Fast cruising - what's your Skoda's fave speed?

Tailhappy · 04-07-2008, 09:27

Every Skoda is different - even two identical models - that is what makes them so interesting I think.

I was out yesterday in my 105 and as the road was so empty I did a small experiment to find the best fast cruising speed. At 50 MPH (2750RPM) the car was settled and smooth, the bonnet nodding gently over undulations. At 60 MPH (3250RPM) the car still felt settled but the engine was a little boomy/resonating in the body - but still good. At 70MPH (4000RPM) it smoothed right out (quieter than 60) and the car was really singing along

. The wind was rushing past the A-pillars and the road was dissapearing under the wheels at a good lick. Inclines reduced my pace - but the car was not that fazed by them (momentum?). Over 70 it got a bit raw so I did not push on. The 105 is happiest under load at speed - building the revs is not so rewarding as cruising.

When I had my Rapid 136, when the speedo read 80-85 MPH (3500RPM) it was really smooth and quiet, but 70 was a bit noisy and over 85 it boomed. Mind you I think speedo 85 = a real 75. The 136 block was quite sporty and I enjoyed building the speed up in 3rd gear.

Mum's 130 Estelle is happiest at 60-65 and gets noisier after this, but it does not seem to smooth out much at higher revs - if you want 70 or 75 you just have to go for it and ignore the noise. Mind you it was owned by a very old couple for years and they never went over 40 so it may have 'bedded in' at slower speeds. The first time I took it out and went from 40-65 the speedo jerked wildly from 20-90

- it had never gone so fast

! I do like second gear in the 130 - with the right foot planted the nose lifts and with the engine roaring (2000 - 4500RPM) it gives quite a speed rush!

What speed/revs are your Estelles/Rapids happiest at?

Ian

rigsby · 04-07-2008, 09:40

Who cares what the speed is, when the right pedal is burried, i keep my eyes on the road, not the speedo
Ive never had a copper willing to give me a ticket for speeding in a rear engine skoda, for fear of giving me oodles of street cred (more desirable than an ASBO)

Tailhappy · 04-07-2008, 09:52

"Ive never had a copper willing to give me a ticket for speeding in a rear engine skoda"

Same here - 15 years I have been trying - and still nothing

. Plod: "Sir, do you realise you were travelling at 95 MPH in this Skoda? We have you on tape so please sit in the back of the patroll car to review the footage with us" Me: "Thank you - I would be delighted! Any chance of this clip appearing on "Police, Camera, Action"?"

favguy · 04-07-2008, 14:06

the only time I've ever been stopped by the police for speeding and let off was when driving my dad's old estelle years ago, doing 45 in a 30 zone, the policeman told me to watch my speed but said he didn't have the heart to give me a ticket! Very odd...

Tailhappy · 04-07-2008, 14:45

Being a bit of a fan of Police Camera Action, I list below the instances of Estelles appearing. Can you add any more that I have missed?

1. Denmark - 120L on dark road with passengers in the car veers left then right and slides down a bank and overturns. Driver drunk.
2. Horribly mutilated (105?) is confiscated and an attempt made by a policeman to drive it away. It flexes violently in the middle and shoots him up and down in the seat!
3. UK. Police pull a speeding BMW. Officer says to the driver "step onto the pavement before you are hit by a careless driver". Look to the right - there is an early red 120LSE/130 parked.

There was an episode I heard about where a Skoda squeezed between bollards and the chubby police Vectra could not follow - they escaped, but I have never seen it in person

.

anewman · 04-07-2008, 17:51

Problem is today's young keen officers probably won't even know what an Estelle is, never mind know all the jokes.

skorob2007 · 05-07-2008, 19:13

I got stopped once way back in early 1990 in my 1986 120LS.It had a few modes inc a KN filter and 3-branch sports exhaust system etc.I was doing an indicated 105MPH overtaking (racing

) a Reliant Scumatar SS1.I was 18, and giving my car some serious hammer - well, don't we all at that age?

I was probably doing a genuine 90-95 as Skoda Estelles and Rapids are notorious for over-reading speedos.The SS1 was flat out, I was creeping by him with my foot so hard on the accelerator, any harder pushing would have seen my foot go through the floor

I got past him, and kept my foot buried as it was a long, clear dual carriageway for about 5 more miles.A mile or so later I went by a slip way at the same speed and this copper was joining the dual carriageway.

Next thing, on go the blue lights and Im pulled over.

The copper was very polite and gave me the usual speeding speech etc, etc, and I was fearing the worse etc when he said ' Just slow down in future mate, Im letting you off this time cos the lads back at the station will rip me to bits for nicking a Skoda doing 90+'

Thats the only time in all the years I drove Estelles, Rapids, Favorits or Felicias that I ever got stopped, either for speeding or spot-checks

.But when I ran an Uno turbo for a while a couple of years later as a 'toy', I got stopped 6 times in 3 months, not for speeding, just 'spot checks'

.
Back to the original question though, my 130 Rapid with Weber Carb, KN Filter, skimmed, polished and ported head, lowered suzzy, full bodykit etc and Group a exhaust seemed more settled at an indicated 90mph.For some reason it hated 60mph.My Favorit GLXie Flailine liked 75-85 indicated.

hunter0f2 · 05-07-2008, 22:36

I had a White 1000MB & later a Hipberry Red Estelle 120. My fav. speed was the one when I could still hear myself think!!

skorob2007 · 06-07-2008, 00:08

[quote=hunter0f2;1346950]I had a White 1000MB quote]

Thers a 1000MB in July's issue of practical classics magazine - nice looking car.My dad had 2 of the later S100 and S110LS Saloons and an S110R Coupe all new back in the 70's.

The best speeds in them was about 50-55MPH before they got boomy.
I actually got to drive a restored S110R in the mid 90's and have to say it was one of the worst cars I had ever driven and I was bitterly disappointed as I loved the looks of them and expected them to be fun.The pedals were just so so awkward and the steering was useless.

daverapid · 06-07-2008, 11:25

My favorit speed in a rear engined Skoda is usually achieved sideways, I don't have time to look at the speedo during those times though!

KenONeill · 07-07-2008, 13:01

In NSL areas, 60<cough>mph on SC, and 70<cough> on dual.

gcr31463 · 08-07-2008, 18:30

Well my 1965 Octavia had a chance to stretch it's legs with nearly 500 miles covered during our camping weekend. It's fair to say that it's a very different animal to it's 40 years younger sibling.
At an indicated 52mph in top (4th) gear it's possible to hold a sane conversation.
However the gearbox noise gets louder at 56 and much more so at 60 and anything above that is bravery territory. The handbook says 77 is possible & Dave W did get 72 on a brief test run after the plugs / dizzy etc were changed and timing set up.
The single biggest improvement has been the radial tyres, it now feels like a car rather than a boat.

However, it's really nice to pootle through villages and watch every one smile & wave.
It's a total head turner & even more amazing is people reactions if they find out what it is!!

gcr31463 · 08-07-2008, 18:49

oops ....
just noticed that the thread title said "fast cruising"
erm well it feels fast at 52mph in this ...

neskud · 17-07-2008, 01:19

I complete a 30 mile each way commute daily in my Rapid 136 so I have plenty of time to think about cruising speeds. An indicated 65-70 (3,000rpm) is really quite nice and relaxing to just sit back and relax.
However if you need to push on (and I invariably do!) I find that 3,500rpm is a nice settled point for the engine. At this point you're doing an indicated 80-85mph.
It doesn't seem to mind either way. Once you get above 4,000rpm it gets loud and raucous and above 90 is just unpleasant.

gcr31463 · 18-07-2008, 10:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by neskud

I complete a 30 mile each way commute daily in my Rapid 136 so I have plenty of time to think about cruising speeds. An indicated 65-70 (3,000rpm) is really quite nice and relaxing to just sit back and relax.
However if you need to push on (and I invariably do!) I find that 3,500rpm is a nice settled point for the engine. At this point you're doing an indicated 80-85mph.
It doesn't seem to mind either way. Once you get above 4,000rpm it gets loud and raucous and above 90 is just unpleasant.

Of couse you'd only be doing 90+ on German autobahns or private airfields

As a total dervhead, just looking at those rpm figures makes me shudder....
4000rpm in 6th in my diesel is 120mph

(obviously extrapolated from 60mph at 2000rpm officer)

The old Octavias don't have rev counters, however,
they do have the gearbox virtually in the cabin with you.
So it's always a releif (to the ears) to put it into 4th

KenONeill · 18-07-2008, 11:03

4_000 in the 110 5-speed would be about 120 (by extrapolation), so what was the point in the 6-speed box? It's not like there are any holes in the delivery from the 5-speed.

gcr31463 · 18-07-2008, 11:14

erm actually i might be still half asleep (night shift last night)
yeah ... might be this instead ...
1500 rpm at 50mph in 6th
therefore 3000rpm ~ 100mph & 4000rpm ~ 133mph

the old 90bhp 5speed diesel was 2000rpm at 60mph

KenONeill · 18-07-2008, 12:19

That makes more sense, and accounts for why the 110 feels so fast if it's got the same gearing as the 90.

jikov RON · 20-07-2008, 19:40

my own experience of my estelle tells me that it has an annoying boom only around the set speed limits so i either have to drive slow or put up with the booming from the exhaust but 55 on the motorway 3100rpm (only a four on the floor) is very smooth
5000-6000rpm is very smooth but really loud any thing in between is basicaly low pitched thrumming
so indeed the cars are very individual characters

04-07-2008, 09:27	#1
Tailhappy Briskodian Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Hemel Hempstead Posts: 243 Thanks: 19 Thanked 16 Times in 9 Posts	Fast cruising - what's your Skoda's fave speed? Every Skoda is different - even two identical models - that is what makes them so interesting I think. I was out yesterday in my 105 and as the road was so empty I did a small experiment to find the best fast cruising speed. At 50 MPH (2750RPM) the car was settled and smooth, the bonnet nodding gently over undulations. At 60 MPH (3250RPM) the car still felt settled but the engine was a little boomy/resonating in the body - but still good. At 70MPH (4000RPM) it smoothed right out (quieter than 60) and the car was really singing along. The wind was rushing past the A-pillars and the road was dissapearing under the wheels at a good lick. Inclines reduced my pace - but the car was not that fazed by them (momentum?). Over 70 it got a bit raw so I did not push on. The 105 is happiest under load at speed - building the revs is not so rewarding as cruising. When I had my Rapid 136, when the speedo read 80-85 MPH (3500RPM) it was really smooth and quiet, but 70 was a bit noisy and over 85 it boomed. Mind you I think speedo 85 = a real 75. The 136 block was quite sporty and I enjoyed building the speed up in 3rd gear. Mum's 130 Estelle is happiest at 60-65 and gets noisier after this, but it does not seem to smooth out much at higher revs - if you want 70 or 75 you just have to go for it and ignore the noise. Mind you it was owned by a very old couple for years and they never went over 40 so it may have 'bedded in' at slower speeds. The first time I took it out and went from 40-65 the speedo jerked wildly from 20-90 - it had never gone so fast! I do like second gear in the 130 - with the right foot planted the nose lifts and with the engine roaring (2000 - 4500RPM) it gives quite a speed rush! What speed/revs are your Estelles/Rapids happiest at? Ian Last edited by Tailhappy; 04-07-2008 at 09:46.

04-07-2008, 09:40	#2
rigsby Briskodian Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: DONCASTER Posts: 1,043 Thanks: 16 Thanked 108 Times in 105 Posts	Re: Fast cruising - what's your Skoda's fave speed? Who cares what the speed is, when the right pedal is burried, i keep my eyes on the road, not the speedo Ive never had a copper willing to give me a ticket for speeding in a rear engine skoda, for fear of giving me oodles of street cred (more desirable than an ASBO) __________________ I DONT WANT TO DIE A GROWN UP!!!

04-07-2008, 09:52	#3
Tailhappy Briskodian Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Hemel Hempstead Posts: 243 Thanks: 19 Thanked 16 Times in 9 Posts	Re: Fast cruising - what's your Skoda's fave speed? "Ive never had a copper willing to give me a ticket for speeding in a rear engine skoda" Same here - 15 years I have been trying - and still nothing. Plod: "Sir, do you realise you were travelling at 95 MPH in this Skoda? We have you on tape so please sit in the back of the patroll car to review the footage with us" Me: "Thank you - I would be delighted! Any chance of this clip appearing on "Police, Camera, Action"?"

04-07-2008, 14:06	#4
favguy Briskodian Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Grimsby Posts: 49 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	Re: Fast cruising - what's your Skoda's fave speed? the only time I've ever been stopped by the police for speeding and let off was when driving my dad's old estelle years ago, doing 45 in a 30 zone, the policeman told me to watch my speed but said he didn't have the heart to give me a ticket! Very odd...

04-07-2008, 14:45	#5
Tailhappy Briskodian Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Hemel Hempstead Posts: 243 Thanks: 19 Thanked 16 Times in 9 Posts	Re: Fast cruising - what's your Skoda's fave speed? Being a bit of a fan of Police Camera Action, I list below the instances of Estelles appearing. Can you add any more that I have missed? 1. Denmark - 120L on dark road with passengers in the car veers left then right and slides down a bank and overturns. Driver drunk. 2. Horribly mutilated (105?) is confiscated and an attempt made by a policeman to drive it away. It flexes violently in the middle and shoots him up and down in the seat! 3. UK. Police pull a speeding BMW. Officer says to the driver "step onto the pavement before you are hit by a careless driver". Look to the right - there is an early red 120LSE/130 parked. There was an episode I heard about where a Skoda squeezed between bollards and the chubby police Vectra could not follow - they escaped, but I have never seen it in person.

04-07-2008, 17:51	#6
anewman Briskodian Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Leeds Posts: 2,512 Thanks: 984 Thanked 222 Times in 205 Posts	Re: Fast cruising - what's your Skoda's fave speed? Problem is today's young keen officers probably won't even know what an Estelle is, never mind know all the jokes. __________________ 94 Favorit GLXIe Estate

05-07-2008, 19:13	#7
skorob2007 Briskodian Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Peterborough Posts: 529 Thanks: 30 Thanked 70 Times in 50 Posts	Re: Fast cruising - what's your Skoda's fave speed? I got stopped once way back in early 1990 in my 1986 120LS.It had a few modes inc a KN filter and 3-branch sports exhaust system etc.I was doing an indicated 105MPH overtaking (racing) a Reliant Scumatar SS1.I was 18, and giving my car some serious hammer - well, don't we all at that age? I was probably doing a genuine 90-95 as Skoda Estelles and Rapids are notorious for over-reading speedos.The SS1 was flat out, I was creeping by him with my foot so hard on the accelerator, any harder pushing would have seen my foot go through the floor I got past him, and kept my foot buried as it was a long, clear dual carriageway for about 5 more miles.A mile or so later I went by a slip way at the same speed and this copper was joining the dual carriageway. Next thing, on go the blue lights and Im pulled over. The copper was very polite and gave me the usual speeding speech etc, etc, and I was fearing the worse etc when he said ' Just slow down in future mate, Im letting you off this time cos the lads back at the station will rip me to bits for nicking a Skoda doing 90+' Thats the only time in all the years I drove Estelles, Rapids, Favorits or Felicias that I ever got stopped, either for speeding or spot-checks.But when I ran an Uno turbo for a while a couple of years later as a 'toy', I got stopped 6 times in 3 months, not for speeding, just 'spot checks'. Back to the original question though, my 130 Rapid with Weber Carb, KN Filter, skimmed, polished and ported head, lowered suzzy, full bodykit etc and Group a exhaust seemed more settled at an indicated 90mph.For some reason it hated 60mph.My Favorit GLXie Flailine liked 75-85 indicated. Last edited by skorob2007; 05-07-2008 at 22:32.

05-07-2008, 22:36	#8
hunter0f2 Briskodian Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 21 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Fast cruising - what's your Skoda's fave speed? I had a White 1000MB & later a Hipberry Red Estelle 120. My fav. speed was the one when I could still hear myself think!! __________________ Argue Not with Dragons, For Thou ar't Cruchy & go well on Toast!!!!!!!!!! Wifes 1.4 Automatic Fabia Estate ,rear parking sensors. Comfort model ..52 Plate only 8000 miles!!!

06-07-2008, 00:08	#9
skorob2007 Briskodian Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Peterborough Posts: 529 Thanks: 30 Thanked 70 Times in 50 Posts	Re: Fast cruising - what's your Skoda's fave speed? [quote=hunter0f2;1346950]I had a White 1000MB quote] Thers a 1000MB in July's issue of practical classics magazine - nice looking car.My dad had 2 of the later S100 and S110LS Saloons and an S110R Coupe all new back in the 70's. The best speeds in them was about 50-55MPH before they got boomy. I actually got to drive a restored S110R in the mid 90's and have to say it was one of the worst cars I had ever driven and I was bitterly disappointed as I loved the looks of them and expected them to be fun.The pedals were just so so awkward and the steering was useless.

06-07-2008, 11:25	#10
daverapid Briskodian Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Sawston, Cambridgeshire Posts: 788 Thanks: 19 Thanked 83 Times in 76 Posts	Re: Fast cruising - what's your Skoda's fave speed? My favorit speed in a rear engined Skoda is usually achieved sideways, I don't have time to look at the speedo during those times though! __________________ David McKinney TREASURER OF SKODA OWNERS CLUB GREAT BRITAIN www.skoda-owners-club.org.uk

07-07-2008, 13:01	#11
KenONeill Briskodian Join Date: May 2006 Location: Normally somewhere in Scotland! Posts: 10,381 Thanks: 56 Thanked 491 Times in 482 Posts	Re: Fast cruising - what's your Skoda's fave speed? In NSL areas, 60<cough>mph on SC, and 70<cough> on dual.

08-07-2008, 18:30	#12
gcr31463 Briskodian Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 714 Thanks: 19 Thanked 24 Times in 23 Posts	Re: Fast cruising - what's your Skoda's fave speed? Well my 1965 Octavia had a chance to stretch it's legs with nearly 500 miles covered during our camping weekend. It's fair to say that it's a very different animal to it's 40 years younger sibling. At an indicated 52mph in top (4th) gear it's possible to hold a sane conversation. However the gearbox noise gets louder at 56 and much more so at 60 and anything above that is bravery territory. The handbook says 77 is possible & Dave W did get 72 on a brief test run after the plugs / dizzy etc were changed and timing set up. The single biggest improvement has been the radial tyres, it now feels like a car rather than a boat. However, it's really nice to pootle through villages and watch every one smile & wave. It's a total head turner & even more amazing is people reactions if they find out what it is!! __________________ Daily drive; Octy II 2.0 (?Turbo?)DI Plus some stuff in the RWD section. Next trip from Scunthorpe & Doncaster clicky http://briskoda.net/midlands-skoda-m...26-oct/125071/

08-07-2008, 18:49	#13
gcr31463 Briskodian Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 714 Thanks: 19 Thanked 24 Times in 23 Posts	Re: Fast cruising - what's your Skoda's fave speed? oops .... just noticed that the thread title said "fast cruising" erm well it feels fast at 52mph in this ... __________________ Daily drive; Octy II 2.0 (?Turbo?)DI Plus some stuff in the RWD section. Next trip from Scunthorpe & Doncaster clicky http://briskoda.net/midlands-skoda-m...26-oct/125071/

17-07-2008, 01:19	#14
neskud Briskodian Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Hartlepool Posts: 23 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Fast cruising - what's your Skoda's fave speed? I complete a 30 mile each way commute daily in my Rapid 136 so I have plenty of time to think about cruising speeds. An indicated 65-70 (3,000rpm) is really quite nice and relaxing to just sit back and relax. However if you need to push on (and I invariably do!) I find that 3,500rpm is a nice settled point for the engine. At this point you're doing an indicated 80-85mph. It doesn't seem to mind either way. Once you get above 4,000rpm it gets loud and raucous and above 90 is just unpleasant. __________________

18-07-2008, 11:03	#16
KenONeill Briskodian Join Date: May 2006 Location: Normally somewhere in Scotland! Posts: 10,381 Thanks: 56 Thanked 491 Times in 482 Posts	Re: Fast cruising - what's your Skoda's fave speed? 4_000 in the 110 5-speed would be about 120 (by extrapolation), so what was the point in the 6-speed box? It's not like there are any holes in the delivery from the 5-speed.

18-07-2008, 11:14	#17
gcr31463 Briskodian Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 714 Thanks: 19 Thanked 24 Times in 23 Posts	Re: Fast cruising - what's your Skoda's fave speed? erm actually i might be still half asleep (night shift last night) yeah ... might be this instead ... 1500 rpm at 50mph in 6th therefore 3000rpm ~ 100mph & 4000rpm ~ 133mph the old 90bhp 5speed diesel was 2000rpm at 60mph __________________ Daily drive; Octy II 2.0 (?Turbo?)DI Plus some stuff in the RWD section. Next trip from Scunthorpe & Doncaster clicky http://briskoda.net/midlands-skoda-m...26-oct/125071/

18-07-2008, 12:19	#18
KenONeill Briskodian Join Date: May 2006 Location: Normally somewhere in Scotland! Posts: 10,381 Thanks: 56 Thanked 491 Times in 482 Posts	Re: Fast cruising - what's your Skoda's fave speed? That makes more sense, and accounts for why the 110 feels so fast if it's got the same gearing as the 90.

20-07-2008, 19:40	#19
jikov RON Briskodian Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: durham Posts: 32 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Fast cruising - what's your Skoda's fave speed? my own experience of my estelle tells me that it has an annoying boom only around the set speed limits so i either have to drive slow or put up with the booming from the exhaust but 55 on the motorway 3100rpm (only a four on the floor) is very smooth 5000-6000rpm is very smooth but really loud any thing in between is basicaly low pitched thrumming so indeed the cars are very individual characters

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