D-Cunningham

I am buying a new Fabia 105 TSI SE in Pacific Blue which should be on its way to the UK very soon. I was persuaded by the dealer to add Williams Ceramic Coat to the order for an extra £249. Is this a sensible use of my money or have I been taken in by the "cutting edge formulation developed by NASA" on the glossy leaflet? I would appreciate the views of others who have been offered this product, with its 5 year guarantee, or better still anyone who has had it applied and who can comment on whether they think it is any good.

A word of support for Youngs Garage - My car has had the "engine management" light come on twice in the last fortnight, on separate occasions, causing the usual mystery to me as a non-mechanic. More unnerving, while I have been on the motorway in top gear on the third lane trying to get past someone, the car has gone into "limp" mode, persuading me to get out of the third lane while I wondered calmly to myself what on earth was happening to my engine power. So I went down to Youngs late Saturday morning expecting to catch them just before shutdown time and not knowing what to expect when I arrived. If I was about to pack up for the weekend after a long week's work, I wouldn't welcome some unexpected visitor with a electronic problem on his aging Octavia. The welcome was top drawer. They got the laptop out straight away, plugged it in and diagnosed the problem. They removed the offending icon from the instrument cluster, reassured me that the car was OK to drive in the meantime, and put it in for a proper examination next Wednesday morning. I can use their little runabout while I get mine fixed. I'm impressed. I'll report on the outcome after Wednesday.

That is exactly what happened. Thank you for explaining it so succinctly. I'm now off to follow the link that you kindly sent me.

I'm in shock. My 53 Octy 130 Elegance has been great, racking up 117000 miles with nothing but regular servicing and replacing usual bits. Then out of the blue it would not start. The AA man tried to find the fault and couldn't. Local independent garage tried and failed. Then it was down to the main dealer for more specialist help. They charged £410 to fit a new battery and tell me what was wrong - the ABC ECU was beyond repair and would cost £840 to buy and the rest of the £1200 to fit. They did make it roadworthy but, of course, the ABS icon is permanently on, as is the brake icon. The trade-in value is probably worth not much more than the cost of the total bill - around £1600. I do have 8 months left on the MOT, so I have time to think about what to do next. Question: can this ABS ECU replacement work be done significantly cheaper, to allow me to hold on to what is otherwise a very nice car? Or should I trade it in at a main dealer, who would probably knock off an unknown amount from the true trade-in price before sending my car off unsentimentally to the auction?

I’ll update you about Beadles soon. I have used them to buy parts and found them to be fine. I then bought an Octavia from them last year and found the experience to be relatively painless. It was an 11 reg nearly new car but quickly developed a rattle around the passenger side front pillar. I reported it, they took it in quickly and gave me a courtesy car with only 15 miles on the clock to take me home while they fixed it. It has been fine and rattle-free since then. I have an older Octavia, Mark 1, 53 reg, which has 117,000 on the clock, has been fully serviced since new and ultra reliable, until now. Two weeks ago I parked at the supermarket and it failed to start when I returned. My local independent has had it in for repair but can’t fix the electronics, so they are taking it on a transporter to Beadles to be looked at tomorrow. More in due course.

Thank you to both of you for just the advice that I was looking for. Maybe my back seat passengers in particular will be leaving the car in future without such a pained look on their faces.

Some of you may be in a similar position to me - thinking about some suspension improvements on a high-ish mileage car. My 130 diesel estate is a lovely car but at these miles I think it deserves some TLC on its suspension. Has anyone any advice on what to replace/improve to make it firmer/more solid, without spending silly money or turning it into a racer. I just think that the car needs to feel a bit more 'planted' on the road. Any advice would be eagerly received and warmly welcomed.

Thank you for those reassuring comments. I'm pleased to know that my Octavia doesn't have the oil pump problem. It is in very good condition despite its 96000 miles and I would like whoever gets it after me to enjoy it as much as I have done. The main reason for the change is that I have the chance to buy a nearly new car at a price that I found to be surprisingly attractive. This is my fourth Skoda, and two of my three previous buys had at least 80000 on the clock when I bought them. It was the high mileage that brought them into my budget. One of them, the Mark 1 Superb 2.5 V6, was a brilliant cruiser which I kept until its had 150000 on the clock and it still was not using any oil! I'm now looking forward for the first time in many years to a longer stretch of one car ownership, because the CR engine seems to be quieter and at least as fuel efficient as the PD. So maybe I'll just set about adding another 90000 to the very modest 6000 miles that it has on the clock. Thank you again for your helpful comments.

I have just signed the papers at my local dealer for a March 2011 registered Octavia 2.0 CR Elegance hatchback with 6000 on the clock. Nothing special about that, except that they knocked £1000 off their asking price without me even asking, and gave me top trade-in for my 2007 Octavia 2.0 PD L&K with a hefty 96000 on the clock. This brought the nearly new car into my budget and has given me a car with the latest diesel technology that I can keep for a while and not worry about big bills. While doing my research on tinternet, I had read with growing alarm the tales of people with the 2 litre PD engine having to spend literally thousands of pounds when their oil pump went and took the engine with it. One post was quoting several thousands to fix their car when, for me with 96000 miles clocked up, I would have had little choice but to scrap it. So in trying to keep as much value as possible in my current car (by selling it before I get big bills to pay)I have taken the plunge, and it will cost me £9300 to change cars. Others may not think that is a massive bargain, but even at Drivethedeal prices a brand new identical Elegance would have cost me at least £16500, minus the value of my current car (top trade-in price - £4750). The morale of the tale - dealers are having a tough time and there are bargains to be had. Good luck to anyone searching for a bargain, but if my experience is any guide, you shouldn't need much luck!

I've also noticed this blank space on drivethedeal. But you can still see Skoda offers on other discount sites such as Car Quake and autofinders. So I'm still confused about why drivethedeal aren't posting Skoda prices on its site.

My mate has a 105bhp TSI Fabia with nearly 8000 on the clock and loves it. No problems to report.

I don't think you'll be disappointed. I've had a Race Blue 06 vRS since Christmas, same kind of mileage as yours. I don't drive it like a racing car but when I need to move quickly it's a breeze in the vRS. It's reassuring to drive a comfortable car that can do the business when called upon yet still get 35mpg when driven sensibly to and from work. I hope you like yours as much as I like mine.

I picked up my Mk 2 2006 petrol vRS just before Christmas, trading in my trusty diesel Superb. The difference is not as much as you might expect. I drove steadily in the Superb because its a lazy person's car with relaxed movement between the gears and easy pulling from a strong engine. I'm pleased that, if I choose to, I can drive the vRS nearly as sedately as the Superb. The difference is that when I need to I can drive the vRS as if I were an eager 18 year old again. I'm a youthful 58. In the vRS I'm enjoying the choice of chilled out driving or pinned back in your seat driving. It's a nice choice to have!

I fully agree about dealer back-up. It was too late for me to deal directly with my mate anyway, since he'd done his part-ex after I'd finished working at the same organisation. I knew nothing about it. What a shock when I saw his old car for sale last Friday. Caffyns, the local dealer, have always been very good in any dealings I've had with them - very good. So I'm delighted to be getting my mate's car at what I consider to be a decent overall deal. I'll get 12 months Skoda cover on the vRS, both parties to the deal are happy, I'll tell other people that Caffyns are a good and reputable outfit and will continue to use them myself. I'd say everybody's happy. I hope I haven't spoken too soon!

How about Race Blue. Does that sound more like it?

You're right. £7500 was the cost to change. I'll clarify the exact colour and try to show some pictures after I collect it this Friday.

Let me lift the lid on the Octavia vRS deal to give you a chance to judge its worth. The vRS can be described as follows: March 06, Metallic Storm Blue, 35000 miles, one very careful owner, special order leather seats, cruise control, 4 electric windows, parking sensors front and back, excellent condition. My Superb is: October 03, Metallic Silver, 147000 miles, three owners, standard spec, very good condition, faulty parking sensors, recent cambelt and front brakes, four good tyres. Cost to me of buying the Octavia vRS - £7500. I welcome your comments. As to the lunch and the beverages, here we go. We visited what I believe is called Rocky’s Café in the Ellingham Industrial Centre not far from roundabout to the designer outlet. We both had the “Super Breakfast” for a fiver – two rashers of bacon, two sausages, two eggs on fried bread, half a tin of plum tomatoes, half a tin of beans, a quarter of mushrooms, two doorsteps of bread and butter. All swilled down with half a bottle of screen wash. Yummy. I needn’t eat another thing till I pick up the vRS next Friday and head back to Rocky’s for Super Breakfast 2.

It's not quite as simple as that but I do see why you're concerned about the dealer bit. I used to work with Neil and now stay in touch mainly by email. He only told me about getting a new car in an email after he'd picked it up and I knew nothing about what had happened to his old car. So I really did get a shock when I saw his old car on my shopping trip for screen wash. The price I got from the dealer was generous in my view and Neil's car was priced well considering it has lots of extras and has been looked after with extreme care and not abused. So I do respect your point but, without revealing the details of my deal, Neil got a sweet deal (VAT-free and shed loads of extras on his new car) and I got a treasured used vRS for a fair price. I'm chuffed to bits about it!

Sorry, I've made a mistake here! See my proper reply below.

Yesterday I visited Caffyns Skoda in Ashford to get some screen wash before meeting my mate Neil for lunch. As I walked in I thought I saw a familiar car parked outside. At the service desk I asked John whether that was Neil’s car for sale outside. He said it was and casually suggested that I buy it. I have a 53 Superb Comfort with 147000 miles on the clock. I agreed that Neil had kept his 06 vRS in metallic blue in great condition and, although I had come to spend a fiver on screen wash, I might just talk to the sales manager about a possible deal. Cut to the chase, he was willing to give me a fair price for my car and I agreed a deal there and then. Part way through doing the paperwork, I got a call on my mobile from my mate Neil asking where I was. I could hardly say that I was in the middle of buying his car, so just said I’d see him in 10 minutes. We then met, sat down for lunch and I watched as his jaw gradually fell open until at the end of my tale he laughed like a drain – probably to relieve his nerves and get rid of the shock. He’s delighted that his pride and joy has gone to a good home. I’m delighted to have a lovely car that I will cherish. I'll collect it next Friday. I just hope you like this unlikely story but it goes to show that fact really can be stranger than fiction.

Quick update. Got all cambelt-related jobs done last week while back home in Workington - Reedlands Auto Centre. Also got new front disks and pads. Total bill £592. I don't think that's too bad and the guys were really friendly and helpful.

I bought my 2.5 diesel two and a half years ago when it had done 90k miles and had just had a cambelt change. Since then I've done another 55k miles and I just love the fact that this is the best lazy boy's car around. It has so much low down torque that I can almost choose which gear to put the car in. My partner has an Octavia Mk1 estate with the 130bhp engine and 6-speed box. It is SO different. I have to drive that one, choosing my gears carefully and always being at least one gear lower in that than I would be in my 2.5 V6 Superb. I am not a boy racer. I am an idle driver who wants the car to help me get around. My bigger engine just encourages me to use low revs, save more dosh on my fuel bills and enjoy driving. I'd have my car over my partner's any day. As for the cost of managing the cambelt, I'll tell you more about which is better when I've had my cambelt et al replaced at the end of the month. I'm hoping to still have change from £400 for the cambelt and the other bits, plus water pump with metal impeller. I'll give you an update in early November.

My Superb has 145k on the clock and has just passed its MOT again.

Have you looked at the prices on Carquake? Here's the link - New Skoda Cars New Skoda Car Dealers UK New Skoda Car Models on CarQuake They look to be good prices and they send you straight to the cheapest main dealer.