MasterMunchkin

Thanks Toot for your thoughts. The car will be scrapped as it was previously rated as a 'write off' due to someone driving into the side of it. My friend is heavily dependent on her car – mobility issues – so the pressure's on a bit for a replacement. The DSG gearbox is quite a complex piece of kit so the upside for getting it back on the road is low. We've been quoted around £3k to get it overhauled. It's simply too much money. Hence the search for a replacement. It's amazing how expensive cars have got! Cheers.

A good friend's 1.2 TSI Octavia DSG estate has died. A 2011 vehicle it was strong, frugal and reliable, however the DSG auto 'box mechatronics have shredded themselves after 150,000 miles. We need a replacement – possibly smaller – and don't want to spend more than £5-6k max. Priorities: auto (or DSG) and petrol. My friend doesn't want anything bigger and a Fabia-sized car is also a contender. Given the DSG-disintegration risk I'm wondering if a BMW 3-Series auto might be worth a look though it would carry higher insurance and running costs. A Honda Jazz might also be a possibility. We love Octavias and Fabias but an older auto Skoda carries the DSG meltdown risk we've just experienced. Thoughts? With many thanks, MM

Hello Keith. No, not yet. But I’m working on it. Will…update soon! Thanks MM

Thanks very much for this, Keith. Very helpful. I am away from home currently but will check the options you suggested above early this week. V helpful indeed. MM

Thanks for this Sepulchrave. That sounds like a good solution. Not trying to alter the standard car stereo (which is surprisingly good). Just want to pipe Spotify into it! Cheers MM

Hello Keith. Thanks very much for this. I will go to Halfords this morning and make enquiries, based on your thoughts. With thanks MM

By making sure it's charged before you drive!

I wonder if anyone can advise, please? I have an iPhone 12 and cannot use it via the USB socket (like I could my old iPhone 5!) as the iPhone 12 has no connection point – it's bluetooth only. Is there any way my ageing 1.4 TDI (still great) can still play music via the iPhone 12? Sorry to sound so ignorant of tech issues here! Ideally, I'd love to hear my 'phone calls via the car's speakers also but suspect this is completely impossible. Thanks MM

Thank you for all the replies. Very useful. I have let my friend know and he is coming to terms with the issue. Disappointed with this vulnerability. MM

A friend took his Sportline Estate to his Kent Skoda garage for some rear suspension work after it failed its MOT this week – best part of £1,300. The garage washed the car. On examination this morning much of the car's paintwork has acquired a lot of white specs, particularly on the bonnet. My friend is doubtful that these marks were present before he took the car in for work. Might they be the result of too much jet hose cleaning pressure? Or do they look like honest paint chips? Thoughts appreciated. Thanks MM Superb Paintwork.mp4

In 2015 a friend of mine bought a 2011 1.2 TSI Octavia Estate DSG with 60,000 miles on the clock. The car has now done 125,000 miles, averaging around 11,000 miles a year. It has been reliable and still runs well. Servicing has average around £250 a year though there was a big bill last year when new brake discs/drums and shock absorbers all-round were needed. Impressed overall. Is the long-term reliability of the 1.2 TSI engine (and DSG 'box) shared by other owners? MM

A London friend wants to buy a used petrol Yeti. She has been told by the local Skoda dealer she should buy a Euro 6-compliant model rather than a Euro 5-compliant model because the London ULEZ regime will, at some point, target Euro 5 compliant petrol vehicles, he claims. A Euro 6 compliant model likely cost from £11k upwards while a cheaper Euro 5 compliant TSI Yeti is significantly cheaper. She would rather not spend more than £8k. Is the dealer scare mongering? Should she save up for the Euro 6 model instead? Thanks MM

To add to the confusion I rang Skoda UK. They said: "Every 40,000 miles or 5 years. Whichever comes first." Every 40,000 miles? I asked them to double-check. They came back. "Yes, every 40,000 miles. Or five years. Whatever come's first."

Thank you both for your words. This is more reassuring. My friend will probably err to safety and get the job done shortly for peace of mind. The car has been highly reliable since owning from new with more than 60mpg regularly achieved.

I know this subject has been covered in the past but would be grateful for an up-to-date answer. A friend has had his 2016 Sportline 2.0 TDI 150 Sportline estate serviced at 67,000 miles - oil change, filters, etc. He was under the impression a cambelt/w.pump change was due every five years and therefore not needed – yet. He has now been told by the dealer (Dartford Motorpoint) it should be around 60,000 miles. Therefore it is overdue. The lack of clear guidance is causing some anxiety. Any thoughts? With thanks. MM

I understand what you're saying, WSB. The extra dollop is just a bit of extra reassurance. The vehicle will spend a lot of time in the Scottish Highlands.

First, much thanks for the replies, some far-flung. Great. To be clear, we're looking at a 2.0 litre 150PS DSG SE L DSG 4x4 with the Alcantara trim. This is a cash buy, not PCP, so the headline figure won't be so attractive and probably rule us out of some incentives. We are coming from a very heavy 2001 Mercedes ML 2.7 CDI, now on its last legs. The Assistance Pack & Area View sound good. It was very good to hear your collective views on Park Assist. So, narrowing down the options I think we're looking at... Adaptive Cruise Control Rear view camera Traffic Jam Assist Traffic sign recognition Lane Assist and Blind Spot Detection (I think linked to Traffic Jam Assist) Area View – possible but v pricey I will take a look at the assistance packs and see which will absorb as many of the above. I'm aware that the blind spot/lane assist may be annoying but I think it's possible to turn off (individually or both). We are open to the idea of 'speccing the higher 190PS engine for an extra margin of power/safety. Thanks again. MM

Hello. Does anyone have any experience of ordering Kodiak assistance packs? A relative is test driving a Kodiak 150 DSG diesel 5-seat tomorrow. She may well order. We are trying to get our head around the assistance packs and are somewhat confused. She does a lot of driving on her own with kids (no partner) so safety is v important. So definitely... Lane Assist and Blind Spot Detection Adaptive Cruise Control Rear view camera We're wondering about Park Assist also. If anyone has any thoughts on this, we'd be grateful to hear. With thanks MM

Thanks guys very much. I'm going by the noise ratings and I agree with Itsrelfy that the Dunlop looks good. The Eagle F1 Asymmetric 2 from Goodyear are also in the running. Thanks for your thoughts so far.

Could anyone perhaps recommend a quiet 19" tyre for a Superb Sportline Estate TDI 150 DSG? The current Pirelli Cinturato P7's are so NOISY - on just about every surface. I rate strongly the Avon ZV7 for quietness but it doesn't come in 19". With thanks MM

Science is a wonderful thing these days...

Oh dear. I got a 'phone call yesterday. My friend has bought a top-of-the-range long-wheel-base Mitsubishi Shogun, list price £41k something cut to £32k plus five years free servicing. Etc, etc. The Shogun is an environmental disaster with a massively thirsty diesel engine, space hoppers for tyres and very noisy. It's a massively fast depreciator. While ideal for pulling a tank it's not so nifty on the school run. Oh, and my friend is 80, the father of two small girls and drives 5,000 miles a year. Unbelievable. Sorry to have wasted everybody's time.

Some very useful replies. Thank you all. Broadspeed and OrangeWheels don't offer the Kodiak (at least when I checked). The best offers, as Silver1011 has generously pointed out in great detail, have been through CarWow. So far the best we have on a 1.4 TSI DSG 7-seater with metallic paint (£555 option) SE L from CarWow is £25,975, a claimed £4,155 saving or 13.8% off from £30,130. I will cast the net a bit further... Again, thanks to you all. MM

Hi, can anyone advise, possibly? A good friend is in the market for a CASH only deal on a PETROL Kodiak. He would like.... 7-seats, DSG 'auto box; preferably 150PS and reasonable spec. Drive the Deal seems to be PCP-based only. Has anyone had any good experiences with any car brokers offering a reasonable CASH deal? My friend lives in East Anglia. Any thoughts appreciated. Grateful thanks. Master Munchkin

Thanks. He wanted a 'lugger'. The rear seats are often down and the car fully loaded. Hence the diesel option. I do wonder about the 19" wheels though and the possibility the Sportline may not be as pliant or as comfortable as Superbs with smaller wheels, especially on long trips. Increased potential for more road/tyre noise. Still, he made his bed...