Took the octy in today for the big 80K variable service today, minus the cambelt change as its already been done. The service cost me just over £300, that was including all the filters, brake fluid change as it was due and some other smaller twiddly bits.

Only one thing to sort, as they couldnt fix it today due to not having the part and thats a front CV boot has a small split in it. Not bad really considering the age and mileage I have put on the car.

The CV boot I'll sort when I get back from holiday, only hope it lasts for the 4K mile round trip starting next friday.

Courtesy car was a Mk1 octy 1.9TDi elegance, 54 reg with 160K on the clock.

sounds reasonable, but crap courtesy car !!..I assume it wasn't a skoda dealer?

Skoda independent. They used to be a dealer, but threw in the towel when SUK demanded changes that would of put them out of business. The staff etc, and the tools used are still the same as when they were a dealer.

I wouldn't call the courtesy car crap - I'm pretty sure garages don't have to supply them at all. Mostly you end up with a half dead Corsa or Fiesta which are great fun to drive if you keep them on the red line, but still barely accelerate. At least the Octavia will have similar carrying capacity and space to the one it replaces. Any noticeable wear on the courtesy car after 160k?

The side of the seat bolsters had worn through to the sponge underneath, apart from that it was fine to drive and reminded me of a slow verstion of my mk1 vRS I had before.