I started working on cars as a hobbyist before I had my driver's license and my own first car. Up until November, I had done primarily mechanics and body work. Then I bought the Rosstech HEX+CAN USB interface and started to acquaint myself with car electronics. All of a sudden, I feel like a novice and I want to get through that phase as quickly as possible. Over the years I have gone through a broad range of vehicles with an emphasis on the Volkswagen group. Experiences with Italian and French cars (FIAT 500 and 127, Peugeot 205, Renault Clio) were less encouraging and a recent detour to Mercedes (A180 CDI, Viano 2.2) yielded ambigous impressions. I became aware of Skoda because we had some Octavia Combis in the motor pool and I found them efficient and handling well. I toyed with the idea of buying one from the company but could not yet say goodbye to driving a van after almost 30 years of (Volkswagen) vans and a serious DIY person. Completely without having planned ahead we sold our Viano to friends im May 2013 and I started to look for an alternative. Eventually, I remembered my positive Skoda impressions and decided for an Octavia Combi. Based on (missing) features of our A180 I found that the Elegance best met my 'requirements' and bought a 2008 1Z5 2.0 TDI with DSG. I have not been disappointed. Getting 5l/100km is no effort all with disciplined acceleration. Once our A180 is due I am likely to get a Fabia for my wife but we hope it will run for a few more years.

In more general terms, I am a precision mechanic engineer by trade and work in the IT industry. I am very analytic and used to tackling things in a structured manner.

I am looking forward to interacting with other forum members to expand my own horizon and help others to do the same.

Edited 14 January, 201412 yr by flb58

Hi and welcome aboard.

Welcome