Dillers

Some wise words on this topic here. It’s easy to fall into the trap of disliking the car because of the tech / various quirks. I’ve learned to live with it now, but I do agree that having everything accessed via the touch screen is a dangerous thing and takes your attention away from the thing you’re meant to be doing ie driving! I have to say that I don’t think I’ll ever have another Skoda based on my experience with the info system and its various oddities which is a shame as other aspects of the car are very good. Hopefully you’ll learn to love yours!

Looks much better from that angle, now I see why you like them👍🏻

Yes, each to their own and as long as you like them that’s the main thing. But for me it just looks like a bog standard Octavia now rather than a VRS.

Fair enough, wasn’t sure on your criteria but thought I’d chip in anyway (they do them as an auto also by the way). Are you looking for brand new only or considering second hand?

I had a drive in a Focus ST today (the newest version), it was excellent. Great interior, goes very well, handles well and a manual gearbox too👍🏻

That looks awesome

Snug!😄

I’ve got two child seats in the back of my Mk4 and I don’t think I’d get another one in there, the space in the middle is tight. That said one of the child seats is one of those bulky ones that spins round. Not a very scientific answer, but just my opinion!

Can’t be done without using an OBD device I believe. Such an annoying feature

Mine is a 23 plate Octavia, it’s been in for the software update but still I have the occasional issue with the system shutting down. As well as that I get random issues all the time, suddenly the voice control will kick in and ask me to repeat myself even though I’ve been sat in silence the whole time. The volume control doesn’t always work or it turns the stereo up by itself. I don’t like having the audible announcements turned on in the sat nav when I use it so I turn them off, but it still shouts out its orders from time to time. The boot will occasionally open by itself also. Oh and every now and then it will find neutral when I am trying to pull away. Honestly I would not recommend anyone spend their own money on one of these cars, it seems to be pot luck as to whether or not you’ll get a good one.

Mine used to do this, or just entirely refuse to play at all. Had the software updated to 1941 (i think) and that sorted it. Lots of issues with the software on these cars unfortunately.

Welcome to the wonderful world of the modern Octavia. I have a 23 plate VRS phev and it does all sorts of weird and wonderful stuff. The infotainment system is frankly ****, it does random stuff all the time, I just ignore it now (I’ve updated to the latest software and reported it all to Skoda who have basically told me I’m lying). The best bit is when the boot opens itself at random (no, I’ve not sat on the keys or accidentally pressed the button). Sometimes the voice control thing kicks in when I’ve not done anything, sometimes the stereo turns the volume up by itself, sometimes the parking sensors don’t work. Sorry, not that helpful but I think what I’m saying is there are loads of people who have issues with the software on these cars, if it’s not a critical problem then I’d say you just have to learn to live with some of it sadly.

I think this is the reason for a lot of hybrids / fully electric cars being purchased in the last two years. Mine is a company car too, no way in hell I’d have gone hybrid if it were my own money (just my personal opinion of course).

Everything you’ve said you find annoying is exactly how I feel about mine too, and I’m especially glad you mentioned the traction control. If I need to make even a slightly spirited pull away from a junction in anything less than bone dry conditions then it is almost impossible not to have some degree of wheel spin. It’s so embarrassing, anyone nearby must think I’m either incompetent or just showing off! It’s a shame as overall it is a nice car but as someone who enjoys being able to drive a car I have found there are just too many annoyances that detract from the experience.

This video saved me from going mad when I changed the battery on my key. Hopefully the link works but if not the guy is called the car key man ok YouTube https://youtu.be/5H8nFH-IOUs?si=4zFIP0JndpT7hTB7

Good choice getting a manual, if I could change one thing about my VRS it would be the auto gearbox, it’s just not the same as actually changing gear yourself (the second thing I’d change would be the electronics also😄)

Yeah this has just gone round and round hasn’t it. Each to their own, some like the driving aids some don’t, thread done now?😘

Yeah it’s quite serious at times isn’t it. I’ve been on a couple of other forums previously and it was a lot more light hearted😊

Ah I see, sorry I was confused, I thought you meant it can be disabled without using some sort of Gizmo. Never mind, I’ll just keep turning it off everytime I get in the car🤦🏻‍♂️

Can I ask how you enabled this please?

Stop crashing would be nice

Apologies, no offence was intended to you personally🙂 I guess I just find it frustrating that these days the technology that gets enforced onto us in my opinion takes away our autonomy and the need for us to actually think and drive the car ourselves. Perhaps for some people it’s a good thing, but I do feel it just adds to the general dumbing down of society. Anyway, that’s just my opinion and I respect everyone’s right to their own.

I think the difference in opinion is down to the fact that some people are driving enthusiasts who actually like doing the driving for themselves as opposed to people who are lazy and like to have the car do it for them. Hence the fact that standards of driving in the UK appear to have reduced to abysmal levels. I’m thinking of the types of idiots who drive in the middle lane on motorways for example.

First thing I do everytime I get in the car is turn off lane assist and as many of the other “assistance” gizmos as I can. They are intrusive and annoying. I’ll drive the car myself thanks, I don’t need a computer doing it for me👍🏻

The very first time I use the brakes on each journey I find they are quite stiff and almost like they aren’t going to work, but after that they’re fine. I drive mine in hybrid and sport mode 100% of the time so the regen is quite strong and I don’t really have to brake all that hard anyway