Well, after a few delays I took delivery of my new company car yesterday. It's an Octy Elegance Estate 2.0 PD TDi. I came from a basic S spec Mazda 6 diesel - which was a great workhorse, but devoid of features.

+ points

Big inside, not stupidly big outside - why can't all manufacturers do this?

Looks good, to me anyway

Drives smoothly, nice controls

Torque in spades, but I haven't really driven it yet

Suspension eats the speed bumps that are breeding around here

Loads of gizmos

- points

Seats aren't great, but I'm unnaturally fussy in that area

Loads of electrical problems on day 1 - firstly key handsets didn't work, then no interior lights, no radio, dash dimmer faulty, mirror adjust was intermittent, dash display not as per manual...but later in the day there was a noise behind the dash and everything lit up and started working to spec

Good service from supplying dealer Ingrams in Ayr who spoke to Central Skoda in Birmingham to book me in at short notice (thinking it was just the handsets at that point). Central Skoda were very pleasant. They reckon that according to the diagnostics one of the systems wasn't initialised properly, but should be fine now. To me it seemed like a loose earth point, but it is a brand new car so I'm prepared to accept the explanation. Let's hope that's the last we see of it. Anyone seen this kind of thing before?

Tomorrow when it's light I'll have to adjust the windscreen washers, which are currently pointing in all different directions.

And finally...isn't a fun game trying to guess when the rain sensor is going to switch the wipers on? I'm sure there is more to that sensitivity switch than meets the eye...

Loads of electrical problems on day 1 - firstly key handsets didn't work, then no interior lights, no radio, dash dimmer faulty, mirror adjust was intermittent, dash display not as per manual...but later in the day there was a noise behind the dash and everything lit up and started working to spec

Central Skoda were very pleasant. They reckon that according to the diagnostics one of the systems wasn't initialised properly,

Hmm. Sounds odd. You'd think with the small amount of business most dealers have at the moment they'd be plenty of time to PDI the cars properly!

Sounds like a bodged PDI to me, good luck with the auto wipers.

The electric seats are more comfortable, there is adjustment for the angle of the seat base, I found the Elegance seating a little uncomfortable but the L&K is much better with this one extra adjustment option. I got used to the Elegance drivers seat over time, I found the right hand seat base bolster pressed too hard into my thigh.

Sounds like a bodged PDI to me

They did say everything worked at PDI, but that would point more to a loose connection. We'll see how it goes.

I found the right hand seat base bolster pressed too hard into my thigh.

That's it exactly. I must confess that it was the L&K that I tried, then selected Elegance for spec vs. cost.

you can adjust the washers in your sleep, so easy to do. washers have a spray pattern and often spray over the roof when they come from the factory,all you have to do is leave the bonnet down and push down on them with your index finger, job done.........

PDI = reverse off the trailer, clean off the stickers and phone you to tell you it's ready.

Hi everyone...

Apologies for reviving a four year old post, but thought you might be interested as my four year company car lease is up.

So how was the car? The simple answer is that it was good enough that I never needed to come back on the forum to ask any silly questions or complain about anything. Sorry! Must try harder etc. etc.

I never had any more gremlins with the electrics... all has worked perfectly since.

The auto wipers ended up on the most sensitive setting and stayed there. They anticipate my thoughts as sometimes I reach for the stalk and they start to wipe just before my hand makes contact.

The seats eventually became quite comfortable after I worked out the rather odd pedal positions meant that I had to have the seat low and well back. Fits like a glove now.

The fuel consumption was never as good as I imagined it would be, but I can say that it started to improve after a few thousand miles and even now at 56,000 miles it seems to be improving still - strange! On a long run it creeps above 50 mpg. Mostly it's around 44 - 46 according to the computer, but whilst I used to do a lot of miles now it's often just 9 miles to work and 9 miles back, with the odd longer journey thrown in.

My previous Mazda 6 ate front tyres for breakfast - it was awful. Maybe 10,000 miles and they were decidedly dodgy. The suspension was supposedly perfectly true (and it handled great) but it always wore them in a wedge shape. The Octy is the complete opposite. The first set of fronts lasted 30,000 miles. The rears were only changed this year, maybe 45,000. No, really. The second set of fronts have loads of life left.

I was warned that this engine (2.0 TDi PD) drinks oil for fun. Lots of my colleagues have had this engine. Not so mine, I top up typically once between services (which on flexible are on average 18,000 miles or 14 months). Amazing, frankly.

The engine has been great. Maybe too much torque for the winter, the ASR doesn't seem to be wonderful either (and during my career in ABS for trucks I side tracked into developing ASR at one point).

The car has been a workhorse, the estate is huge and Skoda really know what they are doing when it comes to places to put things. One oddity that I never worked out is why does the load bay not have a light?! Bizarre.

I've driven my Octy all over Europe for work and holidays. Longest trip was to Florence (didn't quite make Rome, unlike my previous two cars). On a different occasion London to Lyon via the Chunnel on a really hot summer day was an easy cruise.

So what am I replacing it with? An Octy Elegance Estate, of course. I've decided to try the 1.4 TSi petrol for a bit of a change. I was really impressed with a 1.2 TSi Roomster that I have driven from time to time, so hopefully I won't regret it. I worked out that the lower tax cost would offset the higher fuel bill.

I've ordered ESP, bluetooth, multi-function steering wheel, maxidot and spare wheel (in case I go back to Italy on holiday). Only problem is that the car was ordered well in advance (end of August) and was due to arrive 8th October, but keeps being pushed back. Latest prediction is 20th December. Reason given is factory delays. So, maybe here by Christmas, maybe not. In the meantime I'm having a few last blasts with all that torque. Shame it's gone icy.

Thanks for reading and wish me luck with the new Octy.

I hope your new one is as good as the 'old' one.

I've had my PD140 for three years (almost) and not had one fault with it (I am second owner and it had 84k on the clock when I had it, now on 120k) in that time.

Based upon this car and my wife's '03 plate Fabia being in excellent health (now that I've changed the head gasket and cylinder head), I would be looking for another Skoda when I ever have to replace mine.

But I hope to see 200,000 (at least) in mine before I consider changing it.

I love the 1.4 TSI so far, and I don't know about your car but I certaonly have lights in the boot. Two of them, one on each D-pillar.

I've been told to change the oil more frequently than the service indicator though. Probably going to have them change it to 15,000km instead of 30,000km on the first service.

I love the 1.4 TSI so far, and I don't know about your car but I certaonly have lights in the boot. Two of them, one on each D-pillar.

Hmm. Maybe it depends on country? It looks like there are places on the D pillars where they might go as an option. Hopefully the new one will have them.

Hmm. Maybe it depends on country? It looks like there are places on the D pillars where they might go as an option. Hopefully the new one will have them.

That is curious. My 2006 Estate (L&K) has lights in the boot, but I don't imagine they are just fitted to L&K's .....hell, even my Fabia Elegance estate has a light in the boot......maybe they somehow didn't get fitted in the factory?

Hi everyone...

Apologies for reviving a four year old post, but thought you might be interested as my four year company car lease is up.

So how was the car? The simple answer is that it was good enough that I never needed to come back on the forum to ask any silly questions or complain about anything. Sorry! Must try harder etc. etc.

I never had any more gremlins with the electrics... all has worked perfectly since.

The auto wipers ended up on the most sensitive setting and stayed there. They anticipate my thoughts as sometimes I reach for the stalk and they start to wipe just before my hand makes contact.

The seats eventually became quite comfortable after I worked out the rather odd pedal positions meant that I had to have the seat low and well back. Fits like a glove now.

The fuel consumption was never as good as I imagined it would be, but I can say that it started to improve after a few thousand miles and even now at 56,000 miles it seems to be improving still - strange! On a long run it creeps above 50 mpg. Mostly it's around 44 - 46 according to the computer, but whilst I used to do a lot of miles now it's often just 9 miles to work and 9 miles back, with the odd longer journey thrown in.

My previous Mazda 6 ate front tyres for breakfast - it was awful. Maybe 10,000 miles and they were decidedly dodgy. The suspension was supposedly perfectly true (and it handled great) but it always wore them in a wedge shape. The Octy is the complete opposite. The first set of fronts lasted 30,000 miles. The rears were only changed this year, maybe 45,000. No, really. The second set of fronts have loads of life left.

I was warned that this engine (2.0 TDi PD) drinks oil for fun. Lots of my colleagues have had this engine. Not so mine, I top up typically once between services (which on flexible are on average 18,000 miles or 14 months). Amazing, frankly.

The engine has been great. Maybe too much torque for the winter, the ASR doesn't seem to be wonderful either (and during my career in ABS for trucks I side tracked into developing ASR at one point).

The car has been a workhorse, the estate is huge and Skoda really know what they are doing when it comes to places to put things. One oddity that I never worked out is why does the load bay not have a light?! Bizarre.

I've driven my Octy all over Europe for work and holidays. Longest trip was to Florence (didn't quite make Rome, unlike my previous two cars). On a different occasion London to Lyon via the Chunnel on a really hot summer day was an easy cruise.

So what am I replacing it with? An Octy Elegance Estate, of course. I've decided to try the 1.4 TSi petrol for a bit of a change. I was really impressed with a 1.2 TSi Roomster that I have driven from time to time, so hopefully I won't regret it. I worked out that the lower tax cost would offset the higher fuel bill.

I've ordered ESP, bluetooth, multi-function steering wheel, maxidot and spare wheel (in case I go back to Italy on holiday). Only problem is that the car was ordered well in advance (end of August) and was due to arrive 8th October, but keeps being pushed back. Latest prediction is 20th December. Reason given is factory delays. So, maybe here by Christmas, maybe not. In the meantime I'm having a few last blasts with all that torque. Shame it's gone icy.

Thanks for reading and wish me luck with the new Octy.

What great feedback! be intersting to hear what you think of the 1.4TSI after the PD 140 and if you prefer the PD torque over the top end of the TSI, the smoothness and quiter TSI compared to the PD deisel experience so please let us know. Out of interest did you try the CR engine as my 170 drives completely different to any other deisel i've driven including the wife's 1.9 PD

cheers

Ade

Out of interest did you try the CR engine as my 170 drives completely different to any other deisel i've driven including the wife's 1.9 PD

No experience in a Skoda, but a colleague has the same CR engine as you (I think) in an Audi A6 and it seems very smooth and quiet, and I think already more fuel efficient than mine is.

Will be back when the TSi arrives... new car, new post!