pmc

We've owned our 1.9 4x4 since 2005. It's done about 80,000 miles. In that time it's needed a new battery, new front discs and pads, new shocks all round (originals snapped at different times), new tyres. And the dreaded esp module replaced. It smokes on start up but runs fine. The exhaust is still original and paintwork is fine. There's plenty of space in the rear seats and loads of room in the estate version - did they make a saloon? The sixth gear is good for motorway travel. I haven't changed the haldex oil since 40,000 miles and it works fine. Would I buy another one. Yes, but of course they don't make new ones anymore.

My 05 octy 1.9 4x4 has developed two annoying faults. Over the last few months it has become more and more difficult to engage first or reverse gear when not moving. Once the car is rolling the gears change smoothly both up and down the box. In the last fortnight I've noticed that when stopped with the car in first gear and the clutch depressed the car will creep forward very slowly - even if facing up a slight incline. Am I looking at a clutch fault or a gearbox one or even worse both? Any advice would be greatky appreciated. thanks pmc

I don't know about vrs suspension but my local dealer had no problem fitting the springs from a normal octavia to my 4x4 when the rear ones needed replacing - it did look a bit strange but handled o.k. I still insisted that they fitted the proper ones = maybe I should have lowered the front as well! pmc

Thanks for this info (and the previous posters link) - I'll be off to the dealers tomorrow - it will be interesting to see what slant they put on it when I ask them to do the fix! pmc

I have the esp problem on my 1.9 pd 4x4 and was told firstly that the kit would work then that the kit wouldn't fit but there's a guy who's posted on another topic - something like 'how to fit the esp repair kit' on this forum - he reckons he's fitted the kit to his 1.9 4x4. trying to get a definitive answer is almost impossible - especially with many dealers denying any knowledge of either the esp problem itself or the repair kit. I'll be most upset if I find that the repair kit does work as the price of said kit has recently shot up while I've been trying to sort out the suitability of the repair kit. Mind you I'd be even more annoyed if I'd paid the original dealers asking price for a fix - £1500 - only to see a much cheaper fix appear from the manufacturer! pmc

So off I trot to my local independent garage to get my long running ESP problem sorted using the official VAG fixing kit/part. However on trying to order said part the garage has discovered that this part won't work as my car is a 4x4. As it's the Teves part that needs fixing what difference if any does having a 4x4 system make? I will of course contact a skoda dealer tomorrow to find out their version but I was wondering if anyone had any thoughts on this. I've waited ages for a cheaper fix to come along and am feeling a bit deflated. pmc

I bought and fitted my towbar and electrical gubbins about five years ago.Detachable westfalia - top towbar like the one in previous posts. There was a post on this website that described how to remove the trim which was very useful - don't know if it's still available. The parts weren't cheap and buying the electric loom was scorned by some who recommended just cutting into the cars existing wiring - not something I was happy with on a new car. Fitting the towbar was easy but getting the wiring to the fuse box was a nightmare - the whole job took me two full days, much cursing and swearing and some bloodied knuckles. I saved a fair amount of money but wouldn't do it again - I'd pay a professional but only after checking that they were going to do a proper job on the wiring. I'd worry about people quoting low prices when you see how expensive the towbar and wiring loom are by themselves - even a professional is going to take a couple of hours to do a decent job. pmc

My local dealer offered me £5000 for my 05 1.9 4x4 estate with 57,000 miles - either he was having a laugh or your dealer has given you a good offer - he bviously doesn't see high mileage as a big issue so I wouldn't sweat about another 20,000 miles. pmc

I recently bought a vauxhall astra as a replacement for my wifes' Toyota. If Skoda had a warranty period longer than 3 years then we might have bought an Octavia but as a recipient of the ESP problem on my Octy there was no way that I'm spending my money on a Skoda until they offer a competetive warranty. So yes - 5 years warranty probably equals more sales. pmc

3/ Can settings be changed for lights, beeps etc ? Car currently beeps when i get in to tell me to put my seat belt on. Would love to switch that off. You can disable the beep by pulling apart the switch that's under the drivers seat - this makes the car think that you've fastened your seatbelt. pmc

Try searching for towbar fitting - somebody posted full instructions for this including bumper removal - must be at least four years ago! pmc

[Personally I'm more upset at being treated like an idiot by both my local dealer and Skoda U.K. than I am by a part failing on my car. Before my ESP experiences I would have recommended a Skoda to anybody and while I still think that Skodas are well built and as, if not more, reliable than many other makes of car I would find it difficult to hand my hard earned money to any organisation that treated me and apparently so many others so shabbily. pmc

User - Model - Registered month/year - Failure month / year - mileage at failure - skoda's response (goodwill) Scouter2 - Octavia Scout - Registered 04/07 - Fault 08/10 - 52,000 miles - so far 35% goodwill offered (ongoing) darius - Octavia EleganceEstate - Registered 04/1995 (05 plate) - Failure 08 / 2010 - circa 44000 - Nothing (see comments post #3) pmc - octavia 4x4 estate - reg feb 05 - nov2009 - 50,000miles - never heard of the problem, tested positive, dealer said skoda won't give you any goodwill, skoda uk said get dealer to contact them, ongoing.

Sent my story off to Watchdog - now we need as many people as possible to do the same! pmc

If i'd replied to this post before my ESP problem and Skoda's refusal to acknowledge the issue then I would have recommended a Skoda to anyone - now I'm not so sure. Would I buy another one - not until Soda extends it's warranty to something like Toyota, Hyundai, Kia or dare I mention it Vauxhall ! pmc