Is cupra 290 more exciting than octavia vrs245

[ima]

Hi all

I have an octavia vrs 245 and its a brilliant family all-rounder. However its needed less for family duties as wife has a car to fill that role and now im mostly driving on A and B roads without kids and find the car fast but too stable and in reality not that exciting and cant really tell the front diff works unless driving like a mad thing.

I came from a leon FR 1.8 and although far slower found it a bit more agile and wondering if im deluding myself into thinking Cupra 290 would be the answer or if its more of the VAG sameness in a smaller package. Anyone tried both before I get myself at it and annoy the wife looking at cars again ?

 

[Speedbird]

Have you considered a stage 1 remap? Might get you the extra power you are looking for at a fraction of the cost. Depending on if your Skoda is reasonably recent, I would probably imagine the built quality and interior is slightly nicer than in a Seat, so I would consider if that is important to you. Just my opinion.

 

[Damo H]

I loved the pre facelift VRS 220 and was getting a 230 (special edition with the diff).

However, ended up with a 280 ST instead. Its a different animal power wise.

That being said a remap on the 245 would give you the same amount of grunt for less money.

 

[Fishbowlhead]

Ive only driven a vrs once but seemed gutless compared to my CupraST280, no way near as well balanced for power or torque as the Cupra.

However as others have said you can certainly improve it a lot with a stage 1, and will be much cheaper than changing your whole car.

 

[matthab]

Pretty much the same engine so a map will bring it close. The Cupra is more focused car with the diff and even more sportier set up. I drove the new 2021 VRS and decided to go for the 300 as my wife sealed it with "your smiling more in this than the VRS".

 

[ima]

Thanks all. Yes I think the feel of more straight line power will wear off quickly as the car wont make a better sound or be more agile. I think the size of the car limits the fun on the b road blasts and all too safe. Car 3 years old and probably keep another year until the market settles down and look at Cupra as i dont need the space now.

 

[red-one]

You, know... It's Octavia RS not VRS. Same thing like BMW M3 is not ///M3. That "V" is just like a cupra flag, only a symbol. You don't realy read it like a V.

 

[TripleBob]

You, know... It's Octavia RS not VRS. Same thing like BMW M3 is not ///M3. That "V" is just like a cupra flag, only a symbol. You don't realy read it like a V.

I thought in the UK it is vRS though, as Ford had a trademark on RS - Skoda announced that in the UK the V represented the v that's above the S in Skoda?

 

[Deleted member 123178]

You, know... It's Octavia RS not VRS. Same thing like BMW M3 is not ///M3. That "V" is just like a cupra flag, only a symbol. You don't realy read it like a V.

Might be the case elsewhere but in the UK it's definitely VRS

 

[SRGTD]

Definitely VRS in the UK. This is a screen shot from Skoda’s website;

 

[Damo H]

You, know... It's Octavia RS not VRS. Same thing like BMW M3 is not ///M3. That "V" is just like a cupra flag, only a symbol. You don't realy read it like a V.

As others have said, in the UK its VRS, but well aware its \//RS elsewhere. Don't think its anything patent wise though as plenty of other RS logo'd cars. (Audi, Renault etc), but Skoda UK has always (rightly or wrongly) marketed the car as a VRS.

 

[Zer0]

The Octavia has the smaller IS20 turbo, same engine as the Golf GTI. Stage 1 will put it on Cupra levels or thereabout.

 

[Robster83]

The cupra with stage 1 tune gives you 340-370hp.
300hp to the front wheels is probably the sweet spot.
More is not really needed, but then again, the knowledge that you have a bit more then enough is satisfying!

I love my stage 1 Cupra, and I’m not hunting for more, when it can spin the front 0-60 mph you don’t really need more, sure I could get a better 100-200km/h but I would be illegal 100% of that run.

I have never tested any other cupra with tune so take this a grain of salt but I like my Racingline tune, from what I can feel it changed the ESP, so when the wheels starts to slip it just dials back the power a bit.
Stock ESP killed the power when it detected wheel spin, now it just pulls as much as the front tires allow!