Wagon rear = dust magnet

[K1W1]

Mercedes Benz even re-designed their tail light lenses with deep grooves because they found the smooth tail light lenses were dirtying up too easily.

That was in the first S class sedans in the 1970s from memory.

[wfdTamar]

I know why the dust is trapped there by the airflow, just saying it's much worse on the Octavia than previous cars. It's either the 'fastback' euro style slope of the window and/or the goo I'm using on the window (Nanolex - fancy overpriced Rainex).

If it's the slope I would think they could design a modern version of the old Valiant station wagon style 'diverters' into the mini spoiler at the top of the window, but I s'pose that defeats the purpose of the spoiler.

Maybe an opportunity for the aftermarket boys?

[BottomScratcher]

If it's the slope I would think they could design a modern version of the old Valiant station wagon style 'diverters' into the mini spoiler at the top of the window, but I s'pose that defeats the purpose of the spoiler.

Maybe an opportunity for the aftermarket boys?

I see a whole range of '60's/'70's retro accessories. External windscreen sun visors that howl like banshees over about 45kph, rear window venetian blinds in lieu of tinting. Maybe not. The number of cars I remember seeing with rusted out tail gate bottoms that were fitted with dust diverters leads me to think that they were probably as effective as a Mars Bar in a knife fight. There are plenty of aftermarket diverters for SUV's and proper 4WD's. They may work. I don't know about that, but what I do know is they all look crap.

I frequently go to a farm on weekends. Each round trip in and out off the highway is 14 kms on a well maintained dirt road. I'd go in and out 3 or 4 times on a weekend. I could go in and out 20 times and it wouldn't matter. After the first time it looks like I've just crossed the Simpson Desert, but so what? I use a good polish, and Duragloss Aquawax in between polishes, so whether it's a little dirty, or a lot dirty, the paint is protected and it doesn't take much effort to wash it.

[K1W1]

The number of cars I remember seeing with rusted out tail gate bottoms that were fitted with dust diverters leads me to think that they were probably as effective as a Mars Bar in a knife fight.

Rust was a standard factory fit in cars made in the 1970s. You could find rust somewhere on almost any vehicle within months of it going on the road. Tailgates and doors rusted out because the drainage in them was useless. They would get water inside and it would just sit there bouncing around and keeping the inside of the door damp until finally a rust hole appeared somewhere. The standard thing to do with any 1970s vehicle was to get a drill and drill out the drain holes to a decent size as soon as possible so they would not block up.

[BottomScratcher]

The standard thing to do with any 1970s vehicle was to get a drill and drill out the drain holes to a decent size as soon as possible so they would not block up.

The optional thing to do, which I did on all of my cars, was to pressure spray inside the panels with fish oil - never thought I'd be taking it myself one day, but that's another story. The cars stank for about 3 days, but body rust was never an issue. The only rust related issue I ever had since doing the fish oil thing was having to remove the rear window on an XA Falcon Hardtop. Those huge dished out windows had swimming pools at the bottom corners.

[wai]

If it's the slope I would think they could design a modern version of the old Valiant station wagon style 'diverters' into the mini spoiler at the top of the window, but I s'pose that defeats the purpose of the spoiler.

Maybe an opportunity for the aftermarket boys?

Actually it was just a couple of models ago that the Commodore wagons had just such a moulded deflector as an option or with a special trim pack.

[gldgti]

Well, the octavia is my first wagon after a long line of hatchbacks which were all golfs of various models.

I would say that back of the skoda stays cleaner than any of the golfs, in general, but it depends on the speed. It does build up dust very well if you are doing about 40-50km/h. If you are going more like 70, it seems to build up less. If, once you get back on the tarmac, you can take it up to 110km/h, a lot of it blows right off.

I dont find its an issue at all either way. Certainly the way the octavia handles on the dirt means I dont worry too much about people catching up to me

[K1W1]

The optional thing to do, which I did on all of my cars, was to pressure spray inside the panels with fish oil - never thought I'd be taking it myself one day, but that's another story.

Fisholene was the brand we used to use. You still had to drill the drain holes otherwise you ended up with a swimming pool in the bottom of each door albeit a pool with a semi rustproof liner.

[zei20t]

Harry Potter keeps mine clean with magic.

I also wash my car, that helps!

[Mysticality]

Both my '07 Kia Rio and '10 Kia Sorento had this issue... And now the Octavia has it.
At least the rear windscreen wiper gets a workout!!