OCTAVIA III Owners discussion thread

[Ozsko]

It is all down to the new emissions testing regime being put in to place in Europe which is causing all sorts of problems including VW & BMW having to shut down production for a short while until it is dealt with. Manual cars cannot be made to meet the emission testing while autos can so no gear stick or clutch pedal for you. Apparently the 169kw version of the motor is getting the boot for exactly the same emissions reason.

[GTR27]

That cant possibly be true ("Manuals cant be made to meet the emissions testing"). Real world, manuals have used less than autos since the dawn of time (and therefore less emissions with same engine), and only when there is starting to get many speed autos, are we starting to get close to similar fuel use (i.e. 8spd zf to a 6sp manual). It's a cop out by the company so they dont have to test as many different combinations.

For Skoda australia, its laziness pure an simple, and they dont care because it means they can charge $2k more for the same car. They dont keep manuals in stock for the same reason. How many here went out looking for a manual, and had to settle for a DSG because a manual was a ridiculously long wait? i'm guessing quite a lot of RS owners. I waited 7 months for a manual in my spec (factory order).

I want the option if they ever want me to purchase another skoda again. The UK get the option, why cant we?

[Ozsko]

That cant possibly be true ("Manuals cant be made to meet the emissions testing"). Real world, manuals have used less than autos since the dawn of time (and therefore less emissions with same engine), and only when there is starting to get many speed autos, are we starting to get close to similar fuel use (i.e. 8spd zf to a 6sp manual). It's a cop out by the company so they dont have to test as many different combinations.

For Skoda australia, its laziness pure an simple, and they dont care because it means they can charge $2k more for the same car. They dont keep manuals in stock for the same reason. How many here went out looking for a manual, and had to settle for a DSG because a manual was a ridiculously long wait? i'm guessing quite a lot of RS owners. I waited 7 months for a manual in my spec (factory order).

I want the option if they ever want me to purchase another skoda again. The UK get the option, why cant we?

I suppose you had better ring VW and offer your obvious expertise in emission management and get back to us with what they said.

[HPRS230]

Its world wide mate, Skoda AU/VW AU have nothing to do with it.... this time

I agree tho, Skoda/VW Au are hopeless. Skoda only sell cars that wont hurt Vw sales.
Ie RS230 manual only, VW GTI PP DSG only etc

GTR, Yea I hear ya, I waited 9months for the RS230, and I wanted more options but Skoda AU wouldn't sell them to me, even tho I could spec the options in NZ. NZ also got the RS230 about 12months before us too, So VW Au playing the game on that too.

I was planning on going BMW 330i Wagon Manual next time round, but I doubt there will be a manual option.
Better off keeping the Skoda and buying a fun manual... 2nd hand Lotus comes to mind...

Yea I guess with the DSG/autos they can spread the load over more gears to Pass the all important "real world test"
Nice lump of torque at 2500rpm and have 8 gears to use it..... May as well have CVT or Elec...

[GTR27]

I suppose you had better ring VW and offer your obvious expertise in emission management and get back to us with what they said.

Considered that perhaps the test hasn't been updated for manual yet? Previous test was extremely flawed (for autos) in that it forced a manual to drive similar to real world, but allowed autos to cheat (go into the highest gear possible as soon as possible) giving completely unrealistic results. Autos often show lower than manual "test figures" but in the real world, get worse economy. Because the (auto) testing is flawed.

Emissions are directly related to consumption and fuel type (there are minor differences between brands with efficiency, but they will all be within a certain range for the same fuel usage).

From a pure efficiency standpoint, given the same weight and gear ratios, driven identically a manual will provide better economy due to being a more efficient gearbox (less mechanical losses). Modern autos are substantially better (much smaller gap) but there is still a gap.

And yes, agree at this stage it's world wide - because they havent tested cars YET. But i'd be surprised if they dont take this as "well we cant be bothered now, you can all pay more for autos"

[Jondalar]

Emissions are directly related to consumption and fuel type (there are minor differences between brands with efficiency, but they will all be within a certain range for the same fuel usage).

From a pure efficiency standpoint, given the same weight and gear ratios, driven identically a manual will provide better economy due to being a more efficient gearbox (less mechanical losses). Modern autos are substantially better (much smaller gap) but there is still a gap.

And yes, agree at this stage it's world wide - because they havent tested cars YET. But i'd be surprised if they dont take this as "well we cant be bothered now, you can all pay more for autos"

You seem to think of DSG's as auto's but they work totally differently to a traditional slush box auto. DSG offers the same direct drive with no clutch slip as a manual.

[Spinifex]

Well I want my RS to be 206kw & AWD, but I can't have it.
I don't understand why people are getting so hot about this.... if you want a manual vehicle, buy one that is available in manual.
If that means custom-ordering & waiting, then so be it.
If that means choosing another manufacturer, then so be it.

No point bitching about it here or surmising the reasons behind it.... it's like politics.
Nothing will happen, if you don't bitch about it to the correct people.

Write to Skoda AU & demand manual vehicles.

They suddenly get 10k people writing to them demanding manual vehicles for purchase, or the threat to go elsewhere, they MAY... just may..... actually listen.

[Ozsko]

The gearbox mapping is most probably what a DSG offers over a manual, they can make it change at certain points where a manual is changed when the driver feels like it.

Another point in this new regime of testing is that every combination of car that a manufacturer produces must be submitted for testing. Think about that little problem and how many car combinations that need to be built for testing. BMW, VW and Renault warn on new EU emissions-testing regime

[GTR27]

You seem to think of DSG's as auto's but they work totally differently to a traditional slush box auto. DSG offers the same direct drive with no clutch slip as a manual.

A dry clutch DSG will be similar, yes - Except its turning 2 sets of shafts (not 1). Wet clutch DSG (the "reliable" one) will suffer some additional windage losses also (in addition to the losses from 2 shafts vs 1).

I don't understand why people are getting so hot about this.... if you want a manual vehicle, buy one that is available in manual.

That's just it. An Octavia is currently the ONLY manual wagon you can buy, especially in performance models. So what model do you suggest buying if I cant buy this one? I've already purchased 2 in the last 6 years to show support, waiting 7 months for a factory order for the last one.

I posted here so that others who share views will also go and complain to Skoda. I have already (on their facebook page) so thought it would be good to get others to support it. In the end, it's unlikely to make a difference - easier to just ignore buyers and sell to whoever you can. (if they allowed parallel import laws i'll go get my own manual wagon from overseas).

[Stooge007]

hi all

finally picked up my 2014 MY15 RS162TSI manual yesterday

brilliant silver, 18" black pack, tech pack, auto tailgate, 38k on the odo

finding a manual with the right specs was challenging, had to end up buying one sight unseen from a dealer in Brisbane (i'm in Sydney)

had it trucked down to Sydney (only cost $361)

anyway, have a LOT of questions right now

1) it only had the standard 3 year warranty (Nov 14 delivery) so it's well and truly out of warranty. still worth getting it serviced at Skoda? there didn't seem to be a service schedule with the car (i.e. a guide that says at 60k/4 years, replace this, inspect this etc.), should it come with one or is it all electronic these days?

2) why is the 4 year service so expensive for a manual car? i understood the DSG's needed servicing at 60k/4 years, but manual shouldn't need much?

3) the left hand volume roller on the steering wheel has a couple of chips in it, reckon that plastic part would be hard to replace myself?

4) is there a way to permanently turn off the engine stop/start function?

5) is there a way to disconnect the CD player? sometimes it sits there searching and making mechanical noises when there's no disc and i haven't even selected the CD player

6) seems like i read that so many features are adjustable via the CAR settings, but seems like many of them don't work in Aus or perhaps apply only to MY15.5 and later?

i'm sure i'll have many more

have read a lot of this thread, but not all 1200+ posts!