealing as many VW sales. The Jetta has the electric handbrakes maybe that was where the assumption came from. Does the new golf have them? I'm not so keen on them in manual cars so would be happy if they still have the manual in the RS. Skoda are also more conservative with new tech, maybe they are waiting on gen 2.

[K1W1]

Does the new golf have them?

Yes so does the new A3. I go back to my budget look argument.

[Tigger]

Yes so does the new A3. I go back to my budget look argument.

You are on your own in your opinion yet again kiwi....

[Ideo]

Yes so does the new A3. I go back to my budget look argument.

But, considering they are built on the same platform, surely it would be cheaper to use the same technology across all models rather than design a manual handbrake sepcifically for Skoda.