NACRO

Sense at last!

I agree that the Impreza is not purchased for it's money saving abilities or sophisticated interior.

I think a car that comes close to 90% of the ablility at 60% of the cost provides a good compromise and as we saw at the top of the thread the Octavia outperforms the WRX in some respects at least.

I love to drive my Impreza and it is without doubt a cheap, fast car. All I'm saying is that the 'tavia comes a lot closer than people give it credit for.

mutant_matt

Agreed! I was considering the vRS instead of the Cupra but my wife wouldn't have one because it is a Skoda (). The Cupra is big enough anyway and is basically the same car though and it's a great all rounder.

The 90% of the ability for 60% of the cost argument is right, can't beat that kind of VFM!

Matt

TaviaSLX

'Tavias don't tend to go "Bang!" quite as often either, apparently, another reason why many are switching over.

Nick

ianc

Not quite as often, but they are not indestructable.

newscoobyvirgin

Am a little confused with this Octavia RS comparison.

Scooby 0-60 approx 6 secs on a good day i believe, the Octavia nearly 8 secs. Is this not a bit like comparing a Mitsubishi Evo to a Ford mondeo ST220.
Two completely different animals aren't they.
The Octavia should be compared with the Vectra SRI, Astra Turbo's, Mondeo ST220 and not with established performance cars IMO.

ianc

My octavia 4x4, with nothing but a remap, gave 0-60 of 6.4 on a gravel road with two up, junk in boot, tank of fuel etc.

Considering it's "humble origins" - it's cost, and how little I have done to it, it makes a very good package "for me".

I've regularly driven at pace with scoobies with a lot more power, and the speed at which the turbo spools up, and the low transmission losses, mean there is not the difference you might expect.

ianc

(in fact, seeing you are in preston, come out on one of my runs (keep an eye in northern section) sometime, no racing but will allow you to see octavia RS and 4x4's in action)

newscoobyvirgin

Don't disagree that the Octavia may be a good car but you mentioned a remap, the figures i mentioned were the cars in standard form. I'm sure the Impreza's time would also change with a simple remap.

ianc

I think it's a cost comparison.

My 4x4 would have cost £16200 new, £300 for a remap and you have 220-230bhp.

Thats a WRX challenger for only 1k over a 2.0GX 5door!

newscoobyvirgin

True.

How does the equipment compare ie. momo steering wheel, brakes etc

and how does the Skoda handle in comparison?

ianc

Equipment:
Climate control, 6 cd autochanger, leccy windows, leccy mirrors, leccy sunroof, headlamp washers, trip computer, 4 airbags, ABS, EDL, (electronic diff lock), ESP, 16" alloys...

No "brembo" or "momo" tags to help the sales people, just lots of "audi" branded stuff underneath.

How they handle - RS is pretty firmly sprung, more A road biased, 4x4 is softer \ more clearance, more B road biased - never have a problem sitting with scoobs with various suspension setups.

NACRO

The 4X4 Skoda I drove had unmodified suspension and was frankly a barge compared to my "classic" Impreza.

Really my arguments in favour of 'tavias are based on the performance you can coax out of them for relatively little money. I plan to buy one, have it jabba'd then upgrade the suspension which will put me in a very highly specified car (leather, climatronic etc)for about 12K. So a 1 yr old(ish) car with 220bhp, 4 wheel drive and a few yrs of manufacturers warranty to run. It seems about 4K cheaper than the nearest unmodifed Impreza alternative.
However if this thread was about which car is the quickest outright then I'd say the Impreza. Although that does beg the question- why do they go round the Nurburgring in similar times to standard Imprezas?

newscoobyvirgin

Hmm not bad.

Just the badge to get past now.

NACRO

Stick a VW or Audi badge on it if it bothers you that much, it is the same thing.

NotoriousREV

I was recently toying with the idea of a 'tavia 4x4 with Stage 3 Jabba turbo kit. 350bhp? Mmm, yes please. £10k for a standard motor, £3k for the tuning plus another £3k for gearbox/suspension upgrades.

It could be MrsREV's next car if she doesn't find out what I'm up to

ianc

The badge is a strange one, I certainly have never (and still not) get "over it" and see them as normal.

First time I drove one (mine, when standard, was a demonstrator) threw it down some twisties and found myself smiling, looked down at the badge on the steering wheel and just couldn't connect the two, enjoying driving a skoda, and still can't.

There is an odd inverse snobbery, nothing like upsetting BMW, Merc, and even Audi drivers with a Skoda, and destroying kids in maxxed hot hatches from traffic lights in a skoda estate with baby seats in the back, well, you can imagine their faces

Flat 4x4

I love the comment about changing the badge as at the dealer where I bought my 4x4 Turbo, one customer had done EXACTLY that ! Except - he had put VW badges on the grille, tailgate AND the steering wheel !

I go along 100% with the 'inverted snobbery' appeal. I'll say it again - its EXACTLY the same as when I had my Legacy Turbo in 1995!

Toonman1

Wow! A Thread explosion!

Well not many would as Lancia haven't sold cars in the UK for some years now. As a huge fan of the Fulvia HF Coupe, I wish they would.

Cheers

Steve vRS

Everyone, just remember that 10 years a go, Subaru's were farmers pick up cars.

They then won a WRC championship.

Steve

PS The interior in the Skud is a million miles above a Scoob. It's not as fast though

Toonman1

To you maybe Steve, but I was interested in the new one - the Impreza. The one that Ari Vatanen had taken to 2nd place on the 1993 1000 Lakes Rally. I placed my order, and collected a nice shiny one, on 07 April '94, the day they went on sale in the UK.

Most hadn't heard of the Subaru Impreza Turbo 2000 AWD, and Scoobynet was probably not even a gleam in Simon's eye.

Cheers

PS Whilst the Impreza wasn't built specifically to win the WRC (how many Ford RS200s have you seen on the road?), it was built with winning it, in mind. Prodrive's input was sought as early as 1990 - and not to ask what colour the wheels should be...

Neither was the Impreza based on the Legacy.

Floyd

iTrader: (9)

Narcd, It's all becoming clear now...

"I plan to buy one"

So this is why you were defending them so strongly, are you trying to convince us or yourself!

F

Flat 4x4

He's trying to convince you, Floyd. No convincing required for the enlightened.

john banks

If you get a 150 BHP 4x4 how much does it cost to get the RS brakes and suspension or is there another option? Do you just buy the parts from the dealer and fit them? Do the RS brakes go under the 4x4 wheels?

lordharding

iTrader: (1)

interesting debate

i drive a MYOO wagon and cant fault it apart from running costs but have just bought the misses a octavia L&K estate diesel 110BHP although it will be going in for a jabba to 150 ish when i get bored with it

The L&K is a fantastic/well equiped car and i only paid 14K £2600 discount !!
the same specced A4 was 25k along with 24 k for a passat

when people see it they cant believe the price

Ianc im looking forward to seeing the skodas at the Raid across the border and i think there will be some shocked and embarresed scooby owners

i think a lot of it is badge snobbery with skodas as i took a lot of convincing in the showroom but 10k saving over a audi which uses same parts is a lot of pennies saved ,

pays for lots of Optimax

Flat 4x4

Lord H

I can honestly (and I mean honestly) say that I haven't missed my 99 Wagon, great car in many ways etc etc.

ps I used to have a new A4 quattro in 2000. I played spot the Audi part for quite a while in the Octavia. Look at the mini sun visor behind the interior mirror, or the chunky door hinges in your wife's car and you'll see what I mean...

Scoobydick

Average Joe on the Street respects a Subaru but thinks a Skoda is a total ****-mobile. Now I'm not very vane but I don't want people thinking I'm a no hoper down and out because of the car I drive.

Errm, I don't think you'll find there are many jokes about what do you call a Subaru with a sunroof etc Mostly just little boys dreaming of a Subaru in their virtual Playstation garage as an truely iconic car. Skoda have just copied the Subaru ethic but lost the raw edge - more like the bloody bugeye Also all that chrome on the Skoda RS's makes 'em look like Grandad_Rover_Mobiles.

Ringpeas

Out of interest, is the Jabba map warranty friendly?

If so where can you get this done? Is it a specialist jobby or a trip to the main dealer?
Cheers

NACRO

Actually I'm not interested in convincing anyone it's a good car. I'm quite happy for them to stay ignorant.

I'll probably end up keeping my old Impreza and get the Skoda for use as a daily driver.

As far as the image goes the new age Skodas have a demographic that includes a disproportionate number of doctors, solicitors and other professionals. The only people who seem to look down on Skoda as a marque these days are the type that need a car to bolster their own self-image. Strikes me as a bit odd they'd choose an Impreza to do that but then again there is a lot of self-delusion on here. I wouldn't want to be associated with that type in any case, it's a bit pathetic don't you think?

Mysteriality

Average Joe on the Street respects a Subaru but thinks a Skoda is a total ****-mobile. Now I'm not very vane but I don't want people thinking I'm a no hoper down and out because of the car I drive.


But thats part of the FUN of a Skoda
Only the enlightened are aware

yasawas

ok, they are a car for the money...they still look like cheap sh*t inside and out, in my opinion!!