Hermit

Clever box of tricks. I guess we just don't notice the change to rear fogs because its behind us and we're not really bothered if its left or right (unless it fails the MOT!). Can I choose a prize? Can I have Andyasjl lovely blue Scout he had for sale - obviously he doesn't really want it and I do, I do, I do.

Hahaha... thats complicated travelling. Fuel economy sounds the right choice, though heated seats, heated screen and snow plough attachment would have been handy. Is there more concern in Germany over diesels than here? Sales have dropped sharply. I live in a remote area so the noxious fumes aren't such an issue but fuel economy is so diesels still make sense.

Hi Matt. What spec is your Scout? I guess its going to help get you through the winters there esp with the right tyres.

Welcome M444GPE, or can I call you M4. I guess the Fabia owners forum might be a good place to start. Best of luck, maybe it won't be so bad.

I posted this elsewhere but just found (being a Newbie) this thread where others may come and look. http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/accessories-tyres/92873/all-season-tyre-test-20172018-results-by-category The Conti WintercontactTS860's are very highly rated with the Michelin CrossClimate and Goodyear 4Seasons also standing out. The final choice is balance for the individual - their preferences, requirements and circumstances (Scots Highlands isn't needing the same as Cornwall). The angle of the article is running these tyres all year with the Michelin being summers adapted for winter and the Conti's being winters adapted for the summer. I previously ran the Conti's and found them very good all year and brilliant in the recent snows. My latest Scout has part worn Sportcontacts so I'm going to try and wear them out before the end of the year (any excuse).

Is there not a 'lights' setting on infotainment system for driving on the left or on the right. Maybe thats just for the Xenon headlight masking but could switch the rear fog too. CAR - settings - light - light assistance - travel mode - R-hand-traffic Is this a case of the car being so intelligent it's left us all completely foxed?

I was just reading the handbook..... as one does of an evening, and read this on page 136: "At a speed of 100-120 km/h, a vehicle fitted with a roof rack cross member without a load will use about 10 % more fuel than normal due to the increased aerodynamic drag."

Hi Andy. I assume your beautiful Scout has sold. I've just brought a 64 plate low mileage DSG Scout but seeing your pics makes me want a second. Is that allowed? It is so rare to find a Scout in this price range, and with great additional spec. Maybe you've sold it and no longer coming on the forum.... why would you?

That is the redist red I've seen in a while. The valleys will be all a glow as you zoooooom through. Exccellent.

Ah, thats it. I have my DSG Scout in Sports mode from time to time for the DPF... no other reason. Thats why it's there isn't it....um.... "Soot Particle Out Rigorously......" Um... help me out (TS?) * Please excuse my poor grammar and spelling - I'm English

Those words sound so familiar..... I had to double take for a moment, I thought it was my old car. Was yours sold on through the dealership or shipped off to an anonymous auction? My poor old dear had 136k miles and wasn't fit for private sale. Somehow it seems better that its just sold at a 'buyer beware' auction rather than me selling it at the side of the road locally. I've always had it serviced and repaired at dealership but I knew things that weren't right. Scrappage would have been best maybe but I couldn't have afforded a new DSG Scout thats for sure. It felt a bit like putting down an ageing pet which is now suffering too much. Sniff. Economically it was a write off. It was costing much more in maintenance each year than it was worth. I might as well spend that same amount on a much newer, more reliable and far more comfortable car (oodles more fun too!).

Maybe try running a while without the bars on the roof. Once over 40 or 50mph they may be creating a noticeable drag. When I've had low MPG for a while I've normally found I've a brake binding enough to make the wheel hot to touch after a run out. Are the tyre pressures what they should be? Of course different tyres have significantly different rolling resistance hence different mpgs. My 64 DSG Scout is always getting over 40 and over 50 on a 600 mile motorway (mostly) journey which was steady but mostly at the limit (actual not indicated). Still on C-Sportcontacts. Mostly steady driving but having to drop into S-mode from time to time to release some Beta-endorpins - the feel good buzz.

The link was to the summary page but if you click through the pages on left you'll see the full test details and specifics about each tyre. They'll confirm your choice is very good anyway. The wintercontacts have M+S and snow peak symbol though I can't find an image just now.

Rab, did you get a chance to see the recent Autoexpress comparison I gave in the link to above? The Goodyear and Michelin are both very good but the Continental stand clear above them both according to those tests - but elsewhere too. They included warmer weather tests too with the intention that these tyres would be kept on throughout the year. The price of the tyres seems very close but the rolling resistance may make a significant difference to to your mpg. The Michelin won the comparison - but they added the Continental and Dunlop tyres which hadn't been available during the main testing. The Michelin lost out on snow and 'curved aquaplaning' but excelled in the dry. I guess we each have to choose if the extra ability in the dry on many summer days is worth more than that extra ability in the occasional winter snow. For me, getting stuck in the snow is to be avoided at all costs.

Good to see you made it back to the beer cellar with bed. Excellent picture of the road ahead over your dash. Long day at work though. I'm decided on Wintercontact TS860's for next tyre change - have to try and wear these sportcontacts down before next winter (any excuse!). Far better to compromise a bit of warm dry braking than be totally pickled when it snows. We don't get that much dry warm weather here anyway. We seem to have 6 months of cold wet roads. In the winter snows I need to be able to ferry guests in and out if their wheels can't cope - we get lots of visitors even when they're telling people not to venture out.

Ah - well it has snowed over night for us in N Wales, at least those in higher places. You must have had a panel loose already I'd have thought. Looking underneath after a session of snow ploughing I was well impressed though the rear suspension arms were packed as well as the wheel arches. I made sure I knocked some of it free before it froze solid overnight. I was anxious when the way forward became impassable and I had to reverse as any deviation from my original line rather exposed the exhaust and the panel overlaps which are streamlined for forward movement. The fresh snow was soft but after several days of thaw/freeze and tractors passing etc there were many chunks of ice which sounded far less forgiving as they ground there way under the floor. It felt and sounded like a ship cutting through polar ice. The Oct III Scout seems more robust underneath and the front spoiler, though only plastic, appears to be very solid. The mouldings around the fog-lights also seem very tough. The protection for brake and fuel lines will help. It has been designed to push through so I've no concerns other than my usual reluctance to go out if I don't need to because I always feel so vulnerable to other people sliding into me. On small lanes the insurance always goes for 50/50 blame and no-claims protection or not the premiums always shoot up if you claim (I hate insurance). My Scout is still on Sportcontacts - 3s on the back and 5s on the front. Hopeless grip in the snow. 4-wheel drive forwards and round bends brings an advantage but everyone has 4-wheel breaking. The winter tyres are a must. I loved the wintercontacts I'd fitted on the Oct 4x4 and kept them on all year. A friend with a Scout has just fitted the Goodyear 4-seasons but going by this tyre review they were topped by the wintercontacts (which are ranked separately as they came late): http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/accessories-tyres/92873/all-season-tyre-test-20172018-results-by-category I noticed the sportcontact3's had excellent rim protection profile but the sportcontact5's had far less and sure enough there has been a bit of kerb nibbling. I may go for some add-on rim protectors in due course - not cheap though. I'm still looking through Briskoda for a good tyre discussion.... The forecast certainly predicts a good dose of snow for Scotland, if not today then tomorrow depending how far north and how far up you're living. You have got to get out there - even if just to get some more excellent pics for posting on Briskoda! Cheers, Peter

Thanks for the prompt Ken. I've been in to Furrows, local dealer, and asked directly and their response was very helpful. The 'action 23w9' is a recall to replace a batch of lamda probes which will have resulted in worse mpg. While there he agreed to book me in to repair a non-working seat release lever in the boot under extended warranty but not to replace the flaking chrome of the dsg shift (trim isn't covered after the first year) - though he did suggest taking it up with supplying (recent) dealership. I've always found Furrows really helpful and informative over the last 9 years I've dealt with them and its a key reason why I've traded in to another Skoda.

Just picked up my 64 plate Oct III DSG Scout from Skoda dealer and going through the paperwork I see an update 23w9 was applied while it was being serviced/prep'd for handover. I called their service dept and they said it was to do with engine ECU but on the internet skodacommunity.de suggests its to do with changing the lambda probe for the 184PS TDI engines. I'm wary of changes to throttle back performance to tweak the emissions. Anyone know what what the 'Action 23w9' really is? ..... or where I can find out. Thanks for any info. Peter

Wow - thats quite a joining. How are you going to follow that? Peter

Hello Kritchai. Welcome aboard.

Nice pic Rab-k. Looks like the right place for a Scout. I'm in the mountains of North Wales and my Oct II 4x4 was so needed getting in and out during the recent snows but sometimes the ground clearance wasn't quite enough. So I've just swapped for a 64plate Oct III Scout with DSG. Very pleased to have just got 50mpg (indicated) on a fairly fast 300 mile run. See my intro.. I can get in and out much quicker now! Peter

Welcome. Check out the Octavia Mk1 forum: https://www.briskoda.net/forums/forum/27-skoda-octavia-mk-i/ ...and the 'about to buy a Skoda' forum: https://www.briskoda.net/forums/forum/288-about-to-buy-a-skoda/ Peter

You'll have to be googling a lot to avoid using the manual I reckon but enjoy the adventure of discovery. Peter

Hi Paul. I'm only here a day or two myself so another 'newbie'. You can see my details just ahead of you. Great beach you have there. Peter

Thanks for the welcome Skodaboy1983.