My sister's police driving instructor reckons the mk3 octavia vrs is the best car he's ever driven, for what it's worth. My mk1 vrs is more than enough car for me and (apart from a current dodgy coil pack) has been basically trouble free and a fun drive for the past 8ish years I've owned it.
Also this recent estate chat has me wanting a 5 series gt (or a more realistic Octavia estate).