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

Thanks Camelspyyder, useful to know. BTW I could not help drooling over some of the "run-out" Octavia bargains currently on offer. But with 4 G Wagens plus the Skoda Octavia , I need to downsize somewhat before buying owt else. Cheers, Marcus

Thanks Gaz, the rub is we barely need a car, but due to the wifes nervous** disposition, when we do need a car, we NEED reliable one. Out for a run today, prob the first time in 3 months(but it WAS our wedding anniversy) and the car went into limp mode, 40 odd miles from home and down to 1500 rpm/2nd gear/10mph up a VERY, very long hill. Bugger! **only anything car related!

If I were buying a new(ish) Skoda; Both retired, so petrol probably grudgingly accepted.(and had a bellyful of the Seimens injectors in the 1.6TDI) Prefer automatic, but please Dog, not another dry DSG like the cursed DQ200 was. Def need room for a wheelchair/electric scooter/rollator PLUS groceries, but 2 pax only, so I could fold rear seats down. I need an upright seating position. Extended warranty preferred. Thoughts, Marcus, the undecided.

Anyway folks, despite I, me, mesel replacing the brake discs and pads at all 4 corners(and Hell Roast the Engineer who designed those ****ty corrision prone aluminium rear calipers) And then needing to do sommat about the screedling A/C clutch pully. I will continue to drive the Octavia "from Hell to Skerry", until she ****s hersel proper. BUT I am flying over to England next week to collect her replacement, which hopefully should be good for the next 20 years(i.e. should see me to 80 plus) A 1988 LWB G Wagen, re-powered with an OM605 engine, and ALL totally electronic free and fixable with mere common sense and non-electronic tools. And driving like a dream, especially for a 31 year old vehicle. Regards all Marcus

Ah! You got me there Kirbynut, analysis paralysis and indecision are my middle names. I was hoping to get an actual proper scrappage deal, since I could trade my horrible dirty diesel in against a "clean" modern petrol. But I have not seen any such deals. In good condition she is worth £2,300 private or £1,300 trade in, but interior is well dog scruffy and the carpet worn clean through to the metal of the transmission tunnel by my redundant right foot(being a DSG) So guessing £1,500 to £1,800 in a private sale, and prob a princely £1,000 trade in. And I figure she is worth more than that to me as a fingers-crossed daily driver. Regards, Marcus

Kirkynut, Was that addressed to me? probably, so I will answer. Anyway, yes I spent £1600.00 odd on a new mechatronic unit, probably 18 months ago now, subsequent to which, from the briefly erratic behavouir and relatively prolonged graunching/grinding noises, I am reasonably convinced that the actual mechanical geared part of the DSG transmission, "lunched" on some of its innards, the syncromesh cones perhaps? But with the fault codes cleared, the car is driving 100%, but I simply cannot TRUST the car even 100%. The wife simply does NOT trust the car at all, so other than risking a short local run in daylight hours, she much prefers 20 year old MB 461 or 30 year old MB 460 "G" Wagen mechanical technology, with zero depreciation albeit a higher fuel bill. The No. 2 injector then threw a fault code and caused me to drive 25 miles after dark, on a winters evening, in the rain, towing a twin axle trailer, at about 15-25 mph in rush hour traffic. But the next morning all was good, except for the logged fault code, and ongoing "trust" issues. I did NOT spend the £200.00 a pop, each,+ Labour and coding to replace the injectors, since the very reputable VW indy informed me that my CR pump would be digesting its innards, and this at a measly 125,000 miles. So how much good money do I throw at a 9 year old money-pit car, which each year is up against N.I.'s much more strict Government run MOT test. I did treat her to new pads and discs all round, and actually this was post a recent(i.e. Sept) MOT pass, but she really needed them, the back pads being wafer thin and the front discs were warped, causing a bad low speed judder. I did that work myself btw. Regards, Marcus

Seriously impressed by the rapid delivery by Bigg Redd. Ordered about midday yesterday Del am today. SLICK!

As per my comment above, remarkedly easy, I looked up a Youtube presentation which was very good, only a 13 mm and 15 mm spanner needed, and no other special tools. this one;

Bigg Redd was the supplier I ordered from. btw The off side dust cover was perfectly undamaged (where the near side one had clearly been cut/scobed/damaged by my erstwise mechanic, or the underpaid uncaring individuals he employed, more likely) and the piston screwed back much more easily, and the B & B pads fitted 1st go. So that was an "easy-peasy" operation. In conscience the brakes a nice bit of engineering by VW, in respect of changing pads or discs, and I got the disc out without difficulty WITHOUT removing the 2nd part of the caliper. And it is all remarkedly sound and unrusted in there, except that dirt trap where the metal brake pipe is connected to the flexible brake pipe. Marcus,theHat

Thanks for the tip/advice, But? Will that work with a DSG? MORE importantly, Where can I source the rubber gaiter/boot that protects the rear brake pistons? Answered myself = Ebay. BOTH Local Motor Factor says I need to buy a complete caliper? And Lord God but was the piston murder-tight/hard to wind back with the propriatary wind-back tool, so it looks like the seals have swollen, so really I need a set incl new pistons(off Ebay) or at least a set incl the seals. Bearing in mind I have lovingly cleaned down 3 sets of "G" Wagen(on 3 seperate & still owned G Wagens) calipers including splitting them and replacing the seals, I still do not really want to be arsed with such fettling on a Skoda approaching the end of its likely useful life. ANYWAY: A kit has been ordered off Ebay