l think he likes it

Thanks for the info.

A good write up.

I have just read your review of the new Octavia in the December 14th

edition of Autocar. I took delivery of Mk2 Octavia 1.9TDI Elegance on

1 September, these are my comments.

I previously owned an Octivia 1.9 SLX TDI for four and a half years

and was very happy with it. When it was due for replacement I test

drove the Mk2 Octavia and was very impressed.

The Mk2 performs far better than the Mk1; it is far more comfortable

and has a much improved audio system. The road holding is so good that

the car feels as though it is on rails. Another good point is that the

handbrake lever is to the right of the central tunnel, as opposed to

the left for both the Golf MkV and the latest Audi A3. AS you have

said the build quality is first class, the thunk as the doors shut is

very reassuring. In all respects bar one it is a vast improvement.

The let down is the Climatronic system. Either I have a faulty system

or it has a major design defect. Your review's comments on its

sophistication indicate the former though so far my dealer and Skoda

have not been able to fix things. In my Mk1 I could just set the

Climatronic to Auto and forget it, I occasionally had to adjust the

temperature when outside conditions changed. The Mk2 system is by

comparison a total nightmare. I have two options, cold feet and a

comfortable car interior or warm feet and a stuffy car. It is not

possible to run in windscreen de mist setting for more than a few

minutes as the blast of hot air that is forced to the windscreen also

blasts at the drivers head. This is both uncomfortable and

potentially dangerous.

In addition to the heating problems I had to return the car for the

airbag recall and also had to have the offside wiper arm and blade

replaced as the original arm was so badly bent that the car was

dangerous to drive in moderate to heavy rain as it was not possible to

see through the driver

Thanks for the info. Informative, as are the replies so far. Am I being heretical to suggest ye take a look at the link here for the new Passat?!!

http://www.motornet.ie/content/templates/template_news.asp?articleid=5423&zoneid=100

Thanks for the info. Informative' date=' as are the replies so far. Am I being heretical to suggest ye take a look at the link here for the new Passat?!!

[url']http://www.motornet.ie/content/templates/template_news.asp?articleid=5423&zoneid=100[/url]

there is something l REALLY dont like about the shape/size fo the read doors, cant pin it down, but it looks totally out of proportion with rest of car :thumbdwn:

There's an interesting article on the new Octavia Estate in the Motoring section of the Daily Telegraph today. Yup, they like it

Went back for a second look, Bryan. It's definitely disproportionate, now that you point it out!

Fredw's summary on his Octy2 is disconcerting for sure. I'm booked in for a 1.4 (yes, 1.4!!) in January, ambiente. So now, I'm a little worried. When you pay for a new car you naturally hope not to have to visit back to the main dealer for a fair ol' while

dont do the 1.4 in ambiente, only classic.

dont do the 1.4 in ambiente, only classic.

That'll have me phoning them at the dealers. I'm fairly sure I drove an ambiente 1.4 though. Could be wrong, of course.

When you say don't do, is that advice or fact!! If you know what I mean?!!

In the UK in anycase it is fact. The Classic comes with 1.4, 1.6 (none FSI) or 1.9TDi. The Ambiente is available with either 1.6 and either TDi while the Elegance has 1.6FSI, 2.0 FSI and either TDi. That is according to my brochure. Even Octy 1 was only available in Classic trim with the 1.4 engine.

In the UK in anycase it is fact. The Classic comes with 1.4, 1.6 (none FSI) or 1.9TDi. The Ambiente is available with either 1.6 and either TDi while the Elegance has 1.6FSI, 2.0 FSI and either TDi. That is according to my brochure. Even Octy 1 was only available in Classic trim with the 1.4 engine.

Us Irish cheepies went for the 1.4 ambiente. It's written on the skoda.ie site, and just to be sure, i emailed my dealer. I think I'm ok though. The only alloys in Ireland thro' main dealers are shown too.

http://www.skoda-auto.com/irl/model/newoctavia/

Pitty about that. Makes it difficult for us N.Irish to buy cars in the free state. My first car, a Mk3 Ford Escort was bought originally in Dublin. What a bloody job I had as when a wheel bearing went, I discovered that the bearing in my Irish Ford Escort was a completely different size to that fitted to the equivalent UK spec car. I assume it was to do with the terrible roads in the south.

Pitty about that. Makes it difficult for us N.Irish to buy cars in the free state. My first car, a Mk3 Ford Escort was bought originally in Dublin. What a bloody job I had as when a wheel bearing went, I discovered that the bearing in my Irish Ford Escort was a completely different size to that fitted to the equivalent UK spec car. I assume it was to do with the terrible roads in the south.

Hey!!!! The roads here are fine... it's only the potholes are the trouble!!