Quick Heads up: Octy II vRS mag review

[Micky 32]

To be honest the interior quality is slightly better on the VW. The door handles are a bit more flimsey(inside). The grab handles don't have a soft return. The pillars aren't cloth covered. The radio doesn't have metal buttons. Interior lights are used from older model VW's etc. However these are minor things that i wouldn't pay an extra 3k for.
I think the dash is a nicer design than the Golf though.
The reason the Octy is quicker up top is because it's more aerodynamic than the Golf.

[Jonno VRs]

I purchased the magasine in question Friday and it's quite a good read - may consider changing from Evo which isn't what it once was.

As for the review, the conclusions were pretty much as expected and as reported in about every other review.

[mdk1]

Having trouble trying to find it

[Tom_vRS]

I struggled to get a copy to, had to go into Cambridge to the big WHS.

Tis a good read.

[Ads]

I sat in both a new vrs and the golf gti this weekend (mk I vrs owner looking for a new car!).

In the golf, I thought the gear knob was nicer than the vrs, and in every other respect I preferred the vrs. Whilst the quality of the mk I vrs interior is poor (how many non-matching different kinds of plastic?) I thought the new vrs interior was not noticeably poorer quality than the golf's. Also, the golf's standard cloth trim seats are DISGUSTING.

And my 5 yr old son summed up the problem with the golf as I opened the boot..... "small boot".

With those that have posted on the poor quality of the vrs interior - why is this? My mk I has not a single rattle, and it is a Y-reg.

[s3akr]

I could have gone for the Golf, Leon or VRS and chose the latter on value for money. I ignored the guff about % depreciation over 3 years being lower on a Golf because the higher initial price tag means that in terms of cold hard cash, the VRS is no worse than a Golf and that's what its all about. Not worth the extra dosh in my view and I'm very happy with my choice.

I really wanted to like the Leon (as I have a Mk1 FR TDI that I am a big fan of) but I still struggle with its looks. Same with the new S3 too. I want to like that after my love affair with my Mk1 S3 but I just can't - its not agressive enough and for £26k+ its not special enough.

[vRS Ian]

Don't talk to me about Golf reliability at the moment. Had just taken the hit of a new cambelt (planned) on the wifes Golf (02) GTI. Then it needed a new dash control panel (£400), then they broke 2 x window supports (£200). Expensive month. Solid car yes, reliable - no! We've had the engine management light on a good few times as well.

My previous Passat (1998) was the most unreliable car I have ever had, and the dealers were rubbish.

VW's are NOT reliable cars, its been the same with others VW's at work. It's all marketing hype.

[Parslad]

Only issue I had with the magazine article (good mag in general though) was the twice snippy mentions of the fact that the VRS tested was yellow. Not remotely relevant!

The lack of miles done in the VRS was also mentioned once, but was not really a fair comparison given the precise technical read outs they were giving the cars. Golf's engine was clearly fully run in, VRS had a long way to go.

[Babs]

The vRS was still very close to the Golf though!