As some of you may know, that's my Octavia back to the dealers to get a suspected flywheel rumble investigated. The dealers gave me a brand new manual SE 1.6 Diesel 4 x 4 Estate as a loan for the next 2-3 weeks.

 

My thoughts:

 

Engine: Really impressed with the 1.6, it is smoother at low revs (I find the 2.0 has nothing when pulling away in eco/normal then goes mental) and I know it's slower but doesn't feel it.

Trim:    I really miss the Elegance spec, but most I miss the heated seats. What a difference they make.

Economy: That's me averaged 50 mpg (almost exactly) coming through town from the south of Aberdeen to about 15 miles north, so 50/50 mix of town / urban. That is about 5mpg down on the 2.0 non 4x4.

 

Mitsumi Interface: This is the real reason for this post, I haven't noticed a blind bit of difference between having it on my Elegance to not having it on this SE spec. I really don't know what it does. Everything works EXACTLY the same using my Blackberry Z10 as a reference. I will try my wife's Iphone and update if I see a difference there.

 

Overall I am really impressed with the smaller engine, it is a lot better than I thought. If it snows in the next 2 or 3 weeks I will tell you how the 4x4 handles :-)

 

Just my tuppence worth if anyone is speccing up a car.

Great post. Thanks for taking the time to write it.

What gearbox does this 4x4 have five or six speed :wonder: as I looked at ordering a 105 version but was put off partly by being assured it was five but I believe they are now 6 speed.

 

Also interested in your performance comparison, as again I was put off by others, who where suggesting the 105 against the 150 was a poor option, so that's what I ordered in the end.

 

 

TP

This one has a 6 speed box. I've only had it for a day now but will be taking it on a 300 mile round trip in a few weeks with the family in it, so hopefully can comment then a bit more.

 

I've found that it is able to hold onto higher gears at a lower speed than my 2.0 and it really doesn't struggle at all to get up to speed on the dual carriageway.

 

IMHO, I think that the 2.0 is able to give you a smile when you want it to (it does make me laugh sometimes :-) but for most day to day uses, the 1.6 is suitable.

I think that the 1.6 TDi engine is available only with 5M or 7DSG gearbox. There's no option for 1.6 TDI with 6M gearbox on the catalogue, I checked.

Mitsumi Interface: This is the real reason for this post, I haven't noticed a blind bit of difference between having it on my Elegance to not having it on this SE spec. I really don't know what it does. Everything works EXACTLY the same using my Blackberry Z10 as a reference. I will try my wife's Iphone and update if I see a difference there.

 

Why did you even spec it on your car if you have a Blackberry?? Mitsumi is for Apple devices.... I'm not even sure they've ever done a BlackBerry cable for the old MDI nevermind Mitsumi.....

Sure the MDI can be had with a Micro USB cable...agree a bit pointless to spec MDi for this given the car already has USB capability if youre not ever going to use an Apple device in there.

Skoda never did make it abundently clear what the Mitsumi actually did to begin with though, they do in the brochure now.

hmm, why did I spec the mitsumi??? 'Because I wanted to (surely that should be enough reason?)  I have my reasons though, you never know what your company policies on mobiles will bring.

 

I have a mitsumi to Ipod (not everyone has an iphone) and mitsumi to USB female cable (from where I can attach any cable I want). Grand total of about £10 off ebay from what I remember. These work on everything up to Ipod 4th generation if that helps anyone, I can't remember clearly but I think it was okay with my wife's Iphone 4s as well.

 

I will be checking when I get my car back to see if the mitsumi to the USB to Lightning cable works when I get to unwrap my new christmas present to myself ;-). I will report back and tell you if it charges through this setup as I noticed a few people having problems earlier. I have wanted to at least provide some information back to this forum which has (so far) been a really nice source of information.

 

Kamengk - It definitely does have a 6 speed box though, it may be different in Bulgaria, sorry I can't be more help there.

I'm confused, in your original post you said you don't know what mitsumi does? And you use you blackberry with it? Now you're saying you use it with an iPod and you do seem to know exactly what it does.......

Regarding the 5 speed, 6 speed argument.

I drove a 1.6TDI Octy Hatchback, and that was 5 speed.

Just checked Skoda website, and according to them, 1.6 is 5 speed and 2.0 is 6 speed, no matter whether Hatch or Estate. Odd. Sure they never supplied you with a 2.0? Perhaps garage doesnt know what engine it is!

 

When I drove the 1.6, I found that it was fine once you got it above 2000rpm and the turbo kicked in. Before that, she could be a bit slow. So you really needed to rev the engine to get decent acceleration.

Yes it can hold onto higher gears quite well at lower speed (although do this and the diesel rumble because very obvious), but try putting your foot down quickly- Well, your foot may go down quickly, but the car wont go anywhere quickly! She will really struggle until the turbo kicks in.

 

These are the main reasons i went for a 2.0 in the end. Hoping it will provide that little bit of extra oomph before the turbo gives a kick.

I found the 1.6 to be 'hey, that's not bad', followed quite quickly by 'oh, that's all it's got'

It's not a bad engine but you are almost flat out everywhere so when you need (or want) more you haven't got it.

The 2.0 you barely use full acceleration so you've always got more poke when you want it.

Regarding the 5 speed, 6 speed argument.

I drove a 1.6TDI Octy Hatchback, and that was 5 speed.

Just checked Skoda website, and according to them, 1.6 is 5 speed and 2.0 is 6 speed, no matter whether Hatch or Estate. Odd. Sure they never supplied you with a 2.0? Perhaps garage doesnt know what engine it is!

I think it is 6 speed as it's the 4x4 version.

Have they put the low ratio first back into the MK III then?

 

Its something I alternately love and hate in my MK II. Fantastic when you need it, an annoyance the rest of the time, but I'd still rather have it.

I'm confused, in your original post you said you don't know what mitsumi does? And you use you blackberry with it? Now you're saying you use it with an iPod and you do seem to know exactly what it does.......

 

Neily, don't be confused. It is pretty simple really. I have a Blackberry just now...... I have an Ipod........ I am getting an Ipad soon...... I may be getting an Iphone to replace the blackberry at work soon...... Hence, I bought the mitsumi add on but use it with a Blackberry just now. Hope that makes it clearer.

 

If anyone is interested I can post up exactly what works with each of the options for Mitsumi connections / USB connections / Third party cables / Old and new apple connections in a few weeks.

 

As for the engine it is definitely the 1.6 4x4 diesel.

 

I agree that the 1.6 seems to be fine just now, not sure what it will be like on the dual carriageway for an extended period of time with the whole family and luggage, that was the reason I went for the 2.0 as well. fingers crossed it will be fixed soon.

 

 

Have they put the low ratio first back into the MK III then?

 

Its something I alternately love and hate in my MK II. Fantastic when you need it, an annoyance the rest of the time, but I'd still rather have it.

 

Sorry, not sure about the low ratio question. Is this to do with the 4 wheel drive (like an offroader)? There aren't any extra options on the gearbox I have found, but I may have missed something. 

Sorry, not sure about the low ratio question. Is this to do with the 4 wheel drive (like an offroader)? There aren't any extra options on the gearbox I have found, but I may have missed something. 

 

The first gear in MKII 4x4 Octavias (and Scouts be extension) is a lower ratio to other Octavias. They don't have a specific low range setting like real offroaders, but it is helpful. I believe it is not the case in the MKIII, but the change in gearbox might indicate it making a return.

Ah that makes more sense, thanks for explaining that one. It seems to be a lot smoother than my own gearbox though as if the ratios are more in align with each other (although I may be making that up). I wonder if the ratios are in the handbook? I seem to remember that my motorbike ratios were there but can't remember if it mention them in the car handbook.

 

I noticed something else, but this may be as it is a 4x4. there seems to be a very, very faint humming noise when I release the clutch and drive away, clutch in it stops. My son noticed it last night and when you notice it, you can't ignore it! Is there anyone else with a 4x4 that has noticed this, or is it normal? just curious...

You can find the gear ratios here:

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/261482-technical-guides-diesel-petrol/

 

And as already stated, the 4x4 manual always comes with the 6-gear box.

Neily, don't be confused. It is pretty simple really. I have a Blackberry just now...... I have an Ipod........ I am getting an Ipad soon...... I may be getting an Iphone to replace the blackberry at work soon...... Hence, I bought the mitsumi add on but use it with a Blackberry just now. Hope that makes it clearer.

 

The more you write on this subject the less sense you make, in your original post you said you don't know what Mitsumi does and to quote "I haven't noticed a blind bit of difference between having it on my Elegance to not having it on this SE spec".  Does you Elegence actually even have Mitsumi? You should have at least noticed the different socket below the heater controls and the fact that the cable from your "mitsumi" won't fit in the SE you have now?....

You can find the gear ratios here:

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/261482-technical-guides-diesel-petrol/

 

And as already stated, the 4x4 manual always comes with the 6-gear box.

 

Cheers Johh. I thought I was going a bit mad there, everyone was saying it didn't. 

 

Neily, go and calm down please.. I started this thread to try to inform people of my findings, not get into personal bashing. Thanks.

I 'm with Neily on the Mitsumi point. It is only an apple device controller, so any other decide it will be just like a USB, or aux plug in. Also you said you had an iPod connector, not iPhone yet they are the same.....except for the new small plug style ones

I don't understand why they even bother with Mitsumi. Is there an Apple directive or something preventing car manufacturers from letting people control Apple devices through the stock USB port?

 

It doesn't seem to be a problem in the aftermarket where almost any head unit can take the standard USB cable from an ipod/phone.

You can find the gear ratios here:

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/261482-technical-guides-diesel-petrol/

 

And as already stated, the 4x4 manual always comes with the 6-gear box.

 

Seen photo's of an early production Octy III 105 4x4 with a five speed box and SUK stated this to be the case but since then I've only seen pictures with six speed boxes on this spec :wonder:

 

TP

I don't understand why they even bother with Mitsumi. Is there an Apple directive or something preventing car manufacturers from letting people control Apple devices through the stock USB port?

It doesn't seem to be a problem in the aftermarket where almost any head unit can take the standard USB cable from an ipod/phone.

Had a Yaris on rent this summer. Full iphone control, playlists etc, album art and even internet sharing for POI lookup on the Nav. All via standard USB. This isn't Apple. It's a VAG issue.

I don't understand why they even bother with Mitsumi.

Because if you want to connect an apple device you need it. So to me that's a very good reason.

Is there an Apple directive or something preventing car manufacturers from letting people control Apple devices through the stock USB port?

No, this is just how VAG do it.

Agreed - Had a Ford hire car for a few weeks and that had full iPod (iPhone) media control through USB.