I'm thinking of buying a Mk3 Octavia Estate , 1.5 TSI SEL registered Dec 2019 as a towcar.  I already have a diesel Octavia, but now have a much smaller caravan and have decided to leave petrol behind.  I plan to have the dealer retro-fit a towbar on the nearly-new car before exchange of vehicles.

 

The issue for me at the moment is that the handbook (printed and online version) of the 1.5 TSI Mk 3 (the one just before the 'All-New Octavia June 2020) has a lot of omissions where details were 'not available at time of going to press'.  The VIN plate and reg doc will help a bit with some of the weights, but where can i find a cast-iron figure for the nose weight?  

 

I've looked everywhere for this online.  I suspect the figure is 75kg like the rest of the Octavia range, but if I had an accident while towing or was stopped by police for a check I suspect I would need this info 'officially'.  

 

I'd like to hear if others had this experience, and what they did about it.  Not sure whether it's a deal breaker or not.

Sorry your question is confusing. You are looking at a 1.5 TSI Petrol, own a diesel, but decided to leave petrol behind.

 

My feeling is that you will regret dumping diesel for petrol when towing. Just my thoughts.

My mistake-meant leaving “diesel” behind!

 Now only a light caravan (750kg max - GoPod), which I can store at home in my garage.

I have bought the TSI 1.5 petrol now, and am very happy with it so far.

Two negative points with Skoda Uk though:

1.Don’t expect any sense from Skoda HQ over towbar fitting.

2. The Multi Point Check (MPC) is not something mortals will ever actually see. (Although Skoda Approved Used say you will be handed it and and it covers over a hundred points).

What is your feeling about the 1.5. I presume it has the ACT control for the cylinders. Some say there is a vibration when the cylinders shut down. Whats you opinion.

So far I’m very pleased. Mpg (on eco mode) is encouraging-seems no worse than the diesel.  

There is nothing audible from eco mode. Still new to it all, but I think the cylinder shutdown happens when the conditions are right and the “eco” icon lights up on the display next to the speedo (rather than the permanent “eco” icon on the central/radio display in front of the gear stick). Nothing audible happens at this point.

Haven’t yet towed with it-lockdown happened!

 

I drove a 1.4TSI ACT Leon in Germany, and the only thing was a mildly perceptible bump in power delivery. Really minor, that was it. Nothing else. 2 cylinders at 120km/h was nice to see.

 

 - Bret

I've been towing a two berth caravan bigger than yours with the hatchback version of the Octavia 1.5 TSi DSG.

 

It tows a dream.

 

You are well inside the noseweight limit.

 

No vibration when two cylinders kick in or out with ACT.

 

My caravan now is an Xplore 422 before that a Firestorm 450/2 both well within the capabilities of the 1.5TS1 engine. Mine is a DSG I've never towed with a manual.

 

Used to tow the Firestorm with a 1.9TDi DSG Hatch and later a 1.9TDiDSG Estate and had my doubts about the 1.5TSi but have been pleasantly surprised.

Good to know!