Previous Octavia II, on the whole quite reliable, but ESP sensor failure @£700.

Decided to go for a second Octavia II as I thought that was a one off - 4 weeks in, aircon compressor failure - quoted £750!!!!...

50K miles, 06 plate - Skoda UK wont help as it's outside the 60mths - a similar story to the ESP sensor.

The Wifes just popping down to the shops in her 10 year old Volvo, which hasn't been looked after well at all. In all those years, not a single thing has gone wrong....

I sure there are stories for and against, but I'm not happy at all and based on my experiences, I would certainly discourage anyone else from buying Skoda.

Time to move on.....

Good luck in the hunt for a new car, but I think most now are built to a price and you will find it hard to get a car which is 100% reliable. I think the best you can hope for is a car with a longer warranty ie. KIA or Hyundai and VX

Absolutely, I don't expect any car to be 100%, but after showing brand loyalty and forking out for full service histories, I don't really expect major expensive parts to fail at low milage. When problems do occur, I also then don't expect to be fobbed off by the manufacturer who could quite easily put things right.

At the end of the day, buying a brand with longer warranties gives me peace of mind I need. Having a car that can't even get past 50K miles seems pointless to me.

Did you buy it privately? If not then go back to the dealer you bought it from.

Otherwise £750 is very expensive for what is a relatively cheap part.

I agree, the car has an expensive fault and you were sold a car with working aircon.

If it wasn't from a private sale, then take it back and kick off majorly.

I've had the following issues with my Skoda collection:

VRS Oct I 1.8T Infamous leaking rear wiper hose, knackered my 6 Skoda 6 disc auto changer. Replace under warranty

VRS Oct II CR170 First service at 7K, corroded front discs/warped shudder. Replaced by dealer even though not under warranty, cost borne by Skoda UK, 10K Engine management solenoid valve failure - car into limp mode, replaced under warranty. Same thing again 1 month later, same result.

Yeti 4x4 CR170 Sat Nav connection to aerial base broken thus Sat Nav, replacement fitted under warranty - 1 month ago. 1st year service cost £185 and car was washed also.

My next car is another VRS or Superb 4x4 CR170......no question at all, I guess I have been lucky in that the events above have happened in warranty stages. But could have easily happened with any VAG car I'd bought. One issue here is that is a chance you take buying a car that has expired warranty, but I feel sorry for the OP.

Edited 2 May, 201214 yr by VRS-LE-OCT-II

My previous car was just over ten years old, did 152,000 miles with zero faults, it was a Mazda.The one before was retired at 21years old, zero fault and was a Nissen. Neither felt half as solid as my Yeti but it also had far less things to go wrong.

The nissen had even less toys than the Mazda, not even central locking. Perhaps a basic model would be more reliable.

1996 406 1.9TD 485000 miles 3 alternators were only real things to go (aside from normal consumables) still on its original shocks the lot in end and less than 10K of miles were motorway! Home serviced on the street, timing belt was 180K overdue in end as it wasn't worth replacing it what a car! Didn't expect that from a French car but they must have been in a good mood that hour on the production line

Its a shame that things go wrong and as newer cars keep coming out with more ECU stuff and 5.6billion sensors linked into everything we are getting lower and lower chances of trouble free motoring :(

You could get a sanderson compressor and have it fitted for less, try looking at the wwwHonestJohn ... Octavia II review outlines this fault.

It's worth having a look at owners' forums for other marques you are interested in and also have a look at published recall notices (I think VOSA's website may list these). I have to admit that on the whole Skoda's cars would appear, to me, to be less troublesome and less expensive to maintain than other manufacturers' offerings.

To call a car 'junk' because the air con compressor packs-up is a little OTT.

The compressor failed on my four year old BMW 320d at 60K. A 3 Series costs a lot more than an Octavia.

My car has had its issues, but I'm still looking at another. You get it with all brands I guess.

That said, Skoda UKs attitude was pretty poor when I had my problems. Luckily the dealer were very good, but it still left a bitter taste in my mouth and a large hole in my wallet.

I had everything set up to publicly release information on my engine problem - just out of principle really and with the aim of creating a negative publicity 'cost' which outweighed the cost they should have incurred by resolving my complaint fairly. I've got a mate who grows twitter and Facebook accounts as a sideline (you get them up to say 25,000 followers then flog them) and he offered to build me an account for free, but I left it a while as I wanted to release it to coincide with a new reg launch, then in the meantime other things took my attention and by the time I got my focus back it just felt like the moment had passed.......

As a temporarily dissapointed Skoda owner I was and am more than a little disgruntled with the Dealership attitudes.

I suspect the reputation so hard to build up is now being taken for granted?

Simply because as a potential new car purchaser we got a lot of misleading information from unsatisfactory sales staff at different dealerships.

Both before buying the new Octavia and whils attempting to buy the daughter a new Fabia ( Yaris bought instead)

However 2 staff stood out, for their PROFESSIONALISM the brand manager at Myvern Stewart, Richard (& a Cornish Surname?)

plus a young woman at The Campsie dealership of J Mulholland.

A breath of fresh air both of them.

Then the most unsatisfactory treatment when the gearbox gave trouble.

Anyway finally resolved to my satisfaction after 3 months, WITH the HELP of SKODA UK, whom I hope are starting to become aware of some of their dealerships shortcomings??

Cos I bloody told them often enough.

But finally I LIKE our OCTAVIA

An excellent product.

Because

It "does what it says on the tin"

with due apologies to Ronseal?

So finally

WAKE UP SKODA before you squander your hard earned reputation, permenantly!

Edited 3 May, 201214 yr by dieseldogg

AFAIK I am quite happy with all 3 Skodas I have had.

Only consumables have needed replacing.

I have also had excellent service from our local dealer, Palmers Watford.

If the OP wants to check out the reliability and after sales service of a particular marque, where better to look that the JD Power survey?

It would probably give a more balanced view than the make/model forums as generally most of the posts are concerning problems encountered.

CFB

I would agree, in that a majority of posts are only there or occassioned because there is a problem.

However it would be my preception that the franchised dealers take the attitude that if one is buying a new car, one will be trading it back in at 1,2or max 3 years against another new one, therefore

"dont worry Sir, the warrenty will cover that" in respect of bodged dealership works, like poorly wired towbars.

Or other niggles.

As commented I like our Octavia,

but like many others take car reliability as a taken/for granted?

Well since all the manufacturers "bum" about how reliable their cars are why shouldnt we??,

and.....most significently....... at 52 years of age have grown to dislike shoddy workmanship, incompetence, and worst of all treating me like a half-wit, with obstrufacation & downright lies........ and am prepared to complain, in a calm measured manner.

Edited 3 May, 201214 yr by dieseldogg

Palmers are excellent, from whence my LE came from New, but getting my local dealer to treat the car as a "Skoda Warrantied" car has been problematic ..... first question is always .... "did you buy the car from us" ... why on earth this matters is beyond me. But it does.

DD, i agree totally. i'm a similar age and have a good engineering background.

i know what is what on a vehicle and how it works.

vehicle repairers, no matter which discipline, seem to think they are the only ones who know! :think:

if only they did

If you have only had the car 4 weeks then the selling garage should sort your air con out f.o.c,if you bought it privately then sadly you have no comebeck,If you have had 2 octavias & only had one fault with each (granted the 2nd one is a pain so soon after buying it)id hardly say they were a bad car & id never buy a skoda again,your car is into its 6 year of age so may have some minor issues.That price does sound alot to repair your car though.

Previous Octavia II, on the whole quite reliable, but ESP sensor failure @£700.

Decided to go for a second Octavia II as I thought that was a one off - 4 weeks in, aircon compressor failure - quoted £750!!!!...

50K miles, 06 plate - Skoda UK wont help as it's outside the 60mths - a similar story to the ESP sensor.

The Wifes just popping down to the shops in her 10 year old Volvo, which hasn't been looked after well at all. In all those years, not a single thing has gone wrong....

I sure there are stories for and against, but I'm not happy at all and based on my experiences, I would certainly discourage anyone else from buying Skoda.

Time to move on.....

Take a look at the forums for all the manufacturers - they all break down. Thats cars these days, they cost a lot of money to buy and run. Any comparable make eg VW, Vauxhall, Ford, Citroen, Renault, Peugeot, Hyundia etc and also more expensive makes such as BMW, Audi, Volvo etc have all the same issues with turbo's, air con, dual mass flywheels, electronics, tyre wear......

Your only option is to spend thousands more in the first place and have the protection of manufacturers warranty and goodwill. So either way it's cost you. I have tried all ways to find the best way - New car, 3 year old car, 10 year old car, 1 year old car. Every way has cost me money. If you buy one thats 6 year old it will, for certain, go wrong. However on the plus side it will have cost £10k less than it did brand new and stil probably be just as good to drive/use as it did when it was brand new.

I think, if it was a private purchase and there's no come back on the seller, you just have to take the hit on the compressor repair. Personally I budget £500 per year for repairs (not including servicing). I might get 2 trouble free years then have to spend £1400 one year but it saves on stress when the inevitable break down happens.

Personally when the A/C compressor failed at about 6 years old on Der Galaxy, I costed the repair, then I simply ignored it and drove her without A/C , we were no longer taking her on Continental Hols by that stage, so really no odds.

I even eventually had to fit a replacment A/C compressor from a scrappy simply to replace the pully which was necessary for to get the drive to the alternator, but never plumbed it in.

Since we kept her to 13 years perhaps the expenditure would have been justified, but hey ho

I have to say first of all sorry that you've had trouble. I know what its like to buy a dog of a car to only replace it with the same brand and get another dog. Dont even get me started on Peugeot or Citroen both dealerships had a cup of coffee ready for me in the mornings!!

Both my Skoda's have been great the fabia is now 8 years old and apart from when I've broken it its left let me down or cost anything other than service parts and wear and tear items.

The Octavia has had 1 warrenty job for the rear bumper paint work and it about to have another for the seat (dealer broken this).

Dealerships, I've found them to be a little hit and miss. Sales spot on very helpful and service when you're paying vert good but my bob do they drap their feet when it comes to warrenty work.

As above every marque has its issue, I've had a few and I can say with all honesty that Skoda has been then best I've ever had. Citroen and peugeot being a joint worst.

Big difference from when you praised the octavia here http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/221018-gutted-octy2-vrs-witten-off-but-hats-off-to-skoda/page__p__2599803#entry2599803

Every manufacturer has its issues but you would be hard pushed to get any manufacturer to help when the car is so far out of warranty.

I share your frustrations with relaibilty of the Octavia, Ive had mine for a year now which I bought on a 55 plate from a Skoda dealer.

I hadnt realised that my air con compressor had gone and after three attempts the dealer fixed it, along with electric windows that were playing up. I seem to recall someone saying that if you buy privately you even get a three month cover (citizens advice)

I agree with all comments on here that no car is 100% relaible. I like the skoda as it suits my current needs, excellent fuel economy, robust for the kids and in the main relaible.

In fact Ive had not problems with it in 1year 30k miles covered and it now sits on 73K total miles.

However, I am dissapointed in the comfort, I find road and tyre noise apaling

In response to the OP I bought my Octavia to replace the most unreliable car I have ever owned....A Volvo bought brand new!

Previous Octavia II, on the whole quite reliable, but ESP sensor failure @£700.

Decided to go for a second Octavia II as I thought that was a one off - 4 weeks in, aircon compressor failure - quoted £750!!!!...

50K miles, 06 plate - Skoda UK wont help as it's outside the 60mths - a similar story to the ESP sensor.

The Wifes just popping down to the shops in her 10 year old Volvo, which hasn't been looked after well at all. In all those years, not a single thing has gone wrong....

I sure there are stories for and against, but I'm not happy at all and based on my experiences, I would certainly discourage anyone else from buying Skoda.

Time to move on.....

Your car is 6 years old !!! things go faulty with 6 year old cars even with 50k on the clock so live with it , you wont get any perfect fault free car at that age .