Busa-Boy

All my cars, the motorcycle and even the boat are …. It ! They are machines. Bereft of life, they have ceased to exist, they are stiffs ! They are dead parrots ! Ah, sorry, wrong sketch. 😂

I took delivery of my L&K 193 ps Tdi Estate in February. It replaced a 2023 Kodiaq L&K so it is difficult not to draw comparisons. To answer your four questions… Software has been fine. My iPhone hooks up every time and CarPlay runs perfectly. I tend to use Waze for navigation, but the Skoda version is fine. On one occasion a few weeks ago the infotainment system shut down. Attempted the usual hard reset to no avail. Stopped the car, restarted, and all was well. No issues before or since. The system itself is over complicated, contains dozens of features that will never be used from one year to the next, but that is purely my opinion and more an observation of the world we live in rather than a criticism of the car. Massage seats ? Standard on the L&K , I would never have considered forking out for them as an extra, but three months in , wouldn’t be without them. The Canton audio doesn’t seem as good in the Superb as the Kodiaq, particularly the bottom end, but is still impressive. Bugs ? The remote parking function on the app works perfectly………. Once ! Then I have to re-pair my phone with the car. Did a bit of communicating with Skoda , which was a waste of time. If I was using the function to park in a narrow garage I would pursue the issue, but for me, it’s just a novelty to entertain the grandkids with , so not a problem. ADAS features ? The best thing about them is how easy and quick it is to turn off the ones the EU still allow us to disable. I’ve had a couple of emergency braking events, but both at parking speeds and both involving shrubbery, annoying, but you quickly learn to drive/manoeuvre around it. My first experience of Adaptive Cruise Control , in short, I like it, particularly surprised how usable it is on A roads, not just boring motorway runs. The Superb Estate has won endless towcar awards over the years and having just done a 700 trip around Scotland last month with my caravan, I’m not surprised, it certainly stands up against both the Kodiaq and the E Class estate which preceded it on my drive. Apart from ….. fuel consumption, the Superb regularly bettered 30mpg with a 1600 kilo caravan on it’s back. Excellent, and way beyond the 25 and 21 mpg that its predecessors managed. Solo, I am seeing regular 50+ mpg out of town. My Kodiaq had a real appetite for oil, which was dismissed by Skoda as ‘within tolerance’ the Superb has not used a drop in its first 3000 miles. It doesn’t like potholes or ropey road surfaces on the 19’s I optioned, but the ride is more than acceptable. The foot swipe tailgate - another first for me, has proven really useful, although it has caught me a few times when I’ve been reaching into the boot by trying to close on my head, my fault for having size 11 plates perhaps ? The benefits outweigh the risk for me. The smart dials are clever yet simple and intuitive . I miss the adjustable armrest of the Kodiaq, and after more than 50 years of gearsticks , the column mounted gearshift took some getting used to when doing hurried three point turns. I also miss the auto stop/button from the Kodiaq. Actually, I just miss buttons, and knobs and dials. Sports car ? Nope, but on the occasions ( not many Officer ) when I’ve got a bit giddy and peddled it on a touch, it steers sharply and handles very well for what is a large, family estate. Mrs Busa Boy preferred the elevated seating position of the Kodiaq, but otherwise is more than happy with the comfort of our latest Skoda. Big picture ? So far - so very good. Much trawling of this forum prior to collection, meant I had reservations - up to press, unfounded.

Two months into ownership of my estate, I thought the virtual pedal would prove to be a gimmick. However, it has been genuinely useful on several occasions when approaching the car with my hands full. The tailgate has started to close on me once - but the beep gave me enough warning to save myself. I just figured it was my fault for having such big feet. Certainly not enough of an issue to prompt me to turning the function off.

I really feel for you. At my ( ever advancing ) age, I still look forward to a new car the way I used to look forward to Christmas as a kid. It must be seriously disappointing, but I have to say it sounds like your dealer has behaved very well under the circumstances. But……… you must forgive me , there’s a part of me can’t help feeling that you may be partly responsible. The anthropological projection you threw at your car could have contributed to the issue. She this, she that .. Rosie ? Had your new Skoda Superb been, like mine, a mere machine, it could probably have been fixed by a mechanic/software engineer. But you had to assign a sex to it, and name it ( her? ) and what happened ? She ( 😳 ) got a headache. And as anyone that has been around the block more than once can tell you……. When they get a headache, paracetamol won’t cut it, there’s nothing to be done other than to send it back and try another one. I agree with your assessment of the alternatives, I went through the same process and couldn’t find anything within £15k either. The minor glitch I am experiencing with the remote park assist function on the app , really does feel minor when I read of your experience. I can only wish you a faultless delivery second time around 🤞. Please keep us posted.

Had the L&K Estate Tdi for a month - so far, so delighted. One irritating thing is that the Remote Park Assist function pairs up with my iPhone and works perfectly ……. Once ! Try to use the function on the app an hour later and it asks me to scan the QR code from the screen in the car again. i.e. go through the set up process again. All other functions on the app work and stay connected, it’s just the Remote Park Assist which has this ‘one time only’ quirk. Can’t see anything specific to this issue on here, but I’ve copied the thoughts of AI below. I have tried all of AI’s suggestions of course - no change. Anyone had a similar experience, and more importantly, have a solution ? I’ve tried to ignore it and tell myself that it’s just a party trick that I’ll never use anyway, but then I come back to. ‘£50k ? Everything on it should work ! ‘ Even I can see the irony in the fact that the only time I may use it, is when Mr & Mrs Gerry Hatrick have parked their Honda Jazz so close to the Superb that I can’t get in without door bashing, but in order to scan the QR code to re - pair my phone so I can remotely pull the car out of the space to allow me to get in …… I need to get in, but Mr & Mrs Hatrick are parked that close, I can’t get in. I’m sure this scenario was a scene in one of the Mr Bean films. I’m an hour away from my dealer so ‘just popping in’ isn’t an option, it’s half a day at least. Thought I’d give you guys an opportunity to put me out of my misery before I started down that road. This is what AI had to say. ( by the way, am I the only person who keeps wondering who this mysterious Alan chap is that everyone keeps quoting ? - before doing a Homer style Doh ! when the penny drops that they’re referring to AI , not AL 😳) Constant unpairing between the Skoda Remote Park Assist (MySkoda App) and Apple devices is a common issue often caused by unstable Bluetooth/Wi-Fi connections, app/infotainment bugs, or strict iOS power-saving restrictions. Here are the most effective solutions, based on user experiences and troubleshooting guides: Top Fixes for Pairing Issues Reset Infotainment System: Press and hold the power button on the infotainment screen for 10-15 seconds until the Skoda logo reappears. Remove and Re-pair: Remove the phone from the Skoda Bluetooth/Smartlink menu, delete the car from the iPhone's Bluetooth/CarPlay settings, and pair them again from scratch. Fully Close and Restart App: Completely close the MySkoda app on your iPhone and ensure it is updated to the latest version. Toggle Connections: Turn Bluetooth and Wi-Fi off and back on while attempting to connect, or toggle Airplane Mode on and off to reset phone radios. Check iOS Settings: Go to Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions > Allowed Apps and ensure CarPlay/remote app features are enabled.

Recommended pressures for 19’s on my 2.0 Tdi are 2.5bar front and back when light/medium loaded, 2.7 front , 3.0 rear when loaded to the gunwales. I am quite happy with the ride quality at 2.5bar, it’s still early days, but I’ll be leaving them alone for now. I may have a tamper when I start towing the caravan in the Spring.

The parallel parking function on the Kodiaq was excellent. I admit to using it several times when I wouldn’t have attempted to park in the space in question , but ‘Computer say yes’ , I trusted it, and it performed perfectly. The Superb goes one better by not only parallel parking, but it will reverse or drive ( your choice) into a 90 degree spot e.g. supermarket car park. I was surprised just how close it gets to other cars or obstacles. Only thing is, it is painfully slow. The Kodiaq steered, but you controlled throttle, brakes and shifted from drive to reverse as instructed. The Superb is completely autonomous, so being set to ‘overcautious mode’ is understandable, but frustrating. All of which is completely academic of course , as being the world’s best driver, I will only be using said function as a party trick to impress my younger grandchildren, as I shall of course , park the car ( perfectly) myself.

Five days in, and the app is a significant improvement over the Kodiaq. Everything worked apart from Remote Park Assist. ( moving the car using the app whilst stood outside the car ) The QR code which appeared in set up wasn’t recognised by my phone. Tried all the usual - delete and reinstall the app, factory reset the infotainment- and still couldn’t get the app to load the Remote Park Assist screen. It turned out to be the paranoid owner’s fault 😳 . I had the app ‘ allow location’ setting on ‘only when using app’ changed it to ‘always’ and it loaded up no problem and worked perfectly. Currently on a sport’s injury clinic’s car park, waiting for wounded footballer grandson to finish his treatment - whilst walking about following my driverless car around as it goes back and forth. Yes I know it’s childish, yes, I know I’ll probably never use the function in anger, but it is amusing. First long journey tomorrow, so it will be a chance to take a view on the ride/road noise of the 19’s and try dropping the tyre pressure as advised by @Novichok .

Yep, roof, towbar and 19’s. I had concerns about compromising the ride quality with the 19’s , but needn’t have worried. Early days,but more than happy with the ride.

Collected yesterday, 100 miles in, all good. Tomorrow will be spent delving into settings, sub menus, and hoping the app performs better than it did on the Kodiaq the Superb has replaced ……. We’ll see. 🤞

Well, I’ve just beaten you to it. I pick the new L&K Estate up on Friday ( although it has been at the dealership for 5 weeks - we’ve been away ) Anything worth mentioning, I’ll report back.

Couldn’t agree more. Having spent £45000 to buy the car , then paying six hundred pounds a year to tax it. - I really couldn’t care less about gaining a few percentage points of reduction in fuel consumption. I certainly wouldn’t consider paying a premium on a tyre to achieve it. I want tyres with enhanced grip, and/or life - not rolling resistance. And anyway, what marginal reduction in fuel cost may be achieved would be eroded the moment I get a bit giddy down the country B roads I’m fortunate enough to have around my neck of the woods.

Just curious, but what is your annual mileage ?

Trckiejohn, I understand completely, I was just being a little wicked 😂 But then depths to which some contributors delve on what others would consider a trivial issue does make me smile. But, I realise of course that it’s just people trying to be helpful. We’re an odd bunch, we motorists, aren’t we ? I remember a Volvo C70 Cabriolet I owned at the turn of the century - it had a tiny turn screw concealed below the rotary light switch which allowed you to turn off the DRLs. I deactivated them immediately - “I’ll decide when my lights are on Sven, not you, thank you very much “ And proceeded to drive with the headlights on for 90% of the time 😳 Fast forward 20 odd years and my current motorbike doesn’t even have a light switch, only a dipped/main switch, if the ignition is on, the lights are on. And a very good thing too - anything that can help stack the odds a little more in my favour when I’m on the road ( on two wheels or four ) is ok by me. Why “full” DRLs aren’t as universal as things such as seat belts and ABS is beyond me. But then in the next breath, I’m railing at the Big Brother/Nanny State systems that (I feel) are so frustrating and detract from driving enjoyment - but you must understand that being the world’s best driver - I don’t need them - it’s all the others , but then , they shouldn’t be on the roads in the first place 😂

You could always just switch the lights on.

Waiting for my Superb, I’m currently running a Kodiaq 2.0 Tdi with 24000 on the clock - and it eats oil ! I’ve put more oil in this car than anything I’ve ever run ( and that includes my Mum’s 1967 Triumph Herald ) Moaned about the oil consumption every time it’s been in the dealers, the reaction ? “ Within tolerance Sir “ I stopped worrying, started buying oil in 5 litre tubs to save money and just got on with enjoying the car. It hasn’t put me off though - the Superb Estate I’ve ordered is coming with the same 2.0 Tdi albeit down a few horses to 193 from the Kodiaq’s 200. - strangled to meet emission regs I imagine. The chap at the motor spares shop that sells me my oil reckons VAG diesels are all. “ fill the oil, check the fuel “

I smiled when I read your P.S. My late father was passionate petrol head who in retirement had a 3 year cycle - a year enjoying his new car, a year deciding what to have next, and a year dragging poor Mum around dealerships doing the deal on his chosen replacement. After years of Mercedes ( with two detours to Jaguar and Volvo ) he was ignored in his chosen Mercedes showroom, and he took his umbrage off towards the BMW dealership, got stuck in traffic, took a left turn and on passing a Skoda dealership went in for a coffee. He left having ordered a Superb ( Mk1 ) It proved faultless and he went on to replace it with a Mk2 before hanging up his driving gloves aged 92. Coming back to your concern - it was weeks after his first order that he allowed Mum to tell myself and my big brother that he was buying a …………. Skoda 😳 . We laughed about it then, I would certainly laugh now. Spec an A4 avant up to L&K Superb estate - the cost of badge worship is far too high for me. Tell your friends you’ve come away from Range Rover to Skoda - the ones in the know will nod approvingly, the ones who smile a patronising “ Oh, a Skoda “ are the same ones who will pay £100 for a Waitrose bag of shopping while the clever, knowledgeable amongst us buy selected food items at M&S and the rest at Aldi and pocket the thirty five pounds saving without surrendering an iota of quality. When it comes to the perception of Skoda , I think it comes down to the old cliche ‘If you have to explain - they wouldn’t understand”

I’m not exactly qualified to respond to some of the questions posed by Arianne. ( but that’s not going to stop me 😂 ) I’m two and a half years into ownership of an L&K Kodiaq 200hp Tdi. I have just ordered a Superb Estate L&K ( now 193hp) Tdi. Build quality and reliability on the Kodiaq has been excellent, which is why I am comfortable going with Skoda again. Like you, I want a proper car again rather than a faux truck, SUV ,or crossover , or whatever moniker the marketeers and motoring journalists are using this week. I came to the Kodiaq after 8 years with a Mercedes E class estate. I tow a large and heavy caravan and launch and recover a 5m Rib from a soft sand beach - hence wanting four wheel drive. I had to be pulled out of axle deep sand a couple of times with the Merc , the car was fine, but the damage to my ‘best driver in the world’ ego was catastrophic 🤣 The Skoda has performed it’s beach duties faultlessly. Diesel v petrol ? I understand the noise concerns, but when getting over ( just) 30mpg towing the caravan, frequently seeing the right side of 55mpg on solo journeys and even getting mid 40’s when I drive it like I’ve stolen it. Going diesel again on the Superb wasn’t a difficult decision. Just as you have the SLC for blowing away the cobwebs Arianne, I ride a motorbike which hits a limiter at 186mph ( allegedly your honour )and Mrs Busa-Boy has a Mini convertible which she occasionally allows me to play with, so catching pigeons in the car is of little interest, I need grunt. I’m hopeful of even more impressive figures with the Superb with its lower drag coefficient. The 800+ miles on a tank of fuel is a bonus too. Spec wise - no need to spend hours on the configurator, tick the sun roof and tow bar, done. Oh, and after a rush of blood I’ve gone for 19’s - I’ll rely on the DCC to keep my dental fillings in situ. Arianne - a couple of things from your posts which puzzled me a little ………. You raised concerns about developing mileage anxiety when financing a previous car on PCP . My current Skoda was funded on a PCP ( for the first time in my life - but Skoda were offering 0% at the time ) It’s on 10,000 p.a. With a guaranteed residual/settlement figure - who cares about mileage ? At the end of the period if I’ve exceeded 30,000 miles, I’ll just buy it. The other observation I would make ( at the risk of being a little cheeky ) you mention in passing, a second home on Lake Como and frequent skiing trips to Austria. That might suggest that budgeting is not as critical for you as it may be for many Skoda customers. Buy the car, give it a whirl to the end of the warranty, then make the decision to stick with your plan and run it for seven or eight years, or flop it and get something else. I am even older than you ! ( by some margin unfortunately) so a certain Liverpudlian Mr Lennon’s quote “Life is what happens while you’re making plans” rings true for me - just buy the car ! Finally, I am totally perplexed by one recurring issue in your posts, …………. Do you really allow Mrs A input into the Next Car decision making process ? 😳 😂😂

Hi Xantamisch - glad you got the problem sorted. Having watched your video, I’ve started a Crowdfunding page to try to raise money to buy a bucket and sponge for you. I’m sure the tailgate would have worked fine had it not been for the half hundredweight of crud plastered on it. 😂😂

I reckon you got off lightly BoxerBoy ….. it’s the Romans I feel sorry for 😂 “The Vandals were a Germanic people who sacked Rome and founded a kingdom in North Africa that flourished for about a century, .”

Me of course - probably an age related condition. By the way Boxerboy , did you keep the Polo boot tray ?

Never thought of that Simon - I feel much better now, knowing that my towbar will be quicker than a Porsche. 😁

Mmm, I empathise completely, I think it’s partly the “ you never know when it’ll come in handy “ syndrome, and partly “ do you know what they would cost if you were to buy them ? “. ( wether you wanted them or not ! ) Now, as old age settles in, and the pennies aren’t quite as scarce as they were when we were still at the thick end of the mortgage, I have finally got to the “sod it” stage. What finally helped me through the transition was clearing the garage during downsizing three years ago - I threw out a set of 4 stainless wheel trim ‘rings’ that I took off the ( company) Audi 80 before it went back. - It was a December 81 on an X . 38 years later they went to the tip, along with untold carpets,mats, and other assorted never used “saves” from a lifetime of cars. I think back to all the cars that I had carpet mats in - and then covered them with rubber mats to protect them - finally selling the car with pristine carpet mats for the next owner to enjoy, when I’d endured utilitarian rubber ! Why ?? Currently waiting for a Kodiaq L&K - I did order mudflaps as a dealer fit extra, and yes - I did wince at the £80 odd quid for front and the same for back, but when you’re already north of £45 grand and ticking boxes on the order form - the “sod it “ philosophy really comes into it’s own. And having towed caravans and boats most of my adult life, and always fitted my own tow bars - I never thought I would be paying a thousand pounds for a factory fitted item ( that doesn’t even deploy or retract electrically - as it does on my brother’s Defender and my mates 420 BeeEmm - come on VAG - lift your game ) But, if the last couple of years have taught us anything at all - it’s that this is not a rehearsal , so do it now . Hence my response to the salesman’s question “ would Sir like mudflaps ? “ Sod it - go on then !

I’m waiting for a 200hp Tdi L&K which was ordered in November ( nothing confirmed yet - but estimated delivery 30 weeks ) It will replace my E320 cdi Mercedes estate which I’ve owned for 10 years. I currently pull a 1600 k caravan and launch and recover a 5m rib from a beach. ( not at the same time ! ) so as much torque as possible is the order of the day. I understand Ranger’s comments about fuel consumption difference between petrol and diesel, particularly when towing , but is it really worth worrying about ? At list prices, we pay forty plus grand for the car, stick another twenty plus of caravan on the back and then worry about consumption. If you towed for 2000 miles ( at a rough figure of £7.50 per gallon ) the difference between 25mpg and 20 mpg would be £150 - when you’ve the wrong side of sixty thousand pounds in your outfit - what’s another few gallons of whichever fuel you prefer ? For me, it’s more important to choose a model and spec that is going to meet your requirements for the fifty two weeks of the year than worry about another few quid at the pumps when towing.