Hi all on this site. Has anyone had any experience with towing with the Octavia Scout 150bhp manual .  Thanks.

Edited 7 October, 20196 yr by NZ100
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2015 scout premium 135 KW diesel.  Tows really well.  I have towed a 7'x5' trailer 460 KM to my daughter's full of firewood. with a heavy hydraulic wood splitter 3 times, both on the freeway at 110 KM/hr and the back way on arterial roads.  Fuel consupption with  a load is not brilliant  - 8-9 L/100 km

What do you want to tow?

Trevor

I have the scout 150 manual and it tows really well. Much better than my old mk2 which was 105hp and not a scout.

The 4x4 makes a difference with only small amounts of spin when pulling away from awkward junctions and by leaving the lane assist on this seems to minimise wandering caused by the caravan.

I tow a 5 berth with an axle weight around 1100kg so its a comfortable match for the scout.

Cheers

A

 

Hi T. Only towing an Eriba 320gt with a Roomster 1.9 at the moment. 

Is the Scout permanent 4 wheel drive? 

With the fuel, does that work out to about 30 to the gallon? I'm getting 38 to 40 at the moment. 

 

 

 

 

Edited 2 September, 20196 yr by NZ100
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22 minutes ago, NZ100 said:

Is the Scout permanent 4 wheel drive?

All Skoda 4x4 are Haldex; so not permanent 4 wheel drive but FWD until the Haldex clutch is engaged (by software) to add drive to the rear wheels.

On a long trip to the south of france and back this year i averaged 48miles per gallon ( without the caravan) but a full boot of holiday gear, air con all the way, 4 people,  and 72 bottles of wine on the way back.

With the caravan i would expect 30-32 although ive never checked that.

My old 105hp 1.9tdi used to do about the same mpg.

SWMBO, has the 184 dsg version, towed our 1500 kg caravan  as if it wasn't there, managed 36 mpg .

If towing a van get the hitch to the tow ball up to the max , it will be  80 kg , use bathroom scales and a bit of broom handle under the hitch 

Edited 3 September, 20196 yr by skippy41

8 hours ago, skippy41 said:

SWMBO, has the 184 dsg version, towed our 1500 kg caravan  as if it wasn't there, managed 36 mpg .

If towing a van get the hitch to the tow ball up to the max , it will be  80 kg , use bathroom scales and a bit of broom handle under the hitch 

Good to know. I'm looking at a 1300 to 1400kg caravan (fully laiden) to tow with the 245 estate. Appreciate the diesel Scout is slightly heavier to increase stability with the 1500kg van! 

Edited 3 September, 20196 yr by Swirly182

Hi, can anyone give me the width of the Scout, with and without mirrors.

I got one size, and it doesn't look as though it will fit in the garage. Thanks.

With mirrors extended 2017 cm. Without mirrors 1814. This is for regular estate but I don't think plastic cladding will add much.

 

You will need a bit of extra space to open the door.

 

Thanks OBS.

May have to knock a hole in the wall to open drivers door. 🤣

3 hours ago, NZ100 said:

Thanks OBS.

May have to knock a hole in the wall to open drivers door. 🤣

Or buy 1 with a sunroof.

Just as a matter of interest, I've been looking at some cars.

They are either very high mileage, or lowish mileage 20 to 30 k.

I can understand the high mileage ones, but what's people's thoughts on why people get rid of a car after only a relatively few thousand miles ?

13 minutes ago, NZ100 said:

what's people's thoughts on why people get rid of a car after only a relatively few thousand miles ?

Changes in people's circumstances may mean that the car is no longer suitable, no longer affordable, or no longer needed. Some cars on shortish leases or PCPs. Some people wanting to own the latest models, or getting bored with current car and fancying a change. Some cars with problems, or fear of problems as car gets older. Maybe less reliable than owner hoped. Ex hire cars.

 

Lots of people change their cars about every three years even if they've not done many miles. I've only done 22000 miles in four years, but I'm planning to keep mine.

Think, probably didn't put it the best way, but was thinking more of the Octavia itself when talking about people selling their cars after only a short time. 

I tend to keep cars along time, I'm on 75k after 11years with my Roomster, done a few more this last year after going from campervan to caravan.

Edited 5 September, 20196 yr by NZ100
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18 minutes ago, NZ100 said:

Think, probably didn't put it the best way, but was thinking more of the Octavia itself when talking about people selling their cars after only a short time. 

Maybe that's what you were thinking, but many people will be selling their cars for reasons unrelated to issues with the car. Like you I tend to keep my cars for a long time. If you have a good car, why not keep it? Depreciation costs are high in the early years, but get less as time goes on. I have a 2007 Octavia which was my company car when new and is now on 87K. I bought it from the company when I retired, and kept it as a second car when I bought the Octavia Scout in 2015.

Still looking at cars. Was talking to the guy at Listers , and i said, i was looking for a manual because i was towing. He said the Auto's are just as good .  Any comments appreciated.  Thanks.

25 minutes ago, NZ100 said:

Still looking at cars. Was talking to the guy at Listers , and i said, i was looking for a manual because i was towing. He said the Auto's are just as good .  Any comments appreciated.  Thanks.

 

On 03/09/2019 at 10:23, skippy41 said:

SWMBO, has the 184 dsg version, towed our 1500 kg caravan  as if it wasn't there, managed 36 mpg .

You already have one comment on the auto. If you are looking at a 4 year old car, then all the autos will have the more powerful 184 ps engine which should be an advantage when towing, though I have never towed with mine, and don't have a tow bar. If you are looking at new or nearly new, I think you will find that manual is no longer available and all the 150s, like the 184s, are now dsg.

 

If you are thinking of getting a car without a tow bar and having one fitted, then find out what is involved in fitting one. I don't know what is involved for the latest Octavias, but someone in another thread who was buying a Karoq has run into complications, as they really need to have factory preparation.

 

Hi OBS, yes looking at 3yr old cars. Found a few 150 manuals, but most are semi auto. Didn't really want to go to a 184. Was trying to get in touch with SWMBO? 

44 minutes ago, NZ100 said:

Was trying to get in touch with SWMBO? 

I believe it's short for She Who Must Be Obeyed, in case you didn't know (apologies if you did, no offence intended), so you need to get in touch with skippy41.

 

55 minutes ago, NZ100 said:

Didn't really want to go to a 184

May I ask why not?

 

Insurance mainly. 

Maybe a bit of overkill with the size of van I'm towing. 

I did see a 150 for sale, that all ready had a towbar fitted, it was 100 miles away. 

 

184 DSG Auto is super smooth on pull away and gear changes are near instant plus you can hold it in gear like a manual. That reduces any jerkiness in the trailer/ car combo through the gear changes. 

 

Also 4x4 versions can haul a larger trailer up to 2000kg braked.

 

Westphalia Tow bar fitting for the DIY confident - these are the bits needing removal to fit the tow bar....

Rear lights out

Bumper off and open a hole for the tow bar (premarked on back of bumper skin)

Rear crash bar off,

Drop the exhaust hanger for access,

Fit and torque the tow bar and elec socket,

Refit bits above except crash bar. 

 

Elec install without factory prep...

LHS boot trim out,

LHS sill and bonnet pull-handle trims out,

LHS rear seat back and cushion out,

Route the electrical harness through from boot to glovebox fuse panel,

Plug 2 harness pins to Ecu connector and others into fuse panel.

Plug in 2 tow harness ECU connectors to supplied tow electrics ECU and secure. 

Secure the 2 harnesses into position and refit trim. 

 

Recode ECU for full tow electrics operation. Basic functionality works without coding though. 

 

2 hours ago, NZ100 said:

Insurance mainly. 

 

 

I can't see it making a difference on insurance unless you are very young with little experience, which given your obvious experience with motor homes I'd assume not.

Even the petrol vRS is very cheap to insure so a 184 scout should be less!

 

One thing to bear in mind for anyone towing though which may or may not be applicable to you is that if you passed your test after 1997 you will be limited on theoretical max train weight.

The scout will be over 2000kg fully Laden due to the extra weight of the 4wd system, so although it's better for towing, it'll actually be more limited for weight if you have a licence after 97.   It's a ridiculous system, you end up being able to legally tow more with a less suitable car.

If the total is still under 3500kg or you have an earlier licence though, clearly it's the one to go for.

Thanks BE, if only I could. 😣