2011 Skoda Octavia 1.8 tsi

[markyb83]

Hi all,

I've been driving an old Fabia 1.4 16v Comfort (2002) for a long time. Sadly, it had to go at 86000 miles. It has been a real work horse but the upkeep was outweighing the value of the actual car so it was time to move on. I just wish I knew my way around an engine otherwise I'd still have it now.

 

The Fabia was boring, it had nothing to offer cosmetically but it was just so damn reliable and practical for my little family. This prompted me to stick with Skoda for my next purchase. I needed bigger! In the past I have hired an Octavia and enjoyed the drive from West Cumbria down to the Isle of Wight for our yearly meet up with the in-laws. 

I found out my local Skoda dealer  was selling a 2011 1.8 tsi elegance so I snapped it up without much thought. 56k on the clock, one owner from new with full service history from said dealer. 

I am really chuffed with it so far! I have read a few horror stories on here but in all honesty I don't thrash every motor I've ever owned. I am a family man who sticks to the speed limits and looks after my car (within the remit of my  motor knowledge).

 

I've read every other thread about the negatives of this particular model but I would love to hear some positives from anybody who owns/has owned one. Anybody who would like to comment on the old 2002 Fabia is welcome to get involved too.

 

[Ju1ian1001]

I have a 2010 1.8tsi L & K, and love it, yes the engine is a typical VW flawed design, but is smooth, powerful and very flexible, and good on fuel on long runs.

 

Mine on long run will easy do 41-42mpg and right foot is like a bit of lead. 

 

Mine does everything i ask from, comutes to work without complaint (although only 3 miles each) and the amount luggage i can fit in the boot is fantastic ( a wheel chair and six peoples luggage and still fit the parcel shelf)

 

All in all i love the thing and would certainly have another if i could.

[markyb83]

4 hours ago, Ju1ian1001 said:

I have a 2010 1.8tsi L & K, and love it, yes the engine is a typical VW flawed design, but is smooth, powerful and very flexible, and good on fuel on long runs.

 

Mine on long run will easy do 41-42mpg and right foot is like a bit of lead. 

 

Mine does everything i ask from, comutes to work without complaint (although only 3 miles each) and the amount luggage i can fit in the boot is fantastic ( a wheel chair and six peoples luggage and still fit the parcel shelf)

 

All in all i love the thing and would certainly have another if i could.

I love that the seats collapse at the back like my old Fabia. Loads of room for my next tip run.

[Rhodri]

Hi, I have the same year and engine but in tsi plus guise so with satnav not cruise control.

I have had 3 years of trouble free motoring, just a new battery this Winter.

Sorry to say on this forum but I wanted an Audi A5. Then I realised I could get the Octy for literally half the money for the same engine, that was that. I found a very low mileage car, on 40k now and love driving it. I am a slow careful driver most of the time but when I put my foot down there is plenty there!

Just be aware of the chain issues and enjoy.

[ScoutCJB]

On 16/02/2019 at 11:47, markyb83 said:

I've read every other thread about the negatives of this particular model but I would love to hear some positives from anybody who owns/has owned one. Anybody who would like to comment on the old 2002 Fabia is welcome to get involved too.

 

 

I cant give you any positives as I handed mine back after 6 weeks due to the amount of oil it was using.  Typically I was putting a litre of oil in every time I filled up!

 

 I was getting 38mpg on a motorway run (mine was a Scout).

[Ian]

I've run almost exactly the same car as the OP (early 2012 model) since almost new, and will pass 100000 miles in the next few weeks. It saw a main dealer for its first couple of services, and since then it's gone to a local VAG specialist and serviced every 10000 miles with the long-life oil.

In the whole of that time (nearly 7 years now), it's only needed to be recovered by breakdown once, and that was for a puncture. The only thing which has failed is a front spring, and it was only the end which came off so I was able to drive that to be repaired.

Everything still works as it did when the car was new, I get 40ish mpg, and visually nothing is looking particularly old yet.

 

It does use a bit of oil (on average a litre every 1500 miles or so, and seems worse after long runs on cruise control), but so far I've just been tipping in more oil and hoping for the best.

 

I was talking about the oil consumption with a BMW driving friend a few weeks ago. He seemed to think it was pretty bad, and then went on to tell me how much better his similarly aged 3 series was as it doesn't use any oil. This was followed by him reeling off a huge list of 'minor' problems he'd had with his car in the last few years, but generally his car had been 'very good' apparently. That made me realise that, actually I've done pretty well, with only one unscheduled visit to the garage in 7 years!

 

 

[TheClient]

Yes, the car is otherwise well put together, and the engine decent when repaired or replaced with newer designs. 7 Years motoring without a reliability fault catching you out is good  The oil consumption is a sleeping issue though that will eventually cause problems.    Realistically the engine ring design should of been far better than it was and VAG knew it and know it now. It is a shame that it has such a prominent Achilles heel that catches a lot of used buyer out, and probably puts them off skoda for good, although it obviously affects all the VAG and other VW marks running the same early edition engines.

[ScoutCJB]

19 hours ago, Ian said:

The only thing which has failed is a front spring, and it was only the end which came off so I was able to drive that to be repaired.

 

I didn't have the petrol Oct 2 long enough to find out about any other issues, but My Diesel Oct 2 did both its front springs within a month or so of each other.  

[promethian]

On 17/02/2019 at 10:41, Ju1ian1001 said:

I have a 2010 1.8tsi L & K, and love it, yes the engine is a typical VW flawed design, but is smooth, powerful and very flexible, and good on fuel on long runs.

 

Mine on long run will easy do 41-42mpg and right foot is like a bit of lead. 

 

Mine does everything i ask from, comutes to work without complaint (although only 3 miles each) and the amount luggage i can fit in the boot is fantastic ( a wheel chair and six peoples luggage and still fit the parcel shelf)

 

All in all i love the thing and would certainly have another if i could.

 

I have exactly the same model apart from mine is metallic arctic green.

 

I owned mine for nearly 3 years now and am loathe to think about changing it.

 

Once the tensioner is sorted and change oil every 6 K with 502 spec, it just keeps going and purring.

 

The 1.8 tsi is a fantastic engine and the L&K spec is great, and makes me smile every time I drive it.

 

Edited 23 February, 2019 by promethian

[Ju1ian1001]

On 23/02/2019 at 00:09, promethian said:

 

I have exactly the same model apart from mine is metallic arctic green.

 

I owned mine for nearly 3 years now and am loathe to think about changing it.

 

Once the tensioner is sorted and change oil every 6 K with 502 spec, it just keeps going and purring.

 

The 1.8 tsi is a fantastic engine and the L&K spec is great, and makes me smile every time I drive it.

 

You've hit the proverbial nail on the head, it's the way it make's you feel and smile when you drive it. Fantastic car's

[Dutchie]

I got the 1.6 TDI (2011 Greenline II) and love it, nice and docile if I want to be and if I want to get out of mischief (or into) does that quickly enough as well....too easy to all of a sudden drive at 90mph on the M1 and then having the missus shout at me for aren't we going a bit too fast.

[markyb83]

On 25/02/2019 at 19:38, Dutchie said:

easy to all of a sudden drive at 90mph on the M1 and then having the missus shout at me for aren't we going a bit too fast.

Yeah now I have a bit more power I don't want to let it go to my foot. The missus won't want to get in a car with me ever again..........hmmm!?!

[Dutchie]

but yeah Marky I wouldn't trust the km on the car that much it is out by at least 8 from when I driven in Europe compared to what my Garmin or what Waze have said in the past.

 

okay if you want to stay totally legal then it is trustworthy but again in France you have to pay close attention to some of the roads as they go from 130 to 90 before you know it.