driventodevon

Glad to hear it, mandp. I loved everything else about mine. I may just have been unlucky with my particular manual (as opposed to DSG) + sunroof + towbar combination. (I'm not wishing to resurrect that conversation, I was genuinely interested in why the hybrid has a 1.4.)

I was referring to the 1.5TSi in the Superb (from MY19) as being a disaster. This is from personal experience. Many Karoq owners have the same opinion. (See on the Karoq forum in particular for details.) Given that the 1.5 was designed to replace the 1.4, and it has been around for a couple of years now, I was really wondering why the new hybrid will have the 1.4. Is it some sort of tacit acknowledgement by VAG/Skoda that the 1.5 is not satisfactory? Have they gone back to a previous generation engine that they can rely on? (Or is the 1.4 an obvious choice for reasons I don't understand?)

I hope this isn't a daft question, but does anyone know whether the 1.4 petrol engine in the hybrid vehicle is (a) the same as the "old" 1.4 that was replaced by the disastrous 1.5 engine or (b) a newly developed engine for this model or (c) another existing VAG petrol engine or (d) something else entirely?

My MY19 Superb 1.5 TSi had a retractable towbar which I chose as a factory-fitted option, but it also suffered from both the second gear flat spot and the kangarooing. So, in the Superb at least, even if the towbar prep led to installation of a different alternator, this was not a differentiating factor in the presence of the "characteristics".

This is appalling! Frankly, you should be able to drive a manual car off from stationary in second gear rather than use second only when you're travelling at over 10 mph. (Not necessarily recommended, though!) To answer your question, I would not dream of changing down to first in any car at 7/8 mph. To give you more reply than you asked for, bear in mind that you are (just) inside the six-month deadline before which rejection of the car under UK law is still an option worth looking at.

Sadly, I think you may be proven right. When cold engines are started in early morning winter air temperatures, I suspect that the kangaroo will become more noticeable, even on cars which appear to be fixed.

I imagine that a remap would sort it out as the process wouldn't be limited by fuel economy, emissions and other constraints in the same way as any Skoda reprogramming process would. However, others have raised concerns over warranty invalidation. For my part, I don't see why a buyer should even have to contemplate paying a third party additional sums to get the car into the condition it should have been in ex-factory. That's letting Skoda off the hook.

MY19 Superb 1.5 TSi manual estate. Ordered May 2018. Delivered Nov 2018. Second gear flat spot and first gear kangarooing both notified in writing to dealer 9 days after taking delivery. Car returned to dealer for check, dealer confirmed fault, advised fix (assumed at that time to be for both issues) due in Q1/Q2 2019. Decided to wait for fix, but advised dealer that I was reserving right to reject. Informed at start of April 2019 that fix was available (no specific info on whether this was for one or both faults; I think we all assumed it was for both). Fix applied. Second gear flat spot eliminated but kangarooing still present (regardless of driver and regardless of revs used). Advised dealer that wished to reject. Short delay while dealer presumably negotiated with Skoda UK. Rejection confirmed by dealer and processed in May 2019. Car had ca 8,000 miles on clock by this time. (No reference to an impending second fix; I only became aware of this after I had rejected. If I had known about it, it would have made no difference to my decision, as dealer had been given the one opportunity to fix the fault that is allowed for in consumer law in the UK.) Car was advertised by dealer as for sale straightaway and ad removed within a couple of weeks, so I assume it was resold. I used my refund to buy a different make/model altogether. (I had told dealer I would be interested in a late-model 1.4TSi, but none suitable were available at the time.) Dealer: 10/10 Skoda UK: 0/10 Car (even though perfect in every way except for these faults): 0/10

Disappointing result from the financial point of view, but you must be pleased to have a resolution to this. (Yes, Carrs of Exeter were as helpful to me as they could have been; if I was ever in the market for another Skoda, I would go to them again.)

These were quoted last year elsewhere on the forums at the various "status codes" denoting the stages the car goes through: 00 = Without Production Week 10 = With Production Week 20 = With Production Order 30 = In Transit From Factory 36 = In Port of Exit not Released 38 = In Port of Exit Released 39 = Vehicle Shipped 40 = UK Port 60 = In Transit to Dealer 70 = At Dealer The impression that I had when waiting for delivery of my car this time last year was that, for a model which *isn't* going through exceptional delays relating to WLTP approvals, you might expect around three weeks for production and then a week for delivery. Obviously that's going to vary for individual models/cars, but it may give you some sort of guide. I seem to remember being able to establish through various phone enquiries when my car was in production, out of production, arrived at Emden and arrived at Sheerness. As you may be aware, all delivery to the UK is via the ports of Emden and Sheerness and there is overland transport at both ends too. Once my car reached Sheerness, both Skoda Customer Services and my dealer claimed to know nothing about onward transportation on the basis that it is all subcontracted to a third party, which was a little frustrating.

Sadly, I think I can tell from what you've written here ...

"withdrew" presumably means that you paid it off (redeemed it early) or exercised your right to cancel rather than that you breached the contract with VWFS in some way? If so, VWFS are right; you no longer have a contractual relationship with VWFS and so your claim/action will be against the dealer.

Er, this is just a guess: posting on the wrong forum?

The law says they get the one opportunity. After that, if there is still a fault, you are entitled to reject. (Of course, if your dealer is inclined against the concept of rejection, you may end up having a bit of a battle over whether the fault has been resolved or not, so you may need to demonstrate it to them and take their senior technician for a spin. This would be reasonable, otherwise buyers could reject cars just because they had changed their mind!) Your manager has to learn not to take things personally! For Skoda, this is a drop in the ocean. For your dealer, it's probably a drop in a large lake. I can't understand that attitude - of *course* you're trying to gather evidence to reject the car! Ultimately, whatever the law says, there's often some need for managing relationships and using persuasive skills too!

If you have not already done so, read the Which? Magazine advice and similar websites. You have missed the one-month deadline, like me and probably most people who were not pushy and who felt they would give Skoda a chance to fix this. You are now in the 2-6 month period, where you can still reject, and the law is still on your side in creating a presumption that the fault was there from new. The dealer/supplier is entitled to deduct something from the refund for wear and tear, but I, and others, have not suffered such a reduction. There is another issue which you now seem to have arrived at. What you have to do in this 2-6 month period, which is not relevant in the up-to-one-month period, is give the dealer one chance to fix the fault. Tell the dealer you will take the car in and allow them to apply the update, otherwise the law will support them. If this fixes the car, well and good. If not, then the dealer has had his chance and you are entitled to reject. The above is a layman's interpretation of UK law and I assume you are putting everything in writing. Best of luck.