numskull

I’ve driven just over 1000 miles in the last 12 days, mostly long drives in ECO and I’m only averaging 32mpg (29.8 very long term) and I’d like to think I’m an economical driver. I guess having the 7 speed DSG helps but I’d take any tips Redboy on how to improve the numbers. I was getting around 37/8 average on the M6 on the way up cruising around 70 all the way, which I was very happy with tbh.

I spoke too soon. All the fault codes have returned again and they won’t switch off. I have to return to the dealer again on Thursday to try to get them to reset the service indicator back to variable after they set it to fixed. I'll get them to see what the problem is then as this appears to be an ongoing issue. I’m wondering if it’s a loose connector block, as it first appeared leaving the ferry, whilst driving over the multiple slab plates on the ferry and dockside.

Well, I ran a fleet of 3,000 and I gave a **** because:- A. it’d come back and bite you on the a**e if you didn’t, because 95% were leased or buy backs and B. professional pride - the manufactures would be less than pleased if you returned a pile of c**p and it would definitely be detrimental to the next deal; I’ve seen that happen to many so called Fleet/Transport Managers who get enormous EOL bills. Variable servicing cuts both ways; the system is more intelligent than just running it out to 24m or 18k albeit that was certainly the case with our MKI when I was doing a 110 mile round trip a day on two Mways and fast A roads. However, we had company vehicles which demanded oil changes at 7k due to them being based in city centres and rarely, if ever went on long trips so am12m/10k WECF would be completely unsuitable in those cases. I’ve had all my Skodas on variable servicing and never had an issue… until last Tuesday when the dealer decided - deliberately or otherwise - to screw it up. I have a call booked with the DP to tomorrow so hopefully it’ll be sorted out.

I had this happen for the first time departing a ferry a couple of weeks ago. The idiots behind who were in a massive rush to depart (where do they think they’re going to go?) all honking and flashing lights, so I pressed the starter and immediately pulled away before the startup check had finished and that was it; all hell broke loose - like yours, on came all the lights, ESC Unavailable, DCC Unavailable, ABS Unavailable, Blindspot Detection Unavailable, Front and Rear Park Assist Unavailable, Tyre Pressure System error light flashing, Adaptive Cruise Unavailable, HHC Unavailable, Lane Assist Unavailable, Parking Brake Unavailable and all accompanied with dings and bongs. So I pulled over when I could, stopped the engine, pulled on the parking brake (never had to do that before!) and waited for a couple of minutes. Pressed the button and waited before I started it up and most went off; the ABS, blind spot and a couple of others continued so I started it up and drove off; for a couple of hundred metres they stayed on then off they went and it was all back to normal. A day later I tested doing the same manoeuvre and yes, I had exactly the same scenario occur - party lights and sounds. I’ve always waited for all lights to go out - probably not completely consciously - before engaging drive and pull away. No idea if this helps or not but I know in my case what caused the problem and what solves it.

Yes, that also concerns me. I now wish I’d waited til I was back in England and booked it into the usual dealership, as I foresee a runaround progressing. It’s not on a service plan and I own the car. Yes, I stipulated it was on variable servicing with long life oil on the booking call, again to the service agent when I got there and even to the technician himself. And they’ve stated that it’s a variable service on the invoice. All it says on the parts list is Castoil5, nothing else. So yeah, I’ll have to speak to the DP and get it serviced again. I’ll try calling tomorrow; they were Skoda UK Dealer of the Year three years running so they have a lot of making up to do. In any event, it’ll obviously mean another bloody trip to the north next week. 🙄 Thanks for all your input and help guys - much appreciated. Cheers… Rob

Oh I just noticed I lost another 200 miles on the oil change after a 28 mile round trip! Does anyone have a pic of what a variable service screen should look like - I did have it but of course it’s gone. All the three services it’s had are shown as Variable, including the last one.

Right. So in a nutshell they’re at it, to get another service in 12 months? Hmmm, well there’s zero chance of that! So what I don’t get is why the other dealer couldn’t change the service back to variable - stupidity?

Yep, which makes the inspection interval odd. Or do the EA888 engines have an oil change every 10k? Even if they do, why does the oil change say 9600 miles, as I’ve only covered 130 since Tuesday. I called and complained to the servicing dealer and rather than another 80 mile round trip, he arranged for the local dealer 15 miles away to reset it to variable. Unfortunately they were unable to change the settings which seems very odd. Spoken to original dealer again who said he’d speak to SUK technical. All-in-all it’s all very weird and annoying.

Whoops… OK, sorry I’ve mislead you. Inspection is shown as 18000 or 362 days. Oil service is shown as 9600 or 362. I thought variable was 20,000 or 24 months whichever was sooner. IIRC, on our MKII it was shown as XX,000 to the next service after it’d been done. I really don’t want to fork out £200 every other year for an oil change; I can do that myself for £90. Is this correct? Cheers… Rob

I had the oil change warning come up last week so I searched for a dealer who could do it ASAP. The only one I could get an appointment with was the dealer in Derry (we’re in the ROI at the moment) which is some 80 mile round trip. I told them on three occasions to ensure that it was kept on variable servicing. When I checked it two days later, it showed oil change due in 18000 miles or 363 days; am I correct that they’ve changed it to fixed servicing?

Only use one of these on our alloys… …it’s brilliant, safe and retains its shape. I use a hand shaped short, soft noodle microfibre mitt to clean the face then the EZ to clean the spokes, barrel and inner rim. I use two buckets, Meguirs Gold Class shampoo with warm water in BOTH, so the brush gets a good wash after each quadrant of the wheel. I’ve recently coated the wheels with Race Glaze Signature Series Nano Alloy Wheel Sealant; it’s a bit of a PITA to do it as it’s a wheels off job but boy, it’s made cleaning them so much easier. I tend to clean the car every week including the wheels so the dust doesn’t have a chance to build-up. Of course, white worm has appeared, but only on two of them, but fortunately, it doesn’t seem to’ve got any worse.

Weird, cos our 2016 knob is as good as new and I have a wedding ring smacking it now and then too..

We’ve got the original 235/40/19 P7’s on the 280 and yes, they’re noisy on poor road surfaces but pretty quiet on good and silent on great (like the M40 Toll). But then I can forgive the noise TBH because they grip like billyo in the wet and dry and with 29,874 miles on them, they still have 5.5mm all round (I swapped front to rear about 8k ago) I guess they’ll still be on for a while yet. Dunno what I’ll get at time of change, but frankly I’d rather have great physical performance - so grip and long life - with some noise than vice-versa.

Watching with interest…

I see you’ve got the Clearasil special promotion model…. Location: Hampshire Model: FL Superb SpotLine 2.0 TSI 190 Year: 2020

Octavia? Looks like you need to update your jam in your profile!

Just driven 39 miles and used ACC for 90% of the trip, as I do on most non-urban drives. It’s fantastic, especially with DSG which is brilliant - won’t ever be going back to a manual. I have lane assist off most of the time except on long motorway trips when it’s useful, especially in contraflows. Heated seats are a must (have them on the MKI and had them on the MKII) and ventilated seats (especially in this weather) are a great luxury. I’d also add a heated windscreen on your list, because the gold coating also reduces heat on the dash/steering wheel/seats by 50%.

I can enter eirecodes on our 2016 Columbus; they are brilliant as they assigned to the actual building so you get taken to the door. Shame no one actually uses them in Ireland!

Might think about selling our 2.0 Elegance. Pop me a PM.

I agree. Please name them so local members can take their business elsewhere….

🤩 WOW!! That’s amazing!!

😳 That really is abysmal. I could kind of understand why my car wouldn’t register but not a brand-new vehicles.

Cheers guys - all done and dusted! Got a bit worried when the screen went blank towards thge end and thought itd completed.... and I took the SD out but the unit told me to stop being stupid and put it back in (I paraphrase obvs!) and it then completed. Brilliant!

Mines a Feb '16 build car so no doubt will take longer than 40 mins, but I'll wash and rewax the flat surfaces with Poorboys Natty Paste Black whilst I wait - have a loooog trip ahead.