Ive noticed now that the weather has got colder i get quite a bit of exhaust steam when at a standstill, even once the engine is up to operating temp. is this normal on these cars or could something else be wrong?

Mine looks like its on fire when i look through back window, think its normal on the octavia my mk1 did it as well.

Yes totally normal. I noticed the same the other day also noticed that after parking up from a decent journey with the tail end in traffic the engine was warm enough to make the water on the bonnet "steam". 

Water is a natural by-product of combustion, you just notice it more at this time of year as the colder weather makes the water vapour condense quicker which you see as the steam from the exhaust.

 

Ian

Basic chemistry guys [emoji106]

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Yep, same here - nothing to worry about.