numskull

You’re questioning the build quality? You should hear my mates 2018 A6! Re. your car, it could be the well-known fuel pipe rattling. Do a search; there are a number of threads about it. Here’s one for starters…

Wow! She looks fantastic Michal! 👍🏻

That’s what and where I filled it before hitting the Cairnryan ferry to Belfast. I went to the Esso garage after I’d been to Morrison’s, as I thought Esso would have it. Went back to Morrison’s as their 95 was 5ppl less than Esso.

Yes, it’s in the same place on the 280. Says 98 (95). The Esso garage on the A75 just outside Stranraer didn’t sell it, just 95 and the Morrison’s in the town didn’t have any of their Super 97 (I think it was) either. Couldn’t find it anywhere in Northern Ireland and none in the South so stayed on 95. I’ve now got a few bottles of Redex octane booster which shoves 60L upto 97, which I’ll keep in the boot when we go there again.

Skoda recommends all petrol engines run on 98 but like all the other petrol engines in the VW stable, the 280 will run without a problem on 95. I know it as fact, as I’ve had to use a couple of tankfuls in Scotland and Ireland where 98/99 isn’t available and it ran fine. It’ll also run fine on E10.

I haven’t used the stuff in the 280 and will stick with Super 99. Nevertheless, it seems to be working fine in SWMBO 2003 Ford Focus 2.0, but it’s definitely affected the already abysmal 23 MPG but, it does only cover 3.5 miles per day!

Left side (from the boot) on our 2016 never drops either. Right side flies down.

Having never driven a DSG prior to the 280, I totally agree with you. I’d had many slushbox geared vehicles in the past and even with pretty powerful vehicles (Scorpio Cosworth, Peugeot 604ti, Alfa 166 3.0) I found the lack of torque that was sapped and the inconsistency of gearchanges was awful and the DSG was a revaluation; no loss of torque, consistency of gear and the smooth changes were wonderful. And I understand DSG’s are getting faster too, almost upto sequential speed.

It's a five door family car. Both versions are faster than a 289 AC Cobra to 60 as tested by Road & Track and Motor Trend. Thats all you need to know.

Never noticed it happens on ours, but then again, I’ve not kept my foot on the brake nor have I looked down at it when ACC is braking.

I agree with you; I removed the wording on the hatch - looks so much better IMO - and the tacky plastic L&K script on the front wings.

I booked the 280 in for a “while you wait” oil service at this dealer and was told by the Service Receptionist to make sure I got there first so they’d get straight onto it. I was first there at 07.30. I’d notice that a number of cars had driven down the side of the building. Anyway, I went straight in @08.00 when they opened the doors-only to find they’d let other customers in from the back, so I was now forth in line! I booked it in and she said she’d call me about 16.00 to let me know what time it “should” be ready. I said hold on, this is a “while you wait” service to which she answered “Can’t be - we don’t do that. Who told you that you could wait?” “That would be you!” says I. So that was that, I left saying - loudly - “Well done…. Because you’re a liar, you’ll never, ever be getting my money!”

Same as our P7’s at 32k. Still have 6mm on the front (they were on the back) and 5mm on the rear. And yep, there’s cracking on the tread edges too.

I’ve always used Skoda main dealers for our MKI Octavia and our MKI, II and, upto a couple of months ago, our MKIII. Never again. Their customer service is rubbish, the work shoddy and slow, chargeable courtesy cars (if you can get one) and they’re ridiculously expensive. It’ll now be going to our local VAG independent, who’s customer service is fantastic, the work is excellent and quick, have free courtesy cars and they’re a 1/3rd cheaper than a main dealer.

With or without a reversing camera?

What car do you have? I must admit that I have a reversing cam and they’ve made a massive improvement over the original bulbs.

The water enters in the back of the sensor. You might be able to hear a faint clicking sound on the failed sensor when reverse is engaged. You can get replacements very cheaply these days (unlike in the noughties when they were £100 EACH!!).

So its a slightly sad day today. We've sold our Superb Elegance TD140 this morning, after 15 years of enjoyable ownership and it's moved from the south of England to the North West and, fortunately, its now in the custody of a very nice young fellow Briskodian, who I'm sure will continue to look after her as I have. It was difficult to justify keeping her, especially as my heath has forced me to stop working for a few months, so what with £250 RFL, insurance of circa £140pa and the MOT of course (she needed new tyres which I bought a couple of months ago - the originals were not going to get through another MOT!) but more importantly, as she covered less than 200 miles in the last three years, it was time she was bound for a new home. It's been some time since I was engaged in the MKI forum, but I hope that her new owner will keep us up-to-date with the projects he's planning to undertake. So to all MKI owners, its au revoir and keep enjoying them. I'll still be on the MKIII forum, even as the 280 takes a break along with me!

Change the gearbox oil ASAP too; it’s knackered on age if nothing else. I had it changed at 50 and 100k. Gearbox is still lovely and slippery and dead silent.

If it’s never had the plenum chamber fix, it’s a 100% fact; it will leak and given the issues you now have, it already has at some point and it sounds like the convenience unit is already damaged. You also need to remove the two rubber drain bungs in the chamber too. Your method of trying to stop debris blocking it will not work, because it’s the smaller debris which initially blocks them. Your mesh installation will will make the problem worse. I spent over £1,200 pounds having the convenience unit and complete wiring loom replaced about 10 years ago, including the section to the parking sensors, which they also fully resealed. I checked the loom and unit today and it’s still as new.

Is there any movement at all on the chrome door lock indicator pin, when you hit the lock/unlock switch on the door? If so, keep locking/unlocking it; it might take a couple of hundred attempts but it should free up. I had this exact issue with our 2006 Elegance after she’d sat for 6 months or so. Worth a try..

You have a faulty parking sensor, normally caused by water ingress.

Have you actually asked your insurer? That's what I'd do.

Thanks JR..

Interesting. I’m looking for those. Which ones did you get?