Faults:

Only niggle is an odd jerk at around 2,000 rpm on light throttle on the flat, nothing that can be reproduced by the dealer, but something other vRS owners have found.

General Comments:

I still have an Impreza WRX so wasn't looking for the same performance, I was looking to save money and the vRS has been a great mile muncher that keeps up with traffic well and has bags of go.

In the wet I don't really rate it as driving in to standing water has a strange bow wave thrown up from the wheel arches that obscures forward vision. I have changed tyres to Goodyear Eagle F1 GSD3's and these have substantially increased the traction and wet handling.

The nose is heavy so tends to be a bit more understeery than I am used to, but once used to it isn't that bad. It's not got Impreza handling, but it's not bad.

The light seats don't really keep their looks for long as our kids have rendered them pretty vile looking in no time. If budget wasn't an issue I'd have the leather option.

On balance, this car offers superb performance at a very low price. If only my Impeza had the same low down pull and mid range punch (but the Impreza only performs right when it's not hindered by traffic where the Skoda excels). It's cheap to run, doesn't make me feel like I'm in a poverty spec vehicle and so far, touch wood, has proven to be very reliable.

Faults:

Drop links gone at a 1000 miles. Replaced under warranty.

Revised EGR gasket fitted as the Fabia VRS engine stutters off the production line due to EURO Emissionns 1V resrictions. Better now.

Rattly gearstick. Common fault. Fixed under warranty.

Clonking from front end over rough ground. Test drove 3 VRS and they all did it. Not fixed build or design fault.

Fuel cap, not closing. Common fault. Dealer fixed in 5 minutes.

General Comments:

What should be a great car is now let down by bad assembly or cutbacks in the build materials used. My 053 Fabia was fantastic after 60,000 and 3 years. This 06 build car is a let down and I shall be trying to offload it at the earliest opportunity. Believe anything before 06 is better. Please test drive and if you can live with the faults you will enjoy this car. If like me however you would like a new car to do what it says on the tin, then reconsider before purchase.

Faults:

Slight pulling to the left from new.

General Comments:

Although I have only had this car two months, it drives and handles beautifully.

The engine and gearbox are very responsive. Although only 1200cc, it is very nippy.

I doubt however, that I am getting the mpg claimed by the manufacturer, even though it is 3 cylinder and quite high geared.

Although some people have said that the dashboard is very bland, I like the minimalistic look and it is very easy cleaned.

All in all, a very well designed car, sturdy and well put together.

Faults:

Nothing as yet, but I've had it only four months.

General Comments:

What I like in particular is the surge in acceleration as the revs go through 2000- 3000. As a seventy-eight year old boy racer this is a definite plus.

The gear shift is one of the smoothest I've ever encountered.

Annoying things? The almost invisible A/C indicator light.

The same for the heating controls generally.

I'm still trying to work out the sequences of the performance indicators.

Faults:

Wrinkled seat covers from new. Fixed after a lot of messing about with the dealer.

Couple of days after getting the car there was an annoying creak from dash. Turned out to be plastic tab on bonnet being dry and rubbing against body work.

At 5500 miles the fuel cap flap would not lock.

General Comments:

Good points.

Good MPG, high 40's to 50's.

Plenty of mid range grunt. Overtaking is easy, although its not as quick as it feels.

Fairly well put together, you get the odd creak here and there.

A polo chassis and VW/Audi engine on the cheap.

Handles reasonably well, but don't push it too hard!

The stero sounds better than the one in my 03 Astra sxi.

Bad points.

The light coloured seats are a bit of pain to keep clean.

The brakes sometimes feel a bit weak.

The dealers! First dealer messed up fixing the wrinkled seats. The second dealer fitted a seat from another car and claimed it was new even though it was dirty! Still trying to get this sorted....

On the whole a good car let down by lousy dealership. Although the Skoda customer services have been helpful in sorting this out.