dibbley

Hi, I had a 56 plate VRS TDI, obviously not a CR engine, I now have a 2.2 Titanium X Mondeo, I personally owned both cars. The Mondeo is quieter, there is no doubt about that, the Mondeo feels slower, but that may be because the Octavia lets you know (through noise) what's going on, the Mondeo is thirstier (41.4 MPG, mainly motorway), The Mondeo does not inspire the same confidence when cornering fast over changing road surfaces M60-M62 Eccles interchange for example, the off slip road from the M4 to Swansea is another. The servicing costs for the Skoda were in my opinion high, considerably higher than the quotes I have had from Ford. The rear tyres on the Octavia became very noisy due to tracking errors. Overall the Skoda did well over 93,000 miles, the DPF had a sensor problem when I first got it, but never again. The major difference I have found is the number of gizmo's in the Ford compared to the Skoda. The hands free is super in the Ford. I would have another Octavia tomorrow, in fact anyone willing to make an offer on a 59 2.2 Titanium X Mondeo??? Whilst the Mondeo is a good practical/comfortable car for getting from A to B, the Skoda is more fun. I am not sure how the Octavia would manage against the Ford in a 50-90 drag in top, the 2.2 engine has an enormous amount of torque. So probably not very well. The Skoda looks nicer to!

Take it for a reasonable test drive, the tyre noise from the rear can be horrendous, I sold my 56 plate with 92,000 on the clock for £5k, if its got new tyres it should be ok, but beware after about 12k it will probably get noisy. Otherwise its a good car, I only changed mine out of necessity. Cheers Andy

After 3 1/2 years of trouble free motoring I have finally sold my vRS TDI, it had over 90,000 miles on the clock and had started running lumpy on occasion, it probably just needed another new fuel filter, the window lifters still worked ok, but the glass didn't go down on one window, I had one early problem with the DPF and that was quickly rectified and its been fine since, but then I do travel on motorways mainly. I have bought a Ford Mondeo 2.2 Titanium X and its been a revelation, I have only had Skoda's since opting out of the company car scheme and have been impressed overall, but and its a big but, the ride quality and quietness of the Ford is so much better than the Octavia and the gizmo's you get on the Ford seem limitless compared to my old vRS, I know the Superb is the car I should perhaps be comparing to the Ford, but the cost to change and overall running costs were to high for me. I swapped for £9 less a month and £250 cash. I have to state that looking back, the ride in the vRS was harsh, whereas I seem to remember the ride in my MK 1 being somewhat better, but that could just be memories fading as I get old! The other thing is, the vRS is becoming common as muck in the company car park, there were seven parked up when I visited our Aston offices! And to think they all used to laugh at my choice, how things have changed. So it's off the the Form forums now, Cheers Dwain

Super, looks like I will have to get a rivet tool and sort out the Windows myself, or perhaps get my friendly Skoda dealer to do it!. Cheers Andy

Hi, I have had a problem for a while with my nearside rear window, the mechanism moves, but the glass stays still, unless you slide it down with your hand, this is now happening on the front nearside also, its probably my fault for trying to open them when they were iced up, the question is how do I get the glass to stick in the mechanism? Cheers Dwain

But they would be listed on the invoices, and as its on variable servicing I don't have a lot of these to trawl through. Andy

I did get 46K and 55K out of a front set on my Superb 2.5TDI and Superb 1.9TDI respectively, both manual transmission, its just a bit annoying that the rears need replacing! But Hey Ho, its off to Parkside I go (£55.00+VAT). Andy

Firstly, Thanks for sorting out my major spelling mistake!!! And I have just been back through all of my service records for the car, and no the pads have not been changed, as you probably can tell from the mileage I do a lot of motorway mileage, I also ride a bike, you may well think what the hell has that got to do with it, but I have been taught to read the road and slow using engine breaking where possible, when on the motorway I don't brake just because the car in front does, I just take my foot off the pedal and let the car slow naturally, it does seem to annoy the tailgater's, but that just adds to the fun of the boring state of the roads. I do occasionally drive it like it should be driven, but with the number of camera's out there and the fact that Derbyshire now seems to be a blanket 50MPH zone its not easy. I suppose the dealer may have changed them and not charged me for them, its my personal car so I get to see, and pay all of the bills! Just called the dealers and Richard (Parkside) has confirmed that I am still on the first set, is that a record? Andy

Hi, I have a 56 plate vRS TDI with 84,000 miles on the clock, its still on the first set of brake pads, and they look like they have about 9mm left, but at the last service I was told the rear brake pads will need to be replaced in about 3 months, is this normal? Why do the rear pads wear out faster than the front? And no I don't drive with the hand brake on!! Andy

Funny that, my 56 plate vRS TDI did exactly the same the other day, I wondered if it was due to the fact it was freezing. Thanks for the answer. Andy

Hi, Is it me or are dealers taking the proverbial, I have found a Superb 140 Auto with 7000 miles on the clock for £19675.00, now if I add VAT to that price at 15% it costs £22626.00. The list price on that car is only £23480, so for a car that's a year old I would be saving £853.00, well sort of. My point is whilst the car may 'only' be £19675 to buy today the initial tax hit taken by the original owner has not been taken into account, the dealers are certainly quick enough to point out the VAT aspect of the purchase when you want a P/X price. So the dealer offers a low P/X price because of the VAT element, then totally disregards it when they put it on the forecourt. Or am I just being stupid? Andy

Hi, I took my vRS in to get the wheels balanced as it was rumbling a bit, when it came to the rear wheels the wear was shocking, the outside of the tyre was fine (2mm) the inside was the same apart from a patch about 6 inches square which was bald, now I do check the wear regulaly, but I do it by running my finger across the tread and obvioulsy missed the bald bit, I bet the copper wouldn't if I was stopped! So what causes such abnormal wear, the fitter said that the tyres were out of shape, I drive for business reasons and don't do daft things in it, admitidly its a high millage car, but I have never had tyte wear like that before...No heavy loads either, normally one up, and I check the tyre pressures regulaly, the tyres were Michelin Pilot II's. So its the bike tomorrow, lets hope for Sun. Dwain

That unfortunately is a dealer visit. Dwain

Well I got the first vRS TDI delivered in the country, its a 56 plate (3rd Sept 2006) with 71,000 miles on the clock, its got a few stone chips due to lots of motorway journeys and if I could get £8k for it I would be exstatic, its got a full service history, 18" wheels, Jumbo box etc. So 12K for 36,000 seems reasonable. Dwain

Hi, No not yet, it will be done at the next service. Regards Dwain