Beerbelly

A little trick to allow you to use a trolley jack on the flange edge is to buy an ice hockey puck and cut a slit in the surface. The pucks are made from very tough plastic / rubbery stuff and they usually fit nicely in the dish of the trolley jack cup, they are quite cheap on e-bay

I had a Fabia tsi 105hp on loan for a while, it averaged 56mpg on a three day break around Norfolk, just pootling around. My brand new Polo with the same engine is returning 48mpg so far in everyday commuting use. It's a great little engine.

I just bought four 185/60/15 Dunlop Winter Response tyres from Camskill, they worked out at approx £56 each, good value. They will replace the 215/45/16 that came on the new Polo until the weather improves next year. I'd already managed to buy a set of VW 15" steel rims to fit them to so I'm good to go with the VW.

I've just bought four new Dunlop SP Winter Response tyres 185/60/15 88T online from Camskill at £55 a corner. Seems like a good deal.

Well, I finally lost patience and cancelled the order after being told the car had been put back yet again (Ordered in early March, I'd be lucky to see it by Christmas). To be fair the dealer has been great, as for the manufacturer however that's an entirely different story. Sorry Skoda, you've just lost another customer due to your ridiculous build scheduling, it's a shame because it's great product. Meanwhile, I'm expecting to take delivery of a nice new VW Polo 1.2tsi next week, there is a real quality feel to the Polo but admittedly you don't seem to get as much for your money as the Fabia. So long guys, best of luck for those sticking it out!

I've had a Fabia 1.2tsi 105 on loan for a few weeks and think it's fantastic. During a recent holiday to Norfolk it averaged 56mpg on the trip. The low rev torque is really impressive from such a small unit. Anyone buying one will not be disappointed.

I did a motorcycle advanced course with the IAM last year, it's not made any difference at all to my insurance.

So, who's holding the current record for delivery delay? I'll throw my hand in, ordered a VRS on 7th March, now on build week 42, unconfirmed.

If they have breached the terms of the contract then you are entitled to a full refund. Was there a firm delivery date shown on your order form? Have a look at the small print on the rear of the order form, I think it should say that if they haven't delivered by 30 days after the expected due date then you get your money back, simple as..

A little movement on my VRS, just been told week 39 now (from 41), still unconfirmed though. Originally ordered 7th March. Utterly fed up.

I've just brimmed the 1.2tsi (manual box)I have on loan at the moment, 383 miles for 35.06 litres of fuel, which works out at 49.6 mpg! Slightly better than the trip computer saying 47.8mpg. I have a 20 mile commute, mixture of A, B roads and motorway. Not too bad me thinks.

My gut feeling was that it shouldn't make a difference, I would think the main reason for correct ET is to preserve the clearance between wheel arch and strut? Anyway, I got a good deal on the rims, £45 for four,better than the £57 apiece that Skoda wanted. I got them from Gilders Seat in Sheffield, they replace the steel wheels on their new basic models with alloys to make them more saleable. If anyone else is interested they may well have some more, I know they've got a set of 15" off a Leon, but I think the PCD is 112 on these?

I managed to pick up some new 15" 6J steel wheels in readiness for some nice winter tyres later this year. These came off a Seat, with an off set of ET38. The standard VRS spare wheel has an off set of ET43. Does the extra 5mm protrusion on the steelie have any effect at all in terms of handling? I know that arch clearance won't be an issue as I'll be dropping the winter tyre size to 185/60. Just curious to know as the ET38 wheels seem to be easier to get hold of.

Just to add my two penneth, I've just been provided with an almost new 1.2tsi elegance loan car as my VRS build is delayed. I have to say I am really impressed with this engine, nippy, smooth, quiet, and so far averaging over 48mpg, far superior to the 3 cylinder 1.2 I've had for several weeks beforehand. Previously I bought a new diesel VRS and ran it for three years which was really good,(I appreciate it's a totally different engine to the CR), but I think for everyday driving I actually prefer the tsi.

I ordered a VRS hatch in early March, the latest build estimate was week 41. If it gets put back in a similar way to yours I'll be telling them where they stick the order!

As for the fuel consumption I've had a year old example of this very model on loan for a couple of months now, on my 20 mile daily commute, a mixture of A & B roads and motorway I can easily get an average of over 49mpg on the readout. By checking it against the odometer from an empty to fully brimmed tank it works out at just under 48mpg in reality. It seems to make quite a difference keeping to about 65mph on the motorway as opposed to going over 70. I think it drives quite nicely, although I agree the engine is gutless.

Just been told my VRS has been pushed back yet another week to 41. Ordered on 7th March. The cynical could think that Skoda is doing this deliberately to keep you dangling on a thread, in the hope that you are less likely to cancel.

I've had exactly the same problem twice in two months on a 1 year old 1.2 HTP on loan from the dealer until my car is built. After ten minutes it seems to reset itself.

This is just barking, I ordered a blue VRS on 7th March, initially told 10 to 12 weeks for delivery, but ever since I've had repeated extensions to this, it's now at build week 40. I won't be buying another Skoda after this saga.

I'm getting sick of this carry on, ordered a VRS on 7th March, initially told 10-12 week delivery, that was then put back to week 24 build, that was then put back to week 34 build date, now that's been put back again to an unconfirmed week 36, basically this means I won't be getting delivery until October. Not happy - watch this space!

It's all a bit weird this build week thing, I ordered my VRS on 7th March, originally told build week twenty but this has now been put back to late August, and no I haven't ordered satnav. What the heck are they playing at, the experience is really putting me off the Skoda brand as a future purchase.

I think some people have been lucky as there seems to have been a few unallocated cars trickling through, no doubt some will match the specification ordered by a few customers. I ordered mine on 7th March and have lately been given a revised build date towards the end of August. I could have had a car sooner but it wouldn't be the exact spec I wanted. I've now been provided with a free loan car so I can't complain, may as well put the miles on this and look forward to my new car on a new plate at the previously agreed price.

Ordered my VRS on 7th March, expecting it at the end of May. Just had a call from the dealer to say my build date is now around 24th August! I will be cancelling I'm afraid.

Fabia VRS in race blue with underseat store boxes Ordered 7/3/11 Estimate 10-12 weeks No build date. Rang Skoda 8/4/11, told build week 24 (mid June). Not impressed, may discuss cancellation with dealer as I need a car now. This approach is not conducive to good customer relations.

If you've got the brochure just take the on the road price and knock the VAT figure off this. Should be around £13500 for a basic car?