Pud

There seem to be specific Dacia garages but you can test and order from the local Renault dealers as well, probably acting as agencies for Dacia. I believe the first day the Duster was displayed, Dacia took over 5000 orders and now the waiting list is up to 8 months here. You certainly see more Dusters around than Yetis, but there again a top spec Yeti is over 28K in sterling, too much for what it is.

Dacia are connected to Renault but on the whole are sold through separate dealers. They sell well simply because they are well priced and are the most reliable car sold in France in the surveys.

I suspect the UK will get the same as the rest of Europe. Prices start here at 10200 up to 16500 for the top model with leather sterling at current rates, the one I tested had no squeaks or rattles, unlike the Yetis I had tested, and the skid plate underneath is in 6mm aluminium not plastic - Skoda take note! For the money a very interesting piece of kit.

I recently had a long test drive in a diesel Duster when I was looking to change my 4X4 Octavia, I actualy ended up with a Suzuki Grand Vitara demonstator, but the Duster was extremely impressive. Very comfortable, didnt feel low rent. OK the plastics are hard, so what, they will last just as long as soft touch kit. It handled very well and with a very low ratio first gear, would be capable off road. Watch the videos! For the money its a lot of car. Should Skoda be worried? Oh yes, as should a lot of other manufacturers. Its selling like hot cakes, waiting list is 8 months in France

Not long ago I had my octavia windscreen replaced, the bill was over 650 euros, I wonder what a heated screen costs to replace, watch your insurance premiums rise!!

Are you taking the 15 litre filler pipe in account? Just an idea.

Our Fabia Mk2 1.2 12v 70bhp returns around 35 local running but on a run if driven gently will give 50mpg. Use the revs or dry in a more spirited fashion will drop it back down to low 30s very quickly. Our late Octavia 2.0 tdi 4x4 estate under similar conditions returned about 41 local running and 50 on a run if not wellied too hard. Our replacement Suzuki Grand Vitara DDIS is giving about 38 locally and low 40s on a run but is very new so not bedded down yet. Certainly we find that the Fabia has to be held back to give reasonable figures.

Many thanks for that.

Can anybody put me straight on replacing the alternator belt on a 2008 model 1.2 HTP with aircon? Is it just a case of loosning the alternator, replacing belt and tensioning by moving the alternator to tighten the belt? For some reason mine has just shed its belt when I started it up. All the pulleys are free and turning OK. Might have something to do with our cat appearing from under the car somewhat disgruntled and there is a fair bit of fur around the engine compartment! He seems fine though.

I had a 4X4 octavia estate until recently and also towed a caravan, only 1150 kgs though. My dealer warned me that reversing with a heavy trailer or caravan on the back is the quickest way to destroy a DMF. His advice was dont do it!

Not quite true, the PD engined Scout and 4X4s are BMM 8 valve engines.

Just checked mine, a 2008 model 2.0tdi 4X4, and the part number apppears to be 1KO 614 517 AD. Does anybody know for certain which part No. is affected by this problem?

Yes I think you could be right, and of course the Duster sells in the 11 to 19K euros range thats 9 to 16K sterling its a lot of car for your money. My local Skoda dealer told me the few yetis he had sold were to winemakers, to replace their four wheel drive Kangoos, which of course Renault have stopped making, obviously a niche market! I have to say touring around France recently I havnt seen a single Yeti, perhaps they have all gone into hibernation for the winter.

Skoda is much less well known in France compared to the other VAG marques, the Yeti is also expensive, 19 to 32K in euros, about 16 to 28K in sterling. People like Nissan have a much bigger profile, the Qashqai is a big seller in France. Skoda are making steady progress but I found if you wanted to trade a Skoda in against another make of car, the dealer often wouldnt even take it or would offer you a rock bottom price. The car that is now taking off is the Dacia Duster, out Skodering Skoda as one journalist put it, now a waiting list of 8 months such is the demand.

I think you have bought the wrong car, that sort of driving will block the dpf in a very short space of time, in fact the engine oil will hardly have time to warm up properly!

The DMF was suspect on my 1.9 estate, the dealer confirmed it was failing by examining the car from underneath, if my translation from his very rapid French was correct it seemed that if there was more than 3 teeth worth of play so to speak on the flywheel, then it would be replaced, luckily this time under warranty. It seemed to be quite a fiddly job checking it, and my knowledge of French swear words was dramatically improved!

I think you will find that the measurement should be taken with the load on the towball, you may find you are within the legal limits then.

Thats a lot of oil on your octy, my 2.0 tdi 4x4 has just completed 25000km and to date hasnt used a drop of oil (507) since new. Hopefully a sign of a good engine and bodes well for the future!!!

Seat France have just issued a recall for DSG equipped cars made between 09 2008 and 07 2009, temperature sensor giving false reading, causes the box to go into 'protection mode'. 142 cars involved.

I seem to remember reading somewhere that the new CR engines in the Octavia will be 8 valve jobs unlike the VRS or Yeti engines. True or not I dont know, if so should avoid the lack of initial torque low down you seem to get with the 16 valve engines. Better for towing anyway.