Buying Advice Please - VRS TDi

[Silverware]

Hello

I am new to the forum, and after some advice please...I have driven a company car for years and am now going to be running my own car against a cash allowance, so not had to worry about things before now!

I am looking at buying a brand new Octavia VRS TDi 170 on PCP for business use, fitted with Dual Zone A/C, Jumbo Box and Electric Rear Windows; Rear Parking Sensors; Auto Dim Mirror, Rain Sensor etc; Cruise; Maxidot & Xenons including washers.

I think I have found a good deal based on 3 years, but have a few unanswered questions that I hope somebody can answer:-

Are Xenon's worth the money - are they considerably better than standard? I have never experienced them.
17" or 18" wheels? How much does this affect ride comfort?
Variable servicing - I will be doing about 20,000 per year mostly on 60mph A roads, with a mix of some town and some motorway. How much does a service cost?
What other costs am I likely to get over a 60,000 mile 3 year life? Currently I am working on 3 new sets of front tyres £900 total, 1 new set of rear tyres £300 total, Brake pads £250.
Or would I be better trying to buy a maintenance deal?

any help will be greatly appreciated

[mannyo]

Welcome to briskoda,

the difference in ride between 17" and 18" wheels is very small and the 18" wheels look so much better. Servicing costs vary by dealer, but my last varible service on the 2.0TDI 140 cost £160.

[VRStu]

If you could place your order before 30th Dec you could get 30k miles free servicing if you use Skoda PCP. I would also suggest buying it on a 10k per annum plan and then selling before the end of the term to keep your monthly costs down.

Škoda - Our Cars - Offers

You really need to have a contingency budget for things like someone hitting your car in a car park and driving off or smashing a door mirror. Also you might get things like a puncture etc.

[Silverware]

Originally Posted by VRStu

If you could place your order before 30th Dec you could get 30k miles free servicing if you use Skoda PCP. I would also suggest buying it on a 10k per annum plan and then selling before the end of the term to keep your monthly costs down.

Škoda - Our Cars - Offers

You really need to have a contingency budget for things like someone hitting your car in a car park and driving off or smashing a door mirror. Also you might get things like a puncture etc.

Forgot to say I was allowing a contingency of two fully comp insurance excesses.
Our local tyre centre will repair punctures free

Interesting comment about Skoda PCP on lower mileage and selling before the end of the term. How does that work with terminating the PCP early?

[London Les]

I would strongly recommend zenons - the 2.5x light output makes a big difference for night driving and the bulbs last for ages. They are self levelling and give better coverage.

I didn't get them on my car before the current one, and regretted it.

[bahnstormer vrs]

Have a search for some other threads on Xenons to get a full picture of them but IMHO they are absolutely worth the money; remember you get headlamp wash and auto self levelling as part of the Xenon fitting.

[Ciderspace]

I wouldn't bother with Xenons. I had them on my beemer and thought they were superb but... I thought the £450-500 would be better spent elsewhere this time round and after all, its not like the headlights can be bad... I mean, that would be crazy. In practise, I'm proved right - the halogens are absolutely fine... if you want more light, change the bulbs - much cheaper. Of course Xenons are brighter still but £500?! Not worth IMHO.

[VRS195]

You can't beat the bluish tinge on warm-up or the little dance they do when you turn them on to re-calibrate levellers.

Makes every night drive seem like an event!

[VRStu]

I like the xenons I must admit.

As for the PCP then yes you can terminate early.

[Makefish]

Xenons - yup get 'em you'll only regret it if you dont as you would with the 18" alloys which look so much better than 17's and with no noticable detriment to ride quality

[Decron]

I'll hang my hat on the Xenon's peg. I don't have them on my new car and miss them badly. Uprating the bulbs to Phillip's Xtremes did go some way to alleaviating the pain they are nowhere near as good.

[Captain Scarlet]

Yes defo go for the 18 inch wheel upgrade. Never had zenons so can't help there, the first service I had on mine was in the 160 to 200 pound range.

[Silverware]

Thanks for the help guys - sounds like Xenons and 18" wheels are a definite.

Can anybody explain the maxidot? Also is there an option for a b luetooth phone integrated kit?

[VRStu]

Maxidot is a driver information display in the dash, first couple of pictures here will show you

Octavia-vRS.com - OEM Integrated Bluetooth Telephone Install

As far as I know Bluetooth isn't an option but it can be fitted after.

[Silverware]

Originally Posted by VRStu

Maxidot is a driver information display in the dash, first couple of pictures here will show you

Octavia-vRS.com - OEM Integrated Bluetooth Telephone Install

As far as I know Bluetooth isn't an option but it can be fitted after.

Thanks - looks complicated to me . Do you know anybody that will install this kit?

[VRStu]

Maybe

I was actually just showing you the maxidot though.

[Silverware]

Definitely a much nicer than a Parrot kit or similar

Any idea how much?

[Makefish]

Originally Posted by Silverware

Definitely a much nicer than a Parrot kit or similar

Any idea how much?

PM VRStu, he'll see you right on these matters