1.2 TSi 110 SE DSG

Solidly reliable, slightly austere but with personality

Bought at three years with 12,000 miles. The mileage is now at over six years almost 26,000. The only problem has been the rear wiper which after a few months stuck at various angles when the motor was switched on. Research suggested this was perhaps one of a batch of similarly affected motors around 2015. Skoda dealers of course had not heard of this....I put up with it for a while as it washed and wiped the screen and there is a feature that if the front ones are on for a while the rear will still give an occasional wipe even if not switched on...and it is not an Mot fail, so more a slight nuisance than a problem. Now replaced it with a non Skoda part for £60 plus 30 minutes labour and so far ok.
The high driving position is fine for a tall man, the ride a little firm but generally ok, the car drives very well, has almost no creaks, zero oil use and an average mpg according to the optimistic trip meter of around 47, but I do not use it for stop start driving and am a very gentle driver.
This is my first auto (but remember this is really a manual four speed and three speed mated together with two clutches so not a traditional auto). It is a little jerky at times at very low speed but you need to be fussy to notice. Were I to buy again I would get a manual.
You may have read adverse comments in this column about this auto, a dry clutch DSG box, code DQ200. Some early ones in hot countries may have had an issue but nothing so far for me. An autobox specialist said "we rarely see these with any trouble till at least 75,000 miles." But I think Skoda has gone back to a wet system for the latest models such as the Kamiq...but presumably this will need expensive oil changes. Unless you really want an auto, and this one is good in my experience, save the complication and buy a manual.
The boot is versatile BUT as golfer with a bag and battery caddy car it is not good. It will take clubs if you remove the longest but I find I have to put the clubs across the back seat. The volume is very good but it is square box and nowhere near as useful as the boot of an Octavia. But it is easy to remove the backseats and have a van with a huge capacity.
Overall, an unpretentious, slightly quirky reliable transport. Dealers tell me low mileage ones, particularly autos are very much in demand so buy the best you can find of the last run made in 2017 and keep for years. The depreciation should be very reasonable as they have a following.

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