marcusthehat

It is a good while ago now, from hazy recall I believe a lot was EGR/injectors/emissions/electronic related(and btw his Son is big into the computer diagnostic stuff) cheers Marcus

Well I bought the DSG 1.6TDI Octavia, new, and then less than a year later the daughter bought a Yaris, a manual D4D. Our 10-11 year ownership experiences were diametrically opposed. Though at 170,000+ miles she is getting (hopefully fixable) DPF issues, and the origonal clutch very recently collapsed because she was/is a tad sharp coming off it and therefore some of the 6 springs that absorb the shock loadings failed, and quite understandably, though there was no discernable wear to be seen to the clutch plate itself(well she is, mostly, her ould Da's daughter!) And yes I am aware Toyota have their failings too, but it is my preception that they are overall a more honest company than the VAG Group are. BUT As said her experience persuaded me to go Japanese or Korean. And the Rav4 appeared to meet our needs best. Which car I intend to keep for at least 150,000 miles. And she has said she will be buying another Toyota, probably a Corolla estate. Perhaps iffen I had bought the 2.0 l diesel with the apparently bullet proof wet DSG I would have had a different ownership experience. HeyHo, such is life. Marcus

I rightly revered VAG's engineering prowess back in the 1990's and into the 2000's when they really really nailed the diesel tech. And yes they made a success of Skoda, way back then . . . And perhaps some of the DPF/ERG et. al. modern ordure was forced apon them? But I still firmly believe they choose to cut too many corners to save engineering costs in recent years, and then blatently deny systemic failures. Like the Gods cursed woeful DQ200 DSG. Especially when its software was retrospectivelly engineered so as to disengage drive(with zero warning or notification) when it sensed a preset temperature being exceeded, to prevent the clutch packs from damage from overheating, instead of reengineering the clutch packs. Btw. I put 253,000 miles on a clutch on a 1998 110BHP TDI which incl mostly stop-start urban driving and some towing/heavy towing, and the origonal/factory fitted clutch was still biting like new when she was parked up at 13 or 14 years old. Which is to say I was not abusing the clutch packs, at all, in the DQ200. Cos I know how not to. Said DQ200 had a list of expensive to fix failures over its short and reasonably untaxed 140,000 mile life. Marcus

Breezy, I have never found any particular reason to trust the motoring press. I do however trust the very well informed opinion of a lifetime VAG mechanic who has run an independant VAG specialist garage most of his adult life, and whose son has followed him into the trade. Two absolutely straight blokes who would be the last to say anything negative, unless it was glaringly obviously undeniably and unavoidably true, about their lifes passion. So I will believe them. Regards, Marcus

We purchased a Rav4 and took delivery just a year ago. I am very pleased with it, especially the effortless low speed finesse possible, and Indeed the bulletproof nature of the transmission. However, more pertinently I was speaking to a VERY decent and long established VAG Indy specialist, who "went off on one" in his soft spoken way, berating crap VAG engineering and production values that leave rueful owners with humengeous repair bills, once barely out of warranty. Indicating a collection of cars and their eye watering repair costs. He genuinely feels bad for the poor, and soon to be much poorer owners. So yes Skodas biggest problem is being part of VAG. Marcus

I was lusting after a Kodiaq as our next car, and still get a small pang on seeing one, a lovely thing to sit in, but I never even asked for a test drive, simply because I had a complete bellyful of VAG's corporate behavouir, their "dodgy" cost driven engineering decisions, nevermind the several examples of downright decietful behavouir by 2 out of 3 of our N.I. dealerships during our 10+ years of ownership. So we took delivery of a Toyota Rav4 about 10 days ago, largely on the back of our daughters absolutely faultless 10 years and 150,000 mile ownership of a diesel Yaris. I intend to keep this car for 12 to 15 years btw. There were a couple of niggles during the sales experience, but we were both impressed by the responses when we escaleted our concerns. I am also aware that we are tied in to dealership servicing costs with the hybrid driveline, BUT, Lord God, the driving experience likely makes this a worthwhile cost. By that I mean the sublime low speed effortless intuitive control finesse afforded by the hybrid transmission, which is quite unaffected by slopes or inclines and the associated software glitches/fixes of that should-have-been-aborted example of misengineering that VAG's DQ200 DSG was !!!. A Honda CRV was also considered, but no spare wheel and far-away dealerships were factors that helped rule it out. A Citroen C5 Aircross with the EAT8transmission was also a strong contender, but diesel head that I am, I have grown somewhat leery of the overweeningly complex diesel emissions technology, regardless of the manufacturer. We both REALLY REALLY liked the local Citroen dealership, being Hallidays of Bushmills, so friendly and helpful, even after we revealed we would likely not be buying a Citroen, what a car dealership should be like. The other local, and still family owned dealership, JKC cars of Coleraine also scored highly in our limited dealership experience. Regards, Marcus

"Who or what is the biggest threat to Skoda" Excremental design and engineering quality, would be the main issue. Our Sept 2010 1.6TDI DQ200 DSG equipped Octavia being a perfect/impefect example. After the protracted and ineffectual warrenty repairs to the DSG(with Skoda attempting to mechanically fix a cunning "workaround" VAG software "fix"), then expensive EGR remedial work, then the even more expensive Mechatronic replacement work, then Seimens injectors needing replaced, and now failed clutch pack(s). Which to my mind render the vehicle "beyond economic repair" All this with the background of going on 11 years of uphill reversing(and sometimes when proceeding forward) tempremental DSG DQ200 histronics! Despite not being abused and only sub 140,000 miles on. And the MkIV appears to be no better? signed Disgusted of Dervock.

So, as I suspected my local indy does not touch DSG transmission work, but gave the contact details for a local bloke who does. And added, "allow about £2,500.00 for a repair"(I have not managed to speak to the bloke yet) Which means the car is beyond economic repair, being only worth £1,500.00 per "we buy any car", never mind the doubts re the longivity of the 1.6TDI engine. signed, Disgusted of Dervock

My notion too Steve, thanks, hopefully I will find out more tomorrow.

Happened tonight, when I left to ret home, after being sitting parked in Portrush. Guessing the clutch pack(s) are goosed? I had to get the mechatronic done about 3 year ago. I will be contacting my local VAG indy am tomorrow, but whether he touches DSG's other than routine oil changes, I dont know. Marcus

More, Mostly a mix of 23 mile or 12 mile trips, with a good few hours between arrival and return journies. Also a wheen o runs to the toon (4 miles) for the messages.

Having had to replace rear discs and pads, and after some difficulty getting the pistons freed up. My mpgs improved(better weather also a factor) and in conscience not "hammering" on, though generally sitting about 55 which is staying with the main road traffic flow

On the other hand the temperature gauge in my 20, 30 and 35 year old G Wagens, are pure analogue, which tells me that one of them is definitely overheating!

Bugger! I honestly had not an inkling this was the case. Thanks, for making me ever so slightly more cynical. Marcus.

First, just to comment that the VAG got their cooling systems right, I have never, across 3 hard worked VAG vehicles seen the temp needle go past plumb vertical. Second, the exhaust started to blow, on the 10 year old car, a quick pH call to JW down at Castleroe, Coleraine, diagnosed the problem, instantly, the sliding SS component that links the front and rear sections had failed, in that the mild steel clamp had rusted through. BUT everything else was as sound as a bell and very very fresh looking, for a comestically neglected 10 year old car. Just wanted to say sommat positive. Marcus