silver1011

A DPF has a finite life. The regeneration process (passive, active or forced) creates ash. This ash is stored inside the DPF and builds up the more the vehicle is driven. As the ash level increases over time the DPF becomes less efficient, it therefore has to work harder by regenerating more frequently and for longer, creating more ash. Even a vehicle sat at a steady and constant speed on a motorway creates soot, it’s just that the regeneration is more likely to be passive than active, but the DPF will still be working and therefore filling with ash. The term ‘clog’ or blocking can be interpreted two ways. Clogging with ash as the DPF reaches end-of-life or clogging with soot as a result of repeated failed regenerations, both influenced by various factors.

How old is the car? Was it purchased used? Was it sold via a Skoda main dealer and was it on Skoda UK’s approved used scheme? If yes, then you should be able to take it to your local Skoda dealer and get them to liaise with the supplying dealer on your behalf and get it all sorted under warranty. Annoying, but this is a potential risk when buying used. Not all approved used vehicles are ex-lease, some of them are offloaded due to annoying niggles.

You need to do some maths. We all know that the manufacturers claimed fuel economy is not real world, but it does often serve its purpose of more fairly comparing one vehicle to another. Take the difference in MPG between your two considered models, your average annual mileage as well as the current cost of petrol and diesel in your area to get an approximate annual fuel cost for each. Then offset this against the two vehicle purchase prices to see how long it might take to recoup the higher purchase price (or overall cost of leasing) of the diesel. Then, be sure to drive both. I’ve had lots of VAG diesels over the years, covering big mileage and very much liked them, the Kodiaq being my first petrol. I missed some of the torque of the diesel, especially when towing, but the smoothness, quietness, lower vehicle purchase price and lower cost of petrol versus diesel swung it for me. Five years later and I’d still choose petrol. Good luck!

You have towing weights on the chassis plate, you can have a towbar retrofitted. Skoda have a long record for screwing things up and making them unnecessarily complicated. The vRS was one of the first models Skoda used to claim that a genuine towbar could not be retrofitted, but without giving a reason. Then they said all models built without towbar prep or an actual factory towbar would not have towing weights printed on the chassis plate. Don’t get bogged down with Skoda UK’s ineptness. There are plenty of aftermarket towbars available to fit the vRS. Choose a reputable brand and trusted fitter and be sure the car is coded correctly. As mentioned unless you’re dragging the full 1,750kg’s up a steep incline in blistering heat for mile after mile you won’t need the upgraded grill or fan.

I went from a MkII Superb to the Kodiaq. As with the Octavia the Superb is softly sprung at the rear. You’ll struggle to scrape the Kodiaq’s rear mudflaps on anything so don’t let your experience with the Superb put you off. I have the genuine Skoda running boards, they’re not cheap but brilliant. Accessing the roof box, washing the roof, stone chip protection and great for the kids getting in and out. They look smart too. If you’re far enough off-road to catch them on the terrain then the running boards will be the least of your worries. My only other must haves would be the heated windscreen and rear seats and spare wheel, but I think these are already standard on the L&K?

It wasn’t the fact that the camera needed calibrating that prevented the dealer from issuing the All-In warranty, it was due to there being a fault code logged on the vehicle. As long as there is a pre-existing fault they won’t authorise the warranty until it is fixed / cleared. I think this is pretty standard with warranties, but Skoda are quite clever by insisting on putting the vehicle through an eligibility check, otherwise no one (including me) would even know the fault existed. As it happens, I already had a Skoda extended warranty on the vehicle prior to applying for the All-In warranty, unfortunately any type of ‘calibration’ was specifically excluded.

Some of the engine covers do have noise suppression foam on them.

Have you tried cleaning the magnetic catch? They are susceptible to getting covered in dirt, a good hot soapy water wash might just do the trick…

Good spot! Does anyone want my third row carpet mats, so I can justify buying these!? 😂

So their delay at properly diagnosing the oil leak has resulted in a failed DSG gearbox? Surely the car should be at the dealer whilst they put you in a courtesy car?

I've only ever towed with my Kodiaq so maybe not the best person to compare diesel versus petrol, but as the guys have suggested, my little 150PS 1.4 TSI 4x4 manual with a miserly 250Nm of torque copes really well. It pulls our Bailey Jive (Pursuit) with an MTPLM of just under 1,400kg. There was one occasion on a long motorway incline with a strong headwind where I had to drop from 6th to 5th. Here it is with four passengers, a full boot and full roof box... I can't remember the exact calculations I made, but if I remember correctly I wasn't too far off the 85% car to trailer weight ratio recommendation... I would image with the 2.0 TSI and the benefit of DSG you will be absolutely fine.

It is worth noting that not all of those are relevant to the Kodiaq. The versions of Lane Assist fitted to the Kodiaq are all able to affect steering input, seemingly one of the main requisites of the legislation. The reality is, even though we're no longer in the EU, we'll still likely benefit, or suffer from (whichever side of the fence you're on) from EU legislation on our imported vehicles for quite some time yet. The now standard Lane Assist being an example, and additionally the more recent need to now turn it off after each cycle of the ignition. UK led legislation has had it's successes over the years, dim-dip headlights were a good one (in my opinion) especially when you consider where we are currently with DRL's without tail lights. I'm sure there are more examples too. As you say, interesting times ahead!

Switches off until you turn it back on, or does it turn back on ahead of the next cycle of the ignition? The legislation seems to kick-in during 2022 for existing models and 2024 for all-new models so you might have just got in before things changed.

But both adjust the steering, so regardless of which version you have, one or the other is needed to meet the legislation. Hence the reason 'Lane Assist' now initiates for each journey by default.

The UK still implements EU legislation on harmonised vehicle standards. ELKS as the European Commision refer to it is described as... "The emergency lane-keeping system is a driver assisting system that should provide warning to the driver and correct the trajectory only when the driver is unintentionally leaving the lane." The use of the term of "correcting trajectory" would seemingly therefore apply to Skoda's Lane Assist.

Did you get this sorted? The first port of call is to read the fault codes logged and stored inbthe car's brain, this is usually what any independent garage or main dealer would do. These codes are unlikely to fully diagnose the fault, but they will at least give you an idea where to start. Unfortuantely the loss of gears on the DSG is rarely a good thing, often hinting at a faulty mechatronics unit (the electronic brain of the complex DSG gearbox), which invariably means a big bill. But that's worst case, it might also be something much simpler and less expensive - this is why reading the fault codes is important rather than trying to guess. The 'stop start error' might be related, quite often the failure of one system will result in the unavailability of others, but again the fault codes will help to link or separate the issues. Any reputable garage should quote your their initial diagnostic rates or hourly labour rates as their minimum charge, and not replace parts or incur any additional costs to you without first gaining your permission to proceed, this is even more likely at a franchised main dealer, although their rates will be higher. There are numerous recalls, service bulletins and TPI's associated with the DSG and mechatronics, if you did decide to take it to a Skoda dealer, even though your vehicle is out of warranty, you maybe eligible for an offer of goodwill towards the repair costs.

I get the initial diagnosis charge, this is pretty standard these days and is designed to cover the dealers costs if the fault is not covered under warranty and they're therefore unable to claim off Skoda UK. The £400 excess is a new one for me though, you're not making an insurance claim. Do you have an existing warranty on the vehicle? Did they explain what this upfront payment is for? The courtesy car charge varies by dealer, it seems Skoda UK don't have a blanket policy, meaning their franchised dealer network is free to charge whatever they wish. My local dealer simply asks me to replace the fuel I use, there is no daily charge, presumably the costs are baked into the prices they charge elswhere. Sometimes it pays to travel a little further, to a better dealer...

There was a similar report of intermittent headlight operation, affecting the pre-facelift LED headlights recently. Not sure of the outcome, unless it was you, but as they're sealed I'd imagine a Skoda main dealer would simply recommend replacing the complete light cluster. Expensive if not under warranty.

All that oil and they weren't able to determine where it was coming from? Have they put you in a replacement vehicle? Will they be offering to cover the cost of steam cleaning your driveway?

They usually introduce bugs, glitches and all other manner of untested changes 😂

I see this post dates back a few years, with there being some confusion over why Lane Assist defaulted to 'on' each time the engine was turned off and back on, rather than remembering the prior setting. I had a 2022 Skoda Fabia courtesy car recently and noticed that the Lane Assist came back on for each journey. On my 2018 Kodiaq it can be turned off and it stays off until the driver turns it back on. Anyway, the reason for the differences across models may be due to this new piece of legislation. I haven't read it in detail, what I have read suggests it only needs to be fitted rather than 'defaulting to on', but it wouldn't surprise me if this was baked into the guidance somewhere... "Under new EU vehicle safety rules, all new car and van models must be equipped with emergency lane keeping systems (ELKS) from July 2022, and existing models from July 2024. The system helps drivers stay safely within their lane or the road boundary, to avoid accidents." https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/12503-Vehicle-safety-type-approval-of-cars-and-vans-with-emergency-lane-keeping-systems-ELKS-_en

We moved from a 2016 Octavia Scout to a 2018 Kodiaq Scout (1.4 TSI, manual). We didn't tow with the Octavia, but the Kodiaq makes for a very good tow car.

Looking on the Skoda Romania website the Ambition gets the regular chrome grill. Your Style model gets the UK L&K grill. With the black grill reserved for the SportLine and vRS, the same as the UK. I'd have added some images, but my FREEDOM subscription has expired.

In the UK its the SportLine and vRS that get the all-black grill. All other models get the chrome surround instead, with the L&K also getting chrome slats too. I'm guessing the Romanian trim levels are likely to be different...

Why did you choose the standard Osram Xenarc's? If reverting back to xenon (HID), I'd have least gone for Osram Night Breakers...