Anyone know Skodas?

[Guineafowl]

Skoda? Don't they have an engine in the back and swing axle rear suspension? Plus a funny side opening bonnet to store your bags?

Heated rear screens to keep your hands warm while you push them?

OK, it is a while since I saw one...

Yes, I remember the Skoda and Lada jokes.

Wife wasn’t keen on the Superbs I was looking at, and I wasn’t keen on the prices they were fetching.

What also put me off was replacing the rear wheel bearing on my mate’s 2014 Superb. Special internal spline head bolts, facing away, corroded solid into the crappy ally hub, almost impossible to access (one click of the ratchet at a time). Revolting design.

 

[Robbie260]

Personally having owned a few Vws and a disco 3 the thing you will miss the most about the disco is the comfort of the driving position. I have never been able to get comfortable in a vw group car and I always end a journey with crippling back pain and I’m only 28. The transporter vans are ok actually find all vans ok they do quite well but the quietness and driving position and posture is probably what you will miss the most about the disco and its ability to munch miles.

Vw petrol engines never had an issue with bar vacuum leaks but that was on a near 20 year old car and all the rubber hoses had perished.

 

[Guineafowl]

Personally having owned a few Vws and a disco 3 the thing you will miss the most about the disco is the comfort of the driving position. I have never been able to get comfortable in a vw group car and I always end a journey with crippling back pain and I’m only 28. The transporter vans are ok actually find all vans ok they do quite well but the quietness and driving position and posture is probably what you will miss the most about the disco and its ability to munch miles.

Vw petrol engines never had an issue with bar vacuum leaks but that was on a near 20 year old car and all the rubber hoses had perished.

Discos are the best thing for long journeys. We like ours, but at 220,000 miles it’s starting to need job after job, and each one seems to be awkward to get to and/or involve expensive parts.

It’s a very nice HSE model; do you want it?

 

[Robbie260]

Discos are the best thing for long journeys. We like ours, but at 220,000 miles it’s starting to need job after job, and each one seems to be awkward to get to and/or involve expensive parts.

It’s a very nice HSE model; do you want it?

No sorry looking for a petrol v8 one. Know what you mean spent a lot of time and money on my last disco at just a little less than that mileage it’s wallet breaking. Vans far easier on the wallet and on fuel too. Or a poverty spec manual coiler if I can find one.

 

[premmington]

Yes, I remember the Skoda and Lada jokes.

Wife wasn’t keen on the Superbs I was looking at, and I wasn’t keen on the prices they were fetching.

What also put me off was replacing the rear wheel bearing on my mate’s 2014 Superb. Special internal spline head bolts, facing away, corroded solid into the crappy ally hub, almost impossible to access (one click of the ratchet at a time). Revolting design.

I like working on VAG group cars - I don't mind the spline drive fixings.

I started buying myself VW and Skodas - not because I think they are any better made than any other make - but they are easier to repair for sure - all the wiring diagrams are on the internet - the software is cheap enough VCDS - most of the special tools are on Ebay for little or no money. Plus you can get pattern parts off the shelf for them at local motor factors.

Other German marks and French stuff are a nightmare...

Oh... I would never go Audi - suspension on most models too complicated for its own good...

 

[Ubique]

I fitted a set of non-fancy discs to my Defender in 2011, and they’re still reasonable, hence the surprise at the Volvo.

I'd guess that by now they are well below minimum thickness, although probably serviceable under most braking conditions, there's lots of reasons why you wouldn't want to be braking heavily (Yer, I know, it's a Defender ) with thin and / or rippled, corroded or pitted brake discs.
I put three sets of brake pads on my last L319 before I changed the discs, to be fair, it spent as much time going to/from/in North Africa as it did in UK - the free sand blasting did the world of good to the chassis and brakes, not so much to the paint...

 

[Guineafowl]

I like working on VAG group cars - I don't mind the spline drive fixings.

I started buying myself VW and Skodas - not because I think they are any better made than any other make - but they are easier to repair for sure - all the wiring diagrams are on the internet - the software is cheap enough VCDS - most of the special tools are on Ebay for little or no money. Plus you can get pattern parts off the shelf for them at local motor factors.

Other German marks and French stuff are a nightmare...

Oh... I would never go Audi - suspension on most models too complicated for its own good...

I see you’re in Norfolk. Have a go with an internal spline bolt after 166,000 miles of Scottish salt You can’t even see what the bore is meant to look like, just hammer the tool in where it seems to want to go. From behind, with no space to swing the hammer.

I agree about the BMW/Audis - overpriced and overcomplicated. Peugeots etc. used to be great (206/306) but as James May said, they now make awful cars and sell them to people who don’t mind.

 

[Robotstar5]

I'd guess that by now they are well below minimum thickness, although probably serviceable under most braking conditions, there's lots of reasons why you wouldn't want to be braking heavily (Yer, I know, it's a Defender ) with thin and / or rippled, corroded or pitted brake discs.
I put three sets of brake pads on my last L319 before I changed the discs, to be fair, it spent as much time going to/from/in North Africa as it did in UK - the free sand blasting did the world of good to the chassis and brakes, not so much to the paint...

I got on well with the garage that did my MOT's and while I was waiting one day the mechanic said have a look at this disc, no friction material so it had been running metal to metal for lord knows how long, the disc was about 2mm thick!

 

[Ubique]

We get a lot where the brake wear indicators trigger prematurely due to the lip on the brake disc cutting into the sensor, usually around 4-5mm friction material remaining - they're intended to trigger at 2-2.5mm. Some (Motab / lease) tend to drive until 'there's a noise when I brake'...

Long gone are the days of re-facing brake discs, there's the weight consideration (emissions - thanks EU!) and the cost consideration (Thanks accounting engineers!) there is generally 2mm of wear between new and minimum thickness - about two sets of brake pads.

 

[premmington]

I see you’re in Norfolk. Have a go with an internal spline bolt after 166,000 miles of Scottish salt You can’t even see what the bore is meant to look like, just hammer the tool in where it seems to want to go. From behind, with no space to swing the hammer.

I agree about the BMW/Audis - overpriced and overcomplicated. Peugeots etc. used to be great (206/306) but as James May said, they now make awful cars and sell them to people who don’t mind.

It is just nuts and bolts - a bit of heat and some care. Everything comes apart in the end.

 

[premmington]

We get a lot where the brake wear indicators trigger prematurely due to the lip on the brake disc cutting into the sensor, usually around 4-5mm friction material remaining - they're intended to trigger at 2-2.5mm. Some (Motab / lease) tend to drive until 'there's a noise when I brake'...

Long gone are the days of re-facing brake discs, there's the weight consideration (emissions - thanks EU!) and the cost consideration (Thanks accounting engineers!) there is generally 2mm of wear between new and minimum thickness - about two sets of brake pads.

I got an on board brake disc skimming lathe - it is only cost affective on lorries/transits and Aston Martins with "inboard discs".

Once you driven the hub and faced the disc - time wise you could have split the bearing apart and fitted a new disc.

I bought the Italian thing on a whim...


Odd brake drums - I hate refacing on a four jaw chuck in a lathe...

 

[Ubique]

Anything Italian is bought on a whim, common sense is screaming Nooooooooo!!, alas, just out of earshot....

 

[GRW]

Generally speaking, I've followed the mantra "buy French wine & French Cheese, do not buy French cars".

Even in the 90's when car usability, reliability & relative simplicity & fitness for purpose were at peak... the French produced some horrors (Renault Laguna anyone? Anyone? Work had an 03 Laguna and actually it was nice to drive - but the electrics [the bits that worked at all] were 50/50, the car aged fast & the engine shat itself when it should have been in its prime).

Now though it's a lottery with so much built wherever is cheapest & "badge-engineered" to imply its a quality durable.
I currently drive a 24 yo Skoda

 

[premmington]

Generally speaking, I've followed the mantra "buy French wine & French Cheese, do not buy French cars".

Even in the 90's when car usability, reliability & relative simplicity & fitness for purpose were at peak... the French produced some horrors (Renault Laguna anyone? Anyone? Work had an 03 Laguna and actually it was nice to drive - but the electrics [the bits that worked at all] were 50/50, the car aged fast & the engine shat itself when it should have been in its prime).

Now though it's a lottery with so much built wherever is cheapest & "badge-engineered" to imply its a quality durable.
I currently drive a 24 yo Skoda

Peugeot 406 estate with early 2.0HDi engine in it - manual gearbox.

Last decent French car made and sold in the UK - all down hill since then.

----------------

Peugeot 504 estate - and 505 saloon - were indestructible - still being used in Africa as the taxi of choice.

Peugeot 504: A French warhorse in Africa

PSA may be struggling to find its way but the Peugeot 504 wagon is still going strong on some of the world's most treacherous roads in the former French colonies of West Africa.

europe.autonews.com

 

[Bobupndown]

Peugeot 406 estate with early 2.0HDi engine in it - manual gearbox.

Last decent French car made and sold in the UK - all down hill since then.

----------------

Peugeot 504 estate - and 505 saloon - were indestructible - still being used in Africa as the taxi of choice.

Peugeot 504: A French warhorse in Africa

PSA may be struggling to find its way but the Peugeot 504 wagon is still going strong on some of the world's most treacherous roads in the former French colonies of West Africa.

europe.autonews.com

Drove a lot of French stuff in the 90s, Peugeot 205, 305 and 3x 405s, all diesels, the last 2 405s turbo diesels. Oh and a single Renault 21 diesel. All fantastically reliable and decent to drive. I fancied a 406 HDI estate but never got one and bought a Passat estate instead. Since then it's been Landrovers or VWs in the family since.
I think after the 306/406 Peugeot lost their way, there's none of their recent stuff that appeals to me at all.

 

[qwakers]

The laguna was a victim of Fleet company's believing Renault's extended service intervals. I had 2, both did intergalactic mileage, both where completely reliable.

 

[mechman]

if you're getting the DSG gearbox beware that it's 40k mile service interval on them so make sure it's been done

Just read this. I have an Octavia with 82,000 miles on it, DSG gearbox, guess its due that oil change. ( It's had all the regular sevices but the DSG has never been mentioned.

 

[premmington]

Just read this. I have an Octavia with 82,000 miles on it, DSG gearbox, guess its due that oil change. ( It's had all the regular sevices but the DSG has never been mentioned.

I spend a lot of time in my workshop - reparing these 6/7 speed DSG gearboxes - they nice when they work - but expensive to repair when they don't

 

[500e]

Just read this. I have an Octavia with 82,000 miles on it, DSG gearbox, guess its due that oil change. ( It's had all the regular services but the DSG has never been mentioned.

Get it booked in oil & filter, you dont want the repair bill

 

[Nomad]

A couple of folk I know run/ran octavia (vrs?) estates and both reccomend I should get one.

One a taxi driver, the other of then moved bits of kit around.