19 Apr 06
Sitting on my driveway is a Skoda Ocatvia estate. Solid, safe and straightforward, it's hardly anything to get frothy about.
Except I think I've struck gold - because this is the whipcrack 197bhp vRS version in bright red, on 18" alloys. So it's practical and exciting.
I have always been a huge fan of Skoda. I love the inverse snobbery of the brand, admire the depth of the Czech marque's engineering and motorsport heritage, and honestly think, model for model, that they are better cars in almost every respect compared to their Volkswagen, Seat and Audi equivalents - better value, better ride and handling, better build quality and better reliability. The next six months with this Octavia vRS will see if my opinion is justified.
I've never been a fan of overt displays of motoring muscle - and speak softly but carry a big stick is a catchphrase that sums up the vRS perfectly. Despite its squint-your-eyes Corrida red paintjob, it's a pretty unassuming-looking car, particularly in holdall estate guise. The vRS's visual enhancements are limited - there's a lower front airdam, green brake callipers front and rear (Skoda's official motorsport livery), a very small tail spoiler, subtly lowered ride height and a pair of chromed tail pipes. Oh, and those two subtle vRS badges, front and rear. Additional extras on top of the Skoda's £18,350 price tag were limited to Xenon headlamps (£550) and those sexy 18" Zenith alloy wheels (£300).
