I love my Skoda - it's my second Octavia, and I've been a huge advocate for the brand since my first test drive. Several friends and family member now drive Skodas as a direct result of my experience - but that works both ways, and I'm wavering...

When it works, this is a fine machine - fast, frugal, comfortable enough, fun to drive, huge smug factor (particularly versus Vauxhalls and anything French) - it ticks all the boxes I need, anyway. But it just has too many niggles:

1. The eternal "ugh" moment when accelerating after extended periods of constant speed. Dealer scanned until purple, no fault found.

2. The Columbus SatNav has lost all satellites - again. Aerial connections tweaked, unit prodded, dealer now liaising with Skoda since many Columbus/RNS510 units seem to be dodgy (they've taken to keeping them in stock because they're changing so many - and now they're on back order because everyone's doing the same). At the price of the Columbus, you'd expect it to be more reliable and more up-to-date than my 'phone, not less on both counts...

3. ESP fault appearing as if by magic this week (on an 09 plate, it's too young to be the Teves Mk60 - I think). Just waiting for that to not be diagnosed since the fault cleared immediately (could be battery, could be anything).

4. Alarm going off randomly. Okay, in my old car that was because my wife had imported a mouse alongside a load of garden rubbish, but I'm pretty certain that I'm rodent-free at the moment...!

5. Total failure to start on a couple of occasions. Guess what? No fault found. Maybe I should park it on a slope.

6. Really lumpy idling and blue smoke on a couple of occasions, worse than my chainsaw. NFF.

7. Driver's door dropping so it sounds like an Arctic winter every time you go over about 40mph.

So, it's nothing serious, just irritating inconveniences. I don't know whether all modern hi-tech cars are the same (like many here, I cut my teeth on engines you could take out, strip, rebuild and still be home in time for tea); I don't know if it's modern dealers with their over-reliance on fault codes instead of the old-fashioned "change something and see if it goes away" approach.

I really wanted to buy this one off the lease company and keep it until at least the Octy III came out... now I'm really undecided.

Go on, I need a pep talk, guys, before I do something rash.

But remember this could of all happened and you might have lived in Redditch too.

What about taking it to another dealer for rectifying. May I suggest Savilles of Kidderminster. Their service dept is first class.

Good luck.

I was in the same boat for a while with mine. Unfortunately it was my own money I spent. It's fine now but I won't be touching another with a barge pole.

This is the second VAG in a row and the list of expensive problems is a farce.

But remember this could of all happened and you might have lived in Redditch too.

Or Bromsgrove...seriously it seems some of the 2 or 3 year old VRS' have these sort of niggles. I know I have only had mine a couple of months but I am really happy with the build quality so much so I would consider buying the Mrs one (mines a company car). I think I would get rid if I had those issues...and get a newer one! Good Luck

But remember this could of all happened and you might have lived in Redditch too.

Comedy!

I grew up in Redditch, dad still lives there, going back tomorrow for the day, must be mad. Who's from Redditch then?

OP my wifes's 57 plate mk5 Gold has had problems, my bro's 10 plate and very expensive Clubman Cooper S has had problems, my nearly new at the time Mondeo mk3 had a few issues, my father in law had 3 DMFs in his Vectra. My Octavia isn't perfect but it's worth the niggles.

I was in the same boat for a while with mine. Unfortunately it was my own money I spent. It's fine now but I won't be touching another with a barge pole.

This is the second VAG in a row and the list of expensive problems is a farce.

I've had6 VAG models in the last 10 years, the only faults I've had are a coilpack on my Audi A4 2.0Tfsi and my previous Audi A4 continually blew the offside brakelight bulb.

My last Beemer cost me 5k last year in repairs, this was my first and last foray into the BMW scene.

Admittedly, I too have a couple of niggles with my Skoda, condensation caused by a badly designed boot seal, road noise at the rear axle sounds worse than any car I've ever had and the factory suspension setup looks like it's been an afterthought with the huge gap between the tyre and the wheel arch.

Still love the Skoda as it' no financial brainer compared to other brands with similar performance and comfort specs.

On my Leon in had an air con compressor, MAF sensors, leaks and a gearbox go pop.

The octavia has had a DPF, air con compressor, an aux belt fall off, exhaust temp sensor, two new shocks all in six months. On a 2 year old car that's a bloody farce. If the car hadn't been covered by warranty there wouldn't be a saving in buying a Skoda. I bought this car with 38k km, and the last repair was at 74k km. Currently on about 90k and hoping for the best.

Had my (petrol) VRS for exactly 3 years - the majority of that running at BHP it had no business to run at. Aside from problems caused directly by me due to the tweaking it was hands down the best car I've ever owned, closely followed by the 1.8t Cupra I had before it, which was also mapped.

The Honda I drive now feels cheap and nasty compared to the VAG cars I've owned over the years.

I know the feeling and currently this is my first VAG car and will be my last at the current rate.

Comedy!

I grew up in Redditch, dad still lives there, going back tomorrow for the day, must be mad. Who's from Redditch then?

OP my wifes's 57 plate mk5 Gold has had problems, my bro's 10 plate and very expensive Clubman Cooper S has had problems, my nearly new at the time Mondeo mk3 had a few issues, my father in law had 3 DMFs in his Vectra. My Octavia isn't perfect but it's worth the niggles.

I am, brought up in Winyates Green to be precise but now live on the Lickeys. Still follow the football team though.

I'm not from Redditch, but I lived there for a number of years... a much-maligned town IMHO.

Thanks for the thoughts, all. Undecided here, it's back into the dealer's in a week or so to have the Columbus swapped out and to see if there's much they can do with the rest. If there's no joy there, I might try another franchise before agonising further.

We'll see. 1,000-mile drive in the meantime, so let's see if that brings a smile or a frown.

Now, my wife's Hyundai, on the other hand, is a terribly dull car - and faultless...