Have noticed a problem with my new Octy 2.0TDI Estate in that the tailgate and rear screen get absolutely filthy after even a short drive in wet weather, so much so that the rear wiper needs to be on pretty well permanently on the motorway. Problem is much, much worse than any previous estate I have had, and this in spite of the car being fitted with rear mud flaps. Anyone know if there is a spoiler etc that is available that might improve things?

Seems to be a VAG thing, check out the state of the rear of Golfs when out on your travels! My pervious A4 was just as bad also!

Some of it though will be down to colour of the car for it showing, I drove on damp dirty roads last night from Ilford to Salisbury (120 miles) and the back of my car doesn't look too bad as the colour masks some of the dirt!

The colour for that is Sahara Beige - perfect mud colour! But doesn't help dirty windows though.

It's nowhere near as bad as the Volvo estates I've had, with or without roof spoiler and with mudflaps, made no difference. The Octys are much better by comparison, although you do get a more upright back window in the Volvos so you get a better 'box' shaped load area if you need it.

I have the same problem.

Does a spoiler help keep the rear window clean, and if so, what one, how much etc?

My Passat estate has a spoiler. It suffers from the same problem. Entire back of car is filthy after a short, wet motorway drive. It doesn't have flaps. I thought these might help, but perhaps not :(

The rear washer and wiper are provided to cater for this. :)

Its because of aerodynamics..

The "Wedge" shape of small hatchbacks and estates are not very aerodynamically efficiant.. so when travelling along, a low-pressure pocket of air is dragged behind the car, which sucks up the crap off the road and air.. which sticks to the boot of the car.

As you can see in this pic... it can get quite bad... i got pulled by the fuzz for having a unreadable numberplate after a 300 mile round trip across yorkshire

The rear washer and wiper are provided to cater for this. :)

Looking at Neo_vr's photo I've just realised why the screen wash was aimed nearer the number plate than the window - to try and keep the number plate legal! Perhaps we should have a wiper there as well?

Now I've got the wash going on to the window at least it does get wiped clean, but none of my other cars have got so dirty so quickly at the back. I'll have to wash the number plate regularly.

Mud flaps make no difference apart from bodywork an inch behind them doesn't get quite as mucky as the rest of the car, oh and is mine the only estate with a wiper that prefers to spread the muck about rather than actually clean it off?

Its because of aerodynamics..

The "Wedge" shape of small hatchbacks and estates are not very aerodynamically efficiant.. so when travelling along, a low-pressure pocket of air is dragged behind the car, which sucks up the crap off the road and air.. which sticks to the boot of the car.

As you can see in this pic... it can get quite bad... i got pulled by the fuzz for having a unreadable numberplate after a 300 mile round trip across yorkshire

You'd have thought that the kindly officer who pulled you would have offered to clean the numberplate for you....

Jaysus, what is the world coming to?

Atleast you can still read the 'Briskoda.net' sticker.