CKO

This will probably be the last model enhancement on the Mk4 Octi, which has to be kept alive until 2030 and perhaps a little beyond (in which case another tweak could be on the cars a couple of years down the road). Skoda isn't alone in doing this to existing models as the market is in a state of flux at the moment with demand for pure BEVs (which were mandated to be the majority if not the total of a maker's sales) faltering once the tax incentives to buy one dried up. Facelifts are a whole lot cheaper than coming up with totally new models.

I am glad you got good service from your current Octavia vRS. Driving it into the ground would make sense economically - until you hit the first major repair, which could entail throwing more money at it than what it would fetch as a used car. Then, there are also possible parts sourcing issues to consider. The current MkIV series will bring many pros and cons with it, like any choice of car. The pros would be: Superior comfort, finishing, drive refinement, greater safety and lower emissions. Fuel consumption should also be lower (I regularly get 12 - 14km/l from my '23 vRS 2.0 petrol without trying in mixed driving), making it cheaper to run. Possible downsides are: Like all late model modern cars, the MkIV will bring with it increased electonic complexity. The legendary software issues that were prevalent on early models (these are largely resolved on newer used ones, so go Approved Used if you are eying up pre-loved examples) and possibly the slight growth in physical size, which could complicate garaging arrangements. If you plump for a new one on company funds, you may not be able to get the spec you want as the price with some desirable options places the vRS above the UK luxury car tax threshold (I am assuming you are located in thge UK, otherwise, please disregard this point). My '23 unit is almosty fully optioned, with the winter pack, HUD, DCC and pano roof. Options are a personal preference, but I would order these again, were I to get a fresh vRS today, except for a possible change in hue (mine's Velvet Red, which may be being phased out for a different red soon). Good luck with your choice.

If it's convenient, you could get another dealer to fix the armrest and also let Skoda UK know about your original dealer's lack of competence.

Hi! Original poster here - my thanks to all who responded. This YT clip is better than the one I used to replace the batteries with. That little U shaped clip is a real PITA and the issue was resolved by keeping the key blade retainer outside of the fob as the shaft is slid back in after the job is done. Another really clever piece of wunderbar German logic and engineering! However, in getting one of my keys back in order, I noticed that the obveerse side where the three buttons are is now coming adrift after slightly over three years in use, despite my rotating the keys monthly. Any suggestions to fix this or will it be a trip to the dealer? Thanks again.

Hi, all, Ten thumbs me did DIY replacements of batteries for both keys after the car flashed a warning to do so. After following a You Tube clip, the battery went in OK and the plastic body mated up with the other half of the key but now, the blade/shaft does not lock in place and detaches itself whenever the key is handled by the key ring. Any advice gratefully accepted. otherwise it's off to the stealership come Monday.

Velvet Red is a good shade but costs extra here in NZ (along with the Orange), making it a rare choice. I have a Mk4 is this shade and it has stopped passers by commenting on the sharp looks when kept clean. We don't seem to have Space Violet yet as an option but I guess it will come through later. Just be careful that it may not prove popular as a used car choice, so resale value could be slightly impacted. As for options, the pano roof is recommended as the interior can be too dark for some tastes with a black headliner. Winter pack definitely (I presume your country spec is for heated front and rear seating and steering wheel?). DCC - do a test drive with the normal set up and see if you can live with it as the Mk4.5 sits a little lower and rides 19" wheels as standard. I've got it and swapped out the dealer opted 19" rims when they specced the car from the factory for the 18" Comets and the ride is less jarring over potholed streets. 35 - 40 mpg is definitelt doable in mixed driving - I get anything between 12 - 14 km/l. Enjoy your new ride.

To each his/her own, but I've had experience with BMW diesels before coming to my MY23 petrol Octavia vRS and the BMW oil burners were far from boat engines. They were punchy from the get go owing to the massive torque low down and very refined in the E46 330d Touring and F31 320d Touring I was fortunate to own. I do relish the ability of petrol units revving to a higher red line but sadly, in many road conditions these days, doing so would be seen as being anti social.

Regarding particulate filters, even the turbo petrol EA888 motor is fitted with one for the Mk4 VRS. I came from an F21 BMW 320d Touring to my vRS 2.0 TSi Estate and it regularly gets between 12 - 14 km/l while the BMW did 15 - 16 km/l. However, in NZ, diesels pay a road user charge, so the running costs for fuel are about the same. As advised by an earlier poster, you should take a test drive to see if you can re-acquaint yourself with the power delivery characteristics of a turbo petrol.

Thanks for your real life experience fix. I suppose it's too late now, but some images or a vid clip would have really helped.

You should also check if the twist cap has been properly tightened as petrol could evaporate if the cap is not fully turned home.

I'd say you need new shocks. A roadworthiness inspection only gives a cursory look at the point it was carried out.

Without stating the distance the car already has under its belt, it could be possible that it needs new shocks?

You may have to get a trimmer to do a set for you. Costly but should look excellent and you can choose the finish and material you want.

I tend to disagree with the HUD being useless at roundabouts as it does give navigation instructions with a vocal request and directional arrows.

I doubt if they may easily be retrofitted and even if they could, the cost of doing so would be very prohibitive (ie. more than ordereing them as factory fit options). Your best choice is to do a custom order, if you can live with the wait time, which I believe, is a lot more palatable now than a couple of years ago with the chip shortages.

Tyre noise is very noticeable on rough ashpalt for the Octavia. The rather thin carpeting used does not help and I suspect the issue is made worse with 19" wheels and more aggressive rubber. This was one reason I downgraded my MY23 from 19" rims to 18" items. The other being that the ride on 19" wheels can be agitated on pock marked city streets, despite DCC being fitted. I have spoken to a tyre specialist and they recommend a different cover to the Bridgestones mine came with. And, yes, 4.5 refers to the mid life refresh that you test drove.

If you are buying from a dealer (hence, the salesman), the car should be handed over to you as fault-free as possible or you have the opportunity to refuse delivery. You should also check what software system update it is on as the early models were not exactly glitch free.

The facelift models have yet to break cover physically in NZ but from what I've seen and read so far in reviews and their accompanying images (as well as the official downlodable brochures), it seems that the larger touch screen protrudes quite a bit above the dash top. Maybe I am being my usual pernickety self but I think this spoils the uncluttered look of the cabin, The side assist would depend on your driving environment. I have found it useful when backing up long drives or exiting a parking slot when bounded on both sides by tall vehicles such as crossovers, SUVs and pickup trucks/utes that are so popular these days. DCC was something I was also thinking of not having but my car was built during the time of the chip shortage crisis and was mandatory with the so called Premium pack. It does provide a more comfy ride around marred, potholded streets - important to consider if yours is being specced with 19" wheels. I have not experienced any Mk4 Octavia with manual seats as all the vRS demonstrators here come with the powered option. One thing to consider is whether the base cushion may be tilted with the manual seats as even with the powered perches, the base feels a tad flat for my tastes. Hope the above helps and enjoy your new ride.

Beautiful colour but it's not widely available. IIRC, it was done as a one off to mark QE2's diamond jubilee.

The vRS models have yet to appear in New Zealand, but from your images, Skoda have done what the premium carmakers do - make the facelift noticeable but not to sich an extent as to cheese off owners of the original model. Enjoy your new ride!

Apologies if the two bits here are repetitive of other previously expressed views. If you think the touch screen and various other controls on the Octavia MkIV are bad, you should experience the current gen VW Golf and various Seat and Cupra models that do not have the short cut buttons at the bottom of the screen and made do with unlit control sliders at night, which were only recently "improved" with the facelift versions. The Golf has also ditched the haptic steering wheel controls in the facelift models. The lane keep feature is legally mandated by the EU bureaucrats who think they know better and who probably do not drive themselves but are chauffeured to their venues. It is required to default to the ON setting every time upon starting up. At least, it can be easily disengaged via the steering wheel controls. Any new car, regardless of whether it has physical knobs and buttons or functions accessed by a touch screen, requires bedding in time to grow accustomed to its controls and the way it handles and drives. Although I am still not totally won over by the touch screen after over 18 months with my vRS, the Octavia MkIV is better than most other VAG products and outside rivals in this regard. My biggest bugbear is the intelligent cruise control being too sensitive and slowing the car down too often when there is no need to.

Any good body shop with a paint blending machine will be able to run off a small bottle for you. This is all you should need for patching up stone chips. I got mine done for $20.

Your dealer should be able to give you the code - that's how I got mine and I made a small batch up at my usual body shop,

One would have thought that specs and models would be identical on both sides of The Ditch, given the small size of the NZ market, but such is not the case. Australia has/had the Sportline variant, which never came here, for instance. Skoda NZ made the decision on the vRS to bundle all options except the pano roof together when the chip shortage struck and has not revised this since. So you either get a "standard" vRS or one with all the trimmings with the free-to-order pano roof.

The following info is on the Skoda NZ configurator: The Style starts at $52,990, with the vRS coming in at $61,990. Both are promo prices as word of the facelift is out and the units left in stock and on the water will need to be cleared by year end. The facelifted examples are expected in late 2024, with a release projected for early 2025. If HenryNZ opts for the Style, he needs to select a unit with the Style Plus pack ($5,450 extra) to get the HUD, triple zone climate control, ventilated F seats and heated F & R seats. What Skoda deems as leather seating adds $1,650. 17" rims come with the Style, with more stylish alloys coming in at $600 and an 18" upgrade costing from $1,450 (two styles are available). DCC is unavailable for Style trim level. The vRS Plus pack is $6,450 to include the 19" wheels, HUD, DCC, heated F & R seats (and steering wheel - sorry, missed that one out previously), leather seating and massaging F sports seats. The pano roof costs $2.900 for either trim level.