MiniNinjaRob

Now I can’t remember 100% but if you order the towbar prep it actually raises the suspension 10 or 15mm, not sure why but when I was looking at configuring my car that’s what I found out from the brochures.

MTB riders have been using 3M helicopter (or leading edge - as it’s used to protect the leading edge of helicopter blades) tape for ages to protect bike frame paintwork against chips and scratches. I’ve used it before and it works really well, you can get sections of it on eBay quite easily in a variety of widths.

Newer cars generally tend to be less noisy. Sometimes tyre choice can make a difference, some tyres, even premium ones, can be noisier than others. Big one is wheel size, or more appropriately tyre sidewall ratio, is going to make a massive difference. Going from a more standard 50 ratio tyre to a 40 or less is always going to be noisier, the vibrations aren’t masked by tyre volume as much and the suspension will have to work harder too. I was going to go with 18s on my SEL but with the roads in West Yorks as they are I stuck with some optional design 17s as they will probably handle just as well on bad roads and be quieter and comfier too. And be less prone to damage.

Can you do wireless Apple CarPlay as standard with the SEL? That’s what model I’ve ordered and was happy with a cable but it would be nice to get the wireless charging and AC quite cheaply. I was the same with the factory option, thought it was a bit pricy.

Remember polish is there to remove defects before waxing. You may not need it. But if you’ve not done it before it probably is needed. There will be a million different opinions on what to use and how to use it. People will argue about it a lot! Personally I use Auto Glym Super Resin Polish as it’s only a very mild cut, then the AG deep shine stuff (can’t remember what it’s called now). I once used a Meguairs polish stuff that was especially intended for dark cars and that was a lot easier to use on my previous dark blue car than the Auto Glym.

That’s the best way but then you have to buy more product. I’ve done it both ways and as long as you are careful it’s ok. Best maybe to try on the bonnet for a first go with a proper wash, clay bar, polish if needed then wax.

Is it as described, a mouldable clay which you rub on the paintwork gently. Even when you wash a car thoroughly you can’t get the paint properly smooth, when it’s dry feel the paint and it has very small bits of roughness. That makes it difficult to wax (you’ll see the wax bring out those imperfections) and you won’t get as good a finish. A clay bar need lubrication to work - most need a special spray (my Meguairs need Quik Detailer) but some are more simple and just need water in a spray bottle (I think Bilt Hamber only needs water and it’s cheap too). Basically you run it gently over the paintwork and you will feel it picking up the imperfections and ground in dirt. Every so often when it gets dirty you fold it over itself to get a new clean section and continue. First time I used a clay bar it didn’t take as long as I thought but it isn’t a 5 minute job. However if you need to do it again its a lot faster. I do it a couple of times a year at the most - I do have a clay mitt now which seems to do a decent job but really fast. The big advantage is when you’ve done it wax goes on SUPER easy - it’s ridiculous. It was so easy the first time I did it I put on a second coat of wax just for fun. If you do on a new car you’ll still make an improvement and it’ll very very easy. There’s a lot of detailing things which aren’t essential but if you want to go from a basic wash to something which will stand out amongst the other cars it’s essential.

I have managed to restore an older cars paintwork with my DA polisher and a whole weekend attacking it but it’s not for the faint hearted!! I swear the paintwork on my 25 year old Volvo 940 Turbo has kryptonite in it or something.

Fair point. Defects that a normal person would notice I suppose, rather than what a professional detailer/painter would notice. I do have a DA polisher but for most people that is going a bit too far. Start with the basics and you’ll get so much better results. If you like the process and the results you may want to take it step further but walk before you can run - make it too complex and people will be put off with the time/expense needed for the ultimate finish. Which isn’t what most people really want, they just want to keep that “as new” look and feel to their car. I do think some people make it look very complex and hard work and put people off. I reckon with a basic cleaning set consisting of decent products and tools you’ll save money fairly soon rather than paying for a drive through place.

In future years? What does that mean? Oh, and welcome to the internet. 😂😂😂

Anyway to help the OP, there are several things you can do to make your car look and feel fantastic without spending the days some people seem to spend on their cars. I don’t spend a lot of time on my cars but they always look great and they don’t have any paint defects. It’s easiest to start with a new car of course, it takes a lot of effort to restore a badly looked after car for sure, but not impossible. When I have returned my work lease cars after 4 years they always look as good as new bar a few stone chips. If you have a drive, a decent hosepipe and a pressure washer it’s going to make things a lot easier. To be fair doing on the road without a hosepipe is very difficult so you may want to adjust expectations of what you can achieve. There are some simple rules I follow all the time. 1) Never use an automated car wash, drive through hand car wash or similar. They will wreck your cars paint finish and especially the hand car washes, any diamond cut alloys you have. They are better than they used to be but still aren’t great. 2) Always rinse before washing, if you have a pressure washer you can get a snow foam attachment for prewash and main wash which actually saves a load of time. But its not essential. 3) Always use the 2 bucket method with a nice wash mitt and don’t drip it on the floor. I spent some money on a nice Meguairs bucket with a grit trap and that only gets used for the car and also stores my washing stuff so it’s handy. 4) Polish and Wax are different things, look it up, it may surprise you. 5) Always use a clay bar before polishing and waxing. The first time you use one it will be a chore but it cuts down on waxing time MASSIVELY and the finish is MILES better. You’ll find waxing is so easy when the paintwork is glass smooth. The clay bar process is hard the first time but very quick if you do it again later on. 6) Do the interior first and take time on the details like door shuts, carpets, getting all the cack out of the nooks and crannies. 7) Cheap products aren’t necessarily bad, and expensive ones are necessarily good! I use a selection of Meguirs, Auto Glym, Turtle Wax depending on the product. Good value is best for me! If you want to know exactly what I use let me know. 8. Don’t get too obsessed with it. I can’t wait to get my first Skoda as it will be a new Octavia and the first thing I’m going to do is clay bar it and treat it to some nice wax to keep it nice from new. It won’t take long to do and it will be easy to keep up. As my job involves going to excavations in road and inspecting sewers the outside of my car doesn’t look great all the time and through winter it won’t get washed too often BUT I do keep the interior immaculate as I can stand a dirty interior, I do manage to do this with a weekly hoover and wipe over with Meguairs All Purpose cleaner which seems to work on everything. Happy cleaning!!

But they have time to pointlessly wade into a topic where someone is looking for help to brag about their attitude to their own scummy cars? There is one positive I suppose, it marks these people and I know never to buy a car from them, so it does help a little. 😂😂

Don’t bother trying to argue with people who don’t take care of their cars paintwork, they always seem weirdly proud their car looks like crap. Being lazy and not caring for such an expensive purchase isn’t a positive in my book.

What’s wrong with the extension lead idea? Why make it more difficult?

It’s all about production planning, which is insanely complicated for cars. You might not think it would add cost for Skoda, but it will complicate matters = more cost.

Sounds fair, there must be a cutoff date where they can guarantee the price up to. I’ve seen this a lot while I was waiting to order a new work car.

I don’t keep them on because I can’t stand the noise they make all jangling together and scratching up/damaging the very expensive car key!!

That looks fantastic.

You might find your 2nd hand car you are trading in will be worth more the longer you wait - crazy things happening all over car world and I wouldn’t be surprised!

I went to look at a Kona, they are tiny, not a patch on the Octavia. The Octavia iV is a great choice for business users as the BIK tax is so low. Massive estate costing me about £160 a month all in including BIK tax but a mild hybrid Focus with a similar spec to the SEL I ordered would be £200 a month all in.

Just trying to help you. If you are stuck waiting for the car why raise your stress levels about it? Getting angry does nothing, it’s negative and damaging and won’t do you any favours with the dealer if you show that anger to them. And if you’re expecting no one to disagree with you on the internet then you’re in for a big shock. 😂😂

Why are you “angry”? It’s only a car, if that’s the sort of thing you get angry about maybe you should see a professional therapist.

To be honest I’m sick of people moaning about delivery times. If you’re expecting things to arrive as fast as they did pre-covid you are delusional. Everything is still up in the air and will be for a long time. Shortages of many things are expected to last well into 2022, especially electronics but loads of manufactured goods too. I am sure the dealers/manufacturers are pulling their hair out trying to get these things sorted but a lot of it is out of their hands. It doesn’t help with customers constantly badgering them who appear to be wilfully ignorant of the times we live in. My advice? Accept it isn’t going to come on time and plan accordingly and stop complaining OR cancel your order and get something else. It’s not a life and death thing, it’s just a holiday you are going on, be grateful you are able to even think about doing it, there’s a lot of people in much worse situations right now. Get a grip. At least if you cancel my car can have the chips which would have gone in yours….

They’d be ok as a general roof rack maybe for a roof box but I’m not sure if trust them with bike carriers with them being extendable.

Not got my car yet, what sort of backgrounds can you choose from as standard?