Hoarace

Ha, yes, the gear change selection suggestions will be duly ignored now I'm getting used to it. At first though they were very useful, it was like learning to drive again! 'You want me in 4th, at this slow speed, we'll stall and.. Ooooh'

Still getting used to my new (to me) 63 plate 2014 hatchback 1.4tsi. My previous car was a 1.8 07 plate Avensis, which to be fair was reliable and had clocked 160K. You had to rev the nuts off that to accelerate though, over 3.5K before it started moving But as soon as I drove the 1.4 it was clear everything had moved on. The hit from 1.5k to 3.5K is super smooth by comparison. I don't need to drop gear when overtaking on the motorway , just stay in 6th. And I had to set the speed warning beep at *cough* because going 80 odd was a bit too easy and felt tranquil. Smooth and quiet (comparatively). My commute is about 5 miles across Swindon in crawling traffic (20 mins) and 15 miles motorway/dual carriageway (15 minutes). The trip computer is telling me about 40-41 MPG average on a tank of fuel. I guess the estate is heavier but ... Putting that into context, I reckon I'm getting slightly more mileage than the Avensis. And its costing £10 or so less to fill. In just 700 tank fills it'll practically have paid for itself The only thing I find is I'm changing gear a bit more round town than I used to, following the computers 'eco tips' on gear change. Suppose I don't have to. Absolutely the best car I've owned to drive engine wise and overall too (mostly family yawn cars mind, Mondeo, Avensis, etc). Just hope it stays reliable.

Yesterday I picked up my 63 (14) plate 1.4 tsi SE, pacific blue with options MFSW, Auto Lights and auto mirror (and presumably auto wipers), rear arm rest + aftermarket (I think) front arm rest. OK, early days, hopefully not a lemon! Private sale, bargain price IMO. A few age related scuffs and dinks (not bothered given price as its going to happen sooner or later anyway :( ), but missed an issue, the undertray is loose towards rear on one side - looks slightly damaged and the retaining whatsit (washer) has pushed through. It feels secure in that its not going to drop off so I'm not unduly worried but will try and work out how to "patch" it sometime soon. Assuming the bolt comes out OK of course! Any tips ? (OT, sorry). Anyway, so far this new fangled witchcraft in engine design has me driving like a.....the "issue" is I had an Avensis 1.8 which needed the nuts revved off it to accelerate, where as this is the opposite, 1.5 K + and it flies (comparatively)!

Great news! Thanks again for your replies. All being well I'll be a proud owner tomorrow

That's cool, was done in Feb 17 on 32k. Was wondering if crossing 40k would mean instant service required. No bother if so, just prefer it not to

Thanks for the reply Jed! So wait for the service warning/countdown then, excellent. First change of car in 9 years, so very excited. Fingers crossed its not a lemon!

Damnit! My display name was supposed to be Horace. Any way of changing it ?!

Hi all from Swindon (it's between Bristol and London for our international contributors ) Hopefully buying a 63/2014 Octavia III 1.4tsi (140) SE on Sunday (private sale), hence here I am. Haven't even seen it yet, but got an AA inspection (and have looked locally before) and know I want it! The chances of me spotting a problem the AA don't are 0. Was holding out for an Elegance spec, but this one was very competitively priced to the point of not caring as much as I thought! Anyway not much else to say. Thanks to Jasper Carrott for creating Skoda badge snobs which means (hopefully) a great car at a lower price. If its anywhere near as reliable as the outgoing Avensis (11 years old, 155K, 1 breakdown due to dead battery) I'll be a happy bunny, Oh, 1 thing, what is the Octavia service interval. I've seen 1 year...and I've seen "variable" and t "it depends on the oil used" but ???!