Rory

They should be changed on the B service (every 2yrs) on the Merc. Generally remote key batteries did last for years in the past though - I don't recall batteries running out being a big deal until keyless entry fobs arrived.

I prefer to do it on most cars as usually they tyres on the driven axle wear a lot quicker than the non-driven one. I also usually put CrossClimate tyres on our cars at the first tyres change so that means changing all four and it's a waste to change the rears (on a FWD car) when the rears might still have 5mm on them. Costco used to offer a bigger discount if you bought 4 tyres at once, but they stopped doing that some years ago. Having said that, you're supposed to have the least worn tyres on the back, so waiting until the fronts are well worn then sticking them on the back isn't a great idea. In the US they like to rotate tyres every 5K miles - it's part of the wear guarantee on many tyres there. Interestingly, on our Hyundai EV, tyre rotation is part of the 20K service. Dealer (service manager) laughed and said they never do it.

All In been available to buy on daughter's Kamiq since I first looked a good couple of weeks ago - car turns 3 on 3rd Nov. Apparently it should show up 30 days before. Bought it today, and everything in the plan, including the service element, is dated from 3rd Nov. Agree it's daft - surely many owners will get the MOT and 3rd service done elsewhere and then be lost to the franchise network for ever? That said, if nearly two months lead-time for servicing, as it is at our dealer, is common, then I don't suppose the dealers are bothered. As best I can gather from the Tiguan forum, some posters talk about getting the 3rd service done on All In, but one of them definitely had it done a week late, which obviously would work but I wouldn't want to risk any VW Group brand getting iffy about warranty. And you'd have to sort the MOT out separately - or just not use the car for a few days. Another Tiguan forum poster says that his service and MOT was done on time under All In, but it was back when there had to be an inspection - and that's exactly what happened when we had our Tiguan, just before it turned 6. I couldn't take the plan as the car was covered by extended warranty. Dealer serviced it 31st Aug, the plan started 1st Sep. Car was 6 on 2nd Sept. Yet they managed to charge the the service and MOT to All In. Our Skoda dealer insisted this was impossible, and also that All In could never be used on day it was taken out under any circumstances - they said it has to be 48hrs prior.

Found a post on one of the Tiguan forums where a poster was doing a lot of miles and needed two services per year. He bought All In at £29/mth during a discount period, had two services, then cancelled it after a year - had to pay a £39.32 settlement fee. So he got a minor and major service and MOT for just under £400 - way cheaper than it would have been paying normal dealer retail prices. I'm pretty miffed with our dealer - they were absolutely adamant that All In couldn't be taken out and used to pay for the service and MOT just before the car turns 3, yet Tiguan owners are reported their dealers could do it by setting up All In on the day the car was serviced.

Not sure what's changed but I think the warning is better now. It comes up when the ignition is on before the car starts, but the trouble with keyless start is it flashed past that stage very quickly. However I think the warning shows better now - we've had it recently in our Karoq, Kamiq and SEAT Ateca. Daughter used to run the Ateca (2018 model) and that did go through a phase of the fob just dying and it always seemed to happen when she got to work. She became a dab hand at popping the lock cover off (there's a hole underneath for the key blade to go in) and getting in (the alarm will go off) and starting the car (which stops the alarm). But since I had the car (18mths) it's told me it needs a new battery - did it a few weeks ago. On the Kamiq that can be opened from the Skoda App. The daughter that drives that keeps a spare battery in the glove box just in case.

Are some folks using super-unleaded petrol? I put a tank of the Costco stuff in ours and I honestly think it went a bit mental - the throttle response seemed so much sharper. I switched back to ordinary fuel and it took a while to calm down again. I can't say I noticed (or remember) gear shift points changing though.

Supposedly VW had a program to design a new torque converter gearbox platform to replace DSG but canned it as EV legislation meant ICE cars have a limited production lifetime. Interestingly, Skoda just launched the Slavia in India with an 8 speed torque converter auto in the 1 litre, but they've stayed with DSG for the 1.5. Touch wood, our experience of DSG in Tiguan and Karoq has been fine, but I do think they'd be a 'nicer' drive with TC autos.

I don't like leaving oil in cars longer than a year regardless of mileage. But VW Group say it's OK for up to 2yrs/30K miles and they should know. If the car senses the oil needs changing earlier, due to lots of cold starts, short journeys etc, then it'll ask for it. I guess the crucial thing is, how long will you keep the car? If you'll change it in a few years time then you're over-servicing is benefiting the next owner, not you.

Certainly the DSG in ours drives just fine. It changes up just about as early as is reasonable, and I think the downchange on braking from speed is something it's supposed to do. The only time I've ever used Sport or manual changes in ours is for experimentation - I've never felt the need to use them in normal use. Maybe newer cars are a bit different - could the OP have a more sporty mode being used by default in the driver profile (or drive mode)?

Yes, that would be reasonable, but do they actually do it? Even if they do, if they charge it at the actual cost to VWFS that's going to be way less than the dealers retail price so it would still be a good deal. But unless someone has been through this, it's unknown - hence my question.

Well, no you don't. I cancelled the one on our Karoq after 5mths so as to get the cheaper rate in Black Friday offer. I hadn't used any of the elements of the plan. Not only did I not have to pay any extra, after reading of someone who got a refund, I pushed and with much grumpiness they refunded me the 5mths I'd paid as goodwill. Only issue I had is they didn't link the two plans together so it looked like there'd been a 5 mths gap in warranty cover. This meant that the plan showed a 30 day waiting period for the warranty to start. They confirmed to me in email that this was wrong and they would waive it.

Welcome!

As title, really - did you get asked to cover the service cost, or did Skoda Financial Services just let you cancel?

That's very interesting, as we have a Kamiq in the family about to turn 3. Dealer service manager was adamant that the third service and MOT couldn't be done with All In, despite exactly the same thing being done by a VW dealer on wife's Tiguan. Thinking about it, there's be no need to do a full 30 days before would there? As long as the plan is in place then the service could be charged to it - you should only need to do it a day or two prior. Having said all that, I had planned to cancel the All In if an offer occurs in Nov, and re-buy it at the offer price - I did that on our Karoq last year with no issue as we hadn't had any work done. I guess it becomes complicated if you've had a service as VWFS will want paying for it.

Thanks. That's how I see it, which means the dealer service manager has quoted the wrong service. Which suits me - much of the rest of it will be covered by the MOT and going forwards the car will be on All In. I reckon they changed the brake fluid to 2yrs so it would line up with the EV service - it's included in the 2yr service for an EV to help justify the cost as there's pretty well nothing else to do. Still feels like a scam - I've asked indie's about it and they just laugh and say they'll check it, but it won't need changing.