JB-)

Had this on my last Octavia. It was the panel on the end of the dash. All I did was pop it off and spray silicone around it and it stopped the noise.

Agree with this. Plasma is the way to go, and Panasonic are brilliant.

Beat me to it. Yes track days are also good. You learn a lot about how to go quick, and how to stop too, but in a safer environment.

Yes they teach you the basics, then it's down to you to get experience. A good thing to do is BikeSafe with the police. It's not expensive and they give you useful advice. FUBAR reminded me of one other important piece of advice. Assume everyone else on the road is going to try to kill you. Assume every car will pull out on you, lots do. Always be looking for your escape route in case it happens.

They are easy to crash if you don't have experience and try to be the next Rossi. It's too easy to get yourself in trouble very quickly, and if you get it wrong on a bike it's not as easy to sort it out. Too many people go out and get litre sports bikes as a first bike, which is just too much. A 600 is more than enough for a first bike, and even for experienced riders. They are still insanely fast. I think a big problem people have is when it all goes wrong and they realise they've gone in to a bend too quick, they just panic. People get target fixation and just start staring at the scene of the accident. Do that, and it's where you'll go. The advice I always give to new riders, is learn on a mid size bike, ride to your own limits, learn at your own pace, DON'T try to keep up with your mates or anyone else. There is ALWAYS someone faster than you. Don't try to be a hero.

Both part of the same group so will be interesting to see what they say.

Bikeless for a few years now but had a few. ZZR600 E2 ZX-6R J1 GSK-R750 K4 ZZR1400 A1 GSX-R750 K6 Loved them all but the ZZR1400 was awesome, absolutely loved it. Bought it brand new, did Germany and the Nurburgring, but then smashed it up at Donington, 7 months old. What a knob

It does sometimes seem to depend on the person who answers the phone. I recently changed from a '06 Octavia vRS to a 10 plate one. Basically the same car, just newer. Phoned Direct Line about insurance, the bloke told me it would be another £27 including a £15.90 admin fee. Told him I'd ring back once I'd sorted the car out. Phoned back an hour later and got a woman. Swapped the reg over to the new one, no charge, not even an admin fee. Go figure.

Don't know about multi car specifically, but Admiral are cheap in general. However there is reason, they don't like paying out. I won't go near them.

In EBC's own words: Just make sure which ever pads you choose are regulation 90 approved or you may run in to legal problems if you ever have an accident. That's if you're concerned about that of course.

Any will be fine in that case. They have to be within 15 % performance of OE anyway so any will work perfectly satisfactorily. Personally I'd go with the cheapest branded ones I could find e.g Ferrodo, Mintex etc.

Does anyone know whether the latest small Disklok will fit the latest Octavia steering wheel? I've got a small Disklok that's about 5 years old (still a silver one) and it fits on but it clamps the wheel so would wear it over time. Seems to be the depth of the airbag rather than wheel diameter, but diameter is all Disklok quote when assessing required size. The latest medium size does fit on, but the diameter is too big really.

Does anyone know whether the latest small Disklok will fit the latest Octavia steering wheel? I've got a small Disklok that's about 5 years old (still a silver one) and it fits on but it clamps the wheel so would wear it over time. Seems to be the depth of the airbag rather than wheel diameter, but diameter is all Disklok quote when assessing required size. The latest medium size does fit on, but the diameter is too big really.

According to this the vRS will be launched mid year at Goodwood and have 250hp http://www.evo.co.uk/carreviews/evocarreviews/287671/2013_skoda_octavia_18_tsi_review.html

Hi mate. It will be going to Bowes Motors in Rotherham who are brilliant. The only worry is if any warranty jobs come up, then I'm stuck with the question of which dealer to use Skoda.

Has anyone had experience of claiming on a warrantywise policy? Once my car is out of warranty I want to extend it, but most of these companies are worse than useless. warrantywise get the odd bad review like any company, but they do seem to get a lot of good ones. If they deliver on their promise the cover sounds pretty good. I like the fact you can use a garage of your choice. I'm much happier using my usual independent who I trust implicitly rather than one who's part of an approved network, or worse the useless Skoda dealers who I wouldn't trust with my mountain bike.

It's the VW oil brand in the UK, actually made by Castrol.

OK I've searched for this and unless I've missed it, the part numbers don't seem to have been posted before. Dealers can have trouble identifying the numbers for the complete items. 1Z0601011A - wheel with 205/55/16 tyre 1Z0071108A - tool kit with fixings

I've previously been to Hayselden Doncaster to enquire about extended warranties and got a price from them of £299 for a year. They didn't have a booklet with the terms in to give me, so I called in at Bickerton today to get a price and booklet from them. They didn't have a booklet either, and their price is £379, plus forty odd quid labour to do a '52 point inspection' on the car first. I asked whether this inspection is chargeable even if I took out the warranty, to be bluntly told "yes". So they are £120+ more expensive. This is my first experience with them, and may well be my last. Having read the reviews on here of all the dealers anywhere near to me, I don't know where the hell to take my car if it needs any work doing. They all sound crap, and Bickerton seem to be expensive, and crap.

Skoda Nottingham have got a Blackline in. They tried to flog it to me last week but I'm not interested in diesels, and the inside looks nice but personally I wasn't keen on the white with black wheels.

My last car passed its MOT about 3 months ago with the airbag light on without even a mention of it, but I'm sure the rules have changed now. It has to come on and then go out light it's supposed to. It was the under-seat connector causing my light to come on.

These tyres are fantastic. Very grippy wet or dry, good feedback, wear well enough, quiet etc. I can't really fault them. I had the original F1 assy on my BMW, and the 2's were first choice for my last vRS. Once my current car needs tyres it will be getting these no question. The Contisports it has on now seem to wheel spin really easily when setting off.

After owning a 2006 Octavia vRS for the last 16 months I've just traded up to a ten plate one, and at times this site has been a big help, providing lots of info. I thought it was time I signed up and said hello. Erm, hello