I changed the transmission oil only once on my manual 2 litre octavia but it was only because I was replacing the dmf so thought what the hell but I would definitely not worry about the oil. Speaking strictly manual off course

I have put near 45,000 miles on a late 2010 1.6TDI DSG Octavia.

Once rolling the gearbox is faultless and REALLY makes the most of the free revving 1.6 TDI (on kickdown leastwise)

A proper hoot instantly dropping from 7th to 4th and filling the clock with revs (when so demanded)

Brilliant for overtaking.

However for cut and thrust/ stop start congested urban driving I would not be so sure.

It has idosycrancies in pulling away (a disconcerting pause, while the clutchs first engage) which makes 3 point turns a real nerve wrecking pain.

Plus the tight parking space on a slope "gremlin"

where the transmission when attempting to inch forward and out, disengages drive without warning and WILL allow the car to freely roll back.

Until one "stabs" the brake, or resorts to holding the car on the parking brake against the action of the clutch in order to keep Drive (or reverse) engaged.

A proper bitch.

The car once also rolled back on a short urban hill in a queue of traffic, whilst in Drive with me attempting to move forward.

very disconcerting.

BUT I LIKE THE CAR

cheers

M

There's apparently a software update that should fix the issues with the clutches suddenly disengaging. A guy I talked to with an 1.8 TSI took is in for it, and that was the remedy. Mine's a 2012 and it hasn't had any issues. It probably already has the update.

Edited 19 April, 201313 yr by Perc

the DSG Octavia is still waiting, but also looking to test a couple of manual 1.6 tomorrow, kind of not sure about the gearbox after some reviews here regarding the parking, 3 point turns and so on, considering that my work is mostly about town, odd turns and stops and thrusts.

We are in Spain at the moment, you wouldn't believe how closely they park together, no problems manoeuvring the Octy into the space they leave

Try it!!

Regards all

Juan

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I don't have any trouble with slow speed manoeuvring in my 6 speed wet clutch DSG.

I haven't spent too much time behind the wheel of the "wet 6 speed" but I would probably pick a 2.0TDI over a 1.6TDI to get it if I knew then what I know today. Then again, I ended up buying a TSI so it's not like I had a choice. 7 speed it is.

I can't knock it for reliability (the car is still too new to judge though) but low speed maneuvering is clearly its achilles heel. Once the car is rolling it's the best automatic I've ever driven. Granted, I haven't driven any of the fancy new 8 speed jobs.

the DSG Octavia is still waiting, but also looking to test a couple of manual 1.6 tomorrow, kind of not sure about the gearbox after some reviews here regarding the parking, 3 point turns and so on, considering that my work is mostly about town, odd turns and stops and thrusts.

My 1.6 DSG is on a 12 plate and I haven't noticed any issues with three point turns or parking.

I have never been a fan of automatics, I tolerate the 'slush boxes' in rental cars in the USA when on holiday, but I prefer to drive a manual .......well that was until I bought the DSG. After two weeks of driving with the DSG I'm not sure I would want to go back to a manual all of the time. My initial concern was fuel consumption as I drive 30k miles a year, but on the first two fills its within a few mpg of the manual and on a 150 mile trip home this evening the readout was 59.2 mpg average for the journey.

If the comment by Perc somewhere above turns out to be true, I intend to sue Skoda UK for substantial damages.

Despite my repeated and clear descriptions.

Both face to face and repeatedly in writing.

Of the exact nature of the fault, its causation and associated symptoms.

i.e. the engine revs being held at tickover by the transmission despite the throttle pentiometer demanding 2000-2500 rpm.

Those proper ******s still insisted in describing our problem as a "slight hesitation in pulling away"

There should obviously have been a recall.

Back to my Soliciter am Monday.

PS

Sorry but my next car WILL be a Toyota (based on our daughters entirely different treatment, and indeedwholly professional treatment with her Yaris), or perhaps a Honda.

This from an absolute lifelong fan of German VW/Skoda engineering.

With a well built German wife of exceptional reliability and durability.

dieseldog, my last car was an 08 Civic, bought from Honda at 20 months old with a Honda Warranty

The car itself, once you've got over the wow factor looks and a few great touches, rear seats for example, isn't a patch on the Octavia

The warranty is also useless......I had a gear box problem, it wasn't covered, despite lots of letter writing the refused to cover it.

Sold car with 50k on the clock and full Honda main dealer service history

Regards all

Juan

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OK

Definately a Toyota then.

OR a VERY heavily discounted high-spec Octavia III, with inclusive lifetime warrenty and free servicing for the duration of my ownership.

Erm, cough cough.

Mr Skoda?

jumping back into the conversation guys, must say this is turning out to be a review and a half, much better than a glossy magazine throw up.

since we are talking reviews, a few reads made me realise that the DPF stated with most new VAG diesel engines stands for (Diesel Particulate filter) a collection of three words that still gives me nightmares courtesy of my 05 Peugeot 407 that I briefly used for taxi.

does this mean that the nightmare comes back all over again with the new CR DPF engines, the whole rubbish of regeneration and getting stuck on hill in limp mode, if it is true this for me would a deal breaker unless of course I could find myself a late registered TDI PD.

any thoughts??

Absolutly NO issues with the DPF in the designed from scratch 1.6TDI, I mostly jibble about on local short runs.

With monthly or weekly longer runs.

I occasionally notice/noticed a hot burning smell and heavier than usual fuel consumption when the car was newer, I take it this was the DPF re-genning.

Perhaps 2 or 3 times in total.

No lights or any other signs.

So NO worries on that front.

Marcus

Edited 20 April, 201313 yr by dieseldogg

Absolutly NO issues with the DPF in the designed from scratch 1.6TDI, I mostly jibble about on local short runs.

With monthly or weekly longer runs.

I occasionally notice/noticed a hot burning smell and heavier than usual fuel consumption when the car was newer, I take it this was the DPF re-genning.

Perhaps 2 or 3 times in total.

No lights or any other signs.

So NO worries on that front.

Marcus

that's great news, perhaps per your experience is it true that the DPF on skoda models differs from VW models, I know they are one of the same but that's what I heard,, the above mentioned nightmare peogeout had to have some kind of fluid filled in its DPF to keep the regeneration process going.

I have been also told tho that the whole DPF thing can be removed and car mapped accordingly to completely do away with it, It also gives slight power gain to the car as a by product.

I did not intend to suggest that Skoda DPF technology or fitment was any different to VW's.

Rather I meant that across the VW group's different brands, the designed from scratch 1.6TDI cum DPF installation was exactly that.

In the 1.6TDI the DPF is nestled up at the back of the engine absolutly as close to the turbo as possible and heavily heat insulated.

Therefore it gets very hot very quickly.

Unlike the retro fit = "bodged" by VW midlife 2.0 diesel DPF installations which were (as I understand ) housed somewhere beneath the floorpan as part of the exhaust system.

Therefore could not be got as hot as fast, nor indeed be kept hot in the cooling air flow beneath the floorpan.

However this less than entirely successful bodged installation led to a better 1.6 TDI design.

cheers

marcus

Edited 21 April, 201313 yr by dieseldogg

As Marcus, no issues whatsoever with DPF and no warning lights or awareness of a regen taking place

I have a mate who got his 1.6 CR Octavia at the same time as I did, he only drives 4000 miles a year, he loves diesels...... , he has had no issues

Regards a

Juan

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When someone brings up DPF issues caused by short trips I think of all the vans that are used as company runabouts. Lots of short trips round town all its life. Yet, the DPF is fine.

But erm, mostly vans are more used, not short runs and stopped parked up.

As an underused car would be.

Probably most vans (driven by hired help) are left ticking over when stopped during deliveries.

So less likely to cause DPF issues?

just a thought

Marcus

Don't know what's happened to mine, it turned 20,000 miles a few weeks ago and the last three tankfuls have given me 61.2, 59.8 and 60.4mpg

Prior to this the average was 56.4mpg

All figures calculated not trip computer

It must have completed its running in period ;-)

Regards all

Juan

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the highest ive gone so far on a motorway run Is about 54 mpg (on the computer) usually in the 45 and near 50 in town, the computer in maxidot is a bit off the mark I must say.

ive got the kenwood unit with garmin fuel report and that gives me a better track of fuel.

and by the way JUAN, thanks for the positive feedback on the DSG, iam loving it mate

No sweat, good to know, great engine/gearbox combo isn't it

Regards all

Juan

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