Hi, guys,  I don't own a Skoda yet, but have been out shopping for one (and finding it's not easy to get a good one at a realistic price)  I've had three Volkswagens over the last twenty years, a diesel T4 van, A diesel B5 Passat, and most recently, a petrol 6N2 Polo 1.4. I'm looking for an easily maintained petrol Skoda, which means belt driven camshafts.  I did the Polo cambelts shortly after buying it @ 16 years old and 23,000 miles.  Still had its original cambelts on.  Belt changes were easy, after I'd bought a few new bits of kit, so maybe a 1.4 Fabia or even a 1.4 Octavia might serve? That way, I only have to keep one type of oil, coolant, filter, plugs, etc for servicing both cars.

 

Just looked at a 1.8 2011 Octavia SE today.  Nicely equipped, satnav etc, but a bit of a rattle on startup... Camchain?  There was evidence under the bonnet of oil having been flung off the alternator belt, but where was it from?  Crankshaft nose seal?  Power steering? Careless filter swap?  All of these questions are why I'm on here, My last car was the second most expensive I ever had to maintain, going wrong in every way I'd read could happen (I just didn't believe it could all happen to me!) It's not going to happen again, I hope. (with help from other, more experienced members)

 

Anyway, I'm going to search the various topics now, to learn as much as I can ( I have noticed they're so much better built than the Rapide I had a short drive in 30 years ago...)

20 hours ago, Bobble said:

 

 

Anyway, I'm going to search the various topics now, to learn as much as I can ( I have noticed they're so much better built than the Rapide I had a short drive in 30 years ago...)

I think that's a bit of an understatement to say the least .  Now versus 30 years ago in Skoda terms is like night and day!  Welcome along and enjoy the forum!