Skoda Octavia Elegance 2.0TDI CR Elegance

[nosnehm]

We have just ordered the new Skoda Octavia Elegance 2.0TDI CR Elegance following the rave review as the Tow Car of the Year and am sure we will be well satisfied with it. There is an issue however as it is necessary to get their 'Tow Bar Preparation' due to the electronics on board but to our horror Skoda are unable to offer connection for the 13 pin socket!! After speaking with our Dealership and Skoda UK Customer Services this will now be provided by a local 'towbar fitter' as no additional cost. Just be advised and check if you choose this vehichle. On the plus side it is a great car and has literally everything just a long wait to get it.

 

[PaulRT]

Hi
Welcome to the world of Skoda towcars, which are excellent - I have towed for the past 2 years with a Superb CR 170 Estate and it has fully lived up to its name. I think you will find from info on various fora that it is not unusual for their towbars to be fitted by a local towbar specialist rather than the Skoda dealer itself. A few things to ensure, specify, and check when it is fitted:

• Ensure that power is provided at the 13pin socket to operate the fridge and charge the caravan battery - this is not always specified.
• There is usually no audible bleep when the inidcators are operated, but a failed indicator on the caravan should activate increased indicator speed, as it would for a failed indicator bulb in the car
• When the caravan is connected and the rear fog lights activated, the rear fog lights of the car should not operate, just those on the caravan.
• When you engage reverse with the caravan attached, the electronic screen in the car should show a diagram of the car with caravan attached.

You don't say where you are located, but if you are near the Hertfordshire/ North London area, then I can recommend GT Towing at Welham Green near Hatfield as reliable and experienced towbar fitters.
In case you are not aware, you might like to follow discussions on the Briskoda forum at www.briskoda.net/forums.

Cheers
Paul R T

 

[lawrencew]

Hi just took delivery of new octavia estate only to be told there is no split charging avaiable until 2015!!! . ICracking car but this is most disapointing for Practical Caravans tow car ofthe year , did they have split charging fitted? Do not want anyone else to fit towbar except skoda so car can be programmed.

 

[raywell]

I have a Skoda Octavia 2.0 cr tdi Lauren and Klement. I asked for the towbar to be fitted on delivery too, and was told my dealership would arrange this on my behalf with a local fitter. I enquired with the dealer and was told that the local fitter would fit the 'standard' wiring loom. I told them this was unacceptable as i wanted and insisted upon having a dedicated wiring loom fitted which plugs into the cars existing system and wh=ould also be programmed into the car to add the trailer stability function, cancel reverse sensors etc. After some haggling this was agreed and i have a witter detachable towbar and dedicated and programmed wiring. The make of wiring i have is not skoda direct, it is by a renowned company called right connections, who after a quick google i found to be reputable. I am very happy with the system and do indeed also have the additional wiring to facilitate running the fridge while towing etc.

ray

 

[xtrailman]

You don't need any dedicated kit for the permanent live and voltage sensing supply for the fridge.
The permanent supply is required for the ATC and battery charging.

Right connections as far as i know only supply the specific kit for the road lights.

 

[Woody3]

As a fomer Octy owner beware of one thing: they don't seem to be able to handle the noseweight of similar VAG vehicles. For example my 1.9TDi 130 Ambiente had a ball limit of 60Kg which with many (most?) vans now exceeding this ex factory it can be a complication. This could be because the Octy is based on a stretched Golf chassis which maybe means it cannot take the overhang. Having said that mine was 2004 and it may have been upgraded since.

It is also worth noting that bars with removable balls are sometimes lower rated than with a fixed ball. I now run a Passat TDI 140 CR estate which is rated 90Kg alone but the Thule bar fitted with a removeable ball is only rated 85Kg.

 

[johnandrew70]

The new Octavia is on Stretched MK7 Golf chassis, in fact all the skoda range has stretched VW chassis, the Skoda equivilent has always had more legroom because of the stretched chassis, The new Octavia is great, its just a shame they never made any 2 door cars eccept the citigo, i think a 2 door fabia Vrs would look great.

sorry for going off subject.
I work for a Skoda / VW dealer and have to say that the New Yeti is the one to have. its only a front and rear facelift to the old model but it now looks the business. I am seriously considering changing my Passat for one if i can get the wife on side

 

[CyberCynth]

Paul R T, I have a Skoda; a Fabia 1.2 TSi DSG Estate; I love it to bits. I was interested to read about the Briskoda forum!

I had a Japanese courtesy car recently while waiting for body repairs to be done on my car. (No, I didn't damage it myself - some rassin' frassin' varmint put a large dent in the rear bumper when I left it in a car park one day) It was ok, but how lovely and solid my Fabia felt when I got it back.