My 53 plate Octy vRS is 3 years old next month (and therefore out of warranty). On particularly cold mornings during last winter the car often failed to start - not a case of the starter turning over and over but totally dead when ignition key was turned. It would usually start if the key was kept in the 'start' position for 10-15 seconds. I took it to the dealers on several occasions but sod's law prevailed and it would not misbehave! (they had it overnight so they could do a cold morning start). Apparantly my problem (from occasions when it did misbehave) had not registered on their diagnostic equipment either. Winter is coming (as well as the end of the warranty). Anyone got any ideas?

dodgey battery??

I agree with Tom.....we had a Golf years ago and it also would start when it was very cold...turned out to be a dodgy battery...apparently VW had had a bad batch of them.

My 04 plated Octavia Vrs developed a similar problem earlier this year. In my case the dealer replaced the battery and, I understand, from the diagnostics, a coolant temperature sensor. It's been fine ever since.