2001 Skoda Octavia ambiente review from UK and Ireland

Air mass meter needed to be replaced.

Water pump needed replaced at 71500.

Gearbox had to be replaced at 72000 miles. (Clutch also had to be replaced due to the gearbox being changed)

Have been advised that complete wheel hub on both drivers and passenger side will need to be replaced at some point.

About a year ago I submitted a review on this car and spoke in glowing terms about its virtues. These virtues no doubt still apply to a good running example unfortunately mine has not been a good running example.

When we bought it the car was a one owner example with just turned 60000 miles on the clock all of which seemed very positive. The first six months of ownership passed uneventfully and we went on holiday using the car to cover 1400 trouble free miles in a week.

From the six month onward point it has been one fault after another. First the air mass meter of the turbo needed to be replaced. Then the water pump failed and had to be replaced at a cost of 130 pounds. As I write this some three weeks later the car is off the road waiting to be fitted with a replacement gearbox. A new clutch is also required as a result of the gearbox being changed. Our mechanics theory is that a spring from the clutch has went into the gearbox causing the problem. Even with using a reconditioned gearbox this repair will probably be in the region of 800 pounds.

You can get a rogue vehicle from any make or manufacturer and I think this has been the case with our Octavia. That thought however is small comfort when faced with the costs and inconvenience of rectifying the problems. We have had Skoda's before (both Felicia's) and thought highly of them hence buying the Octavia.

In conclusion I would say that we have just been unlucky in getting a rogue car which probably does not reflect the average for this model. A good running Octavia is probably a seven or eight out of ten car. Our example is a three out of ten at best.