MarkyW

We had some issues with our Scout earlier in its ownership whereby it was reporting needing a service which seemed much too quick, even on variable. It WAS serviced twice in pretty quick succession, which made us stick to our guns and query this with Skoda and the dealer before they finally conceded and took the car in for tests. They performed some resets and then asked us to monitor the service interval mileage count for a while, in which time it was dropping sometimes at >200 miles a day. It ended up eating a 10000 mile count in 2000 real miles. They took it back in and changed something and we haven't had an issue since. They even through in the next service free as the previous one obviously wasn't required. Just my 2p worth. Good luck. Mark

We are sort of looking to replace the family car at the moment. I say sort of because this is the first car since 1998 (I think) where we haven't started test driving around 18 months into ownership and replaced around the 2 year mark. The current family ride is a 57 plate Octavia Scout with 35k miles on the clock and, apart from Nav, pretty much fully loaded. Personally and in agreement with my wife, the world would be a better place with the new Scout, the 170bhp diesel lump under the bonnet and a DSG gearbox between you and it. Oh, also interest free on the diesels as well as petrols. Unfortunately, VAG know all too well no one with any sense would then even look at the likes of the VWs or Audis if they did this. Allroad sales would plummet. The Scout has a massive boot, great 4wd and reasonable performance and economy. There is a DSG Scout out soon (maybe now), but it's the 140bhp engine. So, the short list is: BMX X3....which got discounted when I took the wife to the garage and she saw the X1 in comparison. Another Scout, but DSG and chipped. Yeti, DSG, diesel, chipped. It's a tough choice. Haven't driven the Beemer or Yeti as yet, on my list of things to do over the next month. Mark PS Just reading through some of the other posts in the thread. My ride is an E46 M3, so I am used to BMW build quality, which is why we looked at them in the first place. That said, love the Scout and it WAS the best of the bunch we drove at the time (8-10 options tested, including A4, A6, Jag X-type, Freelander...). No badge allegiancies here, just tools for the job - M3 for me, reliable, sizeable, economical, great performing 4x4 for the family.

We had our Westfalia detachable tow bar fitted a few weeks ago by Towbex. They came to the house and took a little under 2 hours to fit, even bringing a mat to place the bumper on so as not to cause unnecessary scratches during removal. Dead easy to remove and fit and the electrics swing up out of the way when not in use. Worked out much cheaper than the quoted price from the Skoda dealership. I'll post a pic or 2 when I get a chance to take some. Regards Mark

Had a Westfalia detachable tow bar fitted to my Scout last week. The factory hole in the lower bumper means the electrics can be hidden and the car looks normal when not towing. Supplied and fitted by Towbex (nr Brighton) for just over £300. These guys were recommended to me by CDG Skoda after their in house fitters wanted something like 9 hours labour to fit a Skoda tow bar. CDG Skoda have had tow bars fitted by Tobex themselves prior to a factory fit being available for the Scout.

We got something like an indicated 77mpg on our Scout in January coming down through the French Alps. Initial descent time about 30 minutes and we were amazed at each point the computer mpg climbed downhill in the right gear with not much acceleration seems to give 'good returns'. Then I hammered it back across France and ended up with 38.something overall. Regards Mark

Drove the top end diesel outback in our search for a car and wasn't impressed at all with the handling, ride quality, gimmicky back seats with no luggage space and price. When the sales guy said that this would be available with the Pug 2.2 diesel a little later we looked into it but the price hike really didn't help. Someone mentioned the Allroad and XC70 above - both nice pieces of kit but at nearly twice the price of the Scout for similar spec and a little more technology that wouldn't get used we thought it wasn't worth the money. So glad we went for the Scout now.... Regards Mark

Spoke to everyone and when you give the tyre size they say there's no clearance and chains are not suitable - with the exception of the ones that just fit on hte mid to outside of the tyres (£175+ jobbies). Even Rud, manufacturers support, looked into it for me and said they copuldn;t supply or recommend any. Have Autosocks now anyway, but didn't need them as the car was so good in the ice and snow. Regards Mark

Noticed on a recent ski run to the Alps that at 85mph I got around 42mpg, at 100mph I got around 39mpg and at 120 I got around 37mpg. This was over large sections of a 650mile run. Today I got an indicated 47+mpg in 50mph flowing traffic on the M25 from Slough (M4 J6) to M25 J10. Average consumption on the OBC is 38mpg. Overall, the fuel consumption may not be as good as the 1.9tdi Octy II we had while our old Nissan was in for repair (the reason we changed to a Skoda) but the car feels much more solid and the 4x4 does sap the mpg a little. Regards Mark

Have done just shy of 3000 miles in our Scout now, having picked it up in late October. Fuel economy was ok when new and even better now the engine is loosening up. Managed an indicated 47+mpg on the way home from Slough to Gatwick today at around 50mph (traffic). Recently drove to the French Alps for a ski break with the family and was getting 38+mpg with 2 adults, 2 kids, all the luggage for a week and at 100-ish mph. The 4x4 system is superb, coping with the snow and ice without a hitch. Comfort wise, I drove for something like 10 hours to make our train on the way back from the Alps with only 2 x 20 minute breaks, with no one complaining and I WAS able to walk when I got out of the car All in all we are VERY pleased with the car. It has exceeded our expectations in every way. The only thing that niggles at the moment is that the dash-top storage compartment comes open when you breathe on it, so nothing much in the negative. Oh, and they are a bugger to get snow chains for. For info, the Scout is 17mm higher ride-wise than the 4x4. Regards Mark

Say high to Dan for me Mark

Right, been drinking so can't be rrrsd to read all posts. Window replacement company should clean out the door glass. We still have glass in th eseat runners, even after hoovering the damn car out 3 times. Our passenger door was ferked because they used a handful of stones to break the glass and then leant on a wet door covered in glass shards to rummage around. Still, could have been worse..... Regards Mark

Just got back from a week's skiing in the French Alps and have to say the Scout is top dog. My mate's Q7 was having troubles on surfaces the Scout didn't even notice. Not once did I have to resort to the autosocks I went to lots of trouble to get, but maybe I'll need them next year. Flew back across France in a mixture of snow, driving rain and more normal conditions on Saturday, hitting 120 in places but normally keeping to the ton and still managed to average 38+ mpg. The cost for a family of 4 to get from Calais to Valloire worked out at some thing like £100 including fuel and tolls. Was also impressed with the French roads and the fact that A4s and A6s were easy meat when you have some leaway to put your foot down without worrying constantly about speed cameras. SO impressed with our Scout, which at 2500 miles is loosening up nicely and proving itself to be a great buy time and time again. Regards Mark

Not as far as I am aware, although have had TomTom stuck to windscreen of late.... On reflection, taking this as a complement as my car obviously looked more enticing than the monotonous swathe of BMs and Audis dotted around Ha ha ha ha haha ha. Mark

Been looking into alarms and there is one that will hurt LOTS if you set it off and try to get in the car. there is also another one that texts and I need to know where to get a collapsible cosh from Need to put the last 8 months of TKD to test as well. Thanks again for all the sentiment - it seems we all agree on what needs to be done with these scrotes. I think we owe a debt of gratitude to this government for making people think they have a right to something they have not earned. By the way..Merry Xmas and Happy new year to ALL Briskodians. Mark

It IS 4wd, but local bylaws in some ski resorts require you to demonstrate control of the car and if that is not possible without chains then the nice French police CAN make you abandon your car. We spoke with the French tourist board and normally you have to have traction assistance with metal parts (i.e. snow chains) but they have recently relaxed teh guidelines so that if you cannot get chains to fit your car then Autosocks are now acceptable. Mark