just a quick note and a word of warning!!

just bought a 2001 rs octavia (like you do) and its done 113k with full "dealer" history..

coz i'm in the trade and dont trust anyone else in the trade (ouch) I checked with the dealer in the history book to confirm it had the cam belt done.

the 80k stamp has the belt box ticked, so I assumed its been done.

WRONG!

THEY TELL ME IT HASNT..ONLY INSPECTED!

and it's due now according to my local skoda dealer.

along with a major service.

oh goody..not only have I just shelled out for the car, but now I get to pay the big service bill with matching cam belt costs.

ALWAYS check by phone to confirm your cars history is genuine and matches what the book claims to have had done.

my wifes 2 year old polo went in to a vw dealer for a main service..only to come out with a stamped service book,UN serviced engine and diffrent front tyres fitted! Iam glad I know what I'm talking about with cars (my job after all) and you can imagine the resulting hassle and arguments this created!

all sorted now, but it pays to be carefull and check everything!! twice!

who would think a new big shiny main dealer would pull a stunt like that eh?

and how many other customers think their car is ok for another 12 months when its not been serviced at all??

nice huh?

Hmm, I can forgive a minor mistake by a dealer, but missing a cambelt change, and possibly charging for the work is unforgivable.

On the same subject, I still suspect my car had its last oil change without a new filter being fitted....

you really can only be sure by marking the old one somehow..it does happen a lot though..i have seen it for myself..and was that brake fluid really changed?

how would you know?

unless you insist on standing over the mechanic at the time (oh the health and safety implications..giggle) your never gonna know.

maybe best to do this kinda stuff ourselves...

Isn't the cambelt interval 120k mile for the 1.8T? Sure I read that somewhere, but lots of people were seeing them break around the 80k mile mark so people were getting them replaced earlier.

Still doesn't forgive them for ticking the cam-belt box though!

Chris