4 Ways to Protect Your Skoda Octavia Wagon Against Autumn Heat

As Australians, we all understand how oppressive the heat can get in the height of summer. The interiors of our cars can get blisteringly hot, and other aspects of driving and car care become even more important. However, even in Autumn, we can be caught out with the odd hot day and bright late season sun. Here are four ways to protect you and your Skoda Octavia Wagon against surprisingly hot Autumn days.

1. Get a Solar Shield

A full span windscreen sunshade is an essential item for Aussie drivers. The windscreen is the largest piece of glass on your car and the primary cause of heating up the interior. Many drivers, will already have a solar shield, but they have stored it away in the garage. Keep it handy for a while as sunny Autumn days can still heat up a car interior to intolerable levels.

2. Tinting Windows

It is definitely worth the cost to tint the windows on your car. This will help to protect the interior from ultraviolet rays, keep the heat levels tolerable and add value to your car. It may seem excessive for Autumn but bear in mind that there is less demand for tinting at this time of year so you may be able to negotiate a good deal.

3. Keep Your Car Clean

Regular trips to the car wash will keep your car cooler as a dirty car is less able to reflect ultraviolet rays from the sun. In Autumn we still don’t get much rain, so you cannot rely on rainfall to remove bird droppings, dirt and tree sap from your paintwork. A good coat of wax after a thorough cleaning can also help to reflect the rays of the sun.

4. Check Your Wipers

It is a good idea to regularly check your wipers at this time of year as you will need them more often in the months to come. After Summer and into Autumn, hot days can dry out our windscreen wipers making them brittle and less effective. If your wipers are rubbing or taking too long to clear fluid, you should change them for a new set.

If they are looking for a Skoda Octavia Wagon for sale, Perth drivers should contact us. Here at Skoda Perth, we have an extensive range of both preowned and new cars for sale. If you require financing, you will discover that our rates are very competitive and repayments can be tailored to your circumstances. We invite you to schedule a test drive with us and experience the Skoda driving difference yourself. Our sales team is ready and standing by to advise you on the latest Skoda Octavia Wagon price and to answer any further queries you may have.

Five Car Accessories to Keep on Hand in Your Skoda Fabia

The Skoda Fabia is a fantastic family car with a lot to offer, and it comes with a lot of handy gadgets. However, it simply isn’t possible for any car manufacturer to include every item that a family may need. Every driver will have to choose their own car accessories to carry with them in their vehicle. Let’s take a closer look at five car accessories that you should consider keeping on hand in your car.

1. A Dashcam

This can be quite an expensive piece of equipment to have in your car, but it could save you thousands of dollars. Many cars have a suite of cameras on board to help in preventing accidents and to assist parking. These cameras don’t record footage, so if you need them to provide evidence, they cannot help. A dash cam will record and store footage depending upon the quality of the system and the size of memory card used. The more expensive systems will even start recording automatically if a bump is detected.

2. A Phone Holder

It is a really bad idea to hold a phone while driving, you risk getting in trouble with the authorities, and it is a distraction. You need a car equipped with Bluetooth integration for hands free smartphone operation. However, you still need somewhere to put your phone, and this is where a phone holder comes in handy.

3. A Full Span Sunshade

In Australia, we endure extensive punishment when we get into our cars on sunny days. The windscreen as the largest piece of glass located where we sit to drive is a prime source of heat. A full span sunshade is essential if you park up for any amount of time in the open.

4. A 12v USB Adaptor

We have an incredible amount of mobile devices in our modern lives, and we need to keep them charged. An integrated USB charging port is a must, but drivers of older cars could get by with a 12v port. In fact, even a cigarette lighter port can be used, but you will need an adaptor that you can pick up at many car parts stores.

5. Some Boot Storage

Having loose items rattling around in your boot is a sure way for them to get damaged. A luggage caddy is an underrated car accessory that can help you to keep organised. There are numerous kinds available, but the best ones have a grippy material on the base to stop them sliding around.

If they are looking for a Skoda Fabia, Perth based drivers should contact us. Here at Skoda Perth, we have a wide selection of preowned and brand new cars for sale including the Skoda Fabia. If you need finance, you will find our rates competitive, and repayments can be tailored to your unique circumstances. Our sales team can advise you on the latest Skoda Fabia price and answer any other questions you may have.

5 Foods You Need to Avoid on a Skoda Yeti Road Trip

The Skoda Yeti is a fantastic crossover car to use for your next family road trip. One important need for a travelling family is adequate food for the journey. However, there are a number of foods that are ill suited to the needs of a family on the move. Let’s take a look at five foods that you need to avoid on your next road trip.

1. Fizzy Soda Drinks

Carbonated drinks companies are one of the greatest users of sugar in the world. A single can of soda may contain ten teaspoons of sugar, and this will cause a spike in blood sugar levels. Drinking carbonated drinks can cause indigestion and bloating which will make you feel uncomfortable on a long road trip. The high levels of sodium, caffeine and of course sugar can dehydrate the body and cause nausea.

2. Fatty Foods

The body requires a lot of energy to burn fatty foods like burgers and chips. Although it may feel like a satisfying meal at a roadside stop, fatty foods are a poor choice. Later, you will feel bloated and perhaps even sleepy which is a recipe for disaster when driving.

3. Highly Acidic Foods

When we eat food that has a high acid content, such as oranges, grapefruits, tomatoes and lemons our bladders can become irritated. This may mean that you have to pull off the road more often to take comfort breaks. These kinds of foods also promote acid reflux leading to a choking feeling when driving which is a less than ideal situation.

4. Dairy Products

You may feel that chocolate, cheese or a milkshake at the drive thru are all a great idea for food on the road. In fact, dairy foods or food with a high milk content can cause bloating and stomach cramps. In extreme circumstances, you may even develop diarrhea which is terrible when you are travelling and don’t have immediate access to a toilet.

5. Excessive Amounts of Salt

Salty foods have a propensity to cause stomach bloating because you are forcing your body to retain more water than it needs. You will need to drink more water, causing you to stop more often to empty your bladder. However, salt is very effective at dealing with motion sickness, so it can help if that is an issue for a family member.

If they are looking for a Skoda Yeti for sale, Perth drivers should contact us here at Skoda Perth. We have a wide choice of both used and new cars available including the Skoda Yeti for sale. We invite you to join us for a test drive at your earliest convenience to try the out the Skoda driving experience firsthand. If you need financing, you will find that our rates are highly competitive and tailored to your own unique circumstances. Our sales team are looking forward to answering any further questions you may have.

Using E10 Fuel in the Skoda Superb

It may be hard to believe, but ethanol blended biofuel has been in common use in Australia for over two decades. There was some initial resistance to using this fuel, but now we can find it on forecourts all across the country. Commonly referred to as E10 this fuel has its own particular advantages and disadvantages. One common question that many car manufacturers are asked is whether E10 is safe to use in their particular car. Let’s take a closer look at what E10 fuel is and whether it is a good choice for a Skoda Superb car.

What is E10 Fuel?

It was back in the 90’s when fuel companies began to offer unleaded fuel that was blended with Ethanol. This was promoted as more environmentally friendly and sustainable alternative to a traditional petrol mix. The Ethanol used is made from sugar cane molasses or sometimes red sorghum making it a renewable ingredient. This blended fuel mix is commonly called E10 because it contains no more than 10% bioethanol and it burns cleaner than petrol. This fuel produces less carbon monoxide and carbon emissions, and it’s usually a little cheaper at the pump.

Are There any Disadvantages?

An Ethanol mixed fuel is not as efficient as a purer petroleum based fuel with a lower combustion heat. The fuel does not contain as much energy, and as a result, fuel consumption is raised. In real terms, this offsets any financial gains made at the pump. A more in depth analysis may highlight the use of crops, land use, machinery used and the fuel burned to actually raise, harvest and create Ethanol that makes it less environmentally friendly than it would first appear. However, these complex issues go far beyond the scope of this particular article.

The Skoda Superb:

After its initial introduction, some manufacturers reported engine damage issues. In the intervening years, engines have developed to easily use newer fuel types. However, this stigma remains, and it is still the cause of a lot of confusion today. In fact, Skoda’s own manuals clearly state that unleaded fuel can be used with at most a 10% ethanol mix. Using E10 fuel will not harm your Skoda Superb engine, and it is a viable fuel type for everyday use.

If you’re looking for a Skoda Superb for sales, contact us here at Skoda Perth. We have a wide selection of both new and used cars for sale including the Skoda Superb. Book a test drive with us online and try the Skoda driving experience for yourself. If you require financing, you find that our rates are highly competitive and tailored to your individual circumstances. Our sales team is standing by to answer any remaining questions that you may have.