Octy vRS Achilles Heels

abhinav.gupta88 · 23rd February 2009, 21:15

Ajit sir, is the information same across all the octis ( deisel included)

nanu28 · 24th February 2009, 12:56

Thanks a lot Amjat This is an invaluable piece of information.

Since everyone is talking about their Octavia ownership experiences, I will add mine.
The car has done 35K, its a 1.8pi about 3.5 Years old. From which about 10K odd would the Mumbai-Pune Expressway.
1. I have had to change the spark plugs at about 30K odd.
2. The fuse box unit has been replaced twice for me!!! And yes I had that AC issue too related to this. I will start using WD40 asap, and see if it helps. The people at Skoda (Acumen Motors) couldnot figure out the issue with the AC at all!!

Thats all I have gotten done apart from the regular service.
All said and done, this is a fabulous car and I dont think I will even think of trading it with anything less than double its price available here in India.

Cheers,

evo · 25th February 2009, 13:05

@ AJMAT

Thank you sir, this is me bowing to your brilliant thread!

I just called the Skoda service guy, his response was this:

Timing Belt

"Sir, timing belt toh 60k km par change hota hai. Maine toh abhi tak ek bhi RS nahi dekha jiska timing belt kharab hua hai. Aur tootne se bhi koi khaas damage nahi hota hai"

Water Pump
"Water Pump toh kabhi bhi kharab nahi hota hai, mere experience mein toh kharab nahi hua"

Whatever. My car is at 37000, I`m wondering what to do.

Also the scrunch sound due to the ARB bushes, I have that sound everytime I start my car from stationary on even a mildly inclined ramp. Is it the same? And did you change to POWERFLEX bushes or the OE skoda ones?

Thanks again for this well structured thread!

Cheers

kaushik_s · 25th February 2009, 16:26

BTW, is there some issue with the Clutch in Octy? Actually seen one Octy's clutch being packed just after one 5 min ride and the guy rode on the clutch it seems. The car was just refusing to move and some calls to Skoda confirmed that the clutch was fried. The owner was also telling that he recently changed the clutch due to similar issue and it happened again. I found it to be very strange to see the clutch got busted for just probably some 5-10min of rough ride. (No, I was not the driver nor I know the owner, I just happened to be there at that time)

Ravveendrra · 25th February 2009, 16:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by kaushik_s

BTW, is there some issue with the Clutch in Octy? Actually seen one Octy's clutch being packed just after one 5 min ride and the guy rode on the clutch it seems. The car was just refusing to move and some calls to Skoda confirmed that the clutch was fried. The owner was also telling that he recently changed the clutch due to similar issue and it happened again. I found it to be very strange to see the clutch got busted for just probably some 5-10min of rough ride. (No, I was not the driver nor I know the owner, I just happened to be there at that time)

A clutch failing within 5 minutes of it being replaced means only one thing, the workshop goofed!

Yes, the clutch in the manual octys and lauras is a 'delicate darling' and the least bit of riding on the clutch can send it packing (not in 5 or 10 minutes though). Used without 'riding' the clutch seemingly lasts forever (according to independent mechanics).

Cheers,

sandeep108 · 26th February 2009, 11:47

Honest post. After hearing about my friend's diesel octy stories, I still wanted to buy a vRS. I knew his car is driver driven, while I myself would be driving the vRS. Took TD, everything - sales person asked why you want to buy this car? Please buy TDi only. The interiors also I did not like. But still wanted it simply for the engine/handling. Then asked dealer about warranty (in view of bad experiences). Dealer flatly refused any extended warranty whatsoever, plus he said clutch/turbo is not covered at all, whether my fault or not. He said less than 1% of all skoda sales are petrol and would not recommend I buy any petrol skoda!!!

Went and bought the civic with only 500M TD and have been very happy since.

ajmat · 26th February 2009, 12:49

The other aspect coming out is that the dealers do not know much about the petrol cars. The diesel is fairly straight forward technology.

Ravveendrra · 26th February 2009, 13:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by ajmat

The other aspect coming out is that the dealers do not know much about the petrol cars. The diesel is fairly straight forward technology.

Sir,

The dealers are totally ignorant about everything, Petrol / Diesel - it does not matter. I have corrected tham and given pointers on several occasions.

Some of the service chaps are better but, they too could do with some education.

Cheers,

Ash_vtec · 26th February 2009, 15:01

@ ajmat
love the piano wire signature

. Good one !

kaushik_s · 26th February 2009, 20:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ravveendrra

A clutch failing within 5 minutes of it being replaced means only one thing, the workshop goofed!

No, no, it was not 5 minutes after being replaced. It was after 5/10 mins of rough riding what I learnt. The owner said that he already had a replacement of the clutch assembly. Possibly even he was riding clutch before that 5/10 in test ride and ultimately that day it got packed up again.

ajmat · 20th July 2009, 19:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by evo

Also the scrunch sound due to the ARB bushes, I have that sound everytime I start my car from stationary on even a mildly inclined ramp. Is it the same? And did you change to POWERFLEX bushes or the OE skoda ones?

Thanks again for this well structured thread!

Cheers

Unless you have 200+ bhp or live on the track, I recoommend the stock rubber bushes to tackle our lousy roads. Powerlex transmit every bump and have a higher liklihood of being dislodged

mclaren1885 · 21st July 2009, 05:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by kaushik_s

No, no, it was not 5 minutes after being replaced. It was after 5/10 mins of rough riding what I learnt. The owner said that he already had a replacement of the clutch assembly. Possibly even he was riding clutch before that 5/10 in test ride and ultimately that day it got packed up again.

I doubt riding a clutch for 5 to 10 mins will send it packing forever. Maybe there is some oil leaking into the gearbox? That could explain why the clutches are not lasting for more than a few mins.

planet_rocker · 21st July 2009, 11:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by ajmat

Unless you have 200+ bhp or live on the track, I recoommend the stock rubber bushes to tackle our lousy roads. Powerlex transmit every bump and have a higher liklihood of being dislodged

he has a Phase 1 remapped vRS. but i think the problem is solved!!

@ Evo - how is the car running?

Ramsagar · 21st July 2009, 15:55

Ajmat,That is more detailed than a SKODA manual.
How is your experience with the VRs?

nandishpal · 23rd July 2009, 18:06

the rs might be very bad in all the ways.still want to go for a rs.why?
i really have a second thought as i really cant spend time at service centres or leave my car there for weeks.

23rd February 2009, 21:15	#61
abhinav.gupta88 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Delhi , India Posts: 4,090 Thanked: 341 Times View My Garage	Ajit sir, is the information same across all the octis ( deisel included)
	() Thanks

24th February 2009, 12:56	#62
nanu28 BHPian Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Bhopal Posts: 260 Thanked: 122 Times View My Garage	Thanks a lot Amjat This is an invaluable piece of information. Since everyone is talking about their Octavia ownership experiences, I will add mine. The car has done 35K, its a 1.8pi about 3.5 Years old. From which about 10K odd would the Mumbai-Pune Expressway. 1. I have had to change the spark plugs at about 30K odd. 2. The fuse box unit has been replaced twice for me!!! And yes I had that AC issue too related to this. I will start using WD40 asap, and see if it helps. The people at Skoda (Acumen Motors) couldnot figure out the issue with the AC at all!! Thats all I have gotten done apart from the regular service. All said and done, this is a fabulous car and I dont think I will even think of trading it with anything less than double its price available here in India. Cheers,
	() Thanks

25th February 2009, 13:05	#63
evo BHPian Join Date: May 2004 Location: Kolkata/Shillong Posts: 780 Thanked: 161 Times View My Garage	@ AJMAT Thank you sir, this is me bowing to your brilliant thread! I just called the Skoda service guy, his response was this: Timing Belt "Sir, timing belt toh 60k km par change hota hai. Maine toh abhi tak ek bhi RS nahi dekha jiska timing belt kharab hua hai. Aur tootne se bhi koi khaas damage nahi hota hai" Water Pump "Water Pump toh kabhi bhi kharab nahi hota hai, mere experience mein toh kharab nahi hua" Whatever. My car is at 37000, I`m wondering what to do. Also the scrunch sound due to the ARB bushes, I have that sound everytime I start my car from stationary on even a mildly inclined ramp. Is it the same? And did you change to POWERFLEX bushes or the OE skoda ones? Thanks again for this well structured thread! Cheers
	() Thanks

25th February 2009, 16:26	#64
kaushik_s Senior - BHPian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bangalore Posts: 1,088 Thanked: 165 Times View My Garage	BTW, is there some issue with the Clutch in Octy? Actually seen one Octy's clutch being packed just after one 5 min ride and the guy rode on the clutch it seems. The car was just refusing to move and some calls to Skoda confirmed that the clutch was fried. The owner was also telling that he recently changed the clutch due to similar issue and it happened again. I found it to be very strange to see the clutch got busted for just probably some 5-10min of rough ride. (No, I was not the driver nor I know the owner, I just happened to be there at that time)
	() Thanks

26th February 2009, 11:47	#66
sandeep108 Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Bombay Posts: 1,052 Thanked: 315 Times	Honest post. After hearing about my friend's diesel octy stories, I still wanted to buy a vRS. I knew his car is driver driven, while I myself would be driving the vRS. Took TD, everything - sales person asked why you want to buy this car? Please buy TDi only. The interiors also I did not like. But still wanted it simply for the engine/handling. Then asked dealer about warranty (in view of bad experiences). Dealer flatly refused any extended warranty whatsoever, plus he said clutch/turbo is not covered at all, whether my fault or not. He said less than 1% of all skoda sales are petrol and would not recommend I buy any petrol skoda!!! Went and bought the civic with only 500M TD and have been very happy since.
	() Thanks

26th February 2009, 12:49	#67
ajmat Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Bangalore Posts: 15,197 Thanked: 31,459 Times View My Garage	The other aspect coming out is that the dealers do not know much about the petrol cars. The diesel is fairly straight forward technology.
	() Thanks

26th February 2009, 15:01	#69
Ash_vtec BHPian Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: BLR Posts: 384 Thanked: 368 Times	@ ajmat love the piano wire signature . Good one !
	() Thanks

21st July 2009, 15:55	#74
Ramsagar Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: BLR_Nellore(AP) Posts: 1,398 Thanked: 255 Times View My Garage	Ajmat,That is more detailed than a SKODA manual. How is your experience with the VRs?
	() Thanks

23rd July 2009, 18:06	#75
nandishpal BHPian Join Date: May 2006 Location: bangalore Posts: 493 Thanked: 80 Times	the rs might be very bad in all the ways.still want to go for a rs.why? i really have a second thought as i really cant spend time at service centres or leave my car there for weeks.
	() Thanks