Went out to get some milk, came home with a Skoda!

[mrx]

Well, not really, it was a bit more planned than that.

Last night the wife and I took the plunge and signed up for a Black RS Wagon, no options. I was a bit hesitant due to the "unknown" factor, but in the end just thought bugger it, any new car purchase is liking throwing money down the drain the second you leave the dealership, so let's not worry about it and enjoy the car.

If anybody is thinking about purchasing, they are doing deals if you try (or take your no nonsense negotiator wife with you). We managed to get a little over $3000 off the driveaway price and $500 above the top end of the redbook price for our trade-in. So it's goodbye Honda CRV, hello Skoda - the Honda won't be missed, not that there's anything wrong with it, it's just boring.

Originally we specified a sunroof, which would have meant a 4 month wait. Luckily there is already exactly what we want, minus the sunroof, sitting on the dock in Fremantle, so we only have to wait about 2 weeks instead - sweet!

Mods that I'll be doing straight away are an ECU reflash and torque arm insert. I have both on the Golf GTI and am very happy with them (Most probably go with Bluefin, for the convenience and stealthiness of it). The wife is also eyeing up some bling in the form of a body kit and perhaps colourcoding the grill, but since those bits will have to come from Europe that won't happen straight away.

Thanks to gregozedobe for spurring my interest in these cars to begin with, with your objective comparisons. Ever thought of working for Skoda?

[gareth_oau]

Congrats MRX, i'm sure you will be both very happy.

I presume that the proposed Perth cruise will be on yr radar?

[DanSA]

Great one mrx! , and might I say a fine choice

I saw you had the bluefin on your GTi, good to hear your thoughts on it. I have been doing some reasearch and found you can get it for $970
AUD delivered from the UK. This makes it very attractive on cost with the added bonus of no worshop fees due to the DIY aspect (plus for me).

My only concern would be drivability and that the power/torque seems to be a little lower than others. (or others quote high) Other than that thers the warranty issues, but thats the same with any mod.

Having had it on the GTi (and hence same engine) iths good to know you would buy it again.

May send you a PM on the rest...

Enjoy the car , im loving mine.. , just cooking up schemes for Koni FSD/Eibach combo and chips.. one day maybe..

PS: added u to the register.

[gregozedobe]

Last night the wife and I took the plunge and signed up for a Black RS Wagon, no options.

The wife is also eyeing up some bling in the form of a body kit and perhaps colourcoding the grill, but since those bits will have to come from Europe that won't happen straight away.

Thanks to gregozedobe for spurring my interest in these cars to begin with, with your objective comparisons. Ever thought of working for Skoda?

Thanks for the feedback, MrX. I'm enjoying retirement way too much to even think about going back to work for someone again. Besides, I like to tell the truth, and if a different manufacturer came up with something better that's exactly what I'd be saying, so I wouldn't last very long at all

When you talk about colour coding the grill do you mean making the chrome grill surround black, or do you intend to paint the (already black) centre part of the grill the exact same gloss black as the bodywork (or both) ?

Just asking as I have been idly speculating what my (on order) yellow wagon would look like with all black trim (including roof rails as per NZ version, grille surround, B and C pillars, and possibly the wheels too - certainly wouldn't show the brake dust as much)

Be aware the front vRS badge on the grille is very difficult to remove.

If you want to bling up your vRS have a look around this site

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/octavia-ii/

Defo going to remove my rear "OCTAVIA" badge, and possibly the rear vRS badge too, as they seem to clutter up the rear too much (I like the "less is more" smooth look).

[Frufru]

Mods that I'll be doing straight away are an ECU reflash and torque arm insert. I have both on the Golf GTI and am very happy with them (Most probably go with Bluefin, for the convenience and stealthiness of it). The wife is also eyeing up some bling in the form of a body kit and perhaps colourcoding the grill, but since those bits will have to come from Europe that won't happen straight away.

Where do you have it done? Or can they be DIY??

[DanSA]

Defo going to remove my rear "OCTAVIA" badge, and possibly the rear vRS badge too, as they seem to clutter up the rear too much (I like the "less is more" smooth look).

The first thing I did Greg Comes off pretty easily with patience and dental floss.
CAn post a pic if u like, i think it looks much better. - clean.

Dan.

[rym]

Dan, what is involved in the removal? That's what I want to do as well, removing this badge. Thanks for tips and details

[DanSA]

Rym, I just used short lengths of dental floss and some water. The letters are held on with double sided tape, so if you work the floss under the edge and then work the floss back and forth it will slowly cut/lift the tape - without damging the paint.

After that a quick wash and voila.. I purposely did mine early so the was no marks left due to fading paint or super sticky dried out tape..

Can't notice the difference now, and a lot easier to clean to boot! (bad pun inteneded )

Dan
PS: I'll post a pic when the sun decides to get up.

[DanSA]

pix added

So here is the result:

Yes , I know, the car is filthy, we have had a few storms here the last few days..

[mrx]

When you talk about colour coding the grill do you mean making the chrome grill surround black, or do you intend to paint the (already black) centre part of the grill the exact same gloss black as the bodywork (or both) ?

If you want to bling up your vRS have a look around this site
http://www.briskoda.net/forums/octavia-ii/

Undecided, I thought I'd buy a new grill & surround from europe to experiment with, one bit at a time - while keeping the original intact, or possibly get one of those mesh replacement grills. My wife also wants eyelids and possibly a front spoiler, and I think if you have a front spoiler you need side skirts, and so it goes on... (Will probably end up getting nothing!)

I've already signed up to that forum, it was invaluable for deciding on the colour. Technically this will be my wife's car, so I let her choose the colour, and have given her the lecture about black cars but she has promised to wash it every week (yeah right, guess which sucker will end up doing it?!)

Where do you have it done? Or can they be DIY??

Bluefin is DIY, order the handset mail order, plug it in to the diagnostic port of the car. The Torque arm insert is also literally a 15 minute job, not hard at all if you don't mind getting under the car, use lots of spray lube and have a torque wrench. As for painting, I've had sucessful results painting bumpers myself before - it all comes down to whether you can get a good match for the paint or not. I've also used one of those mobile ding repairers before to respray my bumpers after I had difficulty matching the metallic paint, he did a perfect job and was reasonably priced too.

The first thing I did Greg Comes off pretty easily with patience and dental floss.

Fishing line also works wonders! As I mentioned in a post a while back, I think the badge on the back is way too big. At the time I also mentioned the wife wanted new wheels, and didn't like the half leather seats - but thankfully she's over that.

[DanSA]

I love the half leather - saves you from sticking to the seat in summer!

Wheels aren't as bad as I thought to keep clean, just a bit dissapointed I got Conti tyres rather than the Michy Exaltos They are very quiet tho.

[gregozedobe]

Wheels aren't as bad as I thought to keep clean, just a bit dissapointed I got Conti tyres rather than the Michy Exaltos They are very quiet tho.

Which model Contis ? All (3) vRS' I've seen so far had Exaltos fitted, so that was what I was hoping mine would come with. When was yours actually built ? (as different from compliance date)

[mrx]

I love the half leather - saves you from sticking to the seat in summer!

I also found them to be way more comfortable than the full leather seats in the 1.8.

[mrx]

Just found out that car's at the dealers already and we can pick it up on Monday! That must be the fastest car delivery in history. Due to a trip to Sydney this coming week, it'll have to stay at the dealership for another week. I'll put some pictures up when we get it, just incase anyone wonders what they look like.

[Blitzen]

Dan, what is involved in the removal? That's what I want to do as well, removing this badge. Thanks for tips and details

Another good way of removing badges is to heat them up with a hair dryer so that it releases the tape. Just have to heat them evenly, and remove the excess tape gum with metho after you have removed the badge. I have done this a few time, and never had a problem.