It's cold, windy and raining hard, but I'm happy because my Monte has finally arrived!

I'm pleasantly surprised to find that the ride isn't as 'crashy' as some people have reported, but there are a couple of things I'm missing that my Polo SE had. First is a dimmer switch for the instrument lights, and secondly is the 'soft touch' grab handles, but apart from that the Monte has plenty of other nice touches. However, I do wonder why Skoda have chosen to not to match the radio display with the instruments, very odd!

First job, when the weather improves, is to repaint the rear brake drums as they look ghastly in lightly rusting matt grey (as supplied), then fit some EBC Green Stuff front brake pads to cut down on dust, and finally, give a Monte a thorough coat of Carnauba wax. Roll on the summer!

Congratulations on the new car, had mine two years next month and still loving it , although I did test drive a civic 2.2 diesel type S last week , it had loads more toys, but the Monte makes so much sense (for now) Enjoy :-)

Thanks!

It certainly seems to turns heads wherever I go (I certainly haven't seen one in my area since they've been available), and I love the torque of the Diesel, its a much more relaxed way of driving.

I only notice a "crashy" ride on the less well maintained roads other then that, id say rides like a dream. Good around town and good on the Motorway

Im guessing you swing radio, it looks the part when spec'd with Maxi-Dot and Climatic as all the displays match up well. The standard fabia trip/display is very down. And ive never been a fan of digital fuel gagues.

Glad your enjoying it. Even on the vRS the instruments lights dont have a dimmer.....

Pictures please if you have any yet.

After travelling on a dual carriageway yesterday, I heard a clattering noise at the side of the car and it turned out that the lovely truck in the near side lane which I'd overtaken had fired a stone at my car which put two chips in the lower half of the front door before ricocheting off the rear alloy, also taking a chunk of paint off. Not only that, some kind soul at work has scuffed my rear bumper, and the car has only done 100 miles! Thankfully the scuff came out with a bit of polish, I managed to touch up the wheel with some VW metallic black paint off my Polo (it's a very close match), and I have a touch up stick on order for the door. I'm not in anyway superstitious, but maybe the '13' number plate and '2013 Monte Carlo' plate are having an adverse affect! :(

Anyway, I have managed to give the car a coat of Carnauba wax and refit the rear number plate squarely, but why is it that dealers can't do a simple task like fitting a number plate correctly? This sort of ineptitude really winds me up, or am I being to fussy perhaps?

Noticed a 'impact' dink plus additional small but deep scratch in one of our alloys; cause unknown. Dealers trying to source me some paint to match; even suggested they may have to get the body shop across the road make some up.

Already had the drums sorted, tried doing it DIY with some gloss black VHT paint but the paint started to crack then rust underneath. Therefore I got a small local body shop to do them professionally in 2 pack; cost £40 all told.

Paint chips then I've used this recently, expensive and not quite up to the manufacturers claims but it doesn't leave the unsightly blob of the Skoda product (in the case of candy white anyway).

http://www.chipex.co.uk/

Oh forgot to say the ride and handling of the Monte has been a pleasant surprise for us too; would say we prefer it to the previous Elegance on standard suspension and 205/45 R16 tyres.

TP

Edited 17 May, 201313 yr by The Plumber

Thanks for the link TP, I'll order some and try it out.

I had my mind set on the red Monte until i saw the silver one in the showroom! Possibly the only silver car id ever consider buying, the black trim balances it out perfectly i think.

However I stuck by my previous decision and got the red one on the 1st March

so its a 2013 Monte with the 13 plate, and almost exactly the same event happened except it was a van that managed to fling a stone up to the front drivers wing, then left via my rear quarter panel!

And to add to it after about 300 miles, someboody decided to improve the aerodynamics of the car by putting a lovely big dent just below my door handle with their car door!

so maybe there is some truth in this unlucky 13 theory haha

Ouch! Feel for you mate.