SurreyJohn

13th August new versions of Octavia launched in UK https://skodamedia.com/en-gb/releases/1514 and new brochure dated 14 August 2024 https://www.skoda.co.uk/_doc/0bcfc2d5-654f-49b2-a524-91e141293e36

Podcast on Elroq on Skoda storyboard https://www.skoda-storyboard.com/en/podcast-en/podcast-exploreskoda-elroq-agile-ev-for-every-day/

I had similar fun with all in one, made them change the spark plugs on the second visit (even though they had been done on a service previous to taking policy out. I simply said it includes a set in the price, so might as well have them done even though not due. They accepted it and I made sure it was written on sheet when I checked car in, to avoid receptionist forgetting to pass on message

Firstly not clear to me if you love your current version, why you want to replace it instead of just giving it a very good service and overhaul of worn parts. Regarding the PHEV, it charges in 2 ways, plugging it in, and regeneration by using the motor as an alternator when going downhill or braking. So yes on a flat motorway where there is no traffic and speed can be constant will gradually lose battery, but very few places in UK where this applies. Of course both the 4x4 system, and the PHEV are heavier than standard version (in deadweight terms like adding a few bags of cement and carrying them around), so need to decide what you actually want, is it a sports car performance or a large vehicle, or both.

I am going to take a punt that when you hit the pothole the wheel was mildly bent. Assuming the wheel was properly balanced after changing the tyre, (and they might have not got it 100%, just close to balanced), would first have it rebalanced. At same time get them to swap the wheels front to back and see if that helps. If it moves the problem (now vibrates in different corner) then clearly the wheel needs replacing as it is no longer exactly circular. If the vibration is still at the front then might be either a driveshaft, or an engine mount not properly seated (get them to slacken each bolt in turn and check engine mounts seated correctly then re torque them tight correctly).

Without knowing if it is a dealer provided third party service or an official manufactures scheme (and if so which one), it is difficult to know what is covered. As an example the Skoda all in one has 2 services and full European breakdown cover (and 2 MOTs and full warranty) for 2 years. But you might be getting less. Ask to see the specifications of what is covered (and any exclusions)

Cupar Leon is bit smaller, and still has VW group bits If you want a real pocket rocket try an Abarth How about a Smart #1 Brabus if you want performance. I have a feeling they share components with Volvo EX series Just had a thought you can now preorder an Alpine A290 (the sporty version of the forthcoming Renault 5). However If you want luxury (in a not big size) rather than sportiness, then maybe a Lexus LBX.

I do not know proportion of time in UK vs proportion in France, but you are looking at it slightly wrong way. If apart from the few long journeys (which will mainly be petrol), yours are nearly all local journeys then provided you plug it in (and slow charging overnight is ok) then will do the local journeys on electric. If plugging it in is going to be difficult in France then you basically have a petrol car with lot of deadweight. If you are only in France for few weeks per year then fine, but if there for months at a time with no home charger then quite honestly why buy the more expensive PHEV when you can just buy the tsi petrol. All the long journeys are going to be mainly petrol. You are only really only going to be in full electric mode for about 4000 miles local in UK and possibly some miles in France. So saving about 10 tankfuls of petrol per year, having PHEV instead of petrol, say 10 x £80 = £800. But got to pay for electricity so let's say overall save £400 per year. As the PHEV needs full service every year as some parts get intermittent use, if PHEV cost extra £3k might take 7 years of fuel saving to justify offset extra cost.

Just ordered some crossclimate+ for our other car (newer 2 version isn't in required size). Was stunned at variation in prices, most of big chains were around £130-135 per tyre, couple of independents quoted over £150 In the end opted for Tyres4you which has just opened new branch in Warminster, £125 and 15% off for 4 tyres so just £106 each

Traditionally extras don't really add much to the secondhand price (think more like £50 for an £500 extra), although they often increase desirability and thus make it easier to sell. The normal way to value them is to effectively split each feature into one of the three lists : can't do without, fairly indifferent but maybe a nice to have, and wouldn't pay extra for it, as don't care if not there. Of these can put a price on first category, middle category is worth £0 to you, and third category is between £0 and negative (just something else expensive to repair if it fails) The car is 2 years old and specs change over time, some are added, some dropped. Go onto the Skoda website, new cars, scroll to bottom and find brochure downloads and print out the pages with the list of features and options and their prices (not pages with pretty photos), use this for basis of your 3 lists as above. Put a price against those in first list, add it up, then decide how much prepared to pay for what is being offered.

Depends on the temperature, but at UK temperatures generally yes. And this year with temperatures rarely getting above 20c, could have comfortably kept euro winter tyres on which tend to be quieter still.

Most Eco biased summer tyres will be noisier and firmer, and are really designed for use in +15c and above (the official economy tests are done at these temperatures nearer +22c so that is why they fit them) With hard eco tyres It is not uncommon for wet grip to fall off rapidly below about +11c either (and in UK we get rain below this temperature about 9 months per year). Change the tyres and will grip better in wet, and be quieter when not a warm day. Depending on what size you need (and price and availability) look at Michelin cross climate 2, Bridgestone Turanza all season 6, Continental all season contact 2, Pirelli Cinturato all season SF3 (or +), Goodyear vector 4season gen3. Possibly also Nexen N'blue 4season 2, Falken euroallseason AS220, Kleber Quadraxer 3

The distance from the car is completely different if using Kessy as a keep in pocket key, where you need to be close. If you press buttons on key fob it then transmits more like conventional remote (at higher power and thus distance) so you can be in your lounge and lock/unlock car on driveway, or lock it from a distance if you have started walking away in a car park. Holding buttons down for many seconds, operates the convenience features like opening all windows to help cool the car on hot day.

There are 2 sides to this, car and phone, and if one phone works, but other doesn't you probably ought to check which version of software (android auto and operating system) you have on the phones, are these upto date.

As someone who has had 6 Skodas, including two L&K spec Octavia, looking to change car in a few months. Now newly retired, no longer doing runs to/from university with lots of stuff, so want something small, but like a few creature comforts. With Skoda now need to buy a bulky car for high spec (and some of our local towns have old stone walls making them bit narrow in places so don't want fat car) Dont really like the Fabia 4, to me it is over priced and seems to be spec'd more as a mobile office than a comfortable small car, so misses things we like, but includes lots of irrelevant (to us) things. Like the look of new Epiq, but just says vague launch date of 2025, does that mean be able to buy one within a year, or will it be good part of two years before on the road. Trying to work out if it is worth waiting, or if we would be better going for another brand coming soon, eg Hyundai Inster or Kia EV2, Volkswagen ID2 etc. https://www.skoda-auto.com/news/news-detail/epiq

@logiclee don't know which size wheels and tyres you have, and I note your preference for Michelin Crossclimate 2, but probably also worth considering Continental all season contact 2, Bridgestone Turanza all season 6, Pirelli Cinturato all season SF3. Different ones seems to do better in different tests so overall all good in different ways. Could also add Goodyear vector 4season gen 3 and Kleber Quadraxer 3 to your shortlist as alternatives (ultimately will depend on price and availability in size you need).

The grip and economy will depend on temperature. Tyre economy is also affected by quality of tarmac surface you are driving over. I think I have read somewhere can affect rating by over 50% The official test rating (WLTP) is done at something like +22c. The day and night average in UK is nearer 12c (the same as long term temperature you get in a cave). So worrying about a test result at inapplicable temperature should not be high on your priorities. If it was me, get premium all seasons for grip and safety, and don't worry about the economy rating as road surfaces make it to variable.

The 1.0tsi have a reinforced timing belt, there is no set interval for change (it is scheduled to be be inspected within major service every 2 years), but is generally estimated should be good for at least 130,000 miles or 12-15 years. Whilst earlier DSG boxes had some troubles, you will struggle to find a thread regarding DSG problems when linked to 1.0tsi. Seems to be reliable combination. The only problems that have been common on 1.0tsi were seized turbos and actuators. However nearly all these were on vehicles parked up for long periods during covid, that had been used for mainly local journeys. What seemed to have happened is condensation allowed parts to rust. Those using premium unleaded with less biofuel didn't really get problem (it burns hotter so presumably evaporated any moisture), and those doing not just short journeys also didn't have problems (again probably hotter engine). I have a 1.0tsi DSG (but not in a Fabia), car is now 6 years old, done 62,000 miles, and never had any problems, or needed any warranty work. (actually did get a screw in tyre and need tyre plug, but that is not really cars fault). So I would suggest very reliable combination.

Add on spare wheel, glass roof, tow bar and few smaller add ons and fuel and can add 100kg Of course the 4x4 system also adds weight compared to 2wd cars. Ultimately the extra weight of all these can be equivalent of adding ten 25kg bags of cement. You probably wouldn't want to drive around everyday with this extra weight, (the equivalent of few bags of cement), so have to question if things like 4x4 system really needed. Yes for those who live up a track on a hill/mountain, but for most people it's a very costly alternative to buying set of winter wheels with premium winter tyres. And that's before cost of extra fuel to lug all that extra weight around.

1) wheels, yes 19 inch lot rougher riding due to lack of tyre sidewall. You won't notice much difference on well maintained roads with high quality tarmac. But on any road with bumpy, rutted, broken or potholed tarmac (which seems to be lot of secondary and urban roads nowadays), likely to regret the big wheels. The Karoq is not some low slung sports car, so don't need wheels for shaving fraction of second off a lap time instead of comfort. The 19 inch are vanity item, not practical. 2) can't comment on headroom 3) Don't know ages of you family, but if you children ever get in with muddy wellies, spill drinks on a long journey etc then you will find cloth much harder to shampoo and clean, than wiping leather.

Don't get too hung up on the +7c figure. It goes back at least a decade (before Eco biased summer tyres were common). In reality vs modern eco summer tyres it is more like +4c in dry, and +11c in wet and damp, and UK has lots of cold rain and damp weather from October to April As a very rough guide (and exact numbers vary by brand and tyre spec, so treat as guide, not definitive) Eco summer tyres : best above +18c (ok above about +10c) All seasons : best +4c to 20c (ok -5c to +4c and 21c to 30c) Euro winter best -5c to +11c (ok -15c to -6c and 11c to +18c) Nordic winter (snow) : best -15c to +4c (ok below -16c and +5c to +12c) Difficult to say what is best, as varies depending on where you live. Where I am have roads that hedges mean they stay shady when sun is low in winter months and number of local fields seem to get muddy run off onto country roads which often forms icy patches, also have some quite steep hills (and the field run off washes away any salt). But of course someone living in flat city will not get these problems

PHEV version now launched 5 seats only £41,935 starting price for SE £44,635 starting price for SE-L Škoda’s second-generation plug-in hybrid system is comprised of a four-cylinder turbocharged 1.5 TSI 150PS engine and a three-phase permanent magnet synchronous electric motor that generates 116PS and 330Nm of torque. To ensure that the whole drivetrain assembly is as compact as possible, the motor is built directly into the DQ400e DSG gearbox, and is separated from the engine by a clutch. As with the first-generation PHEV drivetrain, the motor can move the car alone or in combination with the engine. The motor is also used to start the engine and replaces the traditional alternator. The second-generation PHEV system makes local emission-free travel possible in electric mode for up to 75 miles (five seat, SE model), but also gives drivers the option of using the petrol engine in hybrid mode working alongside the electric motor for longer distances. Key to the significant improvement in range (over the first-generation system) is a larger battery pack. The new Kodiaq iV is fitted with a 25.7kWh pack (19.7kWh usable) that is located under the rear seats. Equipped with integrated water cooling, the pack stores energy to drive the electric motor, accumulates energy gained from regenerative braking, and supplies energy for the heating and air conditioning compressor. https://skodamedia.com/en-gb/releases/1501 I do wonder if it is limited to 5 seats, how big the market is to pay for this smidge bigger vehicle over the cheaper Karoq (although that is being replaced by Elroq in few months).

Vaguely remember someone mentioned mode button is affected by leaving either speed limiter or cruise control on, turning it off sorted problem. Sounded like software glitch

That would have taken about 2 minutes, to walk to parking place, look at VIN number bottom of windscreen and compare it to list of numbers either on print out or listed on screen of tablet etc. So did dealer call back few minutes later with yes/no ?

That worn shoulder is almost down to bottom of tread. All season tyres (with V shape tread pattern) throw water in puddles out of the side, I can't see how the water could exit if that was in contact with the road so would significantly increase risk of aquaplaning. I would be very tempted to get tracking sorted and replace them. Also if you want new winter tyres, then don't wait until prices go up in autumn when demand is high.