Norco

Sorry, just saw your message Are you sorted now? To be honest. It was a process of things. I wants something max 2-3 years old. That meant the headlines in the Octavia would be those awful split lights which put me right off. Looked elsewhere as hadn't considered a Superb. Not really an Audi or BMW man. Finally came back round to the Skoda garage to look at a new Octavia non vRS and saw a superb in the right colour and a Sportline. It was a customer's car but was sold on looks alone. Sat in an estate and the wife declared it too cavernous. I agreed with the size of the hatch boot so the decision was made. I said I wanted the 280 for the power and so it was just a case of finding one. One eventually popped up on Motorpoint and we reserved it with 2 hours of it being on the site and had it brought up. Wife is more than happy driving it. Just looking into a tow bar now to save putting bikes on the roof.

Was in a similar position to you about 3 weeks ago. Aging Octavia and 2 kids (4 / 6) with camping trips and weekend breaks meant an upgrade on space was also needed. Budget was also pretty much the same with a trade in value of £4.5k and £16-17k to put towards. Coming from a vRS I was used to not having to wait to get going and wanted the punch to move a bigger car. The 280 handles this really well. Also needed to have DSG. Went for the hatch and having just come back from a a weekend away with the family the space in the boot was more than enough. Sportsline is the best looking by far and I still enjoy seeing it on the drive or in a car park). I had to take my time to find one that was the right spec with the miles and age I wanted but eventually found a 2018 plate with less than 10k miles in budget. Warning though. They don't come up that often in that config so they good ones disappear fast. We managed a respectable 36mpg cruising on the motorway without trying to drive economically. I can see 40plus if taken steady. Around town it will be a kill and I would guess mid to late 20s (again not much different to the vRS).

Creative writing also seems to be a strong point too.

Mods can this be moved to one of the lifestyle chains? Someone covering his holiday plans, daily updates on driving his other cars and plans on filling up doesn't deserve to be spammed to the top of the forum daily.

I am a little confused. I have just hopped over from the Octavia forum since we will be swapping from a vRS to a Superb and I came across this 35 pager that seems to always dominate the top of the forum. Can anyone tell me if there is anything useful in it as the last few pages seems to be full of someones holiday pics and people obsessing about mpg in a 272ps car? Thanks

I had no idea they had done away with the books! Out of interest would any garage be able to check for this? It is from Motorpoint so not sure if they will be able to to tell me or if its a call to Skoda instead?

Yes I believe if comfort option is present then DCC is there? Not a deal breaker but check then look disappointed and add it to the know down list. To be honest I don't really see much more coming off the price as it stands but always worth an ask.

I would of course like DCC too but coming from a vRS I suspect this will be a softer ride anyway!

Thanks Actually I think it may also have heated front and rear. Annoyingly when I came off the phone from reserving it they had already taken the advert down so I couldn't screengrab it. Will be carefully checking everything, and service history. We also have the benefit of 5 months warranty and the extension for another 2 (but dont want to be making lots of trips to the dealership!).

Yes I will be looking at the book to check the servicing is up to scratch. I believe it is 2 main dealer services so should include the inspections for the paint/corrosion warranty too. It is n 18 plate Sportline 4x4 - I know it has parking sensors and electric (though maybe not heated) seats. Unsure on the rest as description not the best. Think it will be ready to view tomorrow so fingers crossed. Only spec I am really insistent on is the BT, Nav (this has Amundson), parking sensors and zenons. Everything else are just nice to haves.

Not that one. This is a quartz grey one through Motorpoint. £20.5k and seems to be ok specced. Won't really know all until we view it as the description wasn't really very in depth. Have since found out though that it has been serviced twice at 4k and 8 k miles 😮

Hi all, Sorry, another one of those threads. Coming from a MK2 vRS and have reserved a 2018 Mk3 Superb 280 DSG with less than 10k miles. Just wanted to see if there was anything I should be looking for when we test drive? Any options you couldn't live without and anything I can bargain with them on. It seems a very fair price already but if you don't ask you don't get! I am assuming it is on variable servicing and so should have had it's first service in March. I will probably switch to fixed. Low mileage was a concern, in my eyes being parked up is as bad as higher mileage but then I suppose few people will have been doing high mileage recently. Any feedback would be great.

I would have also suggested a capacitor as one route though not sure how it would react to a non constant current and a draw on the other side. Some kind of switching relay and separate 12v circuit might be a way to make it work but seems like a lot of work.

A 58 plate with a chain tensioner is a rare thing indeed. Hope you get it sorted. Updating the tensioner seems to be coming down in price all the time now the kit is available if it is what you decide to do. Welcome

I don't know why you are making an issue of this. That is effectively what I am saying. While it did happen to me and it was an expensive pain, I am saying that the risk of it happening is still low enough to make it a tough decision to spend a not insignificant amount of money on a fix that is not guaranteed to be solve a problem that may never happen (lets not forget they have had 4 versions of these so far). Of course if there was a count down on the dash that said at 54k miles your timing chain tensioner will fail but there isnt. Let's not forget this is not a serviceable part. In the same garage as mine there were cars from every major brand with timing chain issues.

I would agree but mine was on variable when I bought it (16k miles) and had been on fixed or 10k miles ever since.

You've heard hindsight is a wonderful thing? I am talking about without the benefit of hindsight. Perhaps if I put it a different way. It cost me £900. To get a new kit fitted could range depending on where you go from £600 to £1000 and the original may never have failed. The risk of them failing IMO is still small enough to risk the difference in price between a replacement and a repair. It would never have cost me a new engine. It would be insane to pay a dealer to put a new engine in an 6+ year old car. Some people are more risk adverse than others.

So to just give a final update: Rang a couple of other garages and was recommended the Engine Repair Centre in Hull. Gave them a ring and spoke to owner and VAG specialist Dale. He was awake of the issue and explained that they do a lot of the dealer work on engine rebuilds and refurbishments and he quoted £900. Since I had been quoted prices ranging from £1500 (if I could take the engine out) up to £2.5k then I was pretty happy with the price. They were manic busy (I am taking that as a good sign) and so there was a wait of about 2 weeks. I picked it up on Monday and while it might be a placebo I am sure it pulls better now. They did take pics of the damage which turned out to be only inlet valves - very slightly bent with and no piston damage (there was a shadow of the valve on the coking on the piston but when they showed me the after pictures you could see they were spotless). Final job sheet was: Remove engine, recon cylinder head, replace all valves, refit with new head gasket and timing kit, tensioner, chain, cover, oil and filter So happy to have the car back. I feel we may have got off lightly compared to some. I was firmly in the camp of there is no chance it would happen to me. It did and it could have cost me a lot more. If I could go back then I am still not sure I would have the new kit fitted as a preventative measure. That said its clear there are places you can get it done pretty cheaply so if you are in 2 minds then it might be worthwhile for the piece of mind. Hopefully thats it for many more happy miles N

I have had a daddy long legs and a fly set mine off in the past.

Update: Confirmed piston damage. Skoda UK have come back via the dealer and offered 15% goodwill. That would leave a bill of £4200 ish for a new engine. Called a couple of engine re-builders I have found one that will strip, rebuild and replace valves, pistons and timing chain and tensioner kit for £1500 - £1600. Seems to be the best approach though I am still waiting for a couple of quotes to come in.

So lucky its happened like that. Once you are through the pain of it all of course.

I've had initial diagnosis of new valves and pistons on mine. Waiting to hear if SUK will help with this mess. If you dont mind me asking what kind of costs have you been quoted?

I doubt that figure will come into it as if the work goes ahead then it will be bill under that labour cost. I've been told 3-3.5 hours work.

Update - Engine won't turn over so the head needs to come off. Looking at new valves. I have spoken to the guys at D M Keith in Hull who have serviced it (apart from the last service). Had a good talk with the after sales manager Dale who understandably says hands are tied until they have seen it. It will be £250 for them to remove the head and see what we are dealing with but looking at £2k - £2500 for work to replace valves so really praying there isn't further damage. Since this is in the same ball park as where it currently is but with opportunity for the dealer to make the case for goodwill I think moving the car is the only option. Really don't know what the options will be if the damage is more extensive. New engine is £5k so not an option on an 8 year old car. Feeling pretty sick at them moment.

Well just off the phone with SUK and they won't talk about the possibility of goodwill without it being diagnosed by a dealer. I think I've made a mistake here as its been recovered to a vag specialist for diagnosis. Once I know the extent of the damage I'll call D M Keith and see what they say. I don't want to pay another set of recovery and diagnosis costs if there is no chance of goodwill and then have to have it moved back to the specialist based on cost of repair at a main dealer.