[Rudra Sen]

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] (rtech @ Sep. 23 2004,11:57)]And Rudra...lol...we don't hate the Optra man!! Its just not the first car that comes to mind when we talk performance figures

Performance? Who's talking about performance in Optra?
Talk about comfort and space with OK performance

[Rtech]

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] ]Performance? Who's talking about performance in Optra?

Well...this topic is on the Octavia Rs...soooo

Rt

[GTO]

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] ]Also remove your huge music system.. car will be even faster

As has been stated, the Vtec does an indicated 150 in third gear.

GTO

[Tom]

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] (rtech @ Sep. 23 2004,14:11)]Well...this topic is on the Octavia Rs...soooo

Rt

yeah im tired of seeing the V-tec being brought into almost every other topic

[Jaggu]

Originally Posted by Tom,Sep. 23 2004,16:21 yeah im tired of seeing the V-tec being brought into almost every other topic *[img

http://www.team-bhp.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/6 laughing faces.gif[/img]

[Rehaan]

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] (GTO @ Sep. 23 2004,10:10)]

Nope. Think about it, if it can do a 98km/h in 2nd gear, that means the revv limiter would come on at exactly 98. But I was upshifting atleast 100-150 rpm before the engine cut-off limit. In fact, I clearly remember the timing also blinking in 3rd gear and not in second gear.


Plus, you do remember how my car started knocking after filling up at that god-forsaken highway petrol pump. Plus we didnt exactly have a choice of good terrain. No air-pressures were checked and the car almost had a 35+ liters of fuel in it.

But more than anything, it was my first time with pro-timing equipment and timed 0 - 100 drags. I totally goofed up the initial launches with too much wheelspin. Practice, practice and more practice.

Keeping all these variables in mind, you would agree that the variables wernt in the most favorable conditions? And that I could better the time by a significant margin?

GTO

Hey GTO,

I see ur point...but i still think 8 flat is a bit out of reach for a stock indian vtec....

Now back to the RS....i cant believe theres only one TBHPian who has test driven this car so far!!! cmon guys! i wanna see some pics and more feedback!... the test drives only started the week after i left bombay so i missed my chance..so need to live vicariously through you guys!

cya
R

[GTO]

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] ]

I see ur point...but i still think 8 flat is a bit out of reach for a stock indian vtec....

Okay, I agree 8 sounds a little far fetched. 8.5?

And yes, RS testdrive report coming up real soon.

GTO

[Shan2nu]

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] ]yeah im tired of seeing the V-tec being brought into almost every other topic

How can you talk about performance or performance cars without the mention of a VTEC?? Those 4 alphas are there by default.

Shan2nu

[Tom]

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] (Shan2nu @ Sep. 24 2004,10:45)]How can you talk about performance or performance cars without the mention of a VTEC?? Those 4 alphas are there by default.
Shan2nu

yeah..thinking abt it ur right....it's the only performance car worth talkin abt in India.
Similiar to the "official joke thread" we should have an "offical V-tec thread" *
also doesnt the stock 65bhp Esteem (carb) pull a clean 100kph(true speed) in 2nd gear?

[GTO]

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] ]also doesnt the stock 65bhp Esteem (carb) pull a clean 100kph(true speed) in 2nd gear?

My carb esteem does an indicated 100+ in 2nd gear.

GTO

[Tom]

yes....even my carb esteem can pull upto 120 on the speedo in 2nd and it's only 65 bhp

[Revvmaster]

Dear admin

Kindly note change in post title name.

Formerly: Skoda Octavia RS test drive

Now: Skoda Octavia RS not as much fun as VTEC.

Thanking you

Revvmaster

[Rudra Sen]

Originally Posted by [b

Quote[/b] (Revvmaster @ Sep. 24 2004,21:04)]Now: Skoda Octavia RS not as much fun as VTEC.

You mean to say that if I'm going for Skoda Octavia RS test drive, I also should drive a VTEC before or after?
Ajmatttttttttt....where are you?

[GTO]

I believe that a great start leads to a great day....and knew it was going to be a great start as I had a screaming yellow Skoda Octavia Turbo RS waiting in my office parking lot.

The car looks stunning from all angles. Head on, its got a really aggressive looking front bumper and air dam. The Xenon headlights look blown and I especially liked the rich RS logo on the radiator grille. The utility of the headlamp washer may be limited but it certainly adds character and gives this RS the fully loaded look it rightly deserves. I dont think too much of the spoiler (nor the one on my Vtec) but I guess that for sporty variants...its a given add-on accessory. Its the Octavias mature character that further resists the spoiler. The Octavia RS Turbo will looks its part in yellow and red only. I have seen black RS' and they didnt shout "sporty" like the one I test drove. *


The alloys are to die for. Yes, they are better than anything offered previously as OE on an Indian car. A 16" size with 205mm Bridgestone rubber does wonders to the overall aggressive look. Look at it from the rear and the wheel/tyre combo gives it a fat & sporty stance. That and the meaty exhaust tip

Step inside and the familiar Octavia layout greets you. But in a richer form. I love sunroofs and its an absolute pleasure feeling the wind in your hair and the sky above. Plus, you can always tip the ash off your cigarette through the sunroof (Most convenient ash tray in the world). The leather on the seats is horrible in look and feel - Surely nowhere close to the Stanleys that most showrooms and aftermarket backups offer. In fact, this leather felt more like a regular rexine mix. The rest of the interior is typically Octavia under-stated and reeking of quality, though I feel the fit and finish has dipped just a little bit compared to earlier Octavias that I have driven.

Apparently the rear seat back has been angled a further 6 degrees lower to improve back seat comfort, but I didnt find it any more comfortable than regular Octavias. Its still not that comfortable at the back in terms of space and seating position, but with most of us petrolheads staying put in the drivers seat revving the 150BHP engine to 6500 rpm - who cares about the backseat?

This car is loaded with all the goodies - ABS, Airbags, rain-sensing wipers, parking sensors, xenon headlights, MP3 player with 8 speakers (surprising good quality), cruise control, sunroof, headlight washers....And what we must understand is that most of these features may look good in an initial testdrive. But they show their true worth only in daily use. Utility from the parking sensors will always shine, while you will appreciate the headlight washers on teh highway. The sunroof is great for those mid-night drives...extras are always more than welcome.

Plonking yourself in the drivers seat and shutting that vault like door shut has a tremendous feel good factor. Height adjustments on the seat alongwith steering rake and reach adjustment get you that perfect driving position. Start the 1.8L turbo and you know its not a regular Octavia. Revv it and you know that its a special car. I headed straight to the worli seaface (empty in the mornings) and hit 6500 rpm on the tacho. Boy, this car is F-A-S-T. And then the inevitable happened - The check engine light came on!!! All kinds of weird thoughts ($$$$$$) shot through my mind (Rush, dont ever take a non-run in engine to the redline) as I pulled over to the left. Got out and popped open the hood. All seemed fine till I saw the smiling sales guy - "Sir, the check engine light is on cos we have disconnected the odometer. We are going to deliver the car this evening to a dude from Juhu you see" So much for dealer ethics.

Getting back to the drive, I see a black Opel Vectra being driven quite enthusiasticly by a young chap. He already has 4 - 5 car lengths of a lead on me and I pull up right next to him as if he was standing still. I bring my car exactly to his speed, right next to him...then downshift and floor it. The poor Vectra probably didnt know what hit it...The mid-range of this car is stupendously powerful. You can downshift to 3rd at well over a 100+ kph and the sheer and instant velocity has to be experienced to be believed. The engine revvs up to 6500 rpm so effortlessly and even at that point, its not running out of breath. The sound is music to any petrolheads ears yet the power delivery is incredibly refined right up to the redline. This is truly a drivers car. I normally take a couple of kilometers before getting familiar with a car but the Octavia with its spot-on driving position and streamlined power delivery makes for an immediate level of comfort.

The handling is sheer beauty and the Octavia was taking the corners of the worli seaface at 140km/h like a train on rails. Seriously. There was no understeer. No tyres squealing. No drama. Flat, plain and simple. Though the steering is not communicative enough and you really dont get to know what the tyres are talking, its within the mature character of this car. Its a cruiser not a boy racer.

The braking is as impressive as the power delivery from that turbo - Pump the brakes and the ABS with disc brakes all around make the RS decelerate in an extremely stable and confident manner.

Driveability in the city and its bumper to bumper traffic is great, there is just no turbo-lag. Even with the most minimal of throttle inputs, it rolls right off the line and you can cruise around the city in 3rd gear all day. The ride quality however is not that cosy at really low speeds. The 16 incher wheels and the lower profile tyres seem to have taken their toll and you can feel road irregularities coming in to the cabin at crawling speeds. I asked him if the tyre pressure was set right, and the two of them replied in the affirmative.

Unlike previously launched sporty variants...the Octavia RS not only looks evil, but is fast from the word go. It turns heads like no other (especially the yellow) and the power on tap is enough to make you ferry your mom around town whenever asked. But at 14.6 lacs, I feel its a lac overpriced. As has been previously discussed, this is bang into the Accord territory. And that car is from the D segment - a much higher class.

For the person looking for outright power, European build quality, striking looks and all the goodies thrown in....this is it.

Controlled Aggression. Thats what the Skoda Octavia 1.8 RS Turbo is all about.

GTO

[normally_crazy]

hey GTO ,

u laid it up perfectly.....i was kinda reading impatiently thru the review waiting for the part when u get the beast on the road.

awesome review maaan.....

and i believe ..controlled aggression is the phrase ... looks innocuos and runs the pant off the competition...

awesome car ...dude this one is definitely on my wishlist after going thru this rev.

cheers