Timing belt change on 132 Skoda Octavia?
When is the timing belt due on a 132 Skoda Octavia Elegance 2.0-litre? I have 198,655km on the clock.
Joe Piggott (Nass Co Kil Dare )Apr 2018 Filed under: servicing
Expert answer
Hi Joe,
Assuming you mean the 150hp 2.0 TDI model, the change interval is every 210,000 kilometres, regardless of age. I'd suggest that you treat that as a maximum and no harm getting it done a little early.
Will Skoda's 1.0 TSI engine be reliable?
Hi.
We have been looking for a good reliable quality practical family car and deciding to go with a Skoda Octavia 1.0 TSI, as petrol suits our mileage - very short during the week and longer drives on weekends. My question and only reservation about the three-cylinder 1.0 TSI Octavia is its durability. Skoda and Volkswagen have a good reputation, but my only concern is how many years can be got out of a small engine in a big car? Have you any background into the work the manufacturers have put into this technology. and how durable do you reckon they will be? I've only heard great things about it, but I've heard a few non-Skoda drivers dismiss this engine.
Thanks
Mark Yeatesy (Dublin)Mar 2018 Filed under: reliability
Expert answer
Hi Mark,
Well, it is — in effect — impossible for us to say with any authority as to how the 1.0 TSI engine is going to perform in the longer term, as the engine hasn’t been around all that long. What we can say is that, so far, there have been no horror stories emerging of any major reliability issues, and that Skoda has (a) good quality control systems and (b) a good reputation for high quality and reliability. After all, when people ask about the most reliable cars, we generally say Japanese, Korean and Czech — in that order. As long as you keep it properly serviced, I don’t think you’ll have any major problems.
I can't decide between petrol or diesel!
Hi there,
I am completely baffled about petrol vs diesel vs hybrid. I am looking to trade in a Skoda Octavia 1.6 diesel for a second hand car, but I am being told not to get diesel again as petrol is now being encouraged. I think hybrid looks too expensive and electric does not seem viable at this point. The additional problem is that there seems to be very little choice in a family saloon in petrol with a 2016 or 2017 reg.
Help!
Yours John
John White (Newbridge)Mar 2018 Filed under: petrol vs. diesel
Expert answer
Hi John,
Yeah, it’s a bit of a catch-22 at the moment. The thing is that diesel is still entirely viable if you’re someone who covers a big annual mileage. Petrol makes the most sense for those covering short mileages, and primarily driving in town; ditto hybrid, while electric mostly only makes sense for those doing entirely urban mileage.
So, if you live down the country and rack up at least 25,000km a year, then diesel could still work for you. If you’re struggling to find a good second hand petrol car, it may be worth looking at buying new, and trying to find a really sharp finance deal.
Thoughts on the 1.0-litre petrol Octavia?
Your comments on the Skoda Octavia 1.0 TSI petrol automatic please? Fuel consumption, power, spec level, or any other useful info.
Many thanks in advance
Angela
Angela McIntyre (Co. Offaly)Feb 2018 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
Hi Angela,
An absolutely cracking car, and a great combination of car and engine. The 1.0-litre TSI petrol engine is smooth and economical, and really does suit the Octavia very well indeed. The specification is decent, especially if you’re buying an Ambition model or above, and make sure you spec it with the eight-inch touchscreen, as that really lifts the ambience of the cabin. Fuel economy should work out at between 40mpg and 50mpg on average, depending on how you drive it.
Tell me about petrol Skoda timing belts...
How reliable are the timing belts on the 2015 Skoda Octavia 1.2 petrol TSI? How often should they be changed? Any issues with timing belt on new 1.0 TSI?
James Barry (Dublin)Feb 2018 Filed under: servicing
Expert answer
Hi James,
The 2015 Skoda Octavia 1.2 TSI petrol uses a timing belt that must be changed at least at 240,000km first, and then every 30,000km after that, regardless of time.
It's the same interval for the 1.0 TSI engine's belt. It has only been in production since 2016 so there isn't a lot of data, but we've not heard about any issues with it.
Which car is best for motorway driving?
Hi,
I am currently driving a 2005 Toyota Yaris 1.0-litre. Now I am planning to upgrade to a bigger car since I will be driving regularly on the motorway. My budget is around €3,500. What cars can you suggest that are comfortable to drive for longer distances? I have Suzuki SX4, Mazda3 and Skoda Octavia in mind.
Thanks in advance
Hago
Hariprasad Govindharajan (Shannon)Feb 2018 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
Hi Hago,
Of the three you’ve mentioned, we’d discount the SX4 first. It’s a decent car, but a bit tiny and noisy for long motorway hauls. A Mazda3 would be much better, and hugely reliable, but the Skoda will have a slight edge in terms of comfort (really good seats) so go for one of those would be our advice. Here are our reviews to help you decide:
Is a 1.0-litre engine ok for a family car?
Hi,
Just wondering if you have much knowledge or feedback on the new 1.0-litre turbocharged petrol engines? We are looking for a good reliable family car, but ideally want to go with petrol based on our mileage and daily driving routes. However, I am slightly nervous that a 1.0-litre might lack power and be very noisy or "revy" on motorway drives when travelling at greater speed. The sales people say these turbo engines feel more like a 1.6-litre. But then they are trying to sell so would be great to get some independent feeling on them in your experience. Any in particular you would recommend as there are not as many petrol options in family cars.
Many thanks, Peter
Peter Hogan (Shannon)Jan 2018 Filed under: petrol vs. diesel
Expert answer
Hi Peter,
In this instance, the sales people are being entirely truthful — the new 1.0-litre turbo engines are indeed equivalent to an old 1.6 or even 1.8 engine in the way they drive. You certainly won’t find them too ‘revvy’ on the motorway, as the small turbo increases low-down torque and makes the car feel very relaxed and easy to drive. Certainly that’s true for the Volkswagen Group, Ford, Honda and Renault-Nissan engines anyway. The best ones to go for, in our experience, are the VW Golf or Skoda Octavia (both using the same engine, of course), the Honda Civic (which should be the most reliable in the long term) and the Ford Focus (which can be a little on the thirsty side). Read our reviews below for more detail:
Volkswagen Golf 1.0 TSI review
What do you think of the 1.0-litre Octavia?
I'm considering buying a 2016 1.0 petrol Skoda Octavia, but my mechanic is sceptical about a small engine pulling a big car. Any advice?
Jan Crowley (Dublin)Jan 2018 Filed under: choosing new car
Expert answer
Hi Jan,
I'm not sure if your mechanic has actually driven the Octavia with the 1.0-litre engine, but we have and it's brilliant. If you had five adults inside and a boot full everywhere you went, it might not feel too quick, but otherwise it's more than adequate. In fact, we've done a full review and video review of that very car if you want to check it out:
Looking for a reliable family car...
We are looking for some good options for a really reliable family car. Nothing too big as parking in the car park my wife works in is a nightmare as it is very tight. We were looking at a 2014 Nissan Qashqai+2, a 2015 Kia cee'd Sportswagon and might look at the Skoda Octavia. Insignia looks good but it's a monster of a size.
The Qashqai+2 seems expensive for a 2014 model. Would it be a waste? We do mileage of about 11k to 12k a year. Are the cars we looked at above the best options or what others would you recommend and best engine to go for? We want a really good boot and rear seat space for young kids with ISOFIX seating.
Thanks
Tomas Best (Dublin)Jan 2018 Filed under: family car
Expert answer
Hi Tomas,
The problem with the Qashqai+2 is that it’s the older model Qashqai, which is nowhere near as sophisticated as the current model. Do you really need the seven seats? If not, then I think that the Kia cee’d Sportswagon is a much better bet — bigger boot than the Qashqai, comfier and better to drive and with that seven-year warranty for peace of mind. A cracking choice.
Also well worth looking at the Octavia Combi and the VW Golf Estate, but make sure you’re going for a petrol engine with that mileage — you won’t need a diesel. Actually, with that in mind, the Toyota Auris Hybrid Sport Tourer estate is also well worth a look. Here are a few reviews to help you decide:
Should we stick with petrol or go diesel?
Hi there,
We do annual mileage of about 11 or 12k. During the week the daily mileage is only about 20 miles or so and on slower roads so speed only about 80km/h max. We would do bigger mileage some weekends on motorway. My question is, would we run into problems with a diesel car? We currently have petrol but looking to update to a bigger car with a 1.4-1.6-litre range. However, there are very few petrol car options it appears suitable for family size. All the options seem to be diesel, which is fine, but I have heard that there can be mechanical issues if mileage and speed is not sufficient. Is that true?
Any advice much appreciated. What car options would you recommend to look at if going petrol or diesel?
Tomas Best (Dublin)Jan 2018 Filed under: petrol vs. diesel
Expert answer
Hi Tomas,
Yes, it is an issue and could potentially be a very serious issue with your kind of mileage and driving profile. The problem is that you need to generate heat in the exhaust system to keep the diesel particulate filter clear, and low mileages and low speeds just don’t do that. You can get around that, a bit, by doing a regular long motorway or main road run, keeping to a low-ish gear for a while, but that’s not convenient for everyone.
Basically speaking, I think you’re best sticking with petrol if at all possible and there are some big-car petrol options out there if you look around and get a little lucky. Try and track down a Skoda Octavia with the 1.2 TSI turbo petrol engine, perhaps? Or maybe consider a Toyota Prius — they’re pretty big inside (although the boot is not massive).