AlanD

Hi,

I'm in the market for an Octavia TDI DSG and I've found one I love. She's a 2005 model with Xenon's, PDC, Maxidot and some other bits and bobs.

I took it overnight at the weekend for a test drive to see if it will suit the family. Currently I have a Peugeot 607 2.2 HDi SE which I'm trying to shift. Fine car, totally underestimated by the way.

Anyway, I loved the DSG box mated to the 1.9 TDI engine. It's a bloody rocket! I can only imagine what the 2.0 TDI is like with it. I drove a manual 2.0 TDI before and loved it. Anyway, I've no real complaints about the drive or the car but have two queries:

1) Xenon's - I thought these were brilliant, but I was very disappointed by the quality of the main beams (or full headlights). I know the main beam bulb is only a standard issue bulb and is not xenon, but in comparison to the xenon, it's rubbish and when both are lighting together there is too much of a contrast between them. Has anyone upgraded their main beam bulb because of this?

2) Stereo quality - I think this had an Audience stereo which was only alright. I've a JBL 12 speaker stereo in my 607 which is just brilliant, so I know I'm not going to match that, but is it possible to upgrade an existing Audience stereo? Would better speakers work? What's the solution for better sound?

Apart from that, I love the car! Move on 607, hello Octavia! This 607 needs to move though first! Trade in isn't an option........dealer wouldn't give me pennies for it.

AlanD

...and I almost forgot, how do I connect my iPod to the stereo without buying a Denison Icelink or is that my only option?

dstev2000

The xenons themselves are fantastic but like you say, the main beam H7 halogens are pretty much useless. I haven't considered an upgrade as I barely use them even at night, the xenons are that good.

The stereo is very good but it's all relative, if you had a 12 speaker JBL system the standard kit will not match it, there is a 12 speaker upgrade as an option but I dont know whether thats a possible retro fit, someone else will fill the blanks on that one.

Are you sure it is an Audience and not the standard Stream?

The latest Elegance models have an Ipod connection in the jumbo box between the seats, I am not sure if anyone has retro fitted one as yet, have a dig around the forums like i'm about to!

I want somewhere to plug my Iriver in!

Oh, and by the way, you have excellent taste

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AlanD

I know what you mean about the low beam xenon's being that good. I do a lot of night driving on back roads and the xenon's would be a big plus for me. There was almost no point in putting on the fulls because they were so bad in comparison. A bulb upgrade might help out though.

you could be right about the stream as opposed to audience. Whatever is standard on the elegance is what I mean. It was good, just not even close to the JBL setup I have now. But I'd get over that quick enough if I had to. I'd soon forget what my JBL sounded like.

As for iPod. This is a 05 model so it doesn't have that jumbo box port fitted. But I reckon a retro fit of somesort could be done? maybe pull out stereo and fit a loose wire for it? I dunno....

dstev2000

Stream is the standard head unit unless Audience is specified, you also get 8 speakers on the Elegance as well. It is a quantum leap over the MkI Octavia sound system but you wouldn't know about that

I'll have a dig around to see whats available for the jumbo box. I'll post here if no one beats me to it.

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MY08 L&K: Black-Estate-Diesel-Sunset Glass-MFD2-W8 Interior light-Colour coded door strips-LED sidelights and Puddle lights-VAG-COM fettled-Lovely!
SWMBO's: MY08 vRS TDI - Standard

Johnnyc

If it turns out to be a Stream Head Unit with boot mounted changer then you can get an adapter for about £40 that plugs into the head unit in place of the changer. If you have an audience head unit then this isn't possible and you will have to get an FM Modulator. Note:- Only the completely hardwired FM Moduators are legal in the UK.

The Aux-in facility of the stream and audience requires both a firmware upgrade and hardware modification to the head unit so it's unlikely a kit will be made available to enable this function on the older Stream or Audience head units.

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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."

AlanD

thanks guys...

would it be easier to buy a denison ICELink?

also, anyone upgrade their main beam bulbs with their xenon low beams? So they match that bit better?

Johnnyc

The ICElink connects to the autochanger input on the back of the head unit. However the autochanger input isn't enabled on the Audience as the autochanger is built into the head unit so the ICElink won't work. You could give it a try though. Skoda have been given grief over this issue and may have resolved it but don't count on it in an 05 model.

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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."

AlanD

hhmm...I wouldn't hold out hope for my local dealer knowing how to do a firmware upgrade to allow me use the cd changer slot. I asked him if a car I wanted to buy had maxidot (which it did) and he said no, isn't maxidot the navigation system.

Honestly!!

Johnnyc

What did he say when you asked if it had whoopie cushions and a bidet?

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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."

stumpy1

I've got an 06 Octy2 with the Nexus Sat Nav. The dealer sold me an Ipod link for about 90 quid. I think it uses the CD changer channel which is ok because you can still play CDs in the head unit. BUT, not if you've got the Sat Nav on because it needs the disc in to work.

Johnnyc

That's right the ipodlink and Denison type systems work with Nexus and Stream but not Audience.

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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."

Lummox

The sat nav wont play audio CD's anyhow.

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stumpy1

Yes it does. The sound quality isn't brilliant though.