alessio92

I'll PM you StickyMicky, cheers. If anyone else can advice on compatibility between models I'd be really grateful as I've got a few irons in the fire. Cheers

I'm looking for a second-hand towbar for my 08 Octavia 4x4. There seem to be a few kits (with the mounting bar (or whateverits called), hook and electrics) online for MkI and MkIII octavias, and the odd one from a MkII but I haven't seen any for a MkII Estate. Just wondered if anyone could tell me whether kits from any other models would fit? Will a kit that was previously on a mkII hatch fit a mkII estate, will a mkI estate kit fit on a mkII or will a kit from a similar aged golf or older A4 fit? Thanks!

Mine's a diesel 4x4 and it's plastic! A mechanic down my street has recommended I leave it off as it would prevent me from spotting an oil leak until it's basically too late... hadn't thoguht about this aspect of it? How would it impact on fuel economy?

Cheers. I'll aim to get it back on ASAP but good to know it won't do any harm. Anoyne konw if the 4x4 tray is any different from the standard Octy one?

I've just got home and discovered that at some point either this morning or last night, the protective undertray that sits under the engine bay at the front of my car has dropped off, has been run over either by me or someone else and is damaged in quite a few places. No idea how I didn't notice but not too happy really. Just wondering how essential this tray is - will I be ok without for a couple of weeks until I can find time to get to a scrappy and find another and order some of the clips to hold it on? Thanks very much guys

I tried 4x in total. Two disk errors and two complete refusals to acknowledge the disk other than that there was something in the drive. I've not had a problem playing CDs with it.

I've just tried to update my RNS510 satnav with a disk from ebay. It went through all the menus as normal, seemed to be working and was downloading the update but then kicked the disk out saying 'CD/DVD error'. I've contacted the vendor for support but just wondered if there's any way to tell what version of the software & maps is currently on my system? I know it's close to 10 years ago because there are roads in my city wihch don't exist on the map. Thanks!

So it sounds like snow socks are worth getting but chains are probably overkill. Looking on Amazon, most socks are around £30-40, does that sound about right? Is there any specific type or spec I should be looking for? Would I be ok buying online at somwhere like Amazon or should I go somewhere like GSF/Andrew Page to ensure decent quality? Cheers

Thanks, this is all very encouraging! They are Goodyear Vector 4seasons - not sure if they're gen 2 or 3. Really appreciate all the responses (and enjoyed the pictures )

I'm aware that much of this comes down to the skill of the driver rather than the car, but occasionally for work I have to drive over part of the pennines on smaller A- and B-roads. I drive an Octavia 4x4 which is on Goodyear All-Season tyres. I'm just wondering how capable the 4x4 actually is in poor conditions such as snow - is it much better than an ordinary estate of a similar size? Obviously don't expect it to be comparable to he last car I drove in snow was front wheel drive 2002 A4 Avant which wasn't bad at all but was limited by the clearance between floor and car on more countrified roads. Also, is it worth investing in Snow socks etc for the car? I'm thinking if I have to try and make it home across the hills - what will give me the best chance?

Re: timescale, if they're in a town where there's a Euro/GSF/Andrew Page or other supplier within, say, an hours' drive, they should be able to get them same day (that's normal service). But maybe if they're low on manpower it's just a safety net so they don't overpromise, underdeliver

I find that really odd. Every garage I've taken my car to hasn't had a problem with doing the clutch in a day. LuK is the brand you want though. Not sure about sizes, but if you go to Andrew Page or GSF and give them your registration, they should be able to tell you from your system?

I can't help with diagnosis, but if it IS the flywheel, the answer to your questions is as follows: 1. You're looking at about £500 - 700 - get your clutch done at the same time as it's the same labour; no point in only getting one done becuase when the other goes you'll have to pay for that same labour over again. 2. If your car has a 5-speed gearbox, I think you're probably sensible swapping to a SingleMF. If it's a 6-speed, the SMF is not compatible.

I had the opposite; got it out ok but when I went to fit it back in, the slide lever thing wouldn't go back into place.

4 genuinely helpful and interesting replies here... thank you. I'll do that. Interesting, will check that next time, thank you. I know on my grandma's golf, they're out of sync but I didn't know if it was possible with the digital ones. I'll check. This is interesting because I've also found this and have the same problem. I always just assumed that it was my imagination but if someone else has alson noticed...

Over the past couple of weeks since it's got really cold, I've really struggled to get my car to demist from the front windscreen. It's a 4x4 with what I assume is the standard air con/climate control panel - the three spinning knobs with digital displays etc, and I use the front windscreen clearing button, but it can take well over 10 minutes before it even starts to make any impact whatsoever. It's significantly worse on the driver's side too. If I hold my hand over where the air should be coming out to clear the windscreen, I can't feel a thing - it all seems to be coming out of the driver-facing vents either side of the steering wheel. If I close them it improves very marginally but it's still totally asthmatic. I know of all the tactics such as having the blowers on cold rather than warm and opening the windows etc but it doesn't seem to make any difference. It seems to me that the system itself isn't working properly; anyone know what might be up or have any tips?

I drive an 08 Octy 4x4. I'm about to start a new job where I'll be driving a lot more, and I'm considering investing in the chip that would increase BHP from the standard 105 to around 130-140BHP, partly to make motorway driving more bearable (it currently feels like it detests any speed above about 65mph) and partly for the supposed fuel economy improvements. I just did a couple of test quotes with a couple of comparison sites and it looks like they would want to take my premium up to nearly 200% of what I paid this year, if I were to chip my car. Would a specialist insurer be likely to improve on that if that's the only mod my car has? Also, if I'm driving between multiple places of work, does that count as business mileage or can I class it as commuting? Cheers

I'm considering going to AF for a quote but this is seriously putting me off. Did this ever get resolved? I rarely stay away from home but would like to be able to and visit family in Oxford/Wales without leaving my car without cover...

If you happen to be a Costco member, go and look there as their prices seem to be really competitive at the moment.

I'm considering getting my '08 Octavia 4x4 1.9TDI re-mapped to increase power slightly. I don't want to try and match the VRS or anything, but my previous car was an 02 Audi A4 Avant 1.9TDI with 130bhp and I'd like a roughly similar acceleration. I'm just wondering: Can this be done without having a dramatic negative effect on my fuel economy? Is it going to shake the engine to pieces or impact on reliability? How much would a map like this cost? Cheers!

That's reassuring because I'd heard elsewhere that it was an entirely standard car other than the 4 wheel drive. I do have to say that in the Lakes, earlier this year, we did the first part of Honnister (up to the slate mine) and it was absolutely flawless on the gradient. Haven't had any other chance to test it out in challenging circumstances yet!

I've got an Octavia 4x4; I never set out to buy a 4-wheel drive car but it was the best Octy estate in my budget at the time and I'm not complaining. However, I'm just interested to know what it's capability/purpose was? For example, the Scout was clearly designed for off-roading as it featured a much higher ride height and I think had adapted suspension or something? However, the 4x4 seems to literally just be a 4-wheel drive version of the ordinary estate... does it just offer more traction when towing/on a loose surface/in snow etc or is it also capable going off-road or aimed at something else? Cheers!

Out of interest, if the car has electronic central locking, is it possible to manually lock/unlock the car if the battery is totally flat?

Think I do have a Maxidot cluster (Had to google what that was, I always knew it as a MFD); how do I access settings?

I’ve recently noticed that if I adjust my right wing mirror (happens quite a lot as the wife is much shorter than me), the left also moves. But if I adjust the left, it works normally. Clearly I can get around this by adjusting the right first and then correcting the left but just wondered what’s causing it and if there’s an easy fix? Ta! (Car is a 2008 Octavia 4x4 estate)