Now that I've had the timing chain kit replaced by Skoda and the cold start rattle has more or less gone, I've another noise which I now know must be something else (!)

 

Its noticeable when drive is taken up at low revs and gently pulling away and lasts for a couple of seconds. It sounds like a low level 'chewy' noise as through something is opening a valve or a spring and doesn't happen any where else in the rev range or under load.

 

Any clues would be appreciated - the car has done nearly 100k so just looking out for anything common before I head back to the Skoda garage.

(I'm a bit less concerned now that the chain kit has all been done but the noise was there before) 

The first place I would look is the exhaust system alignment, particularly if it’s immediately after work done requiring disconnection and reattachment.

Stepping off torques the engine causing flexing and that’s when it can also hit bodywork until you back off the power.

I've noticed this issue recently with my 1.2 TSI Fabia, were you ever able to find out what caused it?

Wow, I'd forgotten this one from 7 years ago!

It definitely wasn't exhaust related but we sold the car the following year.

is your Fabia automatic as I wondered if it was the mechatronic unit starting to play up?

Haha, yeah I probably did dredge this up a little!

I've got a manual so I'd doubt it was gearbox related. I'll have to keep investigating, but I'm glad to hear your Yeti didn't go kaput 10 miles later or something, bodes a little better for myself.