A diesel for performance, reliability and resale value - what do you recommend?

I want a diesel saloon and have decided between the Skoda Octavia vRS td 170 bhp or a the Lexus IS220d F-Sport 177 bhp. Which one would you reccommend as the better car for performance reliability and...

Is there a known fault with the Volkswagen 2.0-litre turbodiesel engine?

I have heard that there is a known fault in the Volkswagen 2.0-litre turbodiesel engine, which I have in my 2008 Skoda Octavia, which causes it to cut out. Do you know about this and why there has not...

Changing tyre size

I would like to know if it is feasable to fit a different size tyre to my 2010 Skoda Octavia VRS (petrol) as the current tyre size (225/40 R18 92Y) is uncomfortable and noisy on roads other than motorway...

Chipping an Octavia

I want a cheap and nasty way to chip my Skoada Octavia, as I am lacking in power to tow my caravan over the hills in France and Europe. Not bothered is I need to splice wires and just add a resistor!

Very pleased with customer service from MSB Skoda, Darlington.

I purchased an ex-demonstrator 1.6 diesel Octavia from MSB Skoda in Darlington in August 2010. To date I have been very pleased with both the car and the aftercare service from MSB. However, after about...

Buying a diesel - sensible?

I am in the market for a 1 year old, small/med diesel estate. I have never owned a diesel before and am concerned about what I read re DMFs. I have narrowed field to Peugeot 308SW, Vauxhall Astra Tourer,...

I bought a Skoda Octavia DSG to use as a taxi, and the gearbox has failed four times.

I bought Skoda Octavia to use as a taxi in 2008 and I know this ‘Dynamic Shift Gearbox’ better than someone who designed it. Soon after I received my car I felt the problems, but Skoda never admitted to...

When should I change the cam belt on my Octavia vRS?

I've a '08 Octavia 2.0 TFSI petrol due for MOT & service now at 48k miles & 4yrs old. My service handbook doesn't recommend a toothed belt change until well over 100k but my local Skoda dealer says it's...

I replaced my diesel Octavia with a petrol Avensis and have saved a lot of money.

I was interested in your correspondent RY of Peterborough's comments about diesel engines. After 10 years of driving new and nearly new Volkswagen Group diesels and experiencing many of the problems your...

Why were Skoda Assist so unhelpful when our Octavia broke down in France?

Please could you inform your readers of an experience we had in May of this year when travelling in France with our 2-year-old Skoda Octavia 1.4TSI. About 100 miles after leaving Calais we experienced...