Perc

I'm just wondering if there are any upgrades/addons I can do to my Octavia, a 2012 Elegance estate with the Swing head unit and bluetooth. Was there ever a factory subwoofer available, for example? And where would that subwoofer go?

Sounds like they just want you to spend money at the dealer. Changing a D1S xenon bulb is very easy, at least on a FL. One thing to keep in mind is that the bulb is pressurized, so if you manage to drop it and break it, it can shatter. I would wear protective glasses if I was to be really careful.

We have the Renault equivalent at work, and I tool around town in it for an hour or two every day. I've probably put 20,000 km on it myself. I can't say I've ever had problems with it being too big - if anything, it's easier to park than a car because you have proper sized mirrors and a really high seating position. The only problem I find with it is that it's wide. A bit too wide for tight parking spaces. The Renault is leaps and bounds more spacious inside than the VW T4 or T5, by the way. I simply can't fit properly behind the wheel of the VW with the normal bulkhead in place. I'm wedged in with my kneecaps pressing against the dashboard. But I don't think I would want one as my personal daily driver. If I could keep one car for each purpose, then yes. Absolutely. One of them would be a van of some sort.

I did this once. I was really damn tired one friday afternoon and thought the car had stalled at the lights. Put it in park, turned the ignition off and started it again. Turns out I had been looking at the speedometer. Yes, it's pretty damn quiet at idle. I love it for this.

The first generation (front drive) vito should be avoided like the plague. It doesn't matter what shape it's is or how attractive the price is, it's a genuine piece of crap. All of them. Seriously. The second generation (rear drive) is better, at least in later years. But the first few model years had issues.

I was always wondering why 5-cylinder T5 drivers drive like their pants are on fire. I got my answer when I got to drive one myself. It's the only diesel I've driven that needs to be revved out to move anywhere, and it sounds really nice when you do. The 170hp version with a remap is also bloody quick, it managed to scare the proverbial out of me. And then again at the first bend, when the brakes and steering on that particular example weren't anywhere near as good as the acceleration.

I've got a 2012 1.4 TSI DSG that just got its first proper service at 21,000 km. I specifically told them to run updates on the gearbox, in case there were any. So far, I've noticed a lot less of that pensioner-grade 2nd gear clutch slip. You know, when the car is creeping forwards like when approaching a roundabout, DSG brain selects second really early, and the car then pulls away from basically standstill in second with a looooong clutch slip once you get on the accelerator again. Now it seems to use first gear some of the time. If it uses second, it does it with a lot less clutch slip. It also shifts smoother than before, especially the first to second gearshift that sometimes could be a bit slow and rough, especially if you're starting on a hill. I wouldn't call it a "new car", but the difference is noticeable.

Yes, but those don't fit the normal pleb spec FL mk2, at least not without modifications. I did some digging in Google and saw pictures of them fitted to Fabias and whatnot.

No, this is not another thread about LED replacements for the 21W bulbs. I was browsing eBay today and found these. Has anyone seen them in real life? http://www.ebay.com/itm/2x-LED-DRL-Daytime-Running-light-with-fog-lamp-For-Skoda-Octavia-2010-2013-2011-/231279569754?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item35d9562b5a&vxp=mtr I'm not really a fan of these rows of visible LEDs, it looks a bit tacky and aftermarket to me... even on cars that came with it as standard such as the mid 00's Audi A6. But it's still a step up from stone-age incandescent bulbs. My ideal LED arrangement would be a cluster of four bright LEDs where the bulb sits today. Something like you get on a DRL-equipped Volvo V50 DRIVe. But I'm still interested. Just trying to find out of someone on here has tried them before.

I can't see how it would be possible to use bluetooth without the maxidot display. It's used for setting everything up, making calls, showing caller ID etc etc.

I have a 2012 that always creeps, mimicking the behavior of a normal automatic. If the road is too steep, it just applies a dab of throttle. It's booked for a normal service next week. I specifically told them I wanted "all the updates", let's see what happens. I haven't had any issues with the gearbox at all but it's a bit jerky at times.

My 2012 1.4 TSI revs and slips its front wheels plenty even with traction control engaged, much more so than my Volvo. In that car, you could basically get on the throttle and not worry about it. The Skoda requires some care and attention when setting off from a standstill, the Volvo didn't, not as much anyways. I've never found a reason to turn it off, and we have proper winters for several months out of the year.

Here's my G1W installed. I also blacked out the shiny parts with electrical tape. Why it has to have shiny parts on it is beyond me in the first place. I don't like lighter jack connectors all over the place, and since I'm in my 30's and not 18 anymore I like to do modifications that can be un-done in two minutes with no visible traces. Hence the piggyback connector. Stealing power from the rear wiper. 15A, ignition switched. Using an oldskool aftermarket lighter jack and some cable, ground from a random screw nearby. The dashcam has its own 2A fuse on the piggyback connector. Everything neatly tucked in and ziptied together This will have to do. This is what you see behind the wheel. Pleasantly surprised that the suction cup works on the black dots (whatever it's called) behind the mirror. Can you tell you're being watched?

I finally got around to buying that camera. I had forgot I made this thread, so I googled my problem and got this as the first hit. Thanks for all the answers. I'll probably update with some pictures whenever my camera arrives.

If I lived in an area with actual congestion I'd get a proper automatic, not a DSG. At least not a dry-clutch DSG7. But I've driven automatic for so many years already that I shift gears using my right foot, so to speak. I know how to prod the throttle to get the transmission to be in the right gear when I need it to. I have to admit though that it's harder to do with the DSG7 because it has so many gears, and because it does a better job on its own. With my old 4-speed Volvos it was a lot easier, and at first (after coming from manual) I used to lift off the throttle slightly to get it to change up when I wanted to. I don't do that anymore. Come to think of it, "prod the throttle to get the transmission to be in the right gear" is the wrong word for the Skoda. I just place an order for speed using the pedal on the right, the transmission finds a gear and the engine applies as much throttle as needed.