OCTAVIA III Owners discussion thread

[Gerrycan]

From a STOP and if the car has been parked over night or in getting into the car after work, I often go into 3rd then 1st or 3rd then Reverse.

I do not have a scientific or mechanical reason for doing so, but that's what dad told me when I was learning to drive and I can't recall ever having experienced any noticeable notchy changes.

If someone has an explanation for why this works, do enlighten.

So does that mean it is notchy when you don't follow your normal routine?

[Tuan]

Good question !!! I do think that with my old Mitsubishi that if I went straight into reverse, it would crunch, so I always did the 3rd gear then Reverse trick.

This is not the vRS mind you ... ours is a DSG, but every other manual car I have owned, I have had this habit. Even with my brand new ST, I would do the shift into 3rd first.

[Gerrycan]

I think that it is just a trick that your father had for the days when cars customarily did not have synchromesh on the first gear or reverse and they could 'baulk' occasionally.
Putting it into a synchro gear first turn things over and align the sprockets better. Not sure if reverse has synchro so might still be relevant.

The first to second change is usually the worst because there is always a bigger gearing gap, especially on the Octavia high second gear. I find myself often slipping down into first gear for slow manoeuvres I have always used second gear for on other cars.


I thought the 5 speed manual on the 1.9d mk2 was just about perfect for change and gearing, especially when you consider the smaller usable rev range available.

[mazstar1980]

That looks awesome mazstar1980!
I am really interested in getting this same look with my Race Blue RS which is coming.

1. What is the exact process you did with yours to get this result?
2. Did you cut it first?
3. What other products did you use?
4. Is this the Prima 'Epic'?

Thanks

Thanks, Benji.

I actually posted method on DW and pics, lots of great info. If you spent 40k+ on your car you might as well spend some time and money protecting it. Check the link.

Skoda Octavia VRS meets Prima - Detailing World

2: I didn't cut with compound polish as I had only very minor light swirls that were very hard to see under normal light, I'm happy with 90% correction.

Amigo will fill and has minor abrasives which will to some extent and depending on pad choice do some very minor cutting/jewelling. On VAG paint, I would use firmer pad as it's usually rock hard. Amigo is excellent choice for black paint and the glossy exterior window trim.

I then sealed using machine with Epic which is polymer sealant and then bugged using Hydro Max which is a sealant in its own right but helps to set the polymers and makes removal easy and extends durability. I'm hoping to get 6 months, pure Carnauba waxes don't stand up to ambient heat in Perth especially on our bonnets are metal no insulation to speak of.

There's also nano coatings which can give you 6-18+ months but should be done by someone with some knowledge, experience or at least research beforehand. Whatever you use, you need a clean bare surface so claying is very important.

Let me know if this helps, check the link it has what I used. After this it's only mild wash every few weeks till Sept especially since I top up protection using Hydro Max every month or so.

[Benj]

Hey thanks very much mazstar1980, the link helps a lot!
I am expecting my RS at the end of this month so I need to get moving on getting these products and reading up on it.
I have never gone into any depth before with detailing/paint protecting a car before so I am a complete novice, looks to be a lot to it but your link is going to really help me get started.
I will probably copy exactly what you have done with the same products as you no doubt have done the research into what works well.

Where do you get your products from?

Thanks, Benji.

I actually posted method on DW and pics, lots of great info. If you spent 40k+ on your car you might as well spend some time and money protecting it. Check the link.

Skoda Octavia VRS meets Prima - Detailing World

2: I didn't cut with compound polish as I had only very minor light swirls that were very hard to see under normal light, I'm happy with 90% correction.

Amigo will fill and has minor abrasives which will to some extent and depending on pad choice do some very minor cutting/jewelling. On VAG paint, I would use firmer pad as it's usually rock hard. Amigo is excellent choice for black paint and the glossy exterior window trim.

I then sealed using machine with Epic which is polymer sealant and then bugged using Hydro Max which is a sealant in its own right but helps to set the polymers and makes removal easy and extends durability. I'm hoping to get 6 months, pure Carnauba waxes don't stand up to ambient heat in Perth especially on our bonnets are metal no insulation to speak of.

There's also nano coatings which can give you 6-18+ months but should be done by someone with some knowledge, experience or at least research beforehand. Whatever you use, you need a clean bare surface so claying is very important.

Let me know if this helps, check the link it has what I used. After this it's only mild wash every few weeks till Sept especially since I top up protection using Hydro Max every month or so.

[mazstar1980]

Hey thanks very much mazstar1980, the link helps a lot!
I am expecting my RS at the end of this month so I need to get moving on getting these products and reading up on it.
I have never gone into any depth before with detailing/paint protecting a car before so I am a complete novice, looks to be a lot to it but your link is going to really help me get started.
I will probably copy exactly what you have done with the same products as you no doubt have done the research into what works well.

Where do you get your products from?

There are a range of places in Oz, ZAS, Waxit and Chemical Guys, Care Care Products are good, you being in Sydney means there should be a CCP place as postage is more than the other two to WA. All 3 give discounts, I think CCP has a VWW forum discount as well. Obsessive Shine stock Art De Shine products which are great value and have a big range of nano coatings if that's your thing, I actually have 2 different unused coatings I haven't got around to trading/selling. There's no end of different brands and types of products to drain your wallet but if you inclined you will save over the long run DIY.

Personally, I find Epic better suited to machine application (it's liquid and thinner is better) whereas a hybrid wax/sealant paste is easier on hand sponge applicator - check out Supernatural Hybrid, Art De Shine Kotsos wax, Soft 99 Fusso which go on very thin and last 4-6 months if you prepped your surface right. The sealants work well with the metallic finish brining clarity and pop, coatings tend to give glass like finish and carnauba depth but YMMV.

Benj, feel free to PM me with anymore questions etc although I'm no expert just an enthusiast, happy to share what little knowledge I have but do check DW or Detail Paradise which is Aussie but less busy, its a great resource.

[brad]

Or just pay CCP to do it for you...

[thommo]

For pick up on Monday, hopefully. Will have Turini wheels instead of the standard Pictoris ones. Manual, petrol, tech pack, leather 12/14 build. These wheels are on the for sale page if interested.

[MJKooLio]

So the girlfriend took my RS out to Bunnings and parked furthest away. A-hole opens door on passenger side and scratches my car. See pics below. Haven't seen it in person yet she just sms'd me images. Cut Polish will fix it up? She thinks it's deep. Plus it was a white ford laser that did it...

[brad]

should buff out

[Tuan]

Props to girlfriend parking furthest away. Perhaps tell her also to park next to kerb/pillar as well.

I can't train mine do do such a thing yet.

Looks like it should buff out, but there may be a small dent once it's out .. what an a55hole. Did she wait out the owner ? Could always tell him/her to pay for the cost of getting a detailer to fix it up properly ... don't know what the chances of that happening are though.

[MJKooLio]

Long story, she waited a good 25+ mins for the old lady who came back to her car with her dog... she said she didn't do it at all. Funnily enough, the car was unlocked so the GF made sure that the door swung out - I can always see this too when I go back to my car - anyways the woman said she didn't do anything!! Two tradesmen were a car over and said that they'll witness that the woman said she didn't do it but blatantly you can see how the door works.

Upon further inspection when she came home - I think cut polish will do the trick but won't be able to know until I go get it!

[Tuan]

That's **** house ............ good luck buffing it off

[woofy]

I can tell you little old ladies are the absolute worst at causing accidents and denying it, as much as people harp on about being considerate they will either completely deny it as they are truly oblivious, or know full well they do it and pretend they don't.

I've seen then do bad things to their own car and not give a crap let alone others, resting metal trolleys all around the car for one. I park well away from others usually up against a pole or pillar but these people still find a way to stuff cars up. Some bright spark scratched down to the base coat all down one side I had up against a pillar, definitely they tried to walk between them and a stud or something was up against the car. Another time late at night I parked well away and the closest car was the usual little car (the other type is Camry if there is an older couple) and I saw the old lady coming back. When I returned I found she had crossed several parks and used my car as the trolley return to rest it against. It was flat so there was no way it rolled there.

I do wish they still had the colour coded side strips on these, I saw in the acessories there is a carbon type strip you can option, but not sure how crap that would look if I got the black pack.

Looking at that pic, if that is the paint off the other car then you are OK. If that is the clear coat or undercoat showing, you are looking at a respray. Bunnings is also notorious, our side protection strip has a chunk out of it, again in Jan during quiet time years back I parked well away from everyone on a slopey park. Some tools in a pajero parked hard up against me and almost opened the door from gravity into mine. I was standing there watching so he caught it in time. Came back to find them gone and a v shaped chunk of plastic gone, thank god for the strip or I would have had a deep vertical dent in the door for sure.

[MJKooLio]

After cut polish...

It's a bit deep... Can a pro buffer detailer get rid of this mark? (Click pic twice to view larger)