Folllowing comments both here and on other websites anout the inability of the new octavia to tow a cravan , I got the following from skoda customer services:

Thank you for your e-mail. The towing kit supplied by the factory in the Czech Republic has a 13 pin connection. We are currently working with a UK company to provide a kit that is compatible with the twin 7 pin connection in the UK. We should be able to provide a suitable towing kit shortly.

We are currently evaluating the New Octavia vRS Estate. Please maintain contact with your local Skoda retailer and our web site as the situation develops.

Folllowing comments both here and on other websites anout the inability of the new octavia to tow a cravan ' date=' I got the following from skoda customer services:

Thank you for your e-mail. The towing kit supplied by the factory in the Czech Republic has a 13 pin connection. We are currently working with a UK company to provide a kit that is compatible with the twin 7 pin connection in the UK. We should be able to provide a suitable towing kit shortly.

[b']We are currently evaluating the New Octavia vRS Estate[/b]. Please maintain contact with your local Skoda retailer and our web site as the situation develops.

With the 'old' Octy getting such good reviews for towing I should imagine they don't want to lose customers by having an unsuitable new model (does that make any sense to anyone?)

tbh I'd prefer the 13pin setup, as everyone is going that way anyway...

I agree with the idea of going with the Euro 13pin socket. Problem is the stick in the mud British Caravan clubs dont like it.

Even so, you can still get conversion plug/loom kits to go either way anyway, so wheres the problem with sticking with the 13 pin anyway?

As for the new vRS estate, was told today that it is due Nov this year, in probably 2.0FSI pushing around 230hp.

And a people carrier in 2006.

How does that work with a normal trailer then? If you've got a 13 pin socket do you need an adapter to plug a normal trailer in?

"yes" - Halfords, about

Thanks - I'll check that out. For some reason the towbar on the Octy II is a factory fitted option now, so I suppose I should have realised that it would be a 13 pin. :(

13 pin coversion loom is a y-shape loom, with the 13 pin at one end, with 2 leads running out of it to two 7 pin sockets (N & S ?)

13 pin is male only, the two 7 pins are female.

13 pin coversion loom is a y-shape loom' date=' with the 13 pin at one end, with 2 leads running out of it to two 7 pin sockets (N & S ?)

13 pin is male only, the two 7 pins are female.[/quote']

Thanks for that - I went to get some screenwash today and completely forgot to look. However, I wonder if I can make it the dealer's problem when I collect the car. After all it's not my fault if they use a non-UK standard electrical coupling - what does anyone think?

Why bother, they dont know your not towing a German van do they?

I would go to the nearest decent caravan centre, or failing that buy online such as here..http://www.caravanadditions.co.uk/acatalog/Tow_Ability.html

HTH

Why bother' date=' they dont know your not towing a German van do they?

I would go to the nearest decent caravan centre, or failing that buy online such as here..[url']http://www.caravanadditions.co.uk/acatalog/Tow_Ability.html[/url]

HTH

I know you're right - it just annoys me that I should have to cough up cash because my light bar, trailer and trailer-tent all use standard UK connectors. However I also realise that getting the stealer to attempt to hash up a 7 pin connector for me is dicing with disaster....

When I had the Octy, then the Superb on both occaisions there was the option of either solo 7 pin for towing, double 7pin for caravan towing or 13 pin for Euro configureations.

If I was going through the procedure again I would go 13 pin next time for sure...nothing like future proofing where you can.

I looked into getting the towbar from Skoda for

Self fitted, you are looking at less than

If it costs

I'd tend towards

when you go back to your car and find some d1ckhead has damaged the bumper with careless parking you will regret the day you payed twice the price for a detachable.

I always go for fixed - keeps the scum parkers away

I think I'll go back and see if they can do it as a dealer fit option at a later date (if I need it) for the