Normcall

Now they have twigged that diesels do pollute more than petrol, maybe I'll be able to replace my scout. Everything seems to be diesel with just a few petrol versions available of anything. As I only do 7000 miles a year, petrol has to be the only choice - the 3.6 4x4 suberb looks interesting. Anyone know if we can order a 4x4 petrol scout from abroad?

My 1.8T scout is brilliant towing our van - same question, why not an auto like our subaru? A couple of wekends ago we were in a muddy field ib Southam. The were towing everyone in using tractors etc. They were using 4x4 pickups as well. I declined a tow both in and out and had no problems. The daft thing is was that even 'other' 4*4s were being towed in and I wonder why they have them. Yep, 1.8T, 4x4 plus DSG and there you have my next car!

I'm sure I read somewhere that it needs 'dealer' programing and an adaptor for mine (similar age although a May 09 build)

The law requires that a maximum of 50w for headlights as it was introduced many years before the current lighting sources were thought of.

My petrol scout (1.8 TSI) works well towing the caravan. On a reasonable run achieves about 36mph but with a caravan lucky to get 22mph. Just surprised how low some of the above diesel figures are and I don't hang about. Otherwise just a bog standard Scout and it seems made just before the face lift. Now, if only they made an automatic version..........

I got 3 with my scout

I think you might find that DAB abroad is a different (better) standard to the 'old' standard that we have, so I expect cross boarder manufacturers are holding back. Bit like our DVB-T television. The current standard everywhere else, I believe is DVB-T2 (the HD standard), but because the government made us have channels to watch programmes we missed (forgetting a device called a recorder) or even 7 days later (watch 47), they haven't got the guts to get everyone to change again - yet!!

We used to use the stick on mirrors - easy to fit and adjust with convex nearside.. Tried the strap on ones without much success. Our new van is a little wider than our old one so bought the areo ones. Easy to fit, but still experimenting with getting the rear view just right.

14 to 16ft caravan will be small! Our last two have been just under the 20ft mark and tow weight about 1150 kg. Avoid auto boxes unless very big engines. Engine more than 120ps and torque over 200 - otherwise you will not have a nice driving experience. I use a 140PS 2.0l auto forester and a manual 160PS scout - chalk and cheese, believe me! They both do the job, though!

My scout with 17" wheels had a nice 16" spare. I asked Skoda if this was right and apparently it is (as a temporary measure). Not sure how my caravan will behave, though!

Mine work well - until it rains. My dealer can never find anything wrong as by the time I find the time, it's (they) have dried out.I have a cunning alternate, though. On th near side I have a mirror to look into and a similar one on the drivers side. I can even wind the window down - but then they work when dry and I might get wet when they don't!

Thanks guys, I won't tell her that only two needed changing, but if mine needs just one for any reason.......... Mind you, as it goes to a lot of strange fields maybe it was the right decision anyway.

We needed a new front tyre on our Forester. The dealer justed asked if it was a 4x4, measured the tread depth on all the tyres and said we have to replace them all or the handling will go to pot. Apparently, the tyres were about 3mm and adding just the new one with 8mm wouldn't do the drive train much good. Naturally I believed him as it's my wifes car and she was paying. Is this true? Will a similar thing be necessary on my scout when the time come?

I've looked all over and must have missed the 4*4 petrol DSG model with 1.8 TSI engine. Point me (and SWMBO) in the right direction please. :p

Ali wheels de-laminate and my dealer thinks it's normal I think. Water gets into the rear sensors which also rectify themselves by the time the dealer looks at them. Yesterday my tow bar scraped the drive of a customer as I reversed up from the road (velly hilly in the Chilterns!) and the paint drops off if touched. Normal Skoda things I expect, but I only expect it to start, get me from a to b and back with or without a caravan on the back, so I'm happy(ish). Now if it was an automatic like our Forester, I'd be even happier. Petrol and one of the last pre-facelift made.

Similar problem here. Dealer took photos, sent them off and Skoda want to see the wheels before doing anything. Started out with me buying a new set, dealer sending wheels off and then refunding me for those accepted as 'faulty'. The current idea is for the dealer to have vehicle, send wheels off and when they come back, refit. My current idea is to leave it until as late as possible before the 3 year warranty expires and have another go. It seems if I buy new wheels, the dealer might get stuck with them after being replaced under warranty or I might have 2 or 3 spare wheels for next time. I dunno, my old Subaru never had these problems after 10 years and my Scout :S has only done about 15000 miles in 30 months.

All I want is a auto 1.8 TSI 4*4 to keep SWMBO happy otherwise it's yet another Subaru for her.

Just back from a weekend in sunny Coventry with my Scout and Xplore 452 caravan. Manual petrol 24 mpg. Same journey without van it will do about 39 mpg. We also have a Subaru forester automatic petrol which does about 21 and 32 for similar journey. We don't do enough miles to justify a diesel, but I wouldn't change anyway. You really will love Scout, it's almost as good as my old Subaru turbo L series (aka suicide due to lack of stopping power). The auto can never make up it's mind which gear to use and the manual Scout has cruise control to help keep to 60 mph in 5th gear (6th would be pushing even a Scout). Good luck with you decision.

When they took away the little red book licence, I lost my right to drive steam rollers - not that I had any idea how to drive one, but you never know!!

On the yeti section http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/211086-18tsi-4x4-dsg/ Anyone have any info? My wife might be looking to replace the Forester but insists on a 4*4 auto petrol. Would be worth waiting for.

Remember a six berth motor home is going to be large, you will need somewhere to put it and where you go, it has to. With a caravan, you can leave it behind on a site and toddle off (unless you buy a small car to tow behind it!). We went down the same route 5 years ago and came down on the side of a caravan rather than a motor home. Remember you could buy a smaller caravan and use a awning for some of the six to sleep in.

Sorry to say, my behaves exactly as you would expect. Bar fitted by local specialist, no alterations to car programing. 13 pin connector, charges battery, runs frig etc. when engine revs over about 1000, lights just repeat the car lights. Only thing not done was the reversing sensors detect caravan when reversing, however, useful for hitching. Otherwise brill tow car!

I've a Forester and a Scout. Both with standard tyres. Live at the top of a hill and my drive is about 1 in 6. Never not stuck - yet The secret is much more in driving technique and not bothering to go out if the weather really is that bad unless it's a matter of life or death. Why? Because if you do the other vehicles will stop you before you get stuck as round my way wherever you want to do there is a steep hill up and down. The 'Chelsea Tractor' lot just block the roads as the idea is foot to the floor due to the idea that brute force will always win through. Golly gosh, they do get cross when they find the combination of steep hills and an inch or two of snow needs a different approach

I keep getting asked how I find my scout. It seems that they are almost unobtainable and they need reassurance that the wait is worth it. After the Council decided that maps are flat, so roads don't need salting in winter, I can see the attraction. Pity the Chilterns are so bumpy then 4x4 would not even be considered. Where does your dad live? Mine lives on a hill (naturally) which goes no where, one narrow access to estate, no bus and guess who has to struggle to cart him about in bad weather - to the sound of moaning about what he will do when he can't drive anymore!

Caravan without a motor mover makes life very difficult. We have to have one as the van is parked on our drive - up a slope and turn through a right angle. Perfect for taking van to car for hitching up, easy on the clutch (if only the 1.8 TSI was auto!!) and accurate!