markgto

No further problems with the screen and now closing in on the 1000 mile mark. My last two cars were Mk8 Golf GTi’s, so I know how frustrating and annoying software issues can be! The first impression of the Octavia is that the throttle response is sharper than the Golf and it rides better. Yes, there’s a pay off for the ride in that the Octavia isn’t as chuckable or weildy but the handling is still spot on and puts a grin on your face. The Octavia isn’t a hot hatch and I find it’s blend of pace and refinement just right. Like the GTi it’s really well specced as standard so my only extras were a rear wash/wipe and the Canton sound system. Somewhere between the dealers and the factory the order for the rear wash/wipe got missed and the car was delivered without one. Having always had that feature on many cars, it’s a bit odd but the design of the car means that road dirt doesn’t splash up onto the rear screen. I’m guessing because of that, Skoda feel they can omit the feature to save a few Euros. The Canton is a definite improvement over the standard system in my Golfs, which were both bought new from stock so I wasn’t able to try the Harmon Kardon system fitted as an option. The Canton isn’t perhaps the last word in car hi-fi, but now it’s run in I’d definitely order it again. I love the ease which you can disable the speed warning and lane assist and the interior quality is definitely a step up from the Golf, despite a little bit of penny pinching. No LED lights in the rear doors, no 12v socket in the front of the car for example. However, overall the cabin’s a great place to be and the seats are comfortable. I wish I’d specced the heated steering wheel though. Didn’t think I’d miss it, having been standard on the Golf, but I do! The matrix lights are brilliant (in every sense of the word) and it’s interesting that headlamp washers are standard. They were on my Mk7 Golf, but not on the Mk8 which had the matrix lights as standard. I appreciate the wash for the rear camera too. I’ve mentioned the ride and it is good considering the car is running on 19 inch wheels. Not sure about the aero inserts though. Not sure why they are standard, so might look at removing them at some stage. To sum up, a great car. No regrets on purchasing the vRS (provided the software behaves) and prefer it to my GTi. I’ve seen it described as a “gentleman’s express” and apart from the fact that I’m sure it will suit women drivers just as much, the phrase kind of sums up the car.

Had mine now for nearly a month and 600 odd miles. This was going to be a positive report until this morning. Got in the car to find the display on the touchscreen resembling a watercolour in the rain (to borrow a phrase from Al Stewart) and also behaving like our old 1950’s TV when the vertical/horizontal hold was playing up. The unreadable and unusable screen was slowly flipping over and over. I reset it by holding down the on/off button until the screen went black and it’s now okay. My last 2 cars were Mk8 Golf GTi’s and the first one particularly suffered from really annoying software issues. It seems that despite heads rolling at the top, an apology from the new head of VAG and an all new suite of software it’s still beyond VAG to design something that works reliably. It’s been a bit of a shock having this problem so soon after delivery. At least the first Golf waited a few months before introducing “computer says no” mode. Apart from that there’s lots to like and enjoy about the car. I’ll post again on this topic if this glitch appears to be a one off.

Thanks for the advice. I’ve upgraded to a cordless compressor, with rechargeable battery, which should solve the problem. My Mk8 GTi had a socket in the boot and one just behind the handbrake/hill hold switch.

Not sure if I’m missing something, but I don’t think I have 12v socket in the front of the car. I checked the rears using the 12v socket in the boot. Both rears were overinflated by 2 Bar. Guessing that the fronts will be similar, but my compressor won’t stretch to the fronts!

Mine came with Goodyear F1’s too. Haven’t checked the tyre pressures against the recommended ones, but will do so today.

Mine has arrived! Picked it up this morning. A couple of photos. I’ll post further when I get the chance to put a few more miles on the clock.

Dealership rang today and they have the car. Picking it up Friday morning!

Mine arrived at the UK port on December 19th, but I’m still waiting for it to arrive at the dealership! Not sure what effect the Christmas holidays are having on delivery times.

I have been contacted by the dealer yesterday to say that my car has now left port. It does seem that there are delays at Emden, but not sure why. The dealers are very keen to hand the car over to me by the year end. It does seem that Skoda aren’t having problems with the ZEV mandate/quotas.

My vRS was built in November and arrived at Emden a week later. Had a message from the dealer at the beginning of this month that it had been loaded on a ship, but as far as I know it’s still on the ship which hasn’t yet left port. I did read an interview with the principal of a large national chain of dealerships, who said that some manufacturers were holding back deliveries of ICE cars as they were in trouble with meeting the quotas under the ZEV mandate. VW subsequently denied that they were having trouble, but nothing from Skoda. There may be nothing in it, as it was just one person’s opinion but the delay does seem odd and the car now won’t be in the UK until early January.

I ordered a vRS in mid August. It’s race blue and extras are Canton and rear wiper. The dealers were in touch around 10 days ago to advise me that I have been allocated a slot in week 47. Bit close to Christmas/New Year but might be at the dealer mid December, but most likely early January. I’d give your dealer a ring as they should have some information for you.

Had confirmation that build week is 47. Looking like collection in the first week of January.

Hi, returning to Skoda and this site for the first time since 2018. On August 15th put in an order for a FL Octavia vRS hatch. Went for Race Blue, Canton and rear wiper. The dealers advise me that my build week will be 2nd week in November. I may be able to take delivery mid December, but could be January.