Seeking octavia advice

[aerohydro]

I need to replace my Cordoba which is on its last legs. I initially thought I'd go used and get something like a Tiida or Corolla. The problem is that to get something reasonable in terms of age and km, the price is such that it's not much of a stretch to look at buying new.

I test drove a Fabia and was immediately at home, just like driving my Cordoba but nicer in every way. Thinking I'd like something a touch bigger, I'm now considering an Octavia. A dealer has offered a demo with less than 100km for $25620 with 5 years free servicing. It's the base model, 90tsi manual. How does that sound?

A consideration is that I need a towbar. The last one I bought cost $400 fitted so I was pretty surprised when the dealer quoted $1200 for one on the Fabia, giving electrical complexity as the reason. Ironbull.com.au has an octavia towbar for $395. I'm happy to fit it myself, but this doesn't solve the wiring issue. I'm guessing I can't just tap into the tail lights anymore. Also will a non-Skoda towbar void the warranty?

I'd appreciate your thoughts on these issues.

Thanks,

Leon.

[woofy]

Good price, I'm guessing its a MY11 model from last year. The 90TSIs really should fly out the door there is nothing on the market like them, especially in wagon form. I'd get the dealer to do the towbar, its expensive but then its all done right, its not so easy otherwise. I'm sure they can knock some off that. The servicing is very appealing, a great deal with that. I bought a "new" car in Nov that had 120kms on it, so 100km is nothing.

[Inego]

Having followed threads here, $1200 is pretty much the bottom of the range for Octavia towbars fitted. Can't see a Fabia one being much cheaper.

[aerohydro]

Yeah it's last year's model. The service deal is pretty much what has enticed me. Normally I'd deeply resent having to pay serious money to have an apprentice at a dealership do simple work on my car to a lower standard that I'd do myself just to keep the warranty intact. I always find working on new cars pretty pleasant, since the ones I have owned are generally in such a bad state.

I live in Moree, NSW, so finding an authorised service agent is a bit of a hassle. The dealer I'm looking at is near where I spend much of my holiday time so would work out ok.

[dArK5HaD0w]

towbar is so exy cause of the electrics involved.
thanks to the rear parking sensors, its gotta b rigged i a particular way so that the rear parking sensors don't go bonkers everytime u reverse with a trailer hitched.

[safetyman]

You're correct in not being able to tap into the brake lights anymore.
Most cars have gone to a BUS type electrical system, not the simple positive / negative of old.

And while dealers will generally do a better job, we had an apprentice at a VW dealer fry a Passats wiring loom at work.

[gldgti]

For cheaper, you can probably find a used octavia with a towbar

Thats what I did anyway.....4 years old is new to me. I came from a mk3 golf too, so I know where you're coming from

[woofy]

5 yrs free servicing would be worth in the vicinity of $2500, nothing to be sneezed at really.

[Jake02]

$25,620 is a good price I reckon, especially as its so close to the RRP and the free servicing especially. The 90TSI is a great car too as it's gutsy but it's also extremely good value for money and IMO is the best value Skoda. And anything is better than a Tiida .

I also holiday in Coffs Harbour (Urunga in fact - its where my grandparents are so we go up almost every holidays) and we visited the new Bellbowrie showroom and were very impressed, especially how they separate the Euro brands (Skoda, Audi, Land Rover, Volvo) with everything else they sell (Suzuki, Jeep, Dodge, Chrysler, Nissan) in this lovely, big showroom!

[aerohydro]

Can anyone comment on the ground clearance issue with a towbar fitted? I used to think of the safety chain loops on my Cordoba as a tail skid, and actually had to weld on new loops to replace the worn away steel.

I was thinking the 75kg down ball limit was fairly poor, but then the cordoba/polo/fabia has a 50kg limit and a peugeot 307 wagon can only handle 60kg. Why do they make these cars so soft in the back legs?

---------- Post added at 09:20 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:07 PM ----------

Jake, I know what you mean about the dealership. It's very slick compared with the others in town, as was the salesman I spoke with. He made a small mistake though, quoting me a price higher than the $24990 they had on a large ad in the local paper for the same deal. Same deal with the Fabia, quoting me $19500 or so when they advertised $18990.

[Gti Dave]

Its a good deal mate especially considering the free servicing. Best to pay up and get the original skoda towbar especially when electrical connections are involved cause if you ever get any electrical gremlins, they'll blame it on the non factory wiring of the towbar and will end up being very costly as they may not honour any future electrical related warranty claims. Any electrical gremlins are costly and hard to find and fix so best to stick to genuine. That way, the only direction the finger is pointed at is the dealer themselves and Skoda.

[aerohydro]

Yep excellent point. I certainly don't want that sort of problem down the line.

[MarksVRS]

Can anyone comment on the ground clearance issue with a towbar fitted?

You will have the same experience of scraping the safety chain loop on steeper driveways but it is a small price to pay for having the tow bar when you need it. From memory I paid over $2000 to have it fitted new so your price is OK.

Just make sure you have a test trailer handy to ensure the reverse beeper cancel has been programmed! I didn't think of this until the first time I went to reverse a trailer and it has a constant beep!! It will be easier to get it done straight away, as I have asked on two separate occassions for the reprogramming to be done with no success to date.

Just last week I got to test the "blown lamp" warning! The trailer had been sitting for at least 6 months and when I hooked it up and started the car, it must have gone through a diagnosis as it gave me the warning immediately (failed trailer brake lamp).

---------- Post added at 11:03 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:57 PM ----------

I always find working on new cars pretty pleasant, since the ones I have owned are generally in such a bad state.

I bought a 1 year old 2007 TDI Astra, before the Skoda. I thought installing a tow bar on a new car would be a piece of p*ss although it was no end of trouble! Nothing lined up. Maybe this isn't a problem for someone working on a customer car (just widen the holes!!) although for me it is just annoying. I was warned about the integrated wiring for the trailer and was told to buy an adapter from Holden for couple $ although I piggybacked the tail lights and it worked just fine.