knealeedis

My dad is interested in the new Ocatvia Estate with the 140BHP diesel and DSG gearbox.

Anybody on here have one and use it to pull a caravan? He's a little concerned at the 2.0l engine with the Auto box combination while towing as he has previously had 2.0l petrol engined cars which were underpowered with the Auto boxes while towing.
The other option he is looking at is the Vectra 3.0CDTI with the auto box.

Octygone

Don't know about the auto box but a 1,9 tdi pd 130 octavia was tow car of the year a couple years ago ...and having driven a manual 2.0 tdi octy II it should have no problems the torque is thing that makes it easy and it has torque in trailer loads

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mdk1

HI, Tow with a manual, 'van at just over 1100kg no problem at all, have trouble keeping below 60mph, normally get around 36mpg.

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Mike.

Mine Skoda Roomster 3 TDI in matallic Anthracite Grey MK**LJK

Swmbo's Skoda Fabia 2.0I Elegance in Dark matallic Blue MK**LJK

Johnnyc

Umm, you'll probably have difficulty getting your dealer to say it's ok to tow a caravan with a DSG to be honest. They'll not commit to it as i think little is known in this respect with the DSG. Remember a DSG clutch change won't be simple or cheap either. It would in theory be a good option for a caravan tow car though especially if you cover huge distances.

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Johnny

"Americans have different ways of saying things. They say "elevator", we say "lift" ... they say "President", we say "stupid psychopathic git."

Toneboy

Yes I would think a bit of caution is required with the DSG box is it up to what will be high load clutch operations. With a manual clutch you have control on the load application and the auto hydraulics also permit a degree of gradual take up, but the DSG it is either engaged or it is not and I am not to sure the electronic management would cater for that heavy loading.

One would have thought the the factory would have conducted such towing tests, but whether they or the VW group wish to make those results public I would not know.

JohnMorr

Why not ask the garage if they would be prepared to fit a Skoda-approved towbar for a specified towing wight to a 140bhp DSG Octy? If they will do so, then there is an implied warranty that the combination is fit for purpose.

knealeedis

I'v no doubt if ordering a new car, then the dealer would be happy to fit a towbar and i'm sure the car would have the ability to actually tow a caravan. But the concern is more with the comfort and driving pelasure of driving with towing the van, and also if the car is being put under additional strain it might not fail until after the manufactururs warranty has expired

gamichea

Even better, try getting the dealer to specify a factory fit towbar for a DSG car. If the computer doesn't thrown it out as an unacceptable combination surely its 'approved'?

Does the brochure say anything? Sometimes options are marked as ruling out (or requiring) other options.

Any owner consulted their handbook?

Johnnyc

I've heard it all now.

In the style of little Britain: 'So you want to put a towbar on a DSG car?' 'Computer says no'

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Johnny

"Americans have different ways of saying things. They say "elevator", we say "lift" ... they say "President", we say "stupid psychopathic git."

gamichea

Computer says what it was programmed to say by human beings. You might subscribe to the "its the computer's responsibility mentality" but I don't. Ultimately its always the responsibility of the persons who design, program, test, implement, maintain or operate the system. Computers are very good at implementing rules accurately. Humans less so, often wilfully, and sales people are often among the worst offenders. So, giving them a tool designed only to allow specifications that can actually be built to be put together for the customer to see can only be a good thing.

Johnnyc

Sorry that was just a wee joke. That's me told

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Johnny

"Americans have different ways of saying things. They say "elevator", we say "lift" ... they say "President", we say "stupid psychopathic git."

patnmand

Mine is a 2.0 TDi DSG with factory fit towbar, so unless they've changed the spec you can definitely spec that. I haven't tried towing anything as heavy as a caravan with it, but it tows the trailer tent beautifully. I remember having some discussion in another thread about whether it was wise to attempt to tow a caravan with a removable towbar (which the factory one is), but the recommended weights on the towbar are quite high.

Hope that helps

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Patrick

Octy II Elegance 2.0PD TDI DSG
Flamenco Red
Maxi-dot
Multifunction Steering wheel
Light Assistant
Towbar

Shelmo

Just been on www.skoda.co.uk for the 2.0TDI DSG

Max Towing Unbraked 1102lb [650kg]
Max Towing Braked 2866lb [1400kg]

Would suggest you can tow a caravan okay.

LesPaul

Mine tows a caravan fine but it's a 2.0 TDI manual, wish I'd gone for DSG though as I'm getting really lazy now I have a TDI, changing gear doesn't have the same appeal as when there was a 1.8 20v turbo under the bonnet

Darren