OCTAVIA III Owners discussion thread

[Dzl_Dubba]

Cheers for recommendation! Reflect Effect was one of the detailers on the top of my list to get in touch with.

I'm tossing up between opticoat or the 3M film. Coming from a black car, I hate stone chips as their clearly visible. Any stone chips on the white paint yet (hoping not!), but I f you do, is it really noticeable?

Some slight stone chips but i'm not too fussed.

[parisfrance]

Given we are likely to finally be collecting our new RS this week I spent hours over night researching paint protection products, including the Opti-Coat Pro treatment. Conclusion, I don't think it is worth it. Reading many forums and reviews I am not convinced there is a product available on the market that matches the promises made such a permanent protection etc. I am still considering the 3M film but as I haven't got a price for it yet I don't know what we would be looking at cost wise to do the front, bonnet, front guards and wing mirrors. The wife is keen on a car bra, but given it would likely only be used during longer country trips I don't think it would be worth it compared with clear vinyl film.



I am also keen on fitting custom sheepskin seat covers; we have them in the current Honda and I find them both warm in Winter, cool in Summer and they have held up well in the 9 years we have had them fitted. The wife is reluctant to cover the nice leather RS sports but I am concerned about wear and discolouration, particularly in a warm climate like Perth and I am a particularly warm blooded person prone to perspiring.



Has anyone fitted custom sheepskin seat covers to their Mk3 Octavia RS and if so what has been your experience with them? This question is on behalf of the wife as I am really sold on fitting the sheepskin covers again but she is not sure. I think it is more a cosmetic issue for her as she loves the look of the embroidered RS Sports seats.

[woofy]

Seeing as you are getting the Comfort pack, you are probably wasting money using those covers as I don't know how much the seat heaters will get through them. They are mostly leather so I wouldn't bother with a cover, just keep up cleaning and protecting them with some decent...ie any leather products. Before first use, get a good fabric protector, or keep it simple and get some Scotchguard and then spray the fabric bits. I used seat covers in a former grotty life, but unless I was coming in covered in dust I realised over time most seats stay fine and whats the point of the fabric etc if you never see it. Just makes it look good for someone else. I have small kids and have had no issues with our seats.

[parisfrance]

Thanks for the advice. We don't have kids but I do have a wife that uses industrial quantities of hair spray; it turned the black velour headrest in the Honda white before we fitted the sheepskin covers. The wife has already been talking of making a removable cover for the seat headrest in the RS to protect it from the hairspray. Maybe it would just be easier to get a new wife That's me in the spare room tonight!

[afterdarker]

Thanks for the advice. We don't have kids but I do have a wife that uses industrial quantities of hair spray; it turned the black velour headrest in the Honda white before we fitted the sheepskin covers. The wife has already been talking of making a removable cover for the seat headrest in the RS to protect it from the hairspray. Maybe it would just be easier to get a new wife That's me in the spare room tonight!

Speaking as an owner of a furniture company I see lot of upholstery and a lot of fabrics. The vRS has excellent stitched leather seats. Sheepskin covers may be fine for a Honda but sorry that is just a bogan look in a vRS. And unnecessary, like keeping the plastic film on your phone or your rear seats. Just a waste of time. Put the goods to the use they were intended for, sit on the seats, put your hands on the steering wheel, if you cover up the leather seats they will probably be cracked in 15 years time regardless. Just use them and if after 10 years they don't look any good get them re-upholstered.

As for your wife's hairspray, ask her if it does that to the head-rest, what is it doing to her head?

[parisfrance]

You've just made my wife's day, she is killing herself laughing. Never thought I would be called a bogan.

[brad]

I know enough people (really anal people) that use Nanolex to know it's a good product. It isn't maintenance free though & does need topping up. I doubt there's a great deal of difference between Nanolex & the other nano-particle products. It's not for everyone though so if you feel more comfortable using a traditional product and applying it more frequently then go for it.

Sheepskin covers - they look great on Camrys, Commodores & Falcons and are helpful in estimating the age of the driver. Usually about 70-85 & they buy them now because they couldn't afford them in the 70s.

As the son of a hairdresser who used some truly horrific chemicals in her 56 year career, I'd suggest your wife changes brands of laquer. My missus likes that Maggie Thatcher "bonded in place" look and hasn't changed the colour of the headrests yet.

Lets face it, it's your car & at the end of the day nobody gives a rats if you smear it with feces and re-upholster it in bright pink velour.

[parisfrance]

Ok I'm convinced, I will forgo the sheepskin seat covers. Wife is happy which is the most important thing.

Now I am looking at some leather care products. Race Glaze cleaner and balm look like good products but I can only seem to source from the UK and with shipping the costs are bit expensive.

Before I proceed to order the Race Glaze products, can anybody recommend leather care products they have experience with that they have sourced locally and more importantly can recommend?

[woofy]

To be honest, I have been using the Meguirs Gold stuff for years in several cars and all leather has been fine. I finally ran out of it and looked around but most of it is the same same, expensive or not. I just look for one that doesn't leave white residue and isn't slippery.

At a car show spontaneously got some Mothers cream in a hair tub thing, it has lanolin. Not the biggest fan of it, I prefered the clean and condition in one. I used a damp microfibre cloth to clean before it, but want something the cleans better before using the cream. We have a King leather couch and they have pretty good two step stuff you can use in cars as well, but haven't ever tried it. It was about $70 for the larger size. Our car is heading to 7yrs old this year and all leather bits are going strong. The Alcantera need s cleaning in the front seats though.

[brad]

You need to first ascertain if the leather is coated or not. The leather care regime differs with each.

I usually buy detailing products locally from Car Care Products but have also bought from Waxit & Chem Guys. Your best idea is to contact the vendor & get a recommendation for what suits your type of leather best.

My wife's last car was a Captiva. The leather was coated, about as supple as cardboard & (I believe) made from reconstituted scraps swept up off the factory floor. All it needed was a mild detergent solution & a microfibre rag.

Her current car is a Honda Odyssey. The leather is much higher quality & much more supple. I think it will require a bit more love but she doesn't keep a car long enough to worry about it.