dashingeata

Good advice Terakris. I got that USB at a bargain price of about £13 for a 32Gb drive. Well pleased, and I'm going to get a USB cable from the dealership for nowt too. Job sorted.

Hmmm! I didn't know about this and took it for granted that the auto locking occured as standard factory set up. I'll check this out in the morning and if it's not been done do I request a VCDS change at the dealership. Is that the correct terminology? Also, what's 1 touch unlock? Mine unlocks the drivers door only on one click and all doors on two clicks. Does this mean something else coz I don't see the advantage of opening all doors on just 1 click. Thanks fellah's....still learning about these things :think:

Hi fellah's quick fire question. Tyre pressure on the Monte is on the inside of the Petrol Cover cap. Normal Load for front is 2.0 and rear 2.1. That's 29 PSI and 30 PSI respectively. Thats fine! What worries me is that for Heavy Load its 2.4 front and 3.0 rear. That's a massive 43 PSI for the rear tyre. Has anyone here pumped that much in to their tyres yet? Seems very excessive. Cheers Lads .

Okay, first off – does anybody want to swap a MDI to iPod/Phone cable for a MDI to Micro USB cable. It is Brand New, packaged and unsealed. I have a Samsung Galaxy. Anyway – just got my Monte Carlo 105 Vsi in Candy White and Black (3 days ago). Obviously I haven’t had enough drive time to fully assess it, but I am happy to give readers here my initial review, (useful for potential buyers wanting feedback from owners). My views are, of course, subjective and I have been driving a Seat Ibiza FR 1.9 Tdi with a 130bhp, for the last 10 years. My gear changing and driving expectations have still to adapt to a new car, with less torque, grunt, a gear less and a much smaller engine. Styling & Build Quality: I love the way it looks, that’s why we want/own one, right? I chose the Candy White and Black and it really does look very classy. I have the new badging on mine, so out goes the green Skoda logo and in with the new ‘meaner’ Chrome and Black one. It has blacked out windows, black alloys, black metallic contrasts on the white…awesome. The build quality is fine with me, so far. No squeaks or groans when in motion, the plastics are a little sharp and thin in places but overall the look and feel of them is as good as any in this price range. The only downer I would give on this so far is that the door handles look and feel that they could snap off in your hand with a strong tug. That aside, I’m more than pleased with everything else. Bear this in mind with comparable cars in the £13k price range. Performance: As I say, I’ve been driving a 1.9 Turbo with loads of torque so my driving is still adapting to what is a totally different car. I find myself forgetting that I need to drive uphill in lower gears than I am used to and also will probably need to change gears a lot more. In my Seat I used to be off and away in 3rd gear and could do a cold start from 2nd too. The Skoda has Sports styling but should not be bought as a sports car with sports performance. I knew this when I bought it and am not disappointed by it…I just need to get used to it. Saying that, it’s easy to forget that there is just a 1.2 engine in there. I haven’t had it on the motorway yet but I can feel that there’s some power there that is just waiting to be tapped in to. I have driven 1.0 to 1.4 engines before and this car doesn’t feel like them at all. That will be the VSI aspect of the Skoda and really does make this engine something very special indeed. I live in a very hilly part of the country and although I’m not buzzing up and down them, like I used to in my turbo diesel, this car still feels very capable bearing in mind the engine size. I imagine that there are bigger powered engine cars that don’t drive as well as this Skoda. I am well pleased by it and it has exceeded my expectations of what a 1.2 car can do, (bearing in mind that it can’t whizz up and down hills or accelerate like my 1.9 Tdi). Some forum members have complained about its noisy engine. Crikey, when it is ticking over I can barely tell it is on! I find mine to be whisper quiet and when driving I just hear enough feedback to prompt me for gear changing. In fact, I’ve stalled it a few times as I’m so used to a noisy diesel! I test drove the 85PS and that is even quieter. When I turned the key in the ignition I couldn’t hear the engine at all and thought I’d done something wrong. Again, I’m getting used to it and retraining my ears LOL. Comfort & Handling: The steering, clutch, gear changes and braking all feel responsive and I don’t have any worries about them at all. I feel safe in this car and it is a pleasure to drive. Some forum members have complained of a hard ride but if you buy a car with stiffened suspension and low profile tyres then it is going to be a harder ride. You are substituting comfort for manoeuvrability so it depends what you are after. I’m used to a very hard ride indeed from my former car and compared to that my new Skoda feels twice as soft. I have no problems with it, just remember not to off road it and you’ll be fine. I find the seats to be very comfortable and for Lumbar support is comparable with my Seat FR. They look very sporty, not too hard, not too soft…perfect for me. I got the heated seats option and if you spoil yourself on a couple of extras then this must be on your list. I’ve used them already….love this option. Some forum members have complained that the seating position is too high up, even when adjusted at its lowest position. All I can say is that I didn’t find this to be problem, in fact if anything it’s a positive bonus. The position in my former car was quite low down and I welcome a more lofty position. It gives me better visibility of the road all around and as a sufferer of a bad back it is easier to get in and out of the car. Other stuff: On the Monte the headlights, I have read here, to be too dim or yellowish. Again, all I can do is compare it with my former cars and say that the Skoda has brighter lights and also a better light pattern. I have activated the DRL’s and sod it to anyone who doesn’t know what they are. It’s not my fault they can’t buy a Monte ? Anyway, I have bought some LED’s but have not had them fitted yet. I didn’t opt for the Climate control. I’ve had it before and almost never used it. Manual Air Con is perfect for all my needs. The heater is very hot and very quick and won’t take long too heat your car in Winter or demist it. TCS and ESR don’t come as standard so these will cost you as an extra, as do curtain airbags. If it’s a choice between having the Sat Nav or the Airbags and TCS then I advise the buyer not to compromise on safety as these may save your life, or passenger’s life, one day. There’s a light in the glove box and in the boot, small things but all useful stuff my other car didn’t have. The Radio/CD player is easy to use, and looks very good too. There is an Aux input in the centre console, behind the handbrake, so you can plug in your Mp3 device, or I pod, or android phone with a phono plug and hit the play button to listen on your car speakers. There’s an MDI interface so that you can operate and navigate your phone, player, etc via the Radio/Cd player with the ‘Media’ button. If this works with my Samsung Galaxy this will be a bonus feature for me. No more having to clutter my glove box with umpteen CD cases. Time will tell, I need an MDI to micro USB cable. The dealer supplied a cable but it was for the i phone/pod. As I say, this is all subjective and I have only had it for 3 days. I just couldn’t wait to post something, on an initial basis, as I’m well chuffed with my Skoda. Early days but no regrets that this is the car for me. Would recommend \m/

White is easier to touch up, so I believe, coz the basecoat is also white....doesn't show scratches and chips as much.

Seboni, are these http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/251117358334?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649 what you use to replace the factory fit DRL's then? Ta

Useful post this. My Monte is on order, ETA 8 -12 week. I was wanting to activate the DRL's as it makes me more noticable and therefore lends to safety on the road. I once read an interesting statistic, somewhere, that reported that people who drove with lights on during the day where involved in less accidents. However, on reading how negative other road ass***** are about Skoda drivers who have their DRL's on, now I'm not to sure. To activate or not to activate...that is the question?

My Monte will be another 8-12 week but the misting of lights sounds all to common. It's common across the whole VAG I think. My Seat has had this all it's life (9 years) on main headlights and fogs and they even replaced them as a 'courtesy' when I first bought it. Nothing can be done I'm afraid, it's part of the package. It drove me mad for years as it spoils the cosmetic value but after a while I just gave in.

Yep, gone for a brand new one plumber. ETA from the Czech Republic is about 2 - 3 months. Looking forward to cruising about in it on a nice Summers Day around the Countryside, picnic in the boot and perhaps a pint of Real Ale in a pub off the beaten track.

Just ordered mine mine, deposit down. Will be interested to see your review mate. What did you have before?

Thanks fellahs, and gals, for your postings and advice. FAB 59 I take your point and never again will I believe or trust What Car reviews, in fact that's why I've looked and created an account on here. Pretty much ALL makes and models have their fair share of problems and it's not related to how much they cost either! I have to take the plunge and trust the Skoda brand, it's as good as any other. My other option was the new Ford Fiesta 100PS Ecoboost engine but I needed the boot space coz I'm a musician and lug stuff about in the boot, (google Hadian Gates + Reverbnation and have a listen, like me on FB LOL). So then, went to dealership today and saw the red, saw the white, hated the red (photoshopped like buggery in the brochure isn't anything like it!) and put my name on the dotted line for the MC 105 White. Decided to do what the plumber did and go for finance to get the 3 yrs service (intend to pay off in 9 months) and pay the extra to get the 5 yr warranty (2 xtra years then!). I also got the Gap insurance for £299. My missus wasn't pleased about the latter but look.....last year I witnessed a horrifying crash just 2 cars away from me, it could have been me. It's always a calculated gamble when we drive and not always our fault. On a new car like this I thought, with my bad luck, I'd get it. My Seat hasn't aged well and I know it shares the same family as Skoda but not completely. I've driven Vauxhall (hate 'em), Ford (main rival for me, like 'em but overpriced), Peugot (don't like 'em), and the rest in the same price range Kia, Chrysler, etc who can look and drive like the Monte Carlo. Too late now anyway ha ha.

arny....great idea. Think I'll do that.

Anyone been stung with high servicing costs and so called 'common' faults with this model? I say this as, despite my research, I was still caught out by the award winning What Car Seat FR, as it developed condensing headlights, window washers hosing that kept popping out of place, heavy wear on front brake discs, plus heavy costs on the timing belt change (£400 +!!) and a raft of other crap like early corrosion and wishbone repairs. I'm sold on the Monte Carlo so far but this seems like the best place to come than just general googling about the place for scaps of information here and there. That's what caught me out with my Seat, despite it being so highly rated. Perhaps in Madrid, where they make 'em, it don't rain and the roads are better that ours in the UK.

Votes coming in seem to edge for the Monte Carlo so far...3/3.

Hiya fellah's - newbie here and would really appreciate some buying advice. I'm going looking at a dealership on Friday 21 Dec 2012. Current car is Seat Ibiza FR 1.9TDi. It has 130bhp and firm sports suspension. It's a diesel. It's not aged well and is now 9 years old. Service and maintenance and repairs have costed me a fortune and it's now time to give it a Vikings funeral. Plus side- It has a fantastic engine and loads of torque. Ideal for where I live in a very hilly part of the world. Very stylish. Minus side - very firm suspension (ouch!). Not suited really to English roads and driving conditions. Crap headlights (they are dim and condense like crazy) and bits and pieces have corroded, fallen off, snapped, broken and just generally needed too much doing to it too early. New car of choice, after much research is either the SE+ (105) or Monte Carlo (105). Both have the same engine and really the main difference is that the Monte Carlo is really an expensive 'Sports' Pack. That and the difference in suspension. I'm used to a hard ride as the FR is as hard as nails too. I've read about the poor headlights in these Skoda's and again I've had that with the FR. What I don't want to do is swap like for like. I could save about £3k on getting a SE+ than a Monte Carlo but I don't want it lolloping all over the place....and the styling on the Monte Carlo is eye candy isn't it. Decisions, decisions, what would you do? Existing Monte Carlo owners....do you wish you'd gone for softer suspension in the SE+. Thanks muchly for yer advice. HG