I've just taken delivery of my first new Octavia 1.6TDi (went looking for a 2 year old car but with the Vat off I could not say no!).

I have a niggle that does not seem right with the clutch. When the clutch is depressed on idle revs, or engine off, it is very smooth like it should be, but when setting off and getting the 'clutch bite', it feels very rough, sort of a growling feeling coming through the pedal. This happens when changing up the box as well.

The other analogy is like if you rub your show over gravel, it's the same feeling.

I have read the other thread about the guy getting rid of his Scout and he mentioned a pulsating clutch and the dealer said it was normal.

Ant ideas out there from experienced Octavia owners before I shout at the dealer?

Cheers

Ian

I think I was that other guy! In the end I sold my Scout and have a Mondeo now which I'm absolutely delighted with.

Seems to be that sometimes the VAG clutches can be rough but only on some cars (I drove as many as possible before concluding this, and plenty of people said theirs was very smooth). Mine was truly horrible and spoiled my enjoyment of the car completely. Dealers won't take it seriously because they know all too well there will be no "smoking gun" when they drop the gearbox so it makes their warranty claim with Skoda problematic. I don't know the actual cause but I've been told it could be bent/distorted/broken release fingers on the clutch itself or possible misalignment of the gearbox.

Ask the dealer to drive another car with the same engine and gearbox combination so you can decide if there is something "wrong" with yours. Good luck.

Depending on your mileage could it be the clutch hasn,t bedded in yet as its a new car?

Hope you get it sorted

No harm in going back to dealers and going out with a technician to see their opinion on it might be a bit more reassuring than the worry of a service manager trying to palm you off. Could just be bedding in as said, mine was totally smooth from new though but the 2.0TDi.

I do 250 miles a week so have now got 700n on and counting after 3 weeks!!!(just for work). Lamlash, yes it was your post I was referring to, and I did a test drive but on a 1 year old car and it did not have this feeling on the clutch. I also agree that compared to the Mondeo, the seats are a bit narrow and I have had a bit of difficulty adjusting mine as I had right leg pains for the first 2 weeks (although the Mondeo was not alot better at first).

I find the throttle pedal different as it is the first car that I have owned that hinges at the bottom.

I am going to contact the service manager this week as it is definitely not correct. I used to design clutches and brakes for industrial applications

so I have a little experience of friction materials and bedding in times, but I have had new clutches fitted previously and they never needed bedding in. When I've had a little think about it, it certainly feels like so sort of contamination or uneven surface on the clutch.

Thanks

A bit of an update. 1799 miles on the clock.

Booked the car in for a look at, and when I picked it up was informed by the service manager that they had rerouted the hydraulic pipe form the bulkhead.

So I set back off home, but there was no change so I did a couple of miles to check then went back. After a little discussion a guy tried it out around the back of the garage and said it felt OK to him. Anyway after a pleasant discussion, we agreed that I would go back and test drive another couple of same spec cars and see if they were the same.

If they were, then its normal for this car and I will accept it. If they are different, then he could contact Skoda for a tech report or something or other or drop the gearbox to have a look.

I also asked a friend of mine, who has 30 years diesel fitting behind him and he confirmed that there is a vibration, but is not sure what is causing it.

We ruled out the thrust bearing, as when out of gear and reving the engine, the clutch is as smooth and light as you would expect, but when the engine is connected to the gearbox, then the vibration/harshness can be felt through the pedal ( it does not judder as in other posts I have read). He also mentioned that it could be down to very stiff engine mounts, not allowing the engine/gearbox to flex sufficiently.

I have to say that the dealship have been very good and hopefully they can sort it out. It's certainly spoiling my driving experience as it gets a bit annoying especially in traffic stop start situations and especially on uphill motoryway slip roads.

did you ever find out what this was?