Hi,

I’ve sold my Audi S4 as I need something cheaper to run. I’m currently looking at the Skoda Octavia VRS TDI, 170hp, although I am aware that it’s FWD and lighter than my Audi. Does anyone else tow with the Skoda TDI? I’ve only ever towed with Audi Quattro cars or the company 4x4’s so have no experience towing with a FWD car. Most of the runs will be short as the boat is kept 1 mile from the slipway, but ocassionally we do run it down to Cornwall which is a 400 mile round trip.

The towing limit on the Skoda is 1,400kg, whereas my Audi was 1,800kg, so that might be an issue too. I had the boat and trailer weighed at 1,320kg with almost a full tank of fuel so it will be close to the limit there too.

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Dan

Edited 2 November, 201015 yr by dan yeates

Since you are within the permissible mass/weight I would not worry about towing.

however where you may notice a difference is on the slipway, depending on the gradient/surface/traction available the front wheel drive will spin much more easily ie as opposed to rear wheel or all wheel drive.

I presume the VRS has traction control though?

I have no experience towing with a traction control equipped FWD, though in this respect it may not be able to do much good.

Cheers

M

What about going for the 4x4 version octavia (only available in estate for but in increases the weight to 1600kgs) or maybe a superb with the CR170 and 4x4 (increases weight to 2000kg)?

Thanks for your replies.

I did particularly want the VRS as I really like the look of it. My budget won't stretch to a Superb estate unfortunately as I like them a lot.

Just had a word with my father who has towed boats for years in various cars and he's sure it'll be ok so lets hope he's right. The slipway I use is quite shallow and well maintained so it shouldn't cause us too many problems. I've found the car I like and I'm off to look at it tomorrow. All being well I'll put a deposit down and I'll be posting some photos up at the weekend!

One more question, is there a preferred towbar for the Octavia? I know on my S4, Audi used Westfalia so I had one of those fitted.

Got a Westfalia detachable on my vRS estate and it is excellent. Good quality and easy to fit and remove. The electrics swing up and out of the way and you would never know I had a towbar fitted when the swan neck is removed. Beware as they are expensive to fit mainly due to the wiring. There is a thread in the most recents discussing 'Factory Tow Bar prep' that might be of some use. The dealers tend to decline the work or ship it out to independants who tend to know what they are doing. I think, and don't quote me, you will be looking at the thick end of £400-£600 to fit with single electrics. Mine came with the car when I purchased it 2nd hand so I don't know what the previous owner paid........

Got a Westfalia detachable on my vRS estate and it is excellent. Good quality and easy to fit and remove. The electrics swing up and out of the way and you would never know I had a towbar fitted when the swan neck is removed. Beware as they are expensive to fit mainly due to the wiring. There is a thread in the most recents discussing 'Factory Tow Bar prep' that might be of some use. The dealers tend to decline the work or ship it out to independants who tend to know what they are doing. I think, and don't quote me, you will be looking at the thick end of £400-£600 to fit with single electrics. Mine came with the car when I purchased it 2nd hand so I don't know what the previous owner paid........

Thanks for that. My Westfalia was great on my Audi too.

I don't know if the car I'm looking at has the pre-wire prep, I doubt it. I fitted and wired up the Audi one myself so may end up doing the Skoda one myself too, depends if the dealer (non Skoda) is willing to include chucking in a free towbar or not.

Hi Dan, I don't know if your Audi had parking sensors but I have heard that the genuine skoda towbar electrics had an additional set up to it which disabled the rear sensors when the towbar electrics were connected to a trailer to stop the system beeping all the time when reversing, especially around corners when the gap between trailer and car was at its smallest.

Ian

Thanks for that. My Westfalia was great on my Audi too.

I don't know if the car I'm looking at has the pre-wire prep, I doubt it. I fitted and wired up the Audi one myself so may end up doing the Skoda one myself too, depends if the dealer (non Skoda) is willing to include chucking in a free towbar or not.

Ihave just had a westfalia detachable fitted for 390.00 to my vrs tdi estate, its the dogs balls as you dont even notice that the car is 'towbar ready' when its detached. I will be towing from next month and will also be close to the limit of 1400kgs but not worried. :yes:

Now on my second vRS TDi, have towed with both using a 1300Kg caravan.

Towed for about 10000 miles with the first one, the second one has done 3 trips with the 'van since September.

At no time have I had traction issues. We caravan year round so have seen our fair amount of wet roads.

Now on my second vRS TDi, have towed with both using a 1300Kg caravan.

Towed for about 10000 miles with the first one, the second one has done 3 trips with the 'van since September.

At no time have I had traction issues. We caravan year round so have seen our fair amount of wet roads.

Fullily enough, i came across your profile today on ukcampsite talking about ATC trailer control. Nice setup you have there!

Now on my second vRS TDi, have towed with both using a 1300Kg caravan.

Towed for about 10000 miles with the first one, the second one has done 3 trips with the 'van since September.

At no time have I had traction issues. We caravan year round so have seen our fair amount of wet roads.

Excellent, great news. I'm looking at the car tomorrow so as long as there's nothing wrong with it, then I'll have it for the weekend! Can't wait! I've been driving around in a Proton Jumbuck for the last couple of weeks whilst I've been deciding on what car to go for! It went, A4, Volvo V50, Honda Accord, BMW 3 series, Skoda Octavia....

Fullily enough, i came across your profile today on ukcampsite talking about ATC trailer control. Nice setup you have there!

Cheers Rob ... very pleased with both car and caravan.

We tow a 23foot bailey with a weight of 1350 kg with my 08 plate octy vrs (petrol though) but basicaly the same, i think the weasil is slightly heavier but could be wrong, We have no issues at all when dry but it does want to try and light the tyres if you are a bit eager with the loud pedal in the lower gears. my octy is producing around 260 bhp so power wise its awsome and we return around 25mpg towing. I had the car first then we bought the van so if i had my time again i would probably have gone for the superb estate diesel just for the extra weight, but i like the vrs for the fun factor and my way of looking at it is we tow the van to the site and it stays there for the holiday and we then tow it home. Go for it you wont be dissapointed.

We tow a 23foot bailey with a weight of 1350 kg with my 08 plate octy vrs (petrol though) but basicaly the same, i think the weasil is slightly heavier but could be wrong, We have no issues at all when dry but it does want to try and light the tyres if you are a bit eager with the loud pedal in the lower gears. my octy is producing around 260 bhp so power wise its awsome and we return around 25mpg towing. I had the car first then we bought the van so if i had my time again i would probably have gone for the superb estate diesel just for the extra weight, but i like the vrs for the fun factor and my way of looking at it is we tow the van to the site and it stays there for the holiday and we then tow it home. Go for it you wont be dissapointed.

Thanks. 25mpg on the petrol isn't bad. My S4 was pretty bad! 15mpg on a run with the boat on the back, about 9mpg if I was just running to the local slipway through the town! On a 400 mile round trip on run to Cornwall at 15mpg was costing a lot! Mine was tuned to stage 2, the engine was fine, water and oil temps never went above halfway, but I could feel the gearbox getting hot from the power of the car and weight of the rig.

Bear in mind that the towing weight of a vehicle is for guidance only. It is not a legal constraint, but usually based upon kerb weight of the tow car.

If you're worried about the pulling power of the Octavia diesel, why not have it remapped? the CR 170 can pump out around 200hp, and the torque figure is significantly improved as well.

Have a word with Ben at Shark Performance to see what the actual figures are.

www.sharkperformance.co.uk

Mike

It's a 2006 model, PD engine I'm looking to buy, not the CR. Budet won't stretch to the facelift and I don't want to do finance. May well look at getting the PD remapped though. It was more the grip not the power I'm worried about. My dad has the 140hp version of the engine in his A3 Quattro and it pulls it fine but I have seen the rear wheels kick in when he's pulling it up a slipway.