Dodgy

Hi all I've been a member for a week or so in anticipation of delivery of my second Octavia TDi SLX/Elegance.. I've got a few questions, but rather than start a gazillion threads, I thought I would rather post them all in on thread

I've ordered a 1.9TDi (130PD) Elegance in Black with Cruise and parking sensors, my questions are as follows:

Cruise control retro-fit
As my car comes with almost all extras after some bartering on my part, one of the few items that I don't have is steering wheel CC. My car has the stalk mounted CC controls, is it a big or even worthwhile job to have the steering wheel mounted CC controls with the (I think) associated ICE controls retrofitted? How much?

Extended service intervals
I'm a little confused over the whole extended interval thing, I do around 13000 miles per year, what is the best way to have my car set up value for money wise? I know it is possible to have my new Octy set-up for 20,000 mile service intervals, this seems a no-brainer to me, but I must be missing something!

Sat-Nav
My local dealer tells me that Skoda make an in-car Sat-Nav system, as my car was chosen from an already in-stock item I didn't get the luxury of speccing all extras. The dealer tells me that the Sat-Nav system is an £1800 (ouch!) option and is built into the dash, my question is - do the aftermarket PDA based Sat-Nav systems (from places like www.globalpositioningsytems.co.uk with TomTom software) match the functionality and performance of the factory fitted alternatives? (I have a home wi-fi network, so a wi-fi PDA would be nice )

Performance modding
I know it is a simple job to significantly improve the performance of the TDi 130PD engine (from reading these boards), but, I keep my cars for 3+ years generally, are there any detrimental long term affects from meddling with the car in this way?

That's all I can think of at the moment!
I'd appreciate any advice, nice little community here
Dave.

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roo

Big K can retrofit CC to the octavia of which a portion of the cash goes to briskoda, although with the parts it is possible to do yourself.

It's only worth having extended servicing set up if you do a lot of motorway driving as it uses the state of the oil to see if it needs a service, i.e less wear on motorway driving = loonger service interval

I use TomTom with a Dell PDA and by the looks of the Skoda one, the TomTom looks nicer to use, also use also have a PDA to use at your leisure.
I haven't seen a wi-fi pda yet, but you can get TomTom with a bluetooth gps reciever and there are bluetooth PDA's/cards available

Well, none of us can say much about the long term effects of tuning the PD engines, but given the amount of torque in these engines I doubt there will be to much trouble unless you thrash the **** out of it.

Hope this helps

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Jeff: Ambitious, but rubbish


Jeremy Kyle, helping normal people feel superior since 2005

Dodgy

Thanks Rooboy, I've already got cruise control, I was on about the steering wheel version which I think is available as an option?

Thanks again, I pick up the car in the morning
Dave.

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Stuart_J

Dave

Cruise on the stalk is easy to use & IMO perfectly adequate, suggest you try it for a while before changing the steering wheel as the cost may not be worth it, it will I guerss be a dealer mod rather than DIY due to the Airbag etc & not cheap as I guess you will need to buy a new airbag although not sure, it normally works out that way.

Re Sat Nav, a portable system has to be better, say you have a prang & end up with a hire car for a while, you can use the Nav in that, also if you go out in other cars you have it & when you sell the car you have the option of keeping the Sat Nav.

Tuning, we had our Octy "Jabbad" about 22000 miles ago & absolutely no probs to date & would really recomend it. The car is OK quicker but the mid range power/torque is the real + point, its just so much nicer to drive & the economy has also improved after the remap. Diesels are tight when new so suggest you get a few miles on it before you tweak anything. It may also use a bit of Oil when new so if you go variable servicing route remember its a special oil so suggest you carry a bottle just in case. It wont be a lot so dont worry, we used just over a litre in 29500 miles but the first 1/2 litre was required at about 5-6000 miles

Our Octy is on variable servicing & 29500 was the first service. I think I am correct when I say the car comes from the Factory already set on variable & with the better oil in the engine. I think Im also correct when I say that if the light dosent come on then you take it in after 2 years. Judging by your mileage I would guess that you do mainly short journeys so the service light may well come on earlier, we do about 35000 a year in the Diesel.
I would tend to leave it on variable if its set that way, if you want to service it earlier you can & it would be a good selling point when you get rid of the car. The dealer may prefer you to be on fixed intervals, more money for him

Stuart

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Dodgy

Stuart,
Thanks very much for the help, and to everyone else who has provided advice, it's all gratefully received I'll leave it on variable and go the PDA sat-nav route when I've got the readies, reckon you're right about the stalk mounted controls, probably entirely adequate

Just having breakfast now before the walk to the dealer to pick her up, sold the old Octavia to a mate on Saturday so I've been car-less for a few days

Cheers all,
Dave.

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roo

Glad to help with the other questions though!

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Jeff: Ambitious, but rubbish


Jeremy Kyle, helping normal people feel superior since 2005

Dazza

Variable servicing reply.

I was very confused when I bought my first Octy and asked SKoda and a local dealer to explain - got different answers!!!!! then asked my dealer who gave me this reply, which I understand.

Octavias are set up for variable service intervals in the factory. On delivery it should be the customer's choice. If low to average annual mileage - around town then best to go for 10,000 standard interval servicing. If higher mileage lots of motorways then best set at variable, but, variable comes at a price i.e. the oil. YOU MUST USE Service Life eXtender oil - (Castol SLX or Esso ....£14.00 litre). I do lots of miles and on my 51 plate I got the service countdown at 29,500 miles and 66,000. MY 53 plate came on at 24,000 and 45,000. But only if you use the special oil. if ordinary oil is used the light will come on a lot sooner. This makes a difference of about £40 to a service cost, but of course less services. I hope this helps

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Dazza

Silver 05 Furby - Gone
Vectra 1.9CDTI (150)

Dazza

Sat Nav - £1800 is criminal and don't laugh guys but I paid £280 for my Pocket PC from - wait for it -Toys R Us. You get a PDA "Yakumo PDA Delta 300 GPS"with built in GPS aerial, so can be used out of the car, car bracket/charger and MMC card with Marco Polo SAT NAV software.

Package works great visual and voice directions, stop off points by entering post code and or address, re-calculation is go off route. Gives ETA, Speed, Miles to destination, altitude. I use it for hill walking too It's great. Finds nearest pub in a flash!!!. There is demo on the German Marco Polo website www.Marcopolo.de. Quick note the speed display suggests that my speedo reads 6 mph high

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Dazza

Silver 05 Furby - Gone
Vectra 1.9CDTI (150)

Huck

Satnav reply - having personally experienced various satnav systems in 'premium' marques, I have to say that not one of them approach the usefulness and functionality of my PDA with Co-pilot software. Tomtom et al fantastic too.

The only thing you can't get is TMC, but no big deal.

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Huck B.