mk3 Octavia 1.4tsi leaking oil and water

[woofy]

I had the waterpump replaced with the timing belt on our 08 RS and afterwards in the midst of summer I noticed that the thermostat was slow warming up and when you went on a freeway on a 40C day it actually cooled, was a busted thermostat. Part of me thinks something got caught in it not letting it close with the pump replacement but the dealer charged me the full amount and didn't want to admit it was something they would have done.

[Gerrycan]

Another phone call with the dealer this morning after he had taken it home last night.
Apparently it was driving perfectly on the way home but on the way in this morning the temperature would not rise and then the low coolant warning came on and when he looked under the bonnet it had disgraced itself on the water pump side just like I had described. Feel somewhat vindicated that I took a firm stand on my interpretation of the problem.
New water pump coming over from Melbourne overnight and will be fitted tomorrow, and will cost me another $800 for the part, no labour.
I now have to do a 500km round trip tomorrow in their loan car and now do not feel guilty about it.
He admitted that water pump and housing issues were pretty common on the 2 litre diesel and petrol engines (Octavia, Kodiaq and Superb), but less so on the later 1.4tsi.

Although this is the first major issue I have encountered with two Octavia in 10 years and 150k km in them it does erode confidence a bit.
This last journey went to some pretty remote parts of the country with no phone cover and few other cars on the road. We place a lot of faith in their reliability.
I expect we will run this Octavia for a couple more years at least, it has been a very good versatile and economical car, but not sure what will be the replacement as I am not keen on the SUV format.

[woofy]

Gee I paid not a whole lot more than that for a water pump in the mk2 RS and the belt changed at a dealer along with the major service. How did a pump get that much in cost now?

[brad]

Why another $800? They are starting to have a lend of you. If you have to pay for any parts then they should be at cost price.

[woofy]

Yeah I agree, I paid $1200 in 2015 for the full 105k service which also had the timing belt and water pump replaced in my mk2 RS. I'm surprised the pump alone is so much, it sounds like they marked it up. COuld always confirm by asking another dealer for the price of the pump.

[Gerrycan]

My current circumstances are complicated by a close relative in late stage palliative care so I really don't have the time or will to challenge the prices.
I have had some vicarious price reduction with the necessarily extensive use I've made of the loan car.

Thanks to all for the info though.