Back in the VAG team

[brad]

Sold the 2007 Skoda Octavia Mk2 1.8tsi M6 hatch in June 2022 with 206k km after I bought a Mitsubishi Pajero Sport 6 months earlier. I vowed to try and avoid VW product after the extreme degradation of the Octavia interior (it melted due to heat and UV).
Earlier this year my partners 2000 Mazda 323 became uneconomic to repair so we flogged that on FB Marketplace (sold in 4 hours).
She wanted a traditional shaped wagon and a 2 pedal box and I wanted AWD and slightly better ground clearance for light duty camping expeditions and to compensate for her sometimes heavy right foot.

We found a 2017 Mk7 Alltrack 1.8tsiwith 54k km and an appropriate amount of wheel rash and minor scratches so that I wouldn't be upset when she demonstrated her parking skills.

It's a lovely car to drive and feels slightly quicker than the tuned 1.8tsi Octavia.

We're at 58k now and I've started to get the car back to a known datum and fix some minor annoyances.
Pirelli Cinturato tyres X-rotated yesterday to alleviate some of the highway noise.
Cabin and fuel filter replaced with Mann OEM yesterday.
Spark plugs replaced with Denso Iridium today (why did VW make it a more difficult job than my BZB 1.8tsi?).
DSG Service to be done soon - have the parts, waiting on a fill adaptor.
Oil Service to be done at 60k (2 weeks time).

About to start researching the rear diff and Haldex.

[Lucas_R]

Welcome back Brad. And congrats on the Alltrack.

Good to hear you are getting underway with some servicing - its a nice feeling to know its done and gives you an opportunity to have a good look around the car. I wouldn't hold off any longer than necessary on giving the Haldex a service. And don't forget to clean the filter screen which gets clogged up with debris.

[brad]

Ordered the differential and bevel box fluid Saturday. Valvoline full synth GL-5 75w-90 on clearance at Repco $10/litre.

Ordered the Haldex service kit from Race Division - $145. They couldn't find it and cancelled the order.

Found the O-ring /bolt kit (made in Hungary) on AliExpress for $26.
Found the fluid on Ebay $60

Took the wagon for a 900km Syd-Tamworth run on Sun/Mon to get another dog. It went well. 6.4l/100km.

[lloydus67]

Congrats and welcome back.
Skoda are well known to be the budget mender of the VW group and interior is where a lot of the money is saved.
I’m sure that you will be much happier with the alltrack


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[brad]

Skoda are well known to be the budget mender of the VW group and interior is where a lot of the money is saved.
I’m sure that you will be much happier with the alltrack

I wouldn't say I was unhappy with the Octavia. It was mechanically one of the most reliable cars I've ever owned. Much better than the Mk3.5 Cabrio or the Gen 2 Liberty I had before it.
I accept that the interior had degraded as the vehicle had spent 70% of it's life parked in Sydney weather.
I didn't want another VAG car because IMO, VAG had cut costs too much and I didn't think that I could get such a good car again. It's also a well known opinion that Skoda are better built than VW branded product.

[Flipper Dog]

I didn't want another VAG car because IMO, VAG had cut costs too much and I didn't think that I could get such a good car again.

I don't think you will find any car manufacturer now that hasn't cut costs and decreased the level of quality to how it use to be.
Todays cars are not made to last much beyond their warranty period, either being too expensive to maintain, repair or it's tech becoming out dated beyond usefulness.