StEdmund

Thanks for making that point - I must bear it in mind. I've not experienced any problems, but then, my wife does occasionally use the 'spare' key for when, say, we take the car into town and she gets back to the car before me. What would be the result of the key being 'out of synch', and can it be remedied by the owner ......... or, is it a sucks air through the teeth main dealer job? Thanks.

The original batteries for my 2018 Karoq were Panasonic, in my case 2025, so I have always used Panasonic as replacements. They can last for 2 years but I did have one that only lasted for 3 months, so there is some product variability. I tend to stick to one key fob because it's got a load of other keys attached to the key ring but it is important to remember to change the battery in the spare fob at the same time as changing the battery in the main fob.

My, doesn't time fly! It doesn't feel like more than a few months since I bought my brand new 1.5 SEL in September 2018 nor since I was writing on these pages about the horrors of the engine dying and the kangarooing. I'm pleased to say that I stuck it out and waited for the software fixes; I still find my Karoq the most comfortable car I've ever driven, and I've no intention of getting rid of it. From what I hear, batteries seem to last for 7 or 8 years, with the occasional claim for significantly longer, and I guess that battery longevity is a 'how long's a piece of string' question. My battery is the original Varta EFB and the car has done 41k miles; there is nothing currently (geddit?) happening to suggest that the battery is deteriorating in any way. Has anyone on here had to replace their Karoq battery yet?"

Thanks for the tip.

Experience has taught me that an issue such as this can be common throughout the breed. May I ask you how you managed to get at the control module inside the door? Thanks.

By the way, following up on my earlier post, as the fuel filler flap gradually became less and less reliable, I tried squirting it with silicone spray. Not sure if it actually delayed its demise but, in the end, I got the solenoid fixed before the warranty ran out.

I recall the fuel flap refusing to open at a pump in Stalham, darkest Norfolk. An Audi driver at the adjacent pump advised me to open and shut the car door, lock it from the key, then open it again, then try the fuel flap again ............. and it worked - phew! However, on subsequent fills, sometimes the fuel flap behaved, and sometimes it refused to open. Over the next few months, it became so unreliable that I took it to the dealer - who promptly changed the solenoid. It's been ok ever since.

I've just checked my records and it is exactly 6 years (25/01/20) since I replaced the original wipers, both front and rear, on my Karoq with Bosches. The originals were extremely noisy and utter rubbish.

My philosophy is that the car will be worth bog-all at the end of 15 years, and certainly not the cost of a belt replacement. Just make sure that you've got decent breakdown cover; if it 'goes bang' you can throw it away.

So, referring back to my original post, what was my decision? My default attitude to insurance, generally, is to 'self-insure' if I think I can pay for a hit. Hence I buy insurance if I go abroad and I insure the house - and after a motorway tyre blow-out, I purchase breakdown insurance. I don't bother with health/dental/dog insurance etc. The 'All-in' policy included 3 elements - breakdown cover, service plan, and extended warranty. Against my normal instincts, I have decided to cover all 3. Our cars are insured with LV and I was simply able to add breakdown/recovery to the policy for the remainder of the insurance term. LV were very much 'on the ball' with that. The 'service plan' was set up by my local Skoda dealer to continue when the old plan expired - when I looked at the cost, it wasn't very different to using my independent and it was broken down into monthly payments. The real insurance 'gamble' was with the extended warranty - the thought of a fault with the infotainment screen makes me very twitchy. So I have also gone with the Skoda extended warranty. Whilst we have a very good local independent who looks after my wife's B-max, my decision was influenced by the fact that our Skoda dealer has proved to be very good 'Vindis Skoda' in Bury St Edmunds - also honourably mentioned by Sanqhar in the 'petrol v diesel' thread.

I haven't yet decided what's best to do next. Whilst Googling, I came across this which appears to be a menu outlining the options available. The helpful Service Manager at my local dealer made a note in his diary to discuss 'what next' - maybe this is what he has in mind ...... https://customer.vwfs.co.uk/service-plans/skoda.html?traci_c=UK%7CSI%7CGA%7CS%7CSKODA:DM-P:&traci_s=SI:SKODA:SEA:Google:SearchAd:2023-01:&traci_ee=19604534807:145589334923:647819819930::::&traci_t=skoda%20all%20in%20plan:e::&s_kwcid=AL!10901!3!647819819930!e!!g!!skoda%20all%20in%20plan&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=19604534807&gbraid=0AAAAAoaLYNOsOc_ZewAIQtMKVMzRoobky&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI6_aA3YHekAMVRZVQBh1S-Ct4EAAYASAAEgK2O_D_BwE

Mumpsim - current car mileage, 39338; annual mileage <10k miles; excess (mid choice), £100. Annual premium quoted: £217. Rbz5416 - I will keep my eyes open for any special deals that may arise; I guess that, previously, I have been lucky in that the annual special deal came along just when my previous one was expiring. Suddenly, seven years have flown by, and the car becomes, mechanically, an insurance liability. As I enter the period of bangernomics, good breakdown insurance will help my blood pressure! I suppose I'm slightly edgy about all this as my car, initially, was one of those kangarooing/dying at junctions 1.5 manuals.

As soon as the 3-year guarantee ran out for my Karoq, I took on a 'All-in' plan which I thought a reasonable buy covering extended warranty, MoT, servicing and roadside assistance; blissful peace of mind! But all that comes to an end in 3 weeks time so I have to do some thinking. Skoda are offering a further extended warranty deal but, bearing in mind the excess charge for any claim, it doesn't appear to be a particularly good buy - and it doesn't seem to include service/MoT/breakdown cover. Anyone else found themselves at the end of the All-in deal? Did anyone take the further extended warranty ........... or did you simply take your car and your business to the local trusted independent? My only concern with an independent would be whether or not they had access to software updates etc. And I would get breakdown cover via my insurance provider - after a blowout on a wet November evening on the M6, we would never be without breakdown/recovery cover.

A couple of weeks ago, when my Karoq was in for service, I took the opportunity to take a closer look at the Elroq; my thoughts have been that the Elroq could well be a contender for when the time comes to replace the Karoq. I should add that for me, currently at 6'1" and slowly reducing, the Karoq has been by far the most comfortable car I have ever driven. I too became immediately aware for the horizontal seating position. with the steering wheel pressing onto my thigh; there didn't seem to be any further adjustment available to raise it. There's no way that In could live with that, and I came away pretty disappointed. I can cross the Elroq off my list of possibles.

I have a 2019 MY Karoq, and can confirm that the correct rear wiper blade for that year is the A331H blade. The original wiper blades were dreadful so I changed them all-round for Bosch in January 2020. The Bosches have been excellent and are still going strong nearly 6 years later.

Whilst on the topic of manual v automatic gearboxes, has anyone else noted the lack of tractability with the 1.5tsi engine/manual gearbox? If you don't like frequent gear changes, then this isn't the car for you. I'm of the old school that prefers the more intimate connection with the engine afforded by a manual box, but my wife does rather complain about all the gear changes. Typically, my Karoq will negotiate a large roundabout in 3rd, of 6, gears whereas my wife's 1.0 3 cylinder B-max can even manage it in 5th, of 5, gears. The Karoq demands significantly more attention to gear changes.

I remember reading that there are two settings for the aircon; one for more temperate climes (e.g. the UK) and the other for warmer (e.g. Mediterranean) climes. I understand that an adjustment cannot be made by the average punter (e.g. me) but can be effected by clever/daring people using a box of electronic tricks that gets them into the car's inner thoughts.

The car still has until November on its 'All-in' service deal. The aircon is still working as usual, so I'll wait until I really notice a decline in performance, and take it to my local independent. I should add that the aircon in my Karoq has never been very impressive.

I've just received an e-mail from my dealer offering a Summer Health Check and an air-con service for £99. My records show that the car (Karoq Sept 2018) had an air-con service some 3 years ago during its 4th annual service. Is an air-con service worth bothering with? Is £99 an OK price? Comments welcome! Cheers

Were you tempted, at all, to try the Elroq?

I read that the screen washers jets were fan nozzles as opposed to round nozzles - hence they are more prone to blocking up; I admit that I haven't actually looked to check this. For screen-washing fluid, I always use one designed for fan jets (not a cheapie!), and I mix this with 'de-ionised' water from the dehumidifier in the conservatory. We live in a hard-water area, so I wouldn't use tap water. I have never had any problem with blockages.

Back in 2019, when my 1.5tsi kangarooing/dying Karoq was taken off the road by DVSA for a couple of months, I was loaned a 1.0 tsi Karoq by the dealer. I only had use of it for a few days but, bearing in mind that I live in flattish East Anglia, and wasn't fully loaded, I couldn't tell the difference between the 1.5 and the 1.0. Considering the trouble that I had experienced with the 1.5, I seriously wondered if I had made the wrong decision in choosing it over the 1.0.

I hope that gets it sorted. Can you let us know, please, what the conclusion is? Not that this will help if there's a leak but, as the jets are elliptical, they do clog easily so I always use VAG or BMW screen-wash purchased online, and dilute it with 'distilled' water from the dehumidifier.

I agree that seating must be highly subjective; I have a 2019 model SEL Karoq which is, I guess, the same as the OP - and it is the most comfortable car that I have driven in my entire life. I should add that I am now 75 and have had a dodgy back since my mid 30s with a L4/L5 vertebral displacement. My wife remarks that she, too, finds the Karoq very comfortable to drive.

I'm 6ft+ with a dodgy back and I find climbing into my Karoq SEL so much easier than climbing into my mate's Octavia estate.