croquemonsieur

If like my more lowly MY19 SE 1.0 DSG Tech, that accelerator option is just for when the Adaptive Cruise Control is turned on. You can set the closeness of distance to the car in front in the same lane, before it slows or even applies the brakes + also set how fast you want it to accelerate back up to the set cruise speed, after you have pulled out into the overtaking lane. Following discusions on this forum, I set the proximity to vehicle in front in cruise at the next to closest and accelerator to either the maximum or next to maximum, I forget. As others have found, this seems to make for the smoothest progress on motorways. Even so I try to anticipate both the proximity of the vehicle in front I'm catching up with and also those if any bearing down on me behind at more than the legal limit and pull out in good time, ensuring indicators are on (seems to partly override the proximity sensor). This is because the cruise system does tend to 'hang on' to the vehicle in front for longer than I'd like, even after pulling out, with consequent unnecessary brake application in the overtaking lane. However, typically on a 2 hour motorway journey, I'll forget myself a couple of times and be caught be a slower vehicle in front with fast traffic too close in the outer lane and the brakes get applied quite sharply - livens me up a bit, which is no bad thing.

Sorry, I forgot the link https://www.whatcar.com/audi/q4/estate/review/n23194/on-the-road I actually prefer the Skoda front end, but think the ID.4 looks best of all.

Just for info, one review did say the Audi Q4 e-Tron ride was a bit better than the ID.4 & Enyaq, but this link does explain that the Audi tested with DCC may have been better than the Enyaq they tried, as the latter they drove didn't have DCC, but they still thought its ride impressive. They do go on about ride & the extra EV weight, but not convinced by their explanation - the batteries are low down & so the C of G should be lower than equivalent non EV, which I'd think would aid stability on bends & improve the handling/ride compromise. I bet the tyres were pumped up too high.

Heike, it will be good to see how you find the ride, once tyres are at the lower pressure. Regarding the varying reports of the Enyaq ride comfort here, the first reviews I saw of the ID 4 weren't too promising, but those in the later more mainstream mags, Autoexpress & What Car are much more complementary about this aspect. I've noted before that there seems to be a general view in mags that you can't expect a Heavy EV to ride as well as a lighter petrol car, but I don't see why - I expect the Jag XJ6, with it's famed ride quality, was a heavy car, but it did have much higher profile tyres with smaller wheels. Whatcar noted say that the Enyaq rides well, except for some thumping on ridges & a mild thrumming over rough roads (Whatcar often seem to be more careful over describing road noise quality). Were the tyre pressures set properly, i wonder? They actually gave the Enyaq 5 blobs for the car overall and the ID.4 4 blobs, but I expect value for money came into that assessment. Also in most reviews on VAG cars generally including these cars, they say that DCC isn't worthwhile, but some people on Briskoda say differently - I haven't driven any car with this to form my own opinion, but would like to. Someone on the Karoq site says he well appreciates the difference, but it doesn't seem to help much with jarring over sharp ridges in the road. That's where tyres and wheel size (higher profile tyres) come in & maybe better riding all-weather tyres, but from what I've seen, DCC is only offered on Sportier low profile tyre Skoda models. https://www.seat.com/car-terms/d/dcc.html This SEAT site seems to well summarize how DCC works - purely by varying the aperture size between shock absorber chambers. There's rather more to it than just having soft, average or sporty ride damping. It very measures what's going on at the wheels upto 1000 times / sec and seemingly rapidly anticipates & adjusts the aperture, whatever ride style is chosen, also taking into account cornering. Wikipedia calls such suspensions semi-active.

I did once forgetfully leave my car in Sport mode on a long stretch of the M4 on a Bristol - London trip that I do regularly (so much for it keeping me alert), yet it was one of my most economical runs ever for that journey, at 53mpg actual. It still was in 7th gear quite a lot of the time, but presumably it changed down sooner on hills or if wanting some power to get past a collection of slower moving traffic. but maybe it was a warm day with the wind behind me & no hold-ups & ideal traffic conditions. On the other hand I don't like being in Sport mode when driving round town as I actually find my 1.0 DSG too 'responsive' then, particularly moving from standstill - it pulls away rather too suddenly and makes driving generally jerkier at around-town speeds. The throttle is actually rather too sensitive for me even in ordinary Drive mode going from standstill and needs a more delicate foot on the pedal, compared with other non VAG cars I've driven. I would really like to soften it's top-of-the-pedal responsiveness (via VCDS or even the official OBDeleven), but I do wonder with the auto car, if this might mess up the way the accelerator links with the DSG over some parts of the performance spectrum, interfering with all that intricate computer control. I asked my dealer at the last service & they won't adjust it.

I've not had anything like that, but I'll just say I'd anyway always find overtaking while going uphill & staying in D, something of a challenge in my MY19 1.0 DSG, particularly at 40mph (maybe OK at 60-70mph). The car does feel somewhat high geared car for the small engine, rather in the fashion of old style French Citroens & Peugeot 504s, fine on motorways and when not too hilly, but the kick-down is almost painfully sluggish (& then car takes off rather violently), if I want a sudden burst of speed. So I soon got into the habit of anticipating a bit more (no bad thing) and moving the gear stick backwards into Sport mode when preparing to overtake, or if I think the car will sound like it's labouring on an approaching uphill. Then in Sport mode, the car becomes nicely responsive. Gear stick back again to revert to D mode afterwards - I quite enjoy driving like this and it makes progress feel quite fluid (without needing all that tedious left hand leg clutch antics from those long gone manual car days - did cause me mild leg/knee problems) and seems to keep me more alert, as opposed to just pottering along in Drive mode all the time. I never used the Sport mode in the previous 1.2 DSG Yeti, as the car always felt rather more low geared in D for overtaking, but now do prefer the Karoq way of doing things. Having said all that, I must say there does semm to be something rather wrong with your car, sounds almost like a slipping problem on one of the twin clutches, but I'm no expert. Also very sorry to hear about your servicing problems generally. Not had any real issues with my car & been very satisfied with the Walthamstow dealer. After 2 years it had the 2nd service a couple of weeks ago @ only 11,000 miles. I came away, if anything, with the engine sounding a bit sweeter and quieter.

Having got carried away, I meant to bring the thread more or less back on topic by noting that in the latest 'Which' - looking at EVs, they do like the ID 4 and talk about the superb ride comfort, which seems rather at odds from what I recall from other reviews. They criticize the interior materials & infotainment though. I am a bit wary of 'Which' conclusions, but VAG do well generally, with the Porsche Taycan top of the list and the Audi E-Tron being overall best for comfort + practicality (but middling overall). Kia E-Niro & Soul EV in 2nd & 3rd places, but not particularly regarding comfort & Tesla 3 lower middling & X & S near the bottom, with talk of'woeful' reliability problems. Enyaq not looked at yet.

I don't know, I find driving around in Wales very enjoyable, many of the A roads with sweeping bends seem to have good smooth tarmac surfaces and not too busy. I imagine Scotland is still similar, just not been up there for years. Some areas in England make for pleasant driving too & even like going up the M5 around Gloucestershire area, setting off early in the morning. Agreed, I much prefer taking my coffee breaks at home or in winter particularly, city/town cafes, but then I'm a towny at heart. I read that when the M1 first opened, before speed limits, the well off with fast cars (including the Beatles) used to blast up there for a coffee or a meal at Watford Gap and then blast down again. Sounds a bit sad now, but I have to admit that when occasionally driving up the M1, I even look forward to stopping at the 'Gap' for breakfast or a coffee - Macdonalds or if feeling extravagent at Costalot, I must be one of those grim people. But after less than 2 hours cocooned in any sort of tin box on wheels, however quiet & comfy it is, I just need to get out and stretch my legs and be outside even if just a short while. it's even worse being a passenger, so boring on motorways. Yes, most services are not nice, but the eco one on the M5 near Gloucester is rather pleasant, sitting by the lake, as long as you stay outside away from much of the the crowds, ditto the big one on the M40 near Beaconsfield. I'd never eat a big lunch while travelling & not worth spending a lot - and it would send me to sleep, but a basic Mac cheeseburger & a coffee suffices & even that I look forward to it after being in the tin box a while. Actually, I do enjoy driving, but you can have too much of anything after a couple of hours. I have to say, blasting through Europe 600miles a day is not my idea of a holiday. I find the getting there almost as enjoyable as being at the destination, lots of interesting places to see on the way in France & feels so refreshingly different to this country, not that I'm bored with Britain, it just makes a nice change. 200-300miles a day is then is my limit & do too hope I can get back to those days soon, hopefully old age and senility won't take over in the meantime.

My circumstances are maybe a bit unusual and no no doubt EVs do suit some - I do like towns & cities. but not that atracted to the usual suburbia & pleased to end up living where we do, even if it involves some compromises, particularly regarding garden size. Neither location is good for running an EV in their present state of development. In non-pandemic times, we use the very good Bristol local bus services a lot, very convenient & the best way to get around in cities (walk down there through leafy squares & bus back), but not at the moment... Though where we spend most of our time is very pleasant and we wouldn't want to move, the edge of East London by Epping Forest is too far out & population density probably too low, to support enough local bus routes at a sufficient frequency for convenience. Most local people a little further away from our town centre have bigger houses and gardens and drives with 2 or more cars, but we like being able to walk not too far from the centre. 2 or 3 houses down our road have managed to squeeze in a parking lot with big posh EVs in all of these, one jutting out into the narrow pavement, which I find annoying. I think Citroen have brought out a 'Smart' like EV that would suit my pottering about in East London, as it would just about fit in our cottage front garden. I have an allottment a couple of miles away and going there in the Karoq, as I do at present is crazy. As well as cold starts, it's hilly + lots of stop/starting at traffic lights & through the town centre etc. so terrible for economy & engine wear - why I'd consider a hybrid if they could replace all that mechanical transmission complicated stuff with electrics. But I'm instead going for a Mi-rider electrically assisted collapsible bike for now, as I can avoid all the busy roads and take short cuts partway along tracks, that are not available to cars & it's also an attractive route scenically, even if hilly (too much for unpowered bikes) - journey times will likely be a bit less than by car & it would then be worthwhile going there just to do the odd 1/2hr job, even twice a day occasionally + the ride might even do me good. So I'm sort of getting in on the EV bandwagon. Will also be useable sometimes in hilly Bristol. I'm not a cycling junkie though and unlike a friend who goes on long bike journeys such as East/West, coast to coast, with one or two others, I've no desire to emulate him, nor probably even consider moderately big journeys - no criticism meant, just not my choice. https://mirider.co.uk/mirider-one-2021-the-best-rated-folding-ebike-on-bikeradar/

No RootToot, but I go to Bristol from just outside NE London every 4 weeks or so, at least I did in non pandemic times, staying over a few days, 300miles round trip + pottering about down their & excursions into Wales, Somerset etc. I very much doubt there'll be charging places in that part of Bristol for a good time yet, if ever, as it's a near City Centre location, and finding parking itself can be a bit competitive in itself. So finding & leaving the car somewhere for an hour or so to charge up & would not be close by & if not impossible, very inconvenient - would probably have to get a bus there & back - sounds like taking up at least 2 hours, but maybe facilities at large supermarkets will become a feasible option & reasonably priced, but even then I'd still have to ensure the car was more or less fully charged heading out from East London, so worries at that end too. A few years ago, as my mother was growing infirm in her 90s and particularly once she moved into a home, I'd go to Derbyshire there and back in a day - 350miles overall. Also, next week I need to go to near Llandudno from Bristol in one day, 450-500miles round trip - normally I'd stay over, but don't want to use hotels just yet. I'd prefer to & make it a short breal & maybe will feel it's safer soon, but this winter could be risky for us grey revolution types, even if we have been double vaccinated and who knows how long Covid & it's mutations will last. I suppose fast charging at motorway services might just make that Welsh journey feasible in the Enyaq, whilst I have elevens's, lunch & afternoon tea, but I'd be be getting range anxiety from the word go, worrying that charging spaces are not occupied & anyway, I'm keeping clear of services for now. Hopefully charging station availability is a short term problem & no doubt EV range will grow year by year. Yes Luckypants from a 1.0 DSG, does 46 - 50mpg actual, occasionally even as good as 53mpg, so 500mile range is not impossible and that's travelling at 70mph with a few bursts even occasionally up to almost 90 to get past a knot of traffic, but admittedly the upper consumption figure does include a substantial amount of 50mph distance while the M4 'not so Smart' motorway works continue - will they ever finish, taken at least 4 years so far. Xman, I doubt I could go 6.5 hours without a comfort break & in normal times even for the 150mile journey to Bristol, we'd stop for a coffee. I'm past boasting I can drive for hours on end without stopping, what's the point - I like driving, but not without breaks - morning coffee is one of life's many joys. However, during the pandemic, we are doing the London - Bristol journey in one go, maybe 2.4 - 3 hours depending on traffic, but we are careful how much we drink beforehand, as most other times I stoke up with what seems like gallons of tea early on in the day.

No drive so I have no easy domestic charging from the public highway and I'd need a long distance range of at least 400miles, preferable more at motorway speeds, for an EV to be viable for my purposes. No doubt these will gradually emerge, but a plug-in hybrid may well be my next car, but in no hurry as hanging on to the Karoq for a good while yet. Regarding SUVs v normal estate cars - agreed the latter can accommodate more stuff and particularly long loads, so they do suit some people better + the lower frontal area & maybe better Cd does improve economy & thus emissions, but not by all that much. However, I've never liked low cars, they all seem like toys and climbing in and out of them is a chore as far as I'm concerned - even the Karoq seat fully up is an inch or two lower than ideal for my long legs when by a pavement, but just right for my wife, who has had 2 hip replacements. She found ordinary saloons really rather awkward, particularly before the operations - sliding front doors would be even better for getting feet in and out, but I believe Peugeot found that too expensive to continue with. I've gone off big cars ever since small car automatics have become so good, allied now with the spaciousness of modest sized SUVs/MPVs. I so much prefer their compact length, just for manoevering around town and on country lanes and particularly for parking - just wish the Karoq was 2-3" narrower particularly for convenience in multi storey car parks. Not a factor in low population density areas & country driving in Scotland I suspect. Mind, the Enyaq does look rather long. Anyhow this is all a bit of an aside for what is prompting me to write, this time. The Independent really likes the Enyaq, the best car they've driven this year, bar a Merc S-type. Car review: The all-electric Enyaq is brilliantly, impressively luxurious. And yes, those letters spell S-K-O-D-A (msn.com) Spacious, Smart, Smooth, Quiet, Nippy & Gorgeous, they even say it looks better than the ID.4. Well maybe that grill isn't too bad, but I'd argue with that last point, but i'd love to try one out. (Yes E-root, 99mph is plenty fast enough, I didn't mean that as a downside). It's a rather skimpy review though, for one thing, no mention of ride - I'm sure the S type does much better there. Maybe in due course, DCC + more sensible smaller wheels with higher profile tyres (A-W preferably) and possibly the Adaptive anti-roll bars now available on the big VW SUV, will become possible, or even air suspension, though I suspect the last 2 do need a reasonable amount of range-depleting electical power to work. The S type probably has most of these anyway and I bet it's just as heavy.

Skoda Enyaq 80 review: Tesla-rivalling electric range comes at a price (msn.com) They think it comes out well in comparison with the VW ID.4, including regarding some of the control ergonomics, but still not perfect. I sat in an Enyaq last week, whilst my Karoq was being serviced and was impressed with the cabin ambience in the front. However, as it is an SUV, I was expecting a more upright driving position, but presumably the undefloor batteries mean the floor has to be higher up. Getting in & out is still likely easier than for a conventional low saloon as the seat is still higher up when compared to ground level outside. Though the car looks better outside in the flesh than in photos I'd seen previously, I have to say I much prefer the ID.4 appearance and detailing touches externally - that new Skoda radiator grill! I saw a review of the ID.4 last week and one thing i hadn't realised is how poor EVs seem to be for range on long distance drives - i assume this is universally true. The quoted ID.4 range is 300+ miles and this was easily exceeded in about town driving, but the range was almost halved on a distance run at motorway speeds. Both cars seem to be limited to a 99mph top speed, presumably to minimise the range issue. I.C. cars are in a way the reverse, poor economy & range about town, but much better on long runs, even at motorway speeds, but even better if kept down to say 50mph.

I've changed my mind already Retired lecturer converts 1934 Austin Seven into electric runabout (msn.com)

Interesting - the Peugeot e 2008 is near enough 3" narrower than the Karoq and maybe an inch narrower than the Yeti. I think the original Golf+ was a little narrower still - I was interested years ago, but strangely for VWs found the seats unfomfortable, even on a 10 minute trial run. The Nissan Note was no doubt yet narrower & has been a popular about-town run-about, but never got good reviews. I'll not get into the original BMC Mini nor prewar Austin 7.

Interesting & encouraging Lucky Pants that you commend the ride of your ID4. Reviews of electric cars I've read, probably mainly in 'Which', indicate that as electric cars are that much heavier there is always a compromise in ride quality - they say the ID3 doesn't ride as well as the current Golf. I don't really understand & don't believe why this should be inevitably so, in fact I'd have thought heavier cars would tend to be better in this respect - I think of old Jaguar XJ6s, Rolls Royces etc. I am a little sceptical of 'Which' car reviews anyway. As an aside & not really illustrating of this aspect, but I did quite a lot of heavy lifting in my previous Yeti, rear seats out etc. and the ride improved no end, when it was loaded up to the roof lining, at the expense of having to be careful as it swayed round corners.

I'm glad I'm not alone in thinking that cars are getting too big, certainly too wide. This link shows that some others may agree too. https://www.msn.com/en-gb/cars/news/cars-becoming-so-large-that-household-garages-no-longer-fit-for-purpose/ar-AALU9F3?ocid=msedgdhp&pc=U531 Even the Karoq which no one would regard as a large car these days, is virtually as wide as my Saab 9-5 of a few years ago & that was supposedly an Executive car.

zappahey - that could well be so, now I compare my Bosch with yours. The 45* chamfer on the RHS bottom of your Bosch blade in the picture is on the LHS on my new blades. The original on the naff mine & yours, has short chamfers both sides, so those are presumably a universal fitting. Maybe the longer Bosch chamfered bottom extension gives more support in the wiper arm housing & is part of the reason they don't judder & groan. The housing on the car, looks like it's meant to receive the Bosch style connector anyway, having only the one chamfer. Dremelling your blade will shorten the above noted extension and may just turn it into another Valeo, but hopefully not!!!!

How very annoying for you, I assume the Bosch is on the RHS, mine look like this. I took note of messages here a while ago, and ordered 2 full sets of Bosch Aero blades from Amazon at a good price, being careful to specify the right code number. I've had these more than a year, but only finally got round to changing the noisy originals a week ago (2 year old Karoq SE Technology MY19). They were no trouble at all to fit & I really don't know why I waited so long, I put up with the graunching, groaning from what I assume were the old Valeos far too long and they weren't brilliant at clearing the screen. Apparently early on, the Bosch replacements needed adaptors for the Karoq, but then versions came out that fit out of the box, as mine did. The code numbers of mine that work are A864S for the front pair and A331H for the rear. I hope you get it sorted soon. In spite of being skeptical that they could offer such a big improvement, I can now confirm all the other previous reports here that they really do make a difference, being really smooth and quiet, (albeit that's only after a small amount of use after one week). One person some time ago did find that his replacement Boschs left a poorly cleared path in the line of view and found another make that didn't, but many others haven't found this and neither have I - a really clean sweep, front and back. Actually, just checking my originals, they do look similar to your one on the LHS. Unusually for me, I did read the car handbook and carefully followed instructions during fitting.

Has the Aircon been serviced. I'm including an aircon service along with the main car service end of july. The Karoq is 2 years old MY19 and have it in my head that this should be done every 2 years - maybe I'm overdoing it - any thoughts as to appropriate intervals? The first car I had with aircon was secondhand and by the time of the aircan service at 5years old the ventilation was getting rather smelly , but don't recall if it was otherwise performing badly.

Sounds like you mean Yeti size - that would be the ideal for me, compact, no wider than 1800mm, so easy to park and fit in narrow car parking bays (and along narrow country lanes). I believe the Enyaq is a bit smaller than the Kodiaq, but as roomy inside. So when the time comes, I'm hoping the new smaller electric SUV will be Yeti size on the outside.

Maybe, but I doubt I'll ever get to prefer the new front end, I really do like the current design. I've had occasional passing thoughts about changing my MY19 SE 1.0 DSG technology earlier than my usual 6-8year stint with any one car, for a newer Karoq, what with the mild hybrid DSG that's coming + incorporating adjustable dampers, 360* vision, traffic assist and lots of other goodies, but that new grill is dampening those urges just now.

I agree. I think the current Karoq / Kodiaqs front ends had evolved into one of the subtlest & nicest such designs on the market. They've rather messed up there with the MY22. Maybe a general trend though and not half as bad as what BMW have been doing to their double kidney in the 7 series for instance - ughh!

It seems Skods are introducing new models specifically for the Indian market. To me this Kushaq looks like a cross between a Karoq & Kamiq. Skoda Kushaq India launch details revealed (msn.com) I read an article some years ago, most probably in Autocar, where they tested a few Indian made Yetis touring on Indian roads. I remember them commenting that construction quality and included facilities where as good as the Czech made ones. I wonder if the Ambassador (1950s Morris Oxford) is still made over there.

I see the 1.0 mild hybrid DSG engine transmission combo that is coming to the Karoq MY22, is already in existence in an Octavia Estate & reviewed in Autocar . https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/skoda/octavia-estate/first-drives/skoda-octavia-estate-10-tsi-e-tec-2021-uk-review The engine is a bit less powerful @ 108bhp, as it is of Miller cycle configeration. Performance seems marginally better than the current 1.0 DSG Karoq & a further review this week (I think in Auto Express) said it had very useable performance with good torque at lowish speeds (the present Karoq isn't bad in this regard). This last magazine got 44mpg overall, which I suppose is pretty good for a motoring magazine test. Emissions seem down a bit @119gm/km (actually the sort of figure Blue Motion Diesel Golfs were achieving some years ago). So not a game changing improvement, but maybe useful gains all round, is an appropriate summary.

My 1.0 DSG Karoq, bought end July 2019 from new, has engine serial number beginning in DKRF, according to the V5, but maybe that's because it's not a 1.5. I assume it has a particle filter.