My1st Skoda My 1st Diesel My 1st 6speed Gearbox My 1st 4x4 all on the 1st of March, Ive done about 500 miles now and every thing seems good and I am very pleased so far, still finding my way. I had a Mazda 6 1.8TS before and could not fault it. But I wanted a 4x4 for fishing trips which means a lot of green lanes, soggy wet fields, having read all the Info I could, I decided The Octavia 4x4 1.9 was, the car for me, I'm keeping my fingers crossed, the Mazda was good.

Ive been reading your coments with interest and realise you Octi drivers do have a few problems from time to time. So If you can spare me the time Iwould be very grateful If you pass on any tips or problems or just general chat and experiences with the 4x4 I would be very pleased.

Thanks BILL

Welcome, enjoy your car and ask away:thumbup:

I had my octy 2 elegance (but not 4 x 4) on 1st March. Was really really tempted by 4 x 4 but very rarely off road though do live on a farm (the business has an old J reg landrover for field work), but i use my car to travel back and for to work on mainly A roads so seemed a bit unnecessary. However I certainly think they are an excellent option. I didn't realise they had 6 gears, I guess thats for towing etc. Anyway enjoy, I have now done 750 miles in mine and am very pleased so far. Fingers crossed for problem free motoring.

Welcome from an old 4X4 owner - and you can read that either way.

Hi and welcome, I too have a new 4x4 TDI and have done nearly 7,000 miles in 4 months and am quite happy with it, a few niggles but nothing to stop me recommending one to anybody.

Bought my 4x4 in october - like you my first skoda, diesel ,six speed and 4x4.

Been to scotland and france in it as well as the daily commute and find it a relaxing, comfortable and spacious ride. Love the wipers that work on their own and the fact that it uses far less fuel than my old honda vti.

A minor niggle is the very sharp brakes which sometimes seem a little harsh and difficult to apply without jolting.

Other than that I'm more than pleased. pmc

Hi mate, ive got a 4x4 too and its great, no niggles so far

Mine is from December.

Only trouble has been a noise (twice) in the rear right wheel, almost sure a stone put between the brake and the wheel, or any similar part. It seemed like my handbrake was on all the way (just the noise, not the braking effect, 'shreeeeeing' like).

It stops braking hard once or twice, then going backwards, and upwards again. The stone goes away and that's all.

It never happened to me before this car, probably the wheel 'entries' are wider than my last car (with plastic cover).

Like suspensions very much. And consumption is lowering every month, just a little.

Sorry to drag this excellent thread down to a base level but what is the 4x4 Tdi performance actually like (i.e. 0-60)? On paper it looks pretty dire and has put me off for the moment although I kind of like it's 'platform soles' ride height, the fuel economy and the 4x4 ness. I also don't like the 500kg unbraked tow weight (150kg less than other models) which seems ridiculously low for something that will probably end up being a workhorse for many buyers.

So far the 2.0 Tdi estate, or FSI 2.0 4x4 are tickling me fancy although the fuel economy on the petrol 4x4 is awful and probably worse than the 528i I've got without being as quick. I suppose there is always the VRs estate which goes 2 seconds quicker than the 2.0 FSI 4x4 and has better fuel consumption..........

Basically I want something that does everything (space, fuel economy, 4x4, adequate 0-60 time) but without a 2.0 Tdi 150bhp 4x4 in the lineup the current range can't quite do it - dang nabbit.

I've had mine for 5 weeks now and no probs so far. Coming from a 150 bhp 1.8T 2WD Octy 1 estate, the performance is significantly slower so traffic light burn ups are no more. If you swap cogs quickly, it can be hussled along at a reasonable pace and there's always the engine remap option for a bit more get up and go.

Being a diesel, the engine noise is more noticable than my old car but I've got plans for improving the sound deadening.

I've just had my towbar delivered so that's next weekend's job - the old car never had any probs towing a 1.3 tonne boat even when the trailer brakes were water logged.

On the plus side is 48 mpg against 35 and the 4x4 ability which so far I've only tried in snow and on gravel fire roads.

I too only find the traffic light grand prix a problem myself, 1st gear is simply too low, prob why the 0-60 time is so poor. Once on the move things are different, tho nothing like the G/F's furby vRS, it can more than hold its own and whilst overtaking isnt a breeze it is capable of doing a reasonable job.

Dunno how your getting 48mpg humsk, best I can get is 41 as an average, mind u it is very hilly where I live.

Thanks gent's. Even 41mpg sounds really good to my 22-24mpg average BMW ears. I'm not so bothered about TL grand prix's but a curtailed ability to overtake would bother me as I often get stuck behind numpties on country roads with only a few places to safely pass them.

humsk, is that a 1.3 tonne braked trailer with a boat? Shouldn't be a problem for the 4x4 TDi as it's max braked towing weight is 1500kg I think. However, I have a 600KG rated unbraked trailer which technically would overload the 4x4 TDi's unbraked towing weight of 500kg if I fill it up with rocks or sand or something.

I really don't want to ruin another cars clutch by towing and manouvering something heavier than it's rated for ...........................

Heavy Load = Light Wallet where clutches are concerned!

Stone,

Yes, that's 1.3 tonnes trailer + boat and it's a braked trailer but when the boat has been recovered from the water, the drum brakes are next to useless until they've dried out. The car's brakes have no problems stopping the weight which to my mind is more important the being totally legal.

Even though I seriously abused the old car's clutch - burning friction material smell many times dragging the combo up slipways, I was surprised that I never had to change the clutch - sold the car with 70k miles on the clock - pity the poor bu**er who brought it from the dealer.

4x4 should be better as the 1st gear seems lower than my old car and the diesel engine has more torque at low revs. It will be a couple of weeks before I try towing the boat.

I see what you mean now - with wet brakes it's effectively an unbraked load for a few miles.

I'm not bothered about exceeding a limit on paper but I am bothered if it means that the clutch gets burnt out. Interesting to hear you managed to keep your old 4x4's clutch going even after some smoking in a public place!

Let me know how you get on with the new 4x4 & the wet trailer - it might influence a purchasing decision.

Will do - forecast doesn't sound too good for fitting the towbar this weekend

Me again...

Stone, this my interest you - just been checking the V5 as it's car tax time (£135 BTW) and the new form has a lot more info on it including the max towing weights :

braked = 1600 kg

unbraked = 650 kg - so the brochures have a typo !!!

Justdoit - trip computer is now showing 47.8 mpg over 1550 miles - not sure how accurate it is but my route to work is mostly 50 mph open and fairly flat roads (with those "safety" cameras). Maybe I'm getting light footed in my old age!

Humsk,

Thanks, that's a real bombshell if it's true! I can't be the only waverer about the 1.9TDi 4x4 based on the performance and towing weights so that's one less issue to worry about.

Out of interest, have you worked out the 'real' fuel economy yet? (i.e. reset counter on full tank, take mileage when tank is refilled to brim again, divide mileage by gallons). It probably won't be a million miles away from the readout but it will probably be slightly lower.

Humsk,

Looks like the Germans agree with you:

http://pdfserver.datacase.ch/pdf/amag/skoda/deutsch/Preisliste/Octavia_Combi_4x4_d.pdf

That's a major ****-up in the UK brochure department!!

Edit - thanks Briskoda - I haven't come across an automatic expletive deleter before!

I've just had my towbar delivered so that's next weekend's job - the old car never had any probs towing a 1.3 tonne boat even when the trailer brakes were water logged.

Can I enquire as to the make/type of towbar and where you bought it from?

I've been after one for a while but keep get conflicting advice about the suitability of various makes.

Any help greatly appreciated - thanks - pmc

Stone,

If you get stopped by the boys in blue, just wave the V5 under their noses - after all that info has come from the manufacturer not their publicity department. I'll check the owner's manual when I get home.

I haven't done an accurate mpg calculation yet - if I get 5 mins over the weekend I'll check my reciepts.

pmc,

It's a Witter SK12A - brought it from Towequipe on the web (http://www.towequipe.com).

My husband said he saw an Octy 4 x 4 hatchback in the carpark today. I didn't think Skoda did a 4 x 4 in a hatch. Does anyone know about these? Or did he just get it wrong?

Mark 1 Octavia Hatch 1.8 Turbo 4x4 does exist (bloke at work has one).

There is no 4x4 hatch in the Mark 2 Octavia lineup (yet anyway). Only the 1.9 TDI estate 4x4 and the 2.0 FSI estate 4x4.

Thanks for the info. So guess he did see one!

Hi Guys ,Thanks for the chat. Now 900 on the clock and going great, been on trip to London this week a 300 mile round trip 90% motorway, on the way down an average of 45mpg and the return trip 48mpg this seems quite good I think ?

Total MPG since new is 43mpg.

To remark on your comments. My brakes are good and not to sharp, Rain sensors mmm they do work but not sure I am in control. Performance, well yes 1st gear try to avoid it, after that its not disappointing, can you have every thing at that price and quality ?

Bill.

I was messing about in a field over the weekend and was amazed with the traction even on normal road tyres. Driving in ruts deep enough to be dragging the belly in the mud it just kept going even uphill. Hill starts on wet grass were no problem.

Towbar is now fitted so I'll do a "How to guide..." as soon as I've downloaded the piccies.