Skoda Octavia vRS 230 or RS 245: which to buy used?

I am planning to buy a used Skoda Octavia vRS 230, but wanted some clarity on the known issues faced by owners. Also, does it make sense to extend my budget by Rs 4 lakh-5 lakh and get the RS 245?

Shamant Shetty, Bengaluru

Autocar India says: While the Skoda Octavia vRS 230 does not have any niggles as such, one must be aware of the occasional water pump and thermostat failures, which could result in a coolant leak. These are the major reported problems in the car. Furthermore, the vRS is prone to squeaks and rattles inside the cabin, particularly from the beadings around the doors and sunroof.

The aforementioned issues are easy to fix and aren’t deterrents from purchasing a well-kept example. The Octavia vRS 230 gets 17-inch wheels and offers better ride quality on Indian roads compared to the RS 245’s 18-inch rims and lower profile tyres.

While the RS 245 is more powerful and gets a 7-speed DSG, compared to the vRS 230’s 6-speed unit, its improvement over its predecessor feels marginal. The hefty premium is not worth the changes/additional equipment such as a digital instrument cluster. Therefore, the vRS 230 should be an ideal choice to enjoy the exuberant performance packaged inside the Octavia RS range.

Also See:

Skoda Octavia vRS 230 video review 

Skoda Octavia vRS 230 review, test drive

Skoda Octavia RS 245 review, test drive

Skoda Octavia RS 245 video review