Falmouthboy

My advice is consider paying a bit extra for DSG. It works so well with that engine (also earlier 1.4 150 bhp SE L that I have). See if you can try one before you commit. I don’t have heated seats, without leather they aren’t essential, wife had a golf hire car for work recently for a long motorway trip, it had adaptive cruise and she didn’t like it (but accept other do) - again, try before you buy! Front sensors - again, not essential in my view. Consider the variable boot floor particularly if you will be dropping the back seats a lot.

I doubt it will hurt sales much as ‘halo’ models are only a very small part of the range and as such not massively profitable. Whilst the new Octavia is some way off, I guess that they are predicting a success for the Rapide replacement next year which is going to be golf size but not a ‘budget’ offering like the current car which hasn’t done well in the UK.

Is it a Skoda dealer or used car dealer? If a Skoda dealer I wouldn’t accept it without the proper Skoda SD Card. If a used dealer it’s a bargaining point - find out the cost from a dealer, tell the dealer you want that amount off as the car is ‘incomplete’ as it’s a standard fit item and get one off eBay.

Coming from a diesel to a modern small engine petrol I’m not surprised you have noticed a significant difference in engine braking, but that is perfectly normal and only to ne expected. Have you got ŠkodaConnect working yet? If you have (red globe top and centre of the nav screen turns white) you will get more dynamic navigation linked to traffic conditions. Depending on when the car was made, there may be an on line map update available (you need to take the SD card out and do it in your PC).

You state that you have only had the car for a couple of weeks - I assume from a Skoda Dealer as an ‘approved used’ car. Whilst there is no argument that this is a ‘service item’ and damage to the system isn’t covered I would suggest that you have a strong case to argue for this to be sorted under the sale of goods legislation rather than the warranty. Skoda make great play of the multi point check prior to sale and I’m sure that if you ask to see a copy of what is checked it will show something that will relate directly to the air con. They clearly didn’t check that it was working properly. This should be your ‘case’ for them to sort it out for you. The fact is they will have to swallow the cost and won’t be able to claim off Skoda for doing warranty work, hence why they are arguing. It is possible that there previous owner didn’t use the air con in some misguided fuel saving efforts and the seals dried out. Your use of the system has re-lubricated the seals and stopped the coolant loss, but the top up is still needed. If the dealer continues to argue the toss I would go to Skoda UK on the basis that the dealer hasn’t carried out the requisite ‘approved used’ checks diligently.

I would kick off on Social Media - I will certainly be kicking off if they try and charge me, having gone to the expense of investing in an O2 dongle to overcome the EE xdebacle, in spite of having a generous data allowance on my EE phone.

I’ve heard that the 3 years free on the nav update has now been removed and it’s not time limited. I suspect that unless they make Skoda Connect more reliable people won’t be willing to pay for it. Particularly Amundsen owners as what it can actually ‘do’ is fairly limited.

Wouldn’t trust them to chance a wiper blade!

But the big difference here is showing him the door was within your gift. Returning a lease car you don’t have the same freedom to walk away.

As a general principle, what you are experiencing is probably something many owners who have taken ostensibly ‘cheap’ lease deals. As used values are not holding up well due to PCP and Lease returns companies will be seeking to maximise the equity in their assets. It will be interesting to see how your challenge progresses.

Absolutely nothing - I suspected it was ‘their end’ so didn’t delete my account or anything - it came back all on its own. Would have been useful I’d Skoda put a down for maintenance message on their ŠkodaConnect web pages.

When messing around trying to get it to load - didn’t come up every time, but when ŠkodaConnect icon said please retry.

As if by magic, all working normally yesterday. Oh, and an email from Skoda in response to my query apologising for my complaint and asking sor more details of the problem. Seems left hand and right hand don’t know what they are doing!

As if by magic, all working normally yesterday. Oh, and an email from Skoda in response to my query apologising for my complaint and asking sor more details of the problem. Seems left hand and right hand don’t know what they are doing!

As if by magic, all working normally yesterday. Oh, and an email from Skoda in response to my query apologising for my complaint and asking sor more details of the problem. Seems left hand and right hand don’t know what they are doing!