freelunch

My Sportline just gave me a warning that the battery in the key needed to be replaced. I tested the battery after removing it and it was dead. I thought my locking/unlocking problem was the car battery, but I think now that it was the key battery. 4.5 years old. It's a CR2032 3-volt pancake battery.

I got so fed up with the P7's that when I managed to slice one of the sidewalls on holiday, I used that as an excuse to buy 4 Vredestein Quatrac 5's after only 17K miles. I don't notice that they are any louder than the Pirelli's, but they are much grippier. (Mind, I came from being a daily motorcycle rider, so road noise in the Škoda is a luxury.) I can still break them loose if I want to, but they have not slipped under normal quick acceleration from a stop. Nor have they slipped in the wet, like the Pirelli's used to do.

I've been driving this 66-plate 220, DSG. DCC, ACC Sportline for 4.5 years. It's been a terrific car. It has plenty of passing power and wheelspin is a non-issue since I replaced the original Pirelli P7's with all-weather tyres. I did add a Pedal Box soon after buying to avoid the sluggish throttle response from idle, but have not otherwise spent a penny on the car, except for an annual service. My average fuel mileage after four years is 36 mpg. I will drive this car until the government tells me to buy electric. Living in London, that could be sooner rather than later.

Seems to me that somebody here recently solved that particular problem with a couple of shims. Try a search?

Ha! After four years, mine's a number two. Had it open today.

I think you have to set a "route" rather than a "destination". Instructions in the manual.

You should keep up this thread and let us know how you think the Octavia compares. You buying new? Good luck!

That car looks very sharp, indeed. Have fun keeping it clean and shiny! My last car was black...

A quick read of my Columbus manual shows methods of importing and updating, but no mention of exporting.

@TheITGuy I'm probably built like you. I've been driving this Sportline (alcantra buckets) for four years now, and have done 500-mile days with no problems. It took me a few months to get my favourite position and, as I'm the only driver, have set up three options on the presets so that I can alter my driving position slightly when I need a change. I find that I tend to shift my backside to the left side bolster and add a bit of lumbar support. I think the seats are fine, but I've never driven a Volvo. Or a Bentley.

Ha! A de-badging gone too far! The only thing for it is to write a Post-It® to remind yourself to find a solution and stick it over the spot. Or, glue the badge back on...

Ha! I'd hate for this thread to get hijacked by gout sufferers, because there are plenty of us on this forum (I'll bet). But, yes, gout: thank the NHS they have pills for that, because it's excruciating (I know). And, thanks to the DSG (my first automatic) I will never again experience the nuisance that is a manual transmission in a 20-mile motorway jam.

Amen. Cars are rolling computers now. I used to be able to do all my own work on my motor – rebuilt the carburetor on my V8 Camaro just by taking it apart piece-by-piece, installing the new bits and reassembling. Solved the battery charging problem by tightening the fan belt. Thankfully, as motors became more and more complicated, my income rose to meet the servicing requirements. @omnipeta I don't know of any video. There is a pdf manual you can download, and there should have been one supplied with the car. Or, like Penpusher said, just trial and error. Or, pretend it's the 60's and just put it in "D" and go!

I went to Watlings in Catford. They mounted four tyres that I brought in and did a balance & alignment for £116, so yeah, £144 is high. I have also had a four-wheel alignment done by KwikFit. When I queried a figure on the printout, they did a second alignment in a different shop for free. That job cost £84.95 three years ago. I did it before I drove to Germany and the car ran smooth and true on the Autobahn at high speed, so why pay more?

I use a Mac and there is a learning curve. I got an app called CleanMyDrive 2.app – free from the App Store. It removes the invisible and unwanted files from the SD card as the last step before you eject it from the Mac. It's easy when you know how.

If you think you can drive smarter/more economically than the DSG, you can always move the lever over to manual, or even use the paddles in automatic. I always had a manual box until now. After DSG, I'll never go back to manual. The first time you sit in a traffic jam, you'll be glad for the automatic and stop/start.

Or, it might have to do with a low battery. My four-year-old battery needs the car to run for 10 or 15 minutes before the stop/start will start to work as expected.

Yeah. My Sportline was the sales manager's car – it came with the Canton. It plays quite well and as loud as I can stand without breaking up, but if I was specifying a car, I would just get standard system and upgrade via an audio specialist. The sound from the Canton sub is just a tune-less thud. (Oh, heck, I just realise I've already posted that comment once. Senior moment...) @Roberto280 I think "angry" may have been a bad choice of word from our Estonian friend or Google translate. Maybe "vehement" is better.

Stop/Start can be a blessing in a traffic jam, but a real nuisance in rush-hour traffic at a roundabout. Even if you learn to finesse the throttle so as not to engage the stop/start, it can feel much safer just to switch it off. At least, that's what I do.

I found mine on Amazon: Xtreme Auto touch-up paint

@Redboy You'll be lucky to have that covered by a normal policy. Mine specifically disallows panoramic roofs. Just curious: have you used a roof rack or otherwise put any stress on the roof?

Ahhhhh, the red I wish I had...

I know this is a Škoda site, but there still must be a little boy racer lurking somewhere in our collective DNA. I used to ride a motorcycle until four years ago. The best part (well, one of the many best parts) was being able to pass slower traffic at will. And, for that (when you are two-up and laden with luggage) you need power. In a car as heavy as a Škoda, you need loads. That doesn't make you a hooligan, it makes driving safer. (Honest, judge.) Who hasn't pulled out for a passing manoeuvre and wished your car had a little more guts? The thrill of that sudden pressure in the back. The relief that you were able to leave plenty of room behind you as you pulled back into your lane. Then the wife saying, "Slow down". This is a Škoda after all...

The dogbone has been mentioned. Other options: ease on the throttle, lower the air pressure in the tyres, trade up to a 4WD. The car came with P7's, but I've stopped getting wheel spin since mounting Vredestein Quatrac 5's.