Rondo

I traded in my 51 for a 54 and wish I hadn't. The new one isn't a patch on the old one. I get less MPG, it's not as quick, it's much noisier (wind roar and road noise from the back), the breaks squeal in reverse (the dealer fix lasts about 100 miles then it starts again), the brake discs rust overnight and ruin the pads (need de-glazing regularly), there are numerous trim rattles and it generally seems as though Skoda have cut costs e.g the other day I noticed the headlights seem to be plastic (they were flexing as I cleaned them) whereas the old ones were glass, the dealer had to put various bits of boot trim in which were missing (probably just came out of my old one), the spare was steel rather than alloy (though I swapped the alloy out of my old one), the boot net is much smaller and less effective than the old one (minor point I know but it's harder to secure small items which fly around the boot). My 51 plate was a dream - loved it from the minute I got it and was a big skoda fan and on variable servicing it only saw the dealers twice. The 54 plate has been a complete pita since I've had it with various trips back to the dealer to put (or try to put in most cases) things right. It (coupled with probs on Mrs R's Fab RS) has put me right off Skoda and Mrs R has already told me I will not be buying Skoda again.

Just wondered if anyone else had this problem As I use the train to get to work the car gets used at weekends and roughly about once in the week. I am finding that the discs are getting quite a covering of rust between uses especially in the wet weather we are having up here. This then gets onto the pads and the brakes make a fairly bad grinding noise. This was never a problem on my old vRS.

Anyone been to the new Audi dealership in Glasgow yet. If they can spend that much on a dealership, their cars are WAY overpriced

"Apparantly the wind noise is due to a fault with the rear half light windows and the cars are subject to a recall to have it fixed" The courtesy car I had was very bad for wind noise. When I returned it, the dealer advised that they had sussed what it was and that Skoda were doing a recall. I just find it absolutely amazing that something like that hasn't already been picked up and resolved during pre release testing etc. I can understand that components (e.g. coil packs!) failing won't get picked up til the first batch start failing but to miss something that happens in every day use is beyond comprehension (to me anyway)

I had always run on Optimax til a few months ago and then tried Ultimate. Now try and fill it with Ultimate when possible - seem to get about 2-3mpg better However, there was a test recently where optimax & ultimate were tested against shell & BP normal using a ford focus which had its tank drained between each fill. The result? In terms of both performance and MPG, absolutely nothing. The test did end by saying that both Shell & BP stated that Optimax and BP work better if used regularly s it keeps the engine cleaner

If you need the practicality of space go for the Octy. The mid range acceleration, handling and braking are fine as it comes. Personally I prefer the handling and braking of the Octy - it just feels a bit more sure footed. The Furby, I think, sits a bit high on the road and is a bit wallowy in corners - not sure why Skoda didn't lower it a bit further. The brakes are not as sharp as the Octy. However, for mid range acceleration you will find the Octy a step down from the Furby which is much more fun. Overall, while I like a drive now and again in Mrs R's Furby, just to feel that acceleration, I prefer my Octy

I'm with Flyingscot - use the Absorb from IKEA

http://www.urcar2.co.uk/

Darren Know how you feel. My Octy vRS is in for various things at just 4 weeks old. Feel really let down and not really enjoying the car as I should be. In addition Mrs R's Furby vRS has a slight niggly problem which just makes the feeling worse that both cars have faults. Hopefully once it's all fixed those feelings will go when the cars are behaving again

Have one of these as a courtesy car at the moment. Feel it is an OK car but nothing special. Mrs R doesn't like it at all - says it feels uncomfortable to sit in and it gives a very bumpy ride. The lowered central part of the roof feels odd and, as mentioned above, claustraphobic despite the car generally feeling much bigger inside. I suppose you'd get use to it in time. Feels well put together and has a decent(ish) turn of speed The boot is just TOO big though. To get anything that has slid to front practically involves clambering into the boot! Overall I think I prefer the old model but then I suppose I am comparing a vRS with a TDi Edited to say now had a long motorway run in it. The wind noise above 60 is just unbearable to the extent I couldn't wai to park up and get out for some quiet. My work colleague commented on how noisy it was and wondered if the back windows were open. I regret to say that, after three years of nothing but praise for Skoda, my recent experiences have not been good and another Skoda buy or recommendation looks doubtful.

Both cars back at the dealers today for investigation Of more worrying concern is the knocking noise that started coming from the Octy's engine on the way there.

Have now also noticed that there is quite a gap between the back seats and the black plastic sidestrips that hold the speakers and that the parcel shelf rests on and again this is letting the noise through. After 10 miles on the motorway this morning I couldn't bear the noise. Mrs R said much the same. Even turing the radio up isn't enough to drown it out This coupled with some other things - I would say the quality of fit and finish in the car is a long way below that of my old one. Based on this car I would be hard pushed to recommend Skoda Steering squeaks Air blowers are noisy and squeak Rear suspension (?) clunks on left hand corners or under braking Dash rattles Groaning noise from brakes when reversing Obtrusive and overbearing wind noise from the rear cheap flimsy boot netting compared to the old car I want my old one back !!! It didn''t suffer from any of these It wouldn't be so bad if Mrs R's Fab vRS was OK but it's back at the dealers on Tuesday for a squeaky rear wheel. On top of that it's dash has started to rattle and the courtesy light cluster has also developed a rattle. Both cars only done 500-600 miles Not at all impressed. Skoda seem to be moving backwards

Maybe as part of cost cutting they have removed this. Going to take it back to the dealer as not happy. Like you Chappers I have constantly been trying to close a window that is already closed

Be much appreciated though if any 53/04/54 Octy vRS owners could have a look before I go piling on on Monday

Hmmm Is is possible these have been missed on my car? Think I will return it to the dealer

Yeah, my new vRS with the parcel shelf in place sounds just like the old one without the parcel shelf

hjg That sounds exactly like the noise Mrs R's new Fab vRS is making. It's odd as it only starts once the car is warmed up after about 6/7 miles. Noticed it while crawling along the M8 the other morning in heavy traffic. As you pull away it squeaks and as wheel rotation increases the squaek increases until once you get to brisk walking pace it disappears. Got it going back to dealer in the week to investigate. After 4 miles of crawling it became extremely irritating

Further to earlier thread re high noise level from the back as though the door or boot was open, I gor Mrs R to drive today while I sat in the back. The level of road noise is quite significant and a lot higher than my old 51 vRS. It mainly seemed to coming in through the rear speaker grills. On closer inspection in the boot I note that the rear speakers are exposed and this was certainly not the case in the old car. In the old one (and in Mrs R's Fab vRS) there was a piece of boot carpet that covered the rear speakers and I suspect this was sufficient to quiten any road noise. Is it now standard on the Octy vRS to leave this bit of carpet / sound proofing out? Would be much obliged if any 53/54 reg Octy vRS owners could have a look in their boot to see if the rear speakers are covered or exposed

This groan on the nearside rear brake.. see my thread http://www.briskoda.net/forums/t16439-not-happy--.html Is this the same thing???

Big K 1 - it's a vRS

Back windows closed, back doors closed, boot closed, front windows and doors closed, rear seat fully up etc At the momemnt I can only think that there must be a loose or missing seal somewhere

Mrs Rondo's 3 week old Fab vRS having to be sent back to dealer's service dept after developing a "squeak". Only seems to happen at very low speed when the car is warmed up. After half an hour of crawling along the M8 this morning I was ready to park up and start walking it was that annoying. Don't know what it is but it is related to wheel speed In addition my 3 week old Octy permanently sounds like one of the back doors isn't closed properly. Will check this out more at the weekend but looks like it will have to go in to be checked out as well Not happy :( :thumbdwn:

Bizarre - took the car out today to have a listen for this noise and nothing there. However, there was a fair bit of wind noise form the rear passenger side - a bit like the door was partly open only it wasn't (nor the boot and the windows were all fully up). Don't remember that in the old one - is it normal?