jimwormold

I have one of those, but the odd bad review of when a crack appeared and the contents got wet, scares me! I don't really want to be completely stranded, hence the original idea of the mechanical key!

Thanks for all the info - very helpful indeed.

Yes - mine is not kessy but does have the cover on the keyhole.

Yes it's looking like this is probably the (more expensive than I'd hoped) way forward! I think I probably just need a complete electronic spare key with remote made up and keep the original in the car. As you say, at least then if it gets wet, I can still get in the car and I won't have ruined one of the original keys.

I'd assumed that I would be able to mechanically lock the door - maybe this isn't the case, I'll need to check! I don't have kessy. It would be easier to put the key into a waterproof pouch, it's just that having read the reviews, I'm not sure how much I trust the sealed pouches, and I don't really want to get stranded if the seal fails and the key gets wet! I don't want the alarm sounding! I'd assumed that the mechanical unlocking would disable the alarm - I'll need to check this. As to taking the cover on and off, I probably won't be doing it too often, but will have a try and see how flimsy it is in the first case. Thanks for your thoughts - very useful as you've already hit on two things I need to check.

Hi all I'm planning on getting a mechanical key cut (i.e. without the chip, or remote functions) just to unlock the car door on my 2014 1.4 Octavia estate. This is so that I can lock the proper key in the car, and take the mechanical one with me into the sea without risk of getting it wet and damaging any electronics. Then I can unlock the car using it, retrieve the proper key and use that to start the engine etc. I just wanted to check that there weren't any unforeseen problems with this approach - perhaps the door locks also check the key for chip? Many thanks Jim

@andyvee - Bristol (I've updated my profile). Chesterfield is probably a bit far!

@Nookiebear - I have absolutely no idea how it happened. It certainly wasn't us, and it seems an odd shape and scratch pattern for a door being opened on it. I just try not to think about it, or look at it! If I remember, I will post the results of whatever I get around to doing.

@pipsyp, I went to a very helpful local this morning who actually suggested I get a touch up pen and take the car back to him to apply it for free. If that wasn't good enough, he said he'd fill the dent and respray the door. However, as I have no experience of this, I thought I'd post here and get the advice of the experts. I'm inclined to leave it, but wouldn't mind making it less obvious. In 10 years of owning a beat up Saab, we never got pranged like this, then in 2 months of having a brand new car...

Thanks for the replies, genuinely very helpful, and probably what I will go for (apart from the wetsanding and machine polishing bit!). I imagine I go for a genuine touch up pen, combined with the turtle wax repair kit for the clear and levelling. I've seen some youtube videos of people removing dents by using a variety of long poles with shaped ends to "massage" the dents out eg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mw8U7zVULP8, but they all appear to be American. Are they used at all in the UK, has anyone got any experience?

Hi all 6 month lurker here, and 2 month owner of a nice 2014 racing blue 1.4tsi Ocatavia - now with a dent and a scratch in the passenger door. I was hoping someone might be able to give me some advice about the best course of action. The scratches are deep, but are not quite down to the metal, and I guess the total area of the damage is slightly less than 2x2cm (as you can see from the photos). Is there any way to get the dent out without filling and respraying the whole door? If I did have to go to this drastic measure, how likely is it that the door will match the rest of the car? Do I need to get the paintwork done professionally, or can anyone suggest a kit that they have had success with? I found Scratch Wizard but they don't do Skoda (they're in the US) and P&P looks expensive. This gives an idea of the size of the damage (it's located towards the bottom left of the picture): And a close up: Any suggestions would be very much appreciated! Jim