NabLane

My first experience of Simpsons was back in 2008 when I leased my first Skoda. Then they had a small dealership, keen prices, service standard similar to independent garages with only the essential service items undertaken. In summary, a very personal service and good attention to detail. Fast forward to my second Skoda in 2011... Second major service at 2 years and they tried to book me in for - An air con service at £35 - Brake fluid change at £35 that according to the service manual are not required until the vehicle is at least 3 years old.. These were never quoted on the service for my 2008 vehicle. They also wanted to charge £60.00 to load a DVD into the Columbus to update the SatNav. The trick of adding non-essential items to each service is an old main dealer trick to enhance profit. Thus, the service advantage that I thought I was always getting over the owners of other marques by purchasing a Skoda has now been banished. The most recent service experience at 3 years left me feeling like just another number... Thus, there is no advantage of choosing a Skoda over any other brand as I can see. I have now managed to lease an Audi estate for the price of a Superb estate. I will be using Ian Collins Automotive of Preston to give me courteous and polite service at £170.00 for the first major service. http://www.vwaudispecialistpreston.co.uk/ Thanks, Simpsons.

I'm in the same situation. My work commute is 7 miles return trip, but my job involves longer trips every few weeks and I average 15k p.a. I've got the 170 CR TDi variant and haven't had the DPF light on once since I bought it new last August. Currently at 10,500 miles on odometer. Fill up at Texaco every time (standard diesel though) as some report the quality of fuel can have an effect (Honest John for one).

Dear All, Having got the 'auto lock' to work when driving off, I was frustrated at not being able to unlock all the doors using the drivers door unlock button with the enginer running. I thought this may have been a design 'feature', but then what if the car was LHD? On a LHD model, the drivers door pushbutton is on the RHD variant passenger door. So, sat in the car with all doors locked, I reached across to the passenger door unlock pushbutton and... hey presto all the doors unlocked. It seems as if they haven't reprogrammed the two front door lock switches to RHD configration. Does anyone know a way of re-programming this or would it be a dealer fix. I would really like to get this problem fixed. Cheers, Mark.

Got these on my Octy 08 1.9TDi: Avon Ice Touring 195/65 R15 91T rated. In summer I run around on Michelin 205 55 R16 W-rated Primacy's that are dangerous in the winter months. I changed over to winter tyres again last weekend. Done three winters in these including the Alpinestrass road in southern Germany. I'd like to see an insurance company penalise you for fitting winter tyres. I'm sure there will be a precedent set soon where a collision involving two-cars (one with winter tyres fitted against one with summer tyres) should assume blame to the one with summer tyres where it is 50:50. If you look in the handbook at recommended tyre sizes, you'll find that the 195's are also fitted to the Octy. Indeed the sticker inside the fuel filler cap says so on mine. Also note that you need to fit different wheel bolts for the steel wheels. They have a rounded edge as opposed to a flat one as used on the alloys.

I bought some second-hand steel wheels off one of the other members here. I run a 1.9TDi estate on standard 16" wheels and Bridgestone Potenza's that are uttlery useless on even light snow. I got 195x65x15 wheels (offset 32) and shod them with Avon "Ice Touring" rubber. In deep snow on a car park, I had to try really hard to get any wheel-spin at all - and I really did want to just for some fun! What I'm trying to say is that there was sooo much more traction available. When you inspect the tyres, they're full of tiny "sipes" that move around when you press them and remain flexible even in the -10 deg C we had one day. There's also a patented, serrated "snow groove" in the tyre as well. In one day, we drove the Alpinestrass from south-east to south-west Germany (max, elev. 1200mt in thick snow) and another headed up 1800m to a ski resort. It would have been very scary to say the least driving in summer rubber across some ski slope runs that intersect the road on the way up. I paid £250 quid for four, fully fitted through Mytyres, delivered from Germany to Blackburn in three days - they've a massive selection of winter rubber. Although mine is a company car, I bought and paid for them myself as you can't put a price on your safety. Don't hesitate - buy them and stay safe.

OK, thanks for replying though. I asked for some 15" wheels to suit my car through the local dealer. The spares department said it wasn't possible as the hub depth (I assume they meant offset) of the 15" wheel was different to the 16" ones. He would therefore only quote me for the 16" steels. They are £50 a piece and I still can't use my 15" winter tyres from my last car. Surely it must be possible to run 15" wheels as the lower-spec Octavia II's have them. Unbelievable the dealer isn't convinced of this.

chavrarlk, Can I just ask what the code is on the 15" steel wheels you have? I need to get the exact type and offset for my car - there seem to be so many different offsets. I'm happy ordering 6J 5 x 112 R15's but even the dealer seems unsure of the right offset. Many thanks.

Thanks chavdarlk and bertj, I'm now on the hunt for some 15" steels. bertj, I did experience a difference in handling (not as 'taut' and lighter steering) with the Vectra from 16" to 15" but did get used to it after a couple of days. Also found i tended to take it easier with the 15" on for the same reason and that improves roadholding in winter many times over! chavdarlk, have you de-rated the speed of your winter tyres to something like a T rating? They seem to be much much cheaper (£35 a throw here) than the higher speed ratings. Cheers, Mark.

Hi, I'm looking to swap the 16" alloys on my '08 1.9 TDi Elegance to steel rims for a trip to the Alps this winter. So I want to go from 205 x 55 x 16 to 195 x 65 x 15. This is something I've done on my previous car (a Vectra - sorry - shouldn't swear) and I want to re-use the 15" tyres from the Veccy as there's plenty of tread left. I've been in touch with the Skoda dealer who says 15" wheels won't fit due to the different profile of the wheel. 15" wheels are £35 inc VAT, but 16" ones are £50 inc. VAT. This adds up to a whopping £320 for tyres and £200 for wheels. if I have to go the 16" way. Surely this can't be the case (there must be loads of Octavia Classic's running around on 15" wheels) or do they fit different brake discs to the Elegance models? Is the dealer just misinformed? Ideally I'd like to source a second-hand set of steels, but I'm unsure as to which wheel profiles are used across the VW/AUDI/SKODA ranges. I think it's 6J 5 x 112 R15 but I don't want to make an expensive mistake if buying second-hand.