this may or may not have been brought up in the past but its hard to find old posts on my phone

hav heard the vrs mk1 had a facelift/upgrades

can someone be more specific as to what was actually changed eg performance, looks

n wat year this occured

thnx

There was a minor facelift in 2005 (I think?), but from what I can see about the only thing that changed on the vRS was the rear light cluster. Lower specced models had front bumper changes too I think but the vRS stayed the same. As far as I know, anyway.

Where there any changes to the pd100 elegances? Hatchbacks? I'd be interested to know as mines a 56...

Just occurred to me that the engines did change on the vRS, but that wasn't part of the facelift, it happened later. The later BLT engine came in around 2006 I think, with better emissions figures. Apparently very early vRSes had a longer 6th gear as well, but that was before the facelift happened (53/04 plates had the longer boxes, from what I've read).

It's a programme of continual change - although admittedly my experience is only vRS related.

Even the late 2004 facelift was introduced over an extended period. My ostensibly post-facelift 2004 car was in fact a hybrid - it didn't have the new fascia top or, interestingly, the price rise, but did have the new rear lights, the new grille, the rear door lock button delete, etc.

There were things before that time such as the different gearbox (it's not just a longer 6th gear as mentioned) and the longer vRS badge - and significant price increases (the earliest vRSs were CHEAP).

There were things after that time such as the BLT engine, the different battery, the convenience wipe deletion and the changed FABIA badges both on the engine cover and the tailgate...

Nice little facts to know!

As far as I know, the evolution goes like this.

Starting around the time cars were registered as 04's.

Long 5th and 6th gear boxes replaced with a short unit.

Longer Octavia vRS boot badge replaced by a shorted "Fabia" length version

Centre lap belt replaced by a 3 point belt.

3 flash soft touch indicator system introduced.

Full colour Skoda badge on the engine cover replaced by a black plastic item.

Batter cover deleted

Rear door lock pin deleted.

Revised rear light clusters introduced

Revised "slanted" front grille introduced

Soft grippy rear portion of the Dash is introduced.

BLT Engine replaces ASZ

All introduced by 05 plate cars?

Cars from between this period, as already said, can have a mixture of the above...

I've got the 3 point belt, soft touch indicators and shorter gear box on my 04. But non of the external revisions or the cheapening deletes.

Note that's not chronological. My late 2004 car - supposedly post-facelift - as I've said didn't have the changed fascia top texture.

The BLT engine was - as far as I can gather - early 2006. I've thought the battery change - and hence the different battery cover - may have occurred at the engine change. And for that matter the engine cover badge.

Going back to the gearbox change, it was just 6th gear that changed, as I've said previously, and it wasn't just 5th and 6th gears that changed as just suggested. In fact the changes were made to 4th, 5th, and 6th gear and both final drive rations (5+6 having a different final drive - don't ask me how - I don't know!) - without a "table" facility this may not work (EDIT - no it doesn't - having put lots of formatting spaces in, the forum software then strips them all out!):

53 gearbox:

gear ratio final drive overall

1st 3.769 2.955 11.137

2nd 2.087 2.955 6.167

3rd 1.324 2.955 3.912

4th 0.911 2.955 2.692

5th 0.902 2.407 2.171

6th 0.756 2.407 1.820

Reverse 4.459 3.238 14.438

04 gearbox:

gear ratio final drive overall

1st 3.769 3.238 12.204

2nd 2.087 3.238 6.758

3rd 1.324 3.238 4.287

4th 0.977 3.238 3.164

5th 0.975 2.615 2.550

6th 0.814 2.615 2.129

Reverse 4.459 3.238 14.438

Hence all forward ratios actually changed...

There are some other changes - check out the warning lights. I was going to suggest an early owner gets in touch and we'd do a photographic survey of their car against mine - any takers in Gloucestershire?

Edited 8 September, 201114 yr by DRJ