mannyo

it would confuse drivers, with two built in systems displaying different info and could open up VW to legal cases in the event of speeding based on the GPS speed, given that GPS speed is not accurate either. No factory fitted systems currently display the GPS speed that I am aware of for this reason alone. You can on the Columbus get it to display the speed limit for the road you are on, but for that to be accurate you need the latest maps possible (currently V12). Even then that may not be completely accurate.

Me again of course.

A scan of the alarm with VCDS will tell you exactly why the alarm sounded, you can take the resolution from there.

No, they have to be obtained from the dealer as there is no download available. You can go to either a Skoda/VW or Seat dealer, because the same maps are used by all three brands, but it is a dealer purchase. The software licensing on early versions are such that they are not free, don't forget the MK1 Columbus is actually quiet dated now and has been around nearly 10 years. Luckily its still in production, at least that means you can get the latest maps.

The BBC calculator puts me at £150 better off, but I've just had another pay rise at work so in reality I'll be a lot better off than that for the next tax year. I think my standard of living has increased a lot since 2010, as since then apart from one year I've had a decent pay rise each year (private sector). My employer is doing really well despite heavy exposure to the public sector.

The huge increases in the personal tax allowance since 2010 mean that its like a 4K pay rise. In 2010 the personal tax allowance was just 600L, so that is 6K before you start paying tax. From next April that will be 1100L, so thats 11K before you start paying any tax. Currently it sits at 1000L, rising slightly on the first of April, so even today you are not paying tax on the first 10K of your earnings. For the low earners 4K is not to be sniffed at.

I suspect there will be redemption policies on PCP, but at least you'll get some money back if your not in negative equity, also remember with PCP if you are in negative equity you have to pay the difference between what you get for the car and what you still owe. No deposit back on PCP, correct but there is at least an asset when the PCP scheme ends that should in theory cover the full deposit on the next car, with PCH there is nothing at all.

5GHZ is becoming just as congested as 2.4GHZ where my mum lives. Most ISP's now provide dual band routers as standard, so congestion will increase even more. The only saving grace is that the 5GHZ band has a shorter range, so only local'ish routers should be picked up. Apple iPhone 4S or newer support the 5GHZ band.

Several issues I see with PCH are that 1) You are tied into the deal for its full length, if you want to get out there will be massive early redemption penalties and you lose everything including your deposit. 2) After 2/3 years etc. is up, you give the car back and have absolutely nothing to show for it, even the deposit is lost. So you pay your 8-9K over 3 years and your deposit, so its 10K gone and you have gained nothing. At least with PCP and HP the longer you have the agreement the more equity you build up, so at the end of 2/3 years you either have some capital with the PCP or if on HP you have a 6-7K plus asset to show for your money which you can use for an even larger deposit on your next car.

Somebody posted the same yesterday, the only ones being produced are those already ordered. You can still get a new one, just have a limited choice to those in the order pipeline. This autoexpress article from the end of last year suggests a replacement is in the pipeline, just with no dates yet. http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/skoda/roomster/89221/new-skoda-roomster-confirmed http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/skoda/roomster/87183/new-skoda-roomster-2015-prototype-spied

Well the old girl did not quiet make it to 200K miles, last friday the steering rack failed dumping PAS fluid all over the current owners drive. One of the seals has gone, and its terminal for the rack. Replacement rack can be had for peanuts, but replacement takes a LOT of work due to some of the bolts requiring blind access. So at 199,200 miles it looks like the old girl is either going to be scrapped or sold on to someone else who has the time to replace the rack. The current owner has owned it for 12 months this week, so had taxed it a couple of weeks ago for another 12 months. He had every confidence in the car up to Friday, to invest in the full year. Everything else is still fine and working, bar a couple of other oil leaks.

The DSP settings in the menu indicate that the RNS-510 is coded for an external amplifier. You need to alter the coding to switch it to standard speakers, it should be dead easy to sort and the long coding helper is where you should be looking. Just switch the setting from Sound System/DSP etc. using VCDS. When set to DSP / the speaker level outputs are switched to line output, so you get no audio.

Yep, that's the CD changer connector. The other end is a blue plug behind the stereo.

This is the fault of the data providers rather than the Columbus, all that does is relay data picked up by FM and overlay it on your Columbus screen. The TMC system is quiet dated though, its been around at least 15 years. The Amundsen in the Octy MK3 only shares the name with the MK2 version, the rest of it is completely different, just like the Columbus in the MK3 is completely different to the previous one.

I'd also go with the newer high mileage car, mileage on a car does not bother me at all. Over the last few years I've had quiet a few cars with over 140K on that have never let me down or needed any work. F Reg BMW 520i, sold at just short of 150K miles. L Reg MK1 Mondeo 2.0 Petrol, sold on 148K miles, the car went on to live quiet a few more years after I sold it. P Reg MK2 Mondeo 2.0 Petrol Auto, sold with 146K'ish miles on it, that also went on for another year or so until the auto gearbox went. More recently 2001 Y Reg Audi A8 3.7, sold last year with 192K miles on the clock, car is still running today with 200K miles now under its wheels. I know the current owner, who texted me to let me know. My current car 2004 04 Reg Audi A8 3.7, currently on 139K miles, I've done 11K miles in 16 months and its never put a foot wrong, except a failed coilpack.

Possibly the poorer quality speakers are masking the poorer quality files, the canton highlights poor quality files because it has a better dynamic range and frequency response.

Will the Columbus/Amundsen in the O3 even play AAC files from SD card, I don't think they can. The files need to be MP3 or unprotected WMA.

I am not sure what you want to achieve is even possible, because when you listen to the radio then BT audio is disabled. The fudge suggested would route the BT sound in Mono only to the car, with the car believing the satnav announcement is in fact an incoming phone call and completely muting the playing sound source, switching to the phone input and switching back after the announcement. For that, you are most likely going to need a jailbroken iPhone and an app downloaded from Cydia. There are no commercial apps in the apple app store that I am aware of, to reroute the satnav audio. The same limitation will apply regardless of Android or iPhone, so a change of handset will be of no benefit. The car is the issue, since to save your phone battery BT Audio is disabled when listening to any other audio source.

The RNS-510 (AKA Superb Columbus) does not come with free map updates, even now they are still a chargeable purchase. The Columbus in the MK3 Octavia is a totally different unit, and has nothing in common except its name with the old outdated Superb unit. The new Columbus does come with free map updates for 12 months, but not the old one.

To blow a 40 amp fuse there must be a dead short in the wiring, are you positive the DIY wiring is correctly connected.

The problem with splicing into a single channel is unequal sound. If you listen to a track and the bass part moves between the left and right channel, then one minute you'll have loads of bass, then as the bass moves to the other channel the bass will all but disappear.

Rear bumper with sensors, you'll need the wiring loom, PDC controller, speaker and compatible can gateway to get that up and running.

Terraclean http://www.terraclean.co.uk/ Not sure if its worth it or what you hope to gain.

I assume you are referring to this offer. http://www.skoda.co.uk/finance/finance-offers/roomster-9995/default it makes no mention of applying to stock vehicles, so will also include cars that are in transit. Since this is a limited edition model, the cars will be ordered from a central pool and distributed to dealers throughout the UK.

Thats why I like the keyless system on my Audi, if you shut the boot with the key on the car it does not lock (well thats whats supposed to happen). Never tested it, and never will as I only have one key.