Hi guys, as I mentioned in the "Hi I'm new" section, my 2001 Focus is poorly and is in need to replacement. My plan was always to pick up a bigger car, probably an estate. Originally I'd planned on that being a Fraud Mondeo but over the last 18 months or so that's swayed towards an Octavia after all the good things I've heard about Skoda's improvements over the years.

Anyway, ideally I want the 1.8 TSI Elegance Estate Automatic in Black but that seems to be something a little more difficult to come by as a lot of 1.4 Silver Manuals are on Autotrader by comparison.

I understand that the 1.8 TSI uses a chain rather than a belt for the timing, is this the same for any 1.8 TSI on a face lift MK2 or is that a recent change? Also, is the 1.4 TSI the same or does that still use a belt?

The reason I ask is that ongoing costs are obviously something I need to consider when buying a new car, a timing belt change every 4 years or so is going to add a little to the overall ownership costs. Not a great deal when compared in total to the cost of the new car but it all adds up.

Is there anything else out of the ordinary that I might need to take account of?

Edited 3 April, 201214 yr by DBT85

I believe they are both chain driven.

+1 both chain.

If you had a belt you wouldn't need to change every 4 years anyway, its on mileage now.

4 years is a dealer ploy to extract money.

You will love the skoda get one bought asap!

If you had a belt you wouldn't need to change every 4 years anyway, its on mileage now.

4 years is a dealer ploy to extract money.

To be fair that's unofficial. The official line does still include a time limit, 4 years on engines with a belt, but if the 1.8 petrol engine has a chain then its not an issue anyway.

Automatics (or DSG as the VAG group call it) are much harder to find on the Octavia, especially after you figure in your desire for an black estate in Elegance trim.

There are tons and tons of manual SE hatchbacks in silver though!

By the way don't dismiss the Superb, they are less money than you would think and in the much more common 'twindoor' configuration rivals the Octavia estate for bootspace, just a thought.

To be fair that's unofficial. The official line does still include a time limit, 4 years on engines with a belt, but if the 1.8 petrol engine has a chain then its not an issue anyway.

Automatics (or DSG as the VAG group call it) are much harder to find on the Octavia, especially after you figure in your desire for an black estate in Elegance trim.

There are tons and tons of manual SE hatchbacks in silver though!

By the way don't dismiss the Superb, they are less money than you would think and in the much more common 'twindoor' configuration rivals the Octavia estate for bootspace, just a thought.

No it isn't unofficial, its what my service book says. The 4 years is unofficial as this is what the dealers are saying......just like them trying to get me to book a service in as its coming up to a 2 year anniversary of purchase.....even though it is on variable servicing.

Thanks for the replies folks Glad to see more chains on engines. I've never understood why companies would fit a belt which when it fails will ruin the engine forcing people to change it pre-emptively. Well apart from making money of course :p

Automatics (or DSG as the VAG group call it) are much harder to find on the Octavia, especially after you figure in your desire for an black estate in Elegance trim.

There are tons and tons of manual SE hatchbacks in silver though!

By the way don't dismiss the Superb, they are less money than you would think and in the much more common 'twindoor' configuration rivals the Octavia estate for bootspace, just a thought.

Yeah there are a few DSGs dotted about but there are many more manuals. With the DSG being as close on economy to the manual as it is it baffles me why so many would spec the manual when they buy new. We in the UK do have a bit of a grudge against autos though!

I like the Superb and it looks like a really nice car but it's a little outside my price range at the moment. Whatever I buy will be on a loan from the bank and I've drawn my line in the sand at 5 years and £250 a month for now. We can actually afford much more but that extra is going into a pot for when we start a family in 18 months or so. Once we stop putting that much away I can redo the loan and pay it off much faster. If I could get a better interest rate than the 6.1% then I might JUST be able to stretch to the Superb but that's not possible.

What I might do is opt for the hatchback instead of the estate. There are a few more of those knocking around.

The wife said that "the bum is too big" on the Octavia Estate but said that the one on the Superb Estate was fine!

EDIT:

On another note, I read in one post about someone getting the ECU flashed to boost the power in his car but he mentioned that his was a manual and that it wasn't possible on the DSG because the box couldn't handle the extra torque. Has anyone else any experience in this area? It's not something I'd definitely want to do as I've never done anything like it but it's always nice to know ones options.

Edited 16 March, 201214 yr by DBT85

Thanks for the replies folks Glad to see more chains on engines. I've never understood why companies would fit a belt which when it fails will ruin the engine forcing people to change it pre-emptively. Well apart from making money of course :p

Yeah there are a few DSGs dotted about but there are many more manuals. With the DSG being as close on economy to the manual as it is it baffles me why so many would spec the manual when they buy new. We in the UK do have a bit of a grudge against autos though!

I like the Superb and it looks like a really nice car but it's a little outside my price range at the moment. Whatever I buy will be on a loan from the bank and I've drawn my line in the sand at 5 years and £250 a month for now. We can actually afford much more but that extra is going into a pot for when we start a family in 18 months or so. Once we stop putting that much away I can redo the loan and pay it off much faster. If I could get a better interest rate than the 6.1% then I might JUST be able to stretch to the Superb but that's not possible.

What I might do is opt for the hatchback instead of the estate. There are a few more of those knocking around.

The wife said that "the bum is too big" on the Octavia Estate but said that the one on the Superb Estate was fine!

.

A chain can be just as troublesome as the belt if not looked after, id always be happier with a chain though.

I was in the same position as you 6 month back when planning the next car, i was after an estate with having the dogs, looked at the Audi's, Mazda's ect thats till i found out the Octy is a 5 door hatch, for some reason i thought it was a saloon. Must say even with the rear seats up theres loads of room.

Plus the hacth looks loads better in my opinion.

Check this out....

http://www.motorpoin.../Octavia/345328

Save a fortune on new!

The Tsi engine is excellent blend of performance and economy, I had mine for a month and average MPG is 40 and rising!

I have driven the DSG its far superior to the manual!

Edited 16 March, 201214 yr by PC1212

Well there is a 2010 Black 1.8 TSI Elegance DSG for sale about 15 minutes away. Ticks every box except for the Estate part so will go have a look see tomorrow.

Think it was £13k with about 21k on the clock.

How are dealers with haggling? It's been a long time since I got a new car and that one my dad dealt with as I was only 19 and would have just paid sticker price :p

Or if they won't lower the price how are they for adding in things like first service free or new tyres all round or something? Things that cost less for them but are still of value to me.

Well the ones I have dealt with are arrogant, cocky and downright greedy!

Just take your time and . keep walking until you get the right car

Well the ones I have dealt with are arrogant, cocky and downright greedy!

Just take your time and . keep walking until you get the right car

+1

Totally agree on keep walking.

I walk away from good deals as well, you would be amazed how many times the deal has improved when I have got my hand on the showroom door!

No it isn't unofficial, its what my service book says. The 4 years is unofficial as this is what the dealers are saying.

Yes it is what the dealers are saying, it is also what Skoda UK is saying. That makes it pretty official where I come from.

I'm not sure how often we have to go over this. The manual is out of date the minute after it is printed. The only way to be 100% sure is to check with Skoda UK, and guess what, they insist on 4 years irrespective of mileage.

Yes it is what the dealers are saying, it is also what Skoda UK is saying. That makes it pretty official where I come from.

I'm not sure how often we have to go over this. The manual is out of date the minute after it is printed. The only way to be 100% sure is to check with Skoda UK, and guess what, they insist on 4 years irrespective of mileage.

yes its getting pretty boring. Until I am told otherwise officially which does not include a sales call from a dealer I will go by the book.

Well based on what you're saying about it being out of date, then why has the mileage changed most years since 04 in the book but since 07 there has been no age limit. Seems like a major omission for the last 5years to be honest.

Also why is the UK the only country to have a 4year limit. Clever ploy by the dealer network to be honest.

Think of it this way, for example if you bought a bluray player and all of a sudden they changed it so it needed a yearly belt change on the drive motor, do you seriously expect the consumer to find this info out for themselves? Or would you expect the manufacturer to contact you with this info?

Also its blatant false advertising if for the last 5 years the service book has no age limit for the belt yet 4years into ownership you are expecting the owner to fork out £400+ for something they didn't think they'd need. Don't think it would cut it in any other country besides the sheep like people of the UK who will pay hand over fist for peace of mind based on zero factual information.

/rantover

yes its getting pretty boring. Until I am told otherwise officially which does not include a sales call from a dealer I will go by the book.

Well based on what you're saying about it being out of date, then why has the mileage changed most years since 04 in the book but since 07 there has been no age limit. Seems like a major omission for the last 5years to be honest.

Also why is the UK the only country to have a 4year limit. Clever ploy by the dealer network to be honest.

Think of it this way, for example if you bought a bluray player and all of a sudden they changed it so it needed a yearly belt change on the drive motor, do you seriously expect the consumer to find this info out for themselves? Or would you expect the manufacturer to contact you with this info?

Also its blatant false advertising if for the last 5 years the service book has no age limit for the belt yet 4years into ownership you are expecting the owner to fork out £400+ for something they didn't think they'd need. Don't think it would cut it in any other country besides the sheep like people of the UK who will pay hand over fist for peace of mind based on zero factual information.

/rantover

Go on then, how do you expect Sharp to know I have one of their blueray players? Unless I happen to be dum enough to go out of my way to register the product and provide all of my details to their marketing department. Anyway should the drive belt go on my blueray I don't think it would do £2k worth of damage or completely destroy itself.

Skoda do inform you of the belt needing changing at 4 years! When you take the car for its 4 year service.

It's all a big gamble but if you had a dead cert for the winner why would wait a few years until it was ready for the glue factory? IMO better safe than sorry.

Go on then, how do you expect Sharp to know I have one of their blueray players? Unless I happen to be dum enough to go out of my way to register the product and provide all of my details to their marketing department. Anyway should the drive belt go on my blueray I don't think it would do £2k worth of damage or completely destroy itself.

Skoda do inform you of the belt needing changing at 4 years! When you take the car for its 4 year service.

It's all a big gamble but if you had a dead cert for the winner why would wait a few years until it was ready for the glue factory? IMO better safe than sorry.

you've totally missed my point. Skoda have all our details. I don't have to take it to skoda for a service and there is also no such thing as a 4 year service when on variable.

If it WAS such an issue they'd have never taken the age out the book 5 bleedin years ago would they?

But you have totally proved my point about praying on peoples peace of mind. What's different to the UK to every other country that means we need a new belt every 4 years? Here's a clue, NOTHING.

Whether or not the belt is actually in need of replacement at 4 years isn't the question.

Whether we like it or not, whether we agree with it or not, Skoda UK says 4 years. Simple.

So when a fellow member comes on here asking when they should change their timing belt the answer should always be "4 years".

If you chose to explain why you personally wouldn't change it so soon then thats fine, but to say that there isn't a time limit is wrong.

Whether or not the belt is actually in need of replacement at 4 years isn't the question.

Whether we like it or not, whether we agree with it or not, Skoda UK says 4 years. Simple.

So when a fellow member comes on here asking when they should change their timing belt the answer should always be "4 years".

If you chose to explain why you personally wouldn't change it so soon then thats fine, but to say that there isn't a time limit is wrong.

skoda UK haven't told me anything. That's my point.

Guys again I have to agree the 4 year thing is a load of **** if u ask me, how come Skoda Ireland don't say anything about a time limit in there books so?

My book for my 07 vrs tdi say 120.000km for the toothed belt interval and that's all it says!

Belts do not perish that fast. Let's take for instance last year I replaced a timing belt on a 1994 Toyota corolla with only 60k on the car and the belt looked no older than a belt replaced on a 3 year old car iv done recently too!

Case closed

I like the Superb and it looks like a really nice car but it's a little outside my price range at the moment. Whatever I buy will be on a loan from the bank and I've drawn my line in the sand at 5 years and £250 a month for now. We can actually afford much more but that extra is going into a pot for when we start a family in 18 months or so. Once we stop putting that much away I can redo the loan and pay it off much faster. If I could get a better interest rate than the 6.1% then I might JUST be able to stretch to the Superb but that's not possible.

£200pm 5y @ 6% will get you £10k there are Superb hatches available, estates will be a little longer before they drop to that range

Edited 17 March, 201214 yr by P&N

Guys again I have to agree the 4 year thing is a load of **** if u ask me.

Whether it is or isn't is irrelevant, Skoda UK say 4 years and the OP is in the UK. Jesus wept!

2011 Skoda Superb Twindoor, 1.8TSi DSG, 12,300 miles, from a Skoda main dealer - £11,995.

All the car you'll ever need (and more )

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201204444666120/sort/priceasc/usedcars/fuel-type/petrol/model/superb/make/skoda/keywords/1.8/postcode/sl13yd/radius/1500/page/1?logcode=p

Whether it is or isn't is irrelevant, Skoda UK say 4 years and the OP is in the UK. Jesus wept!

No they don't.

They send me enough post so if they were worried they'd send me a service book amendment.

Love how people are saying its 4years, its what they say:

I haven't been told

Why is it only the UK?

Why has the service book gone unchanged for 5 years?

Why was it taken out in the first place?

Until these questions can be answered you're all just as bad as the dealers.

I will be sending an email off to skoda hq asking for an explanation of this.

Love how you also treat skoda UK as gospel, because they never side with the dealer at all, looking at various dealer issues on hear, do they?!

I will sell my 1.8TSI Octy Estate DSG, just serviced, 14 months warrenty left and had the Bluetooth option. Will be getting rid of it in 10-12 weeks due to a new car purchase. Its in Anthracite Grey though. Offers?!

No they don't.

Yes they do, for my cars. Your not listening to what I'm saying.

As it is Skoda UK who support your UK warranty then they can chose the intervals, irrespective of what the rest of Europe or the VAG group is offering or what is written in your two year old manual.

Skoda UK could annouce tomorrow that the interval is 1 year. If you wanted to maintain your warranty then you'd have to change the cambelt annually. It is your responsibility to check for the latest changes to any service schedules not Skoda UK's. There are plenty of mistakes in my manual but I won't be expecting a letter from Skoda anytime soon .

No one is forcing you to ever change your cambelt, that is your choice, the point I'm trying to make is that Skoda UK are communicating 4 years through their authorised dealer network and via their customer services department so for UK customers it is infact gospel.