RS 169 or 245 any opinions?

**TurboYodaSkoda** · 17-05-2018, 11:19 AM

Hey Peeps,

We have been looking at replacing our 12yo Jetta TDI, don't like the SUV route at all, so definitely after a wagon. On the shopping list was Golf R wagon used, Golf Alltrack TSI used, demo or new, Audi A4 wagon used, Golf wagon TSI new and Skoda Octavia RS wagon. We don't do the kms that we used to so wanting petrol instead of diesel, most of our journey's seem to be short and I've noticed the fuel economy of the tai has increased due to this.

After looking at a few cars the wife has decided she loves the Octavia (USB ports in the rear seats sold it), It was top of my list as well but thought that she wouldn't be interested in anything sporty, win, win!!

Now comes the tricky bit, there doesn't seem to be a big difference in price between the RS169 fully loaded ($45-49K) and a 245 with tech pack ($49-50K). Is if worth the extra to get the 245 with less options, the big difference is the LSD, which I'm a big fan of but the wife will be driving the car 60% of the time. I've always been a bit dubious about lots of power going through the front wheels, it is much of an issue on the 169? Would love to hear from any 245 owners opinions.

Cheers

**pittster** · 17-05-2018, 02:38 PM

Gday,

I was in your position not long ago.

We picked up a MY18 ex-dealer vehicle with Tech, Luxury Packs and 19"wheels. for 40k flat.

The 245 does have a couple of extra things but my wife using it as a daily driver I didn't see the point.

Yes the 169 version will spin wheels if you get on it hard. But I wouldn't say its been a issue in day to day driving.

Going off reviews of the 245 it still can break traction etc and perhaps not the best LSD ever ? (going off car journalist reviews).

IMO I would rather the extra packs over the 11kw and 20nm of torque. Power can always be added with tunes on the 169.

One thing I will say that I really didn't notice until I bought the 169.

There is no exhaust note at all vs the 245 having some note and DSG farts.

We have rectified this by replacing the centre resonator which is a popular modification on the RS's

IF you are weekend thrashing the car in the mountains I could see the value in the 245 maybe with the LSD.

But its still FWD which can only do so much if the 245 was All wheel drive then it would be a no brainier for me.

irrelevant of your choice 169 or 245 there both awesome cars.

**TurboYodaSkoda** · 17-05-2018, 03:00 PM

Thanx pittster,

I'm looking at a Rallye Green Fully optioned (Tech, Lux, Auto boot, 19's, Sunroof) 169 demo in QLD at $44,990. It's a pain to do the purchase from QLD though and the only fully optioned 169s in NSW are $49K+. My wife loves the green, I know it's a bit of a halo colour with the RS, so I think resale should be fine. 245s are the same price, just without the Sunroof.
I'm going to have to find time to take a 169 for another drive, the first drive I had was short and in traffic.

Doesn't the 169 have the sound resonator on it though? I thought they all had them.

Wow, you got a great deal on yours though!! Are you happy so far?

**HPRS230** · 17-05-2018, 05:06 PM

As said, get the 245 if you want the Diff for some weekend fun, everyone that I know that has a 162/169 wishes they got a RS230 or 245 as they have tune their RS.
You can you tune a 169 with a ~$500 JB4 Piggyback kit. With extra bolt on's, JB4 make well over 220kw at the wheels.
And Also noted is the Res delete, easy job for ~$100
Yea they all have the fake engine sound pumped through the center speaker, you can turn this to eco to shut it up, as when in "sport" it rattles...
Check out my timeline mate, you'll get some good feedback in there.

Also grab your self a Dog bone insert, that will get rid of the axle tramp and help taking off at the lights

Check out Skoda Modderz public group | Facebook

**pittster** · 17-05-2018, 06:55 PM

Yeah it was a good deal why we jumped on it quickly.

RS is a good car we came from a Ford Focus XR5 Turbo which the wife loved and was hard to find something to exceed how good it was.

The RS suits our needs easy to drive, auto, has some power, large interior/boot, cool tech etc.

As HPRS230 mentioned it has the electronic soundaktor on the engine bay side of the firewall it simulates a engine note. The wife actually really likes it, but I wanted a note outside the car as well which is taken care of with a aftermarket 15" center resonator.

I was also eyeing off the Green one in QLD but at the price and then Rego transfer for NSW couldn't justify the extra $$$ also the wife didn't want a sunroof.

I think if the difference was only a couple of thousand to go the 245 its the logical way but as you mentioned your not getting the same equipment levels, personally I wouldn't have it without tech/lux packs but that was my minimum when I was purchasing.

**golfage** · 20-05-2018, 08:38 PM

Originally Posted by pittster

One thing I will say that I really didn't notice until I bought the 169.

There is no exhaust note at all vs the 245 having some note and DSG farts.

We have rectified this by replacing the centre resonator which is a popular modification on the RS's.

Hey mate

What did you replace your centre resonator with?

**pittster** · 21-05-2018, 11:38 PM

Replaced it with a 15" resonator see video for before and after

YouTube

**golfage** · 24-05-2018, 01:06 AM

Originally Posted by pittster

Replaced it with a 15" resonator see video for before and after

YouTube

Thanks for sharing mate. Sounds great!

Do you get any pops on the over run or is it just DSG gear change farts in sports (VRS) mode?

I can’t even really hear on my stock 169.

At least you were getting something with the stock exhaust note.

Maybe I need to hit more redline!

Tried using both manual paddle mode and regular drive in auto but nothing.

**pittster** · 24-05-2018, 08:26 AM

Originally Posted by golfage

Thanks for sharing mate. Sounds great!

Do you get any pops on the over run or is it just DSG gear change farts in sports (VRS) mode?

I can’t even really hear on my stock 169.

At least you were getting something with the stock exhaust note.

Maybe I need to hit more redline!

Tried using both manual paddle mode and regular drive in auto but nothing.

Well that's how it sounds if were sitting on the back bumper, from inside the car its really quite no overrun and you can just hear the DSG crackle.

If you want what I would call a normal amount of sound from an aftermarket exhaust its not enough to ditch the centre muffler the rear's would have to go aswell.

I now have the soundaktor at 0% in the car and its stupid quite, I can hear the turbo more than the exhaust most of the time.

if you want to hear the exhaust from in the car more than the centre res needs to be changed IMO.

Also I think the DSG or Engine tune is different in the 169 its hard to get the DSG crackle all the time sometimes it doesn't do it under full throttle.

those video were sport mode manual shift full throttle 1st-2nd-3rd at around 5-6k rpm