Only gripe is the Stream radio that suffers from breakthrough far more than any other RDS radio that I or my wife have had in other cars including the Ocky 1 and the wife's Fabia.

Not wishing to be off thread (& is there a thread on this?), but I get this all the time - the stream is the worst quality radio I've had in a car in the last 10 years; its ability to reject breakthrough is totally pathetic. Also, it doesn't remember volume and tone settings when you switch inputs - it's one setting for all. The RDS traffic announce function is so slow to switch that you miss the first few seconds of the message - arrghh.

I compare this with radio in my Mk4 Gti, and that was suberb, so I conclude this is another of those penny pinching problems you get with Skodas compared with the 'real thing' VW's.

Of course, unless you travel a lot and use (and know anything about) radios, this would not necessarily be a reason to buy a Focus instead; I bet the Focus radio is not as good as the VW's, given the power the Ford bean counters wield....

Steve

Ok, so mines a Mondeo not a Focus, but it came with a simply fantastic Sony 6 disc in dash changer, and an aux input in the glove box for my I-Pod or PSP or anything really.

Doesn't sound like Ford are the penny pinchers here?

And the radio would still work should I ever wish to put an aftermarket head unit in, cos it doesn't have one of those stupid aerial base amplifiers like all VAG cars do that never really work 100% with anything other than standard a fit radio.

cos it doesn't have one of those stupid aerial base amplifiers like all VAG cars do that never really work 100%

What, does Skoda have real VAG parts in it? :P (just playing )

What, does Skoda have real VAG parts in it? :P (just playing )

It's probably made from papiermache and paperclips in the Skoda though ;)

To Tezza72 and your hankering for a Mazda 6

My advice is don't!

I owned a TS Diesel for just over a year and it was a nightmare. After just 9,000 miles I was on the THIRD turbo after they had all failed will dodgy seals.

I don't drive like a lunatic either. The tailgate trim and centre console also squeaked like a good 'un which couldn't quite drown out the terrible wind noise and tyre roar.

Too many Ford parts probably

I traded in for a new Leon mark 2

I thought I read somewhere that there was a firmware update for the stream that greatly improved reception and that the new 2007 models had it. I thought I had read it in another thread on this board.

Found various mentions after doing a search. In one post it mentions that the radios in the Skoda are built by a company that was previously owned by Ford

See this post....

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/new-octavia/wanted-part-no-s-please/63800/?highlight=radio+software+update#post727305

Ok, so mines a Mondeo not a Focus, but it came with a simply fantastic Sony 6 disc in dash changer, and an aux input in the glove box for my I-Pod or PSP or anything really.

Doesn't sound like Ford are the penny pinchers here?

And the radio would still work should I ever wish to put an aftermarket head unit in, cos it doesn't have one of those stupid aerial base amplifiers like all VAG cars do that never really work 100% with anything other than standard a fit radio.

Apologies for continuing to be off-topic...

Fair enough - the mondeo may well have a better standard fit radio than the focus, it is a higher spec car (it probably depends on model version too), but either way it doesn't change the fact that the Stream -radio reception- is rubbish. Actually so is the CD player - just as tinny as they were in my cars 15 years ago.

Dunno about whether there is a base amplifier in the Octavia or not, but I have to say I have had several VW's with such an amp, and they worked brilliantly, and I think this is not connected to the breakthrough problem which is poor/cheap radio design (they should have spent another £3 on a better FM chipset, since I have bags of signal strength!).

Also, I hate the "made to fit the space" radios on the Skodas - it is a bg disincentive to fit something that's any good, and then you risk losing the graphics functions unrelated to to the radio, which should be on the instrument binnacle anyway. Stupid desgners - I suppose they thought it would reduce radio theft, but the dumb oiks nick 'em anyway just be annoying.

Steve

I thought I read somewhere that there was a firmware update for the stream that greatly improved reception and that the new 2007 models had it. I thought I had read it in another thread on this board.

There is! Had it done. End result was, if anything, slightly worse than before the upgrade.

Just to update on my list of niggles mentioned earlier in this thread after the 20,000 mile service.

Screeching drivers front electric window. Front runners dry, lubricated. Now OK

Creaking suspension. Fault traced to a faulty rear tie rod. Part to be ordered and completed soon.

Windscreen milky line on bottom edge. New windscreen to be fitted as it is coming delaminated. To be done soon.

Climate controls problems. Flap positions reset, now OK.

Creaking dashboard. Traced to front air vents. New revised air vents to be ordered and fitted soon.

All above problems have been tackled very professionally and with good communication from my dealer.

snip

with good communication from my dealer.

Who is?

I now have my new Skoda and I am extremely pleased with it. Feels very solid and well made. I love all the little touches like the netting in the boot and the rear windscreen wiper sweeping when you select reverse. It just feels like a much more expensive car. Nicer to drive than my sister's new BMW and I don't feel like I'm trying to get people's attention. Much better ride than my old focus and people raved over the the drive in that.

Glad your enjoying your new car.

Will we see you on Sat at the I.O.W meet?

Well, would be rude not to, since it's right on my doorstep! Incidentally, the pub now has a slate roof since the thatch burnt down a couple of months ago. Shouldn't be hard to find though as it is the only pub in Whitwell.

the rear windscreen wiper sweeping when you select reverse. It just feels like a much more expensive car.

I was told mine would do that but in the 3 years I've had it is has never once done it :confused: (yes the wipers are going). Don't bother me though, I just do it manually if its raining.

I was told mine would do that but in the 3 years I've had it is has never once done it :confused: (yes the wipers are going). Don't bother me though, I just do it manually if its raining.

Is it a MK1? That would probably be why.

Is it a MK1? That would probably be why.

Yeah mine is a MK1, but I was told that when I select reverse with the wipers on then the rear wiper would sweep over. I guess you should never trust car salesmen

Yeah mine is a MK1, but I was told that when I select reverse with the wipers on then the rear wiper would sweep over. I guess you should never trust car salesmen

I think it only does it when you have already put the wipers on for the front screen.

I don't remember the feature from my MK1 03 RS, maybe it was added as a feature later in the model run.

I think it only does it when you have already put the wipers on for the front screen.

I refer the honourable gentleman to my initial post

I was told mine would do that but in the 3 years I've had it is has never once done it :confused: (yes the wipers are going). Don't bother me though, I just do it manually if its raining.

Its no huge loss though.

I refer the honourable gentleman to my initial post

Oh right - I guess it would help if I learned to read!!