Ok, so I know I was asking about the VRS, but I have an R32, and we wanted a cheaper car to run and something more practical.

 

So we've ended up with an Octavia Estate, 4x4, 2.0 FSI. 80K miles, 05 plate - looks great, no real panel damage, engine sounds sweet and quiet, no knocks, bangs or rattles, FSH - although on the long-life service schedule. Got the garage to bung a towbar on there too. £4K.

 

Pretty damn chuffed.

sounds good.  pics?

I'm picking it up on tuesday. Will do so then

 

The one minor against it, is that it's gold. I believe it's called 'Champagne' or something. I wasn't too keen when I heard, but it is meant to be more of a workhorse than a pose-mobile, so I wasn't that arsed, plus had been looking for ages and not go anywhere. Colour came secondary.

 

Saw it in the flesh - actually not as offensive as I thought it would be!

What trim level is it? Elegance?

 

Phil

What trim level is it? Elegance?

Phil

Nearly. Mine is essentially elegance spec but hasn't got puddle lights. Oh and you get 15" Helios wheels rather than 16" Vega.

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What trim level is it? Elegance?

 

Phil

 

It has a CD multi-changer in the boot, xenons, alloys (not sure what size with brand new Goodyear rubber), fog lights and rain sensors. Not sure whether that denotes the trim level or not.

Edited 2 May, 201412 yr by FuzzyLogic

All but the Xenons are standard equipment.

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On an 05 plate it will be Sahara Beige -- cracking colour, one of the best there is! (Check my signature )

 

Mike

 

Sahara Beige.............Hearing Aid Beige     ha ha jus kidding

That's a sexy Trabbie pic

Nothing wrong with sahara beige as long as the interior is not beige

 

Interior is black. Pretty nice example actually.

 

So - Can anyone explain how to get the climatronic zone thing working? Turn on A/C, and left and right sides show as 'LO'. You turn the temp thing, and only the passenger side display changes. On the radio display thing, there is the temp showing left/right, with an arrow pointing at each side - but I'm not sure how to select the driver's side. Any clues?

 

Many thanks!

Edited 6 May, 201412 yr by FuzzyLogic

What trim level is it? Elegance?

 

Phil

The 4x4 is its own trim level, somewhere between SE and Elegance.

So - Can anyone explain how to get the climatronic zone thing working? Turn on A/C, and left and right sides show as 'LO'. You turn the temp thing, and only the passenger side display changes. On the radio display thing, there is the temp showing left/right, with an arrow pointing at each side - but I'm not sure how to select the driver's side. Any clues?

 

Many thanks!

 

The 3 big round knobs under the radio. Left one changes passenger temp, right one driver. Turn counterclockwise for cooler, clockwise for hotter.

 

Make sure Auto is on and Econ is off.

Have you another temp thing on the right?

Ok, so I know I was asking about the VRS, but I have an R32, and we wanted a cheaper car to run and something more practical.

 

So we've ended up with an Octavia Estate, 4x4, 2.0 FSI. 80K miles, 05 plate - looks great, no real panel damage, engine sounds sweet and quiet, no knocks, bangs or rattles, FSH - although on the long-life service schedule. Got the garage to bung a towbar on there too. £4K.

 

Pretty damn chuffed.

 

Be interesting to see how you find the running costs compared to the R32, i would have thought the 2.0 petrol with 4x4 to be quite juicy on fuel too.

mate ran Audi A3 3.2 quattro (same as R32) was getting 25 - 27 mpg, cant imagine the fsi being hugely better.

 

How come you didnt go for a TDi?

You're probably not wrong there. 32 mpg according to parkers:

http://www.parkers.co.uk/cars/reviews/facts-and-figures/skoda/octavia/estate-2005/30451/

Phil

Hey!

 

So the temp thing. Yers. I simply didn't see it. Thanks! Sorry, just got back from working away, not being ignorant.

 

Regarding the MPG - yeh, it's not massively better. Just got back from a ~400 mile trip and the computer is showing 33-ish on the 'overall' setting. On the way back I was cruising around 65-70 and it was returning 38 ish on the trip MPG. So I'm happy with that. Short journeys may be the undoing, but I haven't driven anything else since 2007 and anything above 35 seems incredible! The 4x4 will be useful as we run a campsite, so muddling through on a vehicle with no towbar and asking favours of regulars was getting a bit old! We have 3 trailers too - my dad's peugot with a towbar blew up recently, so we've been a bit stuck. I will re-evaluate in 6 months...

 

My R is showing an overall of around 27.8, but that's with long motorway cruises. Best thing I ever did for that car was get cruise control retro-fitted - initially because it was *very* uncomfortable to keep it around about 75 on long journeys, Leeds-> London weekly, the position of the accelerator in 6th made my leg cramp up - but I made the install cost of the cruise (£175) back in 3 months (back of cig packet calcs) based on the increased MPG efficiency. Also had a stage 2 remap to 98Ron+ (inc filter, full 'zorst etc.) which helped heaps too. Will do a 'proper' test by brimming it at some point.

 

I might get the 'tavia remapped - I understand that they leave the factory with code to take account of all different fuel qualities, and when you tune it to British quality fuel, you get better returns. Won't be to 98 though, just the boggo.

 

As for why not the TDi - we won't do enough miles in it to make the additional cost of the car and the fuel worthwhile. I gather that you have to be really making those miles up to counter the initial purchase cost and fuel.

Edited 8 May, 201412 yr by FuzzyLogic

This is turning into one of 'those' cars.

 

So the gearbox was reconditioned after I bought it, under the garage's 90 day guarantee. It was making funny noises, and to be fair to them, they sorted it. There was a bit of an oil leak, but they claimed it was sorted. There was still a bit of a leak, but then the guarantee ran out.

 

No problems with the gearbox since but: the oil leak turned out to be a plastic box, thing, no better description on the bottom end of the engine. That was around 400 to fix if memory serves, 100 for the part and the rest frigging around getting at it.

 

Then I noticed a bang form the springs - both rear springs were cracked. Replaced. The exhaust sounded like it was blowing a bit - turns out this is an extra special one, and you cannot get a patent part. It's VW or bust - full system required, as the cats have both broken, and there's some kind of flexible braid and rust in it. Price will be ~1K fitted. :/

 

Rad has gone too.

 

What else is likely to go on an 05 OCtavia estate? I'm not sure about keeping - it's that balance between spending too much on the repairs and something else going wrong, or getting shut now.

Oh dear!

 

Unfortunately the 4x4 has a special exhaust and a split petrol tank too due to the prop shaft and haldex etc at the back.

 

Phil