Gerrycan

50k miles on the cross climate tyres is amazing in itself.

3rd and 4th are usually the smoothest changes so seems suspicious. I seem to remember there is a relatively simple 're-centering' procedure for the gear change linkages that could help. I would go back to the dealer and get them to execute it for you and and depending on results then you can make an on the spot decision to keep or return.

Seems good compared to what I paid my dealer in Australia.

It does not sound like the water pump to me, in my case the pump failure resulted in rising temperatures and intermittent coolant loss. Some one with an obd2 reader might be able to find some error codes to be able to better target the issue?

I have an older 1.4tsi so keep an eye on associated topics but cannot remember any previous issue like yours over the last 7 years. I had a water pump failure after 5 years ownership but even that is relatively rare with this petrol engine.

Unknown to myself and several others last week's local Parkrun was cancelled due to the Queen's sad demise so we ran our own impromptu event without marshalls....as you do. This week was a normal event with over 200 attendees and fine but cool weather. I woke up just 20 minutes before the event after a long pleasant get together with old friends the night before and had to run to the start as well. Getting a small improvement with each run so happy with that and the Parkrun is providing the incentive I need to get out while on holiday especially with all the socialising and touring driving we are doing. I am pleased to find that a couple of my great nephews and nieces are doing half and full marathons which, as previously mentioned, is way beyond my ambitions but it is great to see young folk active and not just stuck behind a screen as so many are.

Yes the A pillars are awkward as well but they are probably thicker on many modern cars because of crash and rollover requirements and may also contain parts of the side airbags?

A 71 reg 1.2l 3 cylinder NA 5 speed manual. I believe the new Vauxhall owners engine but no paper manual with the car so probably the least powerful and the cheapest I could rent that could take our two large suitcases. IMO makes the Fabia 1.0tsi as smooth as a Rolls and fast as a Lambo by comparison (I may exaggerate slightly). Does what we require but I would not recommend it other than it can be very economical if you try. Hate how the mirror cuts out an important part of the forward vision. I think the name Corsa was inspired by how the engine feels when you apply a bit of welly to the pedal at low and even high revs, very coarse.

A feature of every car less than 20 years old I have owned or rented. Current UK rental Vauxhall Corsa can do about 100 miles before fuel level starts to drop. Very economical when up to speed (averaging 4.9l/100 over the last 860 miles calculated from refuels) but the skins on rice puddings can rest safe in their bowls when a bit of power is actually needed

'anti-stall' is a feature of most cars in recent years in my experience. I can/could easily do what you describe with your 1.4tdi in our previous 1.9pd and our current 1.4tsi Octavia. The difference being the diesel idled at 900 rpm and petrol at 750. I only use the feature in the lower gears and on the flat and in traffic. I imagine it is not noticeable on those with auto transmissions. I have a 19 yo Echo which runs initially at 2+k rpm from cold, 'on choke', so I do not have to touch the throttle at all for the first kilometre, it is a problem keeping under the local urban 40kph speed limit

Rounding your figures a bit for ease of calculation I have said it costs one pound for 27 miles so you covered around 3294 miles on pure electric. The remaining 3084 miles on petrol cost 481 pounds so averaging fuel cost over that period at say one pound sixty pence litre I think that works out consumption at about 45mpg......unless I am doing something wrong? That is not bad but I was expecting a bit better in hybrid mode. Then again a lot better than a hybrid Cayenne. EDIT If you have the actual number of litres you put in then the consumption figures would be more accurate than my rough assumptions.

@J.R. you must have a natural talent for running to even attempt a half marathon after only 5 weeks of training at 50+. I can only dream of having half that ability! I last ran this particular parkrun on my last visit about 5 years ago and have lost about 3 minutes, which considering recent events is ok and I still got the oxytocin buzz A lot of hill walking with the wife and a couple of runs this week and the legs are aching, but in a good way.

A big THANK YOU to the volunteers at the Raphael Park Romford Parkrun. Great atmosphere and encouragement from them all the way round the circuit. My wife recorded part of my first run in ages and unsurprisingly I looked like I was struggling (I really was). Still I am happy that all the post covid/cold symptoms have finally been expunged and no real excuse not to get back into a more regular routine.

So one post is cheap batteries, death by everything and chocolate and the next post is battery was great for three years????

I don't think the batteries fitted by Skoda would be any worse than any other manufacturer in the price range? I am driving a hire Corsa with an overeager s/s in London rush hour traffic at the moment and can understand why people turn it off. It really cannot do the battery any good, and I am presuming it is considered suitable for purpose AGM or FMG?

Always a good idea to run your eye over the car's bits regularly and especially the battery before the cold weather but I think you are overselling the effects of hot weather on battery life. Living in Adelaide we regularly top 40 deg in summer and the bog standard battery in our non stop/start 1.4tsi lasted 5 years. Some Briskoda reports of AGM batteries failing after only two years and usually related to s/s in lots of heavy traffic. Also sealed for life batteries do not allow much opportunity or need for any sort of maintenance other than keeping the terminals clean.

How about that @mac11irl you got back into running before I did. Saw your comparisons between the family walk and run in "Chuckles" and had a laugh myself but at the least the walk does give you time to 'smell the roses' along the way. Believe me the years fly by when all of a sudden you are the one that cannot keep up with your kids on a run. Which is how it should be of course. Coming over to the UK in a few days time and have a couple of pairs of running things packed for resumption of running.

You might have to reassess its worth in the current 2nd hand market. The appreciated value may merit the repair cost?

No you wouldn't because I used the wrong terminology 😞. Sorry. This was nearly twenty years ago and the head mechanic at the dealers showed me the removed item which normally had a circular pattern of arms on the clutch body providing pressure to the clutch plates and two or three were broken. Really nice guy, we were on first name terms due to the number of issues the car had. Started with a bit of clutch juddering and then got a lot worse and then clutch slip occurred as I recall. Edit: Pressure plate was the description I was looking for 🤦‍♂️

I have always had manuals and once experienced similar symptoms on a Kia people mover where two or three of the pawls on the spring had broken. Fortunately it was replaced under warranty. I think the 1.4tsi manual group spring is of similar design so may be a possibility?

Quite true but I cannot recall reading any reports of a snapped cambelt for any mk3? Since we are keeping it for a while longer I may get my cambelt done next service especially if an inspection reveals whether a decarb is required. Lots of very short trips and low revs although it is still running well.

Water pumps on less recent diesels were notorious for failures, although they usually gave lots of warnings. It was standard practice to change pump with the belt as they were on the same side. The pumps were far less problematic on the small turbo petrol engines although my 1.4tsi pump required replacing at about 50k km at somewhat eye-watering cost and did not include the belt which is on the other side of the engine on my model. WE just paid up local (Adelaide) dealer prices because it caught us at a particularly vulnerable period with a bereavement and we smashed the mileage in their loan car but nothing more than we would have done in ours at the time. I believe all the small petrol engines have a similar layout so I suspect it is on the other side to the belt. Depending on your mileage I'm not sure that pump replacement is really necessary (if it ain't broke etc) and if you are changing the belt just because you are being prompted by your dealer then there are lots of threads suggesting the five year UK term is just a dealer fund raiser. Seven years here in Australia before it was suggested to me by dealer and when I declined he did not push it and even said they had not had any problems reported by others who had also declined. Personal choice though.

@Felix2021, thanks for your all your info. Yes our 1.4tsi is good but there is no way it could match your 1.5tsi for fuel consumption at those speeds. A reflection of the better efficiency of Mk4's engine, higher gearing and far better aerodynamics I think. I get similar consumption in our fully loaded Mk3 for similar distances but operating at our heavily policed 110 and 100 kmh speed limits.

Maybe, but only yesterday our govt announced an intent to raise our fuel standards from third world to first world, similar with emission standards and also to encourage EV take-up and local availability. In the meantime there are diminishing options for my preference of fuel efficient manual and non SUV. It is a good move but I recognise that it brings the complications you mention.

That would be greatly appreciated and take your time, it just shows that your vehicle of choice is ideal for your circumstances and needs. I'm not sure how your figures will compare with the 'since refuel' display details (if you have one) since it quite possible your time between refuels will be greater than the 'long term' display automatic reset? First world problem