You can change your can belt when ever you want, it's personal preference, anything SUK say is just their recommendation. If you aim for longer than 4years the only thing you have to worry about is if it snaps at 5+ years you will get lots of "I told you so" on here ;-)

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.

no, you aren't listening to me. If its always been 4 years then why take it out 5 years ago? There must be a reason, also there must be a reason why, after 5years it isn't back in. Brand new cars are still coming with service books with no age limit.

I also know law, and if they have failed to tell me about an error and amendment in the service book, especially when they can send me junk mail every month then this wouldn't go down very well at all in court if it were to ever come to that. Which unlikely considering NO others country has this 4 year rule.

I am also talking about the Cr belts which use continental lifetime belts, not pd belts.

Its also well known and from personal experience that VAG UK are liars and do anything to get out of paying. They blatantly lied to me and actually called me a liar in not so many words about the corrosion on my front wings on the Bora. It was also funny how there was a bulletin around the world for the corrosion issue except for the UK (sound familiar to the 4 year cambelt rule? picking rules and bulletins to suit perhaps?!). I presented them with the VWUS bulletin and they dismissed it straight away. I then presented it to trading standards and quoted the SOGA and things soon changed.....leaving VWUK with a £1400 repair bill

Edited 17 March, 201214 yr by jrw

This is my last post.

I'm not disputing the relevance of the 4 year interval. You keep telling me about why the 4 year interval is wrong/pointless/unneccessary. I hear you.

My point is that all your evidence suggesting the 4 year interval shouldn't exist is irrelevant.

In the eyes of Skoda UK it is 4 years. Whether you, me, VW, Continental or anyone else agrees with it or not doesn't matter. It's four years!

This is my last post.

I'm not disputing the relevance of the 4 year interval. You keep telling me about why the 4 year interval is wrong/pointless/unneccessary. I hear you.

My point is that all your evidence suggesting the 4 year interval shouldn't exist is irrelevant.

In the eyes of Skoda UK it is 4 years. Whether you, me, VW, Continental or anyone else agrees with it or not doesn't matter. It's four years!

Good - But it isn't 4 years on a CR. SUK haven't told ME.

You haven't got a CR either so don't see how you are qualified to answer either.

Well I went had had a look and a test yesterday. Essay incoming.

Black 1.8 TSI Elegance DSG Hatch w/ 18k on the clock

Overall impressions are good. The look of the car is better in Black IMO, sadly there are not more of them.

No noticable dings or marks anywhere on the bodywork or bumpers which is as one would hope, Sport Contact 2s front and rear, however the fronts will need doing fairly soon with maybe 1mm until the marker bump in the tread.

I like that everything in the cabin goes clonk rather than click. It just feels solid. No marks on the interior either (no leather either), car looked like it had just rolled off the line. Oddly no stereo controls on the wheel, no idea if I can add that myself later if I want, seems to have a BT system in (only judging from the phone option on the stereo) which is good.

Very roomy in the front, less than I'd expect in the rear with the drivers seat where I'd have it. At 6'1" I'm not the typical person who would sit in the back of my car but it was tighter than I'd have thought. I know the Superb offers far more in this regard but it would have been nice to have an extra inch or two and lose a little in the boot.

Not a game changer for me though, the back of my Focus doesn't get sat in that often and once we pop sprogs they are still not going to need oodles of room for over a decade. The boot did seem nicely capacious, should hopefully be enough in the years to come for pushchairs and all the other assorted crap one needs. Seemed to be a full size spare as well though I did only look briefly.

The test drive was an experience for me that I've never had. I hadn't passed my driving test when I bought my Focus in 05 so my dad tested it for me. On top of that I've never driven an estate. Part of the test was me trying to see if I liked the DSG and partly to see what the Octavia in general felt like. That this car also happens to be one I'm interested in was just a lucky coincidence.

The biggest oddity for me was getting to a set of lights or a busy roundabout and not having to dip the clutch. The left side of my body felt entirely useless. Oddly I didn't miss changing gear at all, it just seemed to go when I pressed the noise pedal and just waft along. It didn;t even occur to me that anything was happening and I was at 40 in 6th.

Steering seemed about the right weight for me, can't really comment on actual feedback as it was only a 10 minute drive on a set route and busy roads and it was all new so I didn't want to go mental. The weight though felt spot on compared to my Focus. What did take me by surprise were the brakes. On my Focus the brakes feel a little more progressive. They stop the car fine but I feel like I can apply 50% or 75% or 100% a little easier than the Octavia. That I am sure is just getting used to the brakes being a little sharper.

Through't the drive I was doing my best to feign interest in other options (Focus Estate or Volvo V50) while also appreciating what was on offer and the woman (Linda) asked several questions about when I'd be testing the others, why I wanted an Auto, when I'd be looking to change (within 6 months, keep em guessing I figured) etc etc.

When we got back we talked a little about the price and what we could do. I explained that the car is right on the cusp of my budget (it really is) but that things like the tyres are going to need replacing soon at about £65-£80 each according to Camskill (205/55/16 Sport Contact 2s in various flavours) is all extra cost. Also I did point out that the estate is what I would prefer though I realise we are getting into hens teeth levels or scarcity with this exact spec :p

I asked if there was nothing they could do on price would there be anything like the tyres, a free service or whatever included. Things that cost them less but still offer me value. She said they were in the business of selling cars and not holding on to them and while "it wouldn't be 100s and 1000s we could definitely sort some kind of package out".

Also one really nice thing that I wasn't expecting. When I asked to look at the car in have a look at the car on the forecourt I was given the option of doing so alone in peace! If my estate agent had done that 3 years ago we'd have made the bloody offer 4 weeks earlier!

So, it was overall a nice experience, the car in question was nice, as was the Octavia in general. If this car isn't available or I can't get a decent deal than I have no qualms waiting for the right one. Not even going to bother looking at other options as it just doesn't seem necessary.

Now I need to take a tooth comb through the spec listed on the auto trader listing and then check the car over again. EG. The listing says it has roof rails and headlight washers however it has neither. It also doesn't mention heated front seats which the car certainly has. I can't believe it's ANOTHER car in the same spec at the same garage just because there are so few of them on AutoTrader.

So more questions

1) Is there a list of things one might want to enable/disable/change in the settings either from them or from someone with the tool to do it? Not a list of HOW to do it, just of what you CAN do?

2) I've read a few comments about DMFs failing early. Is this something I need to ask about and are there any other things that I need to check for specifically?

Your impressions sound good, and your write-up is good reading.

The elegance does not have Bluetooth as standard. The stereo button is there even if it hasn't got it. So you need to check this. The heated seats are an option that are fantastic. You never appreciate these until you have had them. The elegance has got headlamp washers but you can't see them until they operate and pop out of the bumper!

You won't have BT unless you have steering wheel controls. You can only get a MF steering wheel with BT iirc (with VRS that is the case anyway). Both of these are easily retrofitted anyway.

Also seems as if you have Xenon's as you have headlight washers.

Your impressions sound good, and your write-up is good reading.

The elegance does not have Bluetooth as standard. The stereo button is there even if it hasn't got it. So you need to check this. The heated seats are an option that are fantastic. You never appreciate these until you have had them. The elegance has got headlamp washers but you can't see them until they operate and pop out of the bumper!

Ahh so it has the nozzles but no wipers? I just assumed that the bump in front of the lights in that picture was just a covering plate. Will have to check all these things!

You won't have BT unless you have steering wheel controls. You can only get a MF steering wheel with BT iirc (with VRS that is the case anyway). Both of these are easily retrofitted anyway.

Also seems as if you have Xenon's as you have headlight washers.

When you say on the wheel, I take it you mean physically on the wheel and not on stalks? There does seem an inordinate amount of buttons, knobs, diagrams etc on the stalks that my Focus just doesn't have! Saying that, my focus also doesn't have cruise and a trip computer so that probably explains that.

Will have to look into how easy it is to get the BT added on the assumption that it doesn't have it (not in the spec). I've only recently bought a new radio for the Focus (Pioneer 8300BT) so I'll miss BT support but I have no real need to swap the radios over if there is a reasonable other option.

It is on the Skoda website, without the pictures, for sale at Allams, go in and have a word with Beth, she may be able to do something on the deal if you mention Briskoda as they are forum sponsors.

It looks a great spec, the xenons are options along with the auto lights, if it has maxidot, which it should do as it is an auto, then you are onto a winner as you can adjust certain parameters like the timings of the auto lights and door locking/unlocking from there.

Ian

Nice to see someone else has used them and had some joy

All the spec says RE the computer is "Multi-information display with trip computer" and that is only mentioned on AutoTrader.

I've looked at some others on the site and they don't specifically say maxidot either.

I'm just not sure why anyone would spec things like heated seats, xenons and washers, foldable mirrors, steel spare, boot net and then cheap out on the maxidot.

Is there an easy way to tell if you just have the standard trip or the maxidot?

I think I'll have to email Linda.

Edited 18 March, 201214 yr by DBT85

You should have maxidot if you have DSG iirc.

Maxidot:

Non-maxidot:

If it has Bluetooth or Sat Nav, it will have a shark fin aerial like this:

Multi Function Steering Wheel:

Edited 18 March, 201214 yr by jrw

Thanks for the pics. The wheel certainly had no buttons on, I remember seeing a sharkfin but I think it was on another car!

I also think the trip was the top one but I'll ask the question anyway before I get to see it again.

I see that Maxidot became standard with the DSG box but I don't know when that happened, I believe it wasn't originally. This is an April 2010 build.

I'm right in thinking that I could pick up the flappy paddle MFW at some point and get a kindly member to activate it all for me?

It certainly wouldn't be anything I can do immediately but maybe once a block of overtime comes in

EDIT:

Got a reply from Linda at Allams

No Maxidot,

No BT

Comes with the balance of the manufacturers warranty.

Looking around at another thread on the front page I'm looking at £225 just for a new maxidot trip cluster before fitting and activation. Am I right in thinking that the maxidot just allows you to easily change some things that otherwise can only be changed with a laptop?

Edited 18 March, 201214 yr by DBT85

Thanks for the pics. The wheel certainly had no buttons on, I remember seeing a sharkfin but I think it was on another car!

I also think the trip was the top one but I'll ask the question anyway before I get to see it again.

I see that Maxidot became standard with the DSG box but I don't know when that happened, I believe it wasn't originally. This is an April 2010 build.

I'm right in thinking that I could pick up the flappy paddle MFW at some point and get a kindly member to activate it all for me?

It certainly wouldn't be anything I can do immediately but maybe once a block of overtime comes in

EDIT:

Got a reply from Linda at Allams

No Maxidot,

No BT

Comes with the balance of the manufacturers warranty.

Looking around at another thread on the front page I'm looking at £225 just for a new maxidot trip cluster before fitting and activation. Am I right in thinking that the maxidot just allows you to easily change some things that otherwise can only be changed with a laptop?

Strange, mine came with Maxidot standard on the VRS DSG in April 2010 (ordered Jan 2010) so perhaps it is just a VRS thing.

You may find that it has got maxidot and the dealer doesn't really know.

Also if it has got a sharkfin it will definitely have either a Columbus or a Bluetooth system.

Flappy paddles should be doable I would have thought but it may be that you need a VRS wheel unless the non VRS's come with paddles as an option?

Besides looking a million times better the maxidot does allow you to change things such as coming home lights, tourist mode for the xenons, anti hi jack etc.

Strange, mine came with Maxidot standard on the VRS DSG in April 2010 (ordered Jan 2010) so perhaps it is just a VRS thing.

You may find that it has got maxidot and the dealer doesn't really know.

Also if it has got a sharkfin it will definitely have either a Columbus or a Bluetooth system.

Flappy paddles should be doable I would have thought but it may be that you need a VRS wheel unless the non VRS's come with paddles as an option?

Besides looking a million times better the maxidot does allow you to change things such as coming home lights, tourist mode for the xenons, anti hi jack etc.

It's possible they don't know exactly so I'll be sure to check tomorrow. Taking the wife to see it. She's now said that she prefers the Estate look to the hatch despite previously saying that the Estate had too large a bum. She's already told me several times to buy whatever I want though so I'm lucky there.

Also got some stick off of friends on facebook for looking at a grandad car, I suspect they aren't seeing past the Skoda badge.

You can get the flappy paddles as an option on the non vRS model, it's still a 3 spoke wheel though so it's probably the same one anyway.

RE the maxidot again, are most of the things that you can change not things that yo'll set once and then probably never change?

It's not enough to put me off it not being there, and as I said, in a few months if I have some spare money I might get the cluster to sort it out. As long as the standard trip will allow me to see the various different fuel consumption bits I'll be happy for now. I don't have that in my Focus so I work on the basis that faster = more efficient :p I know that is rubbish but it's an interesting way to drive at least.

Edited 18 March, 201214 yr by DBT85

I have an 2011 Octavia Elegance DSG. It does not have maxidot or Bluetooth.

I traded a 2010 fab VRS DSG that had both.

I am not missing the maxidot but I am missing the Bluetooth.

I am surprised that I am not missing the flappy paddles either, but I,m not.

If you look for a SE Plus model instead you will get Bluetooth, maxidot and sat nav, but lose cruise and headlamp washers.

My May 2010 Elegance came with Maxidot as standard as it was a DSG. headlamp washers are standard on an elegance. I dont know if you missed my prevoius post but Ive just part ex'd mine today. You could have had it for £9500 if you got back to me yesterday! It has got the multifunction steering wheel and bluetooth options fitted too.

Its is not black though.

Also if it has got a sharkfin it will definitely have either a Columbus or a Bluetooth system.

My 10reg estate has a sharkfin aerial while having a Bolero stereo with no Bluetooth.

Also seems as if you have Xenon's as you have headlight washers.

No xenon's I'm afraid, the Elegance gets the headlight washers as standard with or without xenon's.

A few interesting options though so it sounds like quite a unique car.

As its at a Skoda main dealer and the front tyres are almost shot they should replace them for you.

It would appear that differing specifications occur depending when the car is built.

The best way to check for Bluetooth is ask them to pair your phone with it!

At the risk of sticking my neck out, I still say the only mid-range model that has always had Bluetooth and maxidot as part of its standard spec is the SE plus.

I would have bought an SE plus but I have collected too many points on my license to be without cruise control!

One day they options on these Octy's will be standard across the board!

Headlight washers but no xenons.....but you can't get headlight washers without xenons on the VRS

Sharkfin aerial but no bluetooth or Columbus......Why?

Maxidot with DSG.....Is it standard is it not?

....don't get me started on why you can't have folding mirrors on the VRS in the UK but can everywhere else in the world......How did that meeting go? "Yes, put folding mirrors as an option on the UK models but the VRS doesn't need them" WTF!!

I have an 2011 Octavia Elegance DSG. It does not have maxidot or Bluetooth.

I traded a 2010 fab VRS DSG that had both.

I am not missing the maxidot but I am missing the Bluetooth.

I am surprised that I am not missing the flappy paddles either, but I,m not.

If you look for a SE Plus model instead you will get Bluetooth, maxidot and sat nav, but lose cruise and headlamp washers.

Yeah I think I can live without the Maxidot though the more toys the better. Fortunately one member who has a VCDS lives about 5 minutes away and has already kindly agreed to help me out setting a few bits so that makes life easy on that front.

Flappy paddles are again something that might be nice but I'm not massively fussed over. If I decide to get a multifunction wheel anyway and one with paddles isn;t all to much extra then maybe.

The Bluetooth would be the one I'd want more often, I see there are options to fit OEM or others so I'll look into that some more.

The issue isn't really with spec level that I'm after, SE Plus or Elegance would be nice, but just that there are so few Black 1.8 TSI DSG models in my £13k range , let alone at a specific trim!

My May 2010 Elegance came with Maxidot as standard as it was a DSG. headlamp washers are standard on an elegance. I dont know if you missed my prevoius post but Ive just part ex'd mine today. You could have had it for £9500 if you got back to me yesterday! It has got the multifunction steering wheel and bluetooth options fitted too.

Its is not black though.

Really sorry I missed that, but I really want Black. Though for only £9,500? Was it high mileage or something? The cheapest 1.8 Auto on Autotrader is an 09 L&K with 20k on it at £10,750

No xenon's I'm afraid, the Elegance gets the headlight washers as standard with or without xenon's.

A few interesting options though so it sounds like quite a unique car.

As its at a Skoda main dealer and the front tyres are almost shot they should replace them for you.

Yeah my hope is that if I did go for it the tyres being replaced and then switched to the back would be part of that deal. Switched to the back because IIRC you should have more tread on the rear than the front if possible.

Not massive high milage.22500, just changing my car ( I get bored very easily!) and have now part ex'd it. I would have (as I have done in the past) taken a knock down price for it so I can do a cash purchase with a dealer or through drive the deal etc.

Good Luck!

PS JCT600 Peugeot Menston will be taking stock of my car beginning of June..............

One day they options on these Octy's will be standard across the board!

Sharkfin aerial but no bluetooth or Columbus......Why?

Probably they were short of non-shark fin aerials when my estate rolled down the production line...

Just spoke to Aviva who insure me on my Focus and they want an extra £220.15 to swap to the Octavia (taking it to £670 for the year). That's for 11 months of cover (only renewed 15 days ago) so I'm happy with that. I was obviously going to go up being a car 9 years younger, 10+ times more expensive and having a larger engine so that's not too bad. Would help if the wife didn't have an SP30 and didn't perform an experiment in phase shifting at a set of lights 6 months ago . Was only at 5mph and no damage was done or claimed but they had to be told annoyingly as the car she hit was a hire car.

I think the new tyres on my Focus are actually worth more than the car so I'm not sure what I'll do with that I'd also sell my Pioneer 8300BT (only 3 months old) to put towards some bits and my folks are giving me money for my birthday in a few weeks so I shouldn't be without BT for too long hopefully.

EDIT: I'm wondering if just going with a single din adapter might be a better idea. That would cost me about £50 and then I still have BT/SD/Aux/Radio and could sell the Bolero which have sold on eBay for £100-200 used in the last week. Or pay the £200+ for the Bluetooth kit and sell my Pioneer.

I like the look of the OEM unit in the dash though.

They just put some pictures on their site, and it looks like it is indeed missing the maxidot. http://www.allams.com/skoda/used-cars/search/113/skoda-octavia

Interestingly they also just added another 1.8TSI with the L&K trim for the same price. Its a 60 rather than a 10 so upto 6 months older, but has 13,900 on the clock compared to the Blacks 18,000. Same price for a higher trim level that does have the xenons, folding door mirrors, maxidot, etc, has lower mileage, leather interior, also has the 7 speed DSG rather than the 6speed DSG. It's listed as "blue" so who knows what the actual colour is, but still. That might give me some bargaining power. If the L&K is Storm Blue rather than Petrol Blue I might even consider it.

Interesting indeed.

Edited 19 March, 201214 yr by DBT85

Hello, is this car on autotrader.co.uk ?

Or just on the independent dealers website or none of the above

Don't worry , not looking to buy it : ). Just want to have a look at more pics if it

Edited 19 March, 201214 yr by obi604