New Forum Member Octavia PD

[jules2477]

Hi Just joined - I have owned an Octavia TDI PD Estate from new in 2003 and it has been very good. A few niggly things have crept in with age, such as the odd annoying rattle and recently a faulty temperature sender. The latter kept sending the idle revs soaring when cold for no apparent reason but fixed now.

Overall it has been one of the best cars I have owned for reliability and general build quality although interior could be better. Whilst it is certainly not a true drivers car when it comes to twisty roads and tight bends it is capable enough and also fair to say it is a good long distance motorway work horse. Possibly the most frustrating thing is the misleading variable servicing - despite being carefully driven it has never got anywhere the near 30000 mile intervals quoted and then to find that the very expensive cambelt service comes round at 60K and not the originally quoted 80K.... - Generally, VAG diesel servicing is very expensive across the range (even the oil is twice the normal price) and when the car eventually needs a clutch that is another huge wallet denter because of the dual mass flywheel. Thus, I am far from convinced that the increased economy gives any overal gain over a petrol model. - Roundabouts and swings !

I am planning to semi retire soon so the pennies will be a bit tighter. One of things that will score highly for its replacement is any model of car with a chain driven cam or low labour cost cam belt change (any Skoda models which fit that criteria ?) Whilst I think the modern diesels are good, the relatively low cam belt life and labour intensive replacement is a major consideration, plain economics will win the day . - My wifes car being both petrol and a chain driven cam never has any of the very high servicing costs I have encountered .

[johnp]

Hi and welcome aboard.