When I picked up the Roomie from new I was pleased with the lack of gear whine especially second gear which inflicts most secondhand cars. 27k later I can hear a slight whine in second gear on the overrun. Although it is indiscernible to others who ride passenger I can hear the whine albeit very slightly. I have only driven the car from new and never crunched the gearbox during its 4-year life and I never hold 2nd gear above 3000 rpm. I suppose it is just natural wear in the gear wheels and will get more noticeable when the mileage mounts

My Superb developed the same whine in 2nd gear before 20K. Had the bearings and syncro changed by Skoda under warranty. Now whines from the diff in any gear after 40+ MPH

 

Moral of the story - live with the second gear whine

Had my Roomster from new.  48k miles and no 2nd gear whine though admittedly it is a clattery, noisy old diesel but...  I can honestly say the last car I had with any gearbox whine was a 1977 Chrysler Alpine and to be fair the whine was only audible to the connoisseur as it was all but drowned out by the tappet clatter from its glorious Simca 1300cc engine;  and the gearbox was cream crackered (learned to double declutch on that car).  I also seem to remember that my Dad's '58 Morris Oxford whined a bit as did the LC3 truck he drove for a living and my Uncle had a beloved 1940's Morris 8 that... lets be generous and just say it was of its era.

 

You only hear the gearbox because you ain't giving it enough welly.  Never held 2nd beyond 3000 rpm!!!!  I am thinking of starting up the NSPCR  -  National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Roomsters. My daughter's  dog whines when I don't let him off the lead for a good run.   Have you let your long suffering Roomster off the lead yet and given it that Italian tune-up yet Edbostan old chap?  Go on....   you know it makes sense.  ;-) 

I am off to Cornwall at the beginning of June and its due for a service next week to be filled with a sump of Castrol Edge. On the way to Cornwall with the engine hot I will drive like an Italian and let it off its lead.