Hi, first post, as the very pleased new owner of an 11 reg Octavia estate 1.2 TSI "S" DSG. First impressions, superbly smooth and powerful engine, seamless gearbox and pretty good economy. Value for money unbeatable.

Anyway, anybody recommend a dog crate for the estate? Have 2 female Labs of slim, working stock, so not too big. Ideally would like a close fitting crate with space left over- if possible. If not, the best crate for the job.

Next, the significant missing thing on the "S" is the alloy wheels. I don't want bling, and would prefer Skoda wheels. Don't want to mess with size or ride quality and economy, so will stick close to the steel wheel sizes which are 195 / 65 / r15 - 6j width. Any recommendations? And where best to get them- new or s/h?

Lastly, i would like a towbar fitted. When speaking to Skoda salesman about the exorbitant charges to have Skoda fit one - 7 or 8 hundred pounds, i got a quote from my local towbar fitter - £220. When i raised this with the salesman, he said words to the effect, "It's a job where you can't just cut the wires and join up the towbar electrics otherwise you could mess up the car's electrics, it needs a preparation kit also."

Surely a towbar fitting company would do a proper job? What do you think?

Thanks in advance, and this looks like a great, helpful and friendly forum,

Minsterman7 :sun:

He is right you cannot just cut wires and join up, like the old days of scotch lock clips, not saying it will not work.

Professional fitters will use a by-pass system which is suitable and cheaper, make sure it is used. I ordered factory towbar prep and dealer fit towbar, costly, and the dealer contracts out to a professional fitter to do the job anyway. If it is just for trailer road lighting should not be a problem, more work for caravan wiring and relays. It will cost you more if you want a removable ball, or just go for the fixed flange, cheaper.

Tow bar prep brings the wiring from the fuse box and can bus to connectors in the rear of the car for the car socket/s wiring loam to plug in (Skoda, cost!), adjusts the ECU for towing and the rear panel is pre-cut for bar.

Can’t help with dog crate and wheels, others may.

Edited 23 July, 201213 yr by Yorkshire

I've been looking a dog crates recent but not for the Octavia. I think one of the problems with the Estate (if you don't have the variable boot floor) is the lip at the back - it limits the dog crates you can have as on some the doors will foul the lip and won't open. It also depends how much you want to spend. We have a single large G4 safedog crate in the X5 for two dogs - one medium one small and this gives us about half the boot back. We have also had cheaper wire crates from zooplus but they took too much space up.

See post #8 for the dog cage:

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/224184-dog-crate-for-labrador-in-hatchback/page__hl__+dog%20+crate#entry2638102

My towbar was fitted without the factory tow bar prep and as far as I am aware it was done the old fashioned way by tapping into the back of the rear light clusters.

No issues at all with it...

Genuine Skoda alloys are hard to come by, for the best OEM look you'll want the same type that are fitted to the SE (15") or the Elegance (16").

Big money new...

http://www.skodaparts.com/product/octavia-alloy-wheel-pyxis-15---2008-2013-31593

I'd be ringing up a local scrapyard!

A vote for the dogpod in the link above. http://www.hamsterbaskets.co.uk/dogpods150.html

I've had one for two years in my estate and use it every day to transport two Rottweilers. It's made to measure and there's room down the sides to open the storage compartments. A bit fiddly to take in and out but it's lightweight in comparison to some others I looked at.