Berisford

I'd agree, however, I think I can predict what the dealer will blame, and it won't be the car?

Don't know then - where's the 2041 date come up?

Leaving the mobile disconnected the time and date on the head unit / in the car is correct, yes?

……and then you should be able to adjust……?

Switch the GPS off……

Switch the ‘set date via GPS’ off in the head unit and set it manually……….?

I’m thinking down the line of a dodgy battery - a momentary power interruption could explain the lights and if the clock goes back to 12.00 (else 01.00 BST) then I’d certainly be looking there…………

Gooseberries! Where? You just can't get 'em around these parts nowadays, used to be very popular in and around Mansfield - The Mansfield Gooseberry Pork Pie, 'twas wonderful.

Does the clock and date reset?

A little bit of pushing - pulling - squeezing and tugging required where the moulded box reaches its end stops..........it's plastic, it 'gives' quite a bit.

Normal policy for me, however, committing after a test drive in December I didn’t get the chance to check the efficacy other than to confirm it felt ‘cold’! It never crossed my mind that it would be crap.

I'm more and more convinced it's down to the type of system fitted by Skoda and others nowadays. EU responsible perhaps? Spent yesterday test driving a selection of used motors as a favour for an elderly (89) neighbour, a selection of Jazz and Yaris varying in age from 3 - 10 years. Apart from a couple of the older ones where the air con was obviously busted the newer vehicles performed very poorly when compared to the older ones. In the older motors the cooling effect was noticeable within moments of firing up where the newer ones never really got to the point where you'd say 'that's nice'. The 3 year old Yaris was slightly better than the 3 year old Jazz but neither were 'good'. By the 6th test drive even my elderly friend was on the case of the 'poor air con', and that was from someone who initially said she 'wasn't too fussed' about the air-con being cold. As an aside: Modern vehicles for all their fancy toys are too complicated for elderly folk, not least getting to grips with 'keyless'. Some main dealer used car staff (Honda get a special award) are so full of crap I could punch 'em! Used car prices are just silly at the moment - despite looking for a fairly new motor with better safety features and to help get her insurance cost down a little we ended up buying a 10 year old used Jazz for £7000. One owner, 16000 miles, full main dealer history in truly excellent condition with ice cold air-con from the vents within 1 minute of starting up. For the few miles she travels and the driving time she has left it'll suit her just fine. Just a pity we weren't looking this time last year when we'd have no doubt got the same car for £5k.

Got my 'update' today, my 280 Estate ordered 25th May allegedly being built this week and should be here at the end of August .......... we'll see, either way a '71' reg. Was originally told 15 weeks so that might turn out to be correct.

If there’s no button / switch on the drivers side door pillar then you could try - Screen - Vehicle Settings - Opening Closing - Internal monitoring - On / Off………

Give it up folks it's a spoof, else some development project for students - either way, if ever it came to the market it would cost a fortune in the extras list - I mean Skoda charge an extra £150 for a length of Bowden Cable to release the back seat from the hatch!

Toyota seem to like their black and dark interiors - it all comes across as bit too dark for me, especially on a hot sunny day, that aside I like Toyota's..........we looked recently at the new Yaris range but like a 2014 Yaris of ours (staying with the dark theme) it lacks illuminated steering wheel controls. Now I'm primed ready for the inevitable witty, angry and / or sarcastic 'call yourself a driver' retorts but, it's a big deal when you've got so many buttons on the wheel and you only drive it occasionally - neglecting a little bit of backlighting is penny pinching. I challenged Toyota about the problem and, like all manufacturers, 'you're the first to mention that sir'!

Here's a snippet from the article: "Even if the AC sign is lit up, this does not mean that the air-conditioning is delivering all it is capable of. Modern systems regulate the operation of the compressor to reflect current conditions. In doing so, they draw on a solar sensor that monitors not only the intensity, but also the direction, of the sun’s rays." https://www.skoda-storyboard.com/en/innovation-and-technology/technology/10-tips-on-how-to-use-air-conditioning-properly/

I disagree, bring back the numbers, it's no bad thing to know which gear you are in. As for the paddles, again, I disagree that they are superfluous . The box might be quick (sometimes not so quick, especially when it predicts the next change should be up and I want down) but the ability to choose the right gear for an upcoming manoeuvre and get the measure of how much oomph is available under my right foot is something I like.

I suspect it's down to the Skoda, aided and abetted by the EU 'we know what's best for you' group think. There's a Skoda (Karoq) article (possibly video) knocking about showing how the air-con system is allegedly intelligent enough to know when we are sufficiently cooled and drops the compressor load / cooling to save fuel. Could be connected - if I get chance later I'll see if it can be found.

I suspect it uses sky hooks in some clever way?

Cheeky gits. I suspect this particular establishment hasn't got long for this world. Any place that gives a price and then pulls that 'plus vat' crap at point of sale need boycotting. Also, I thought it was banned at least 20 years ago, retail should only ever quote inclusive prices.

That all sounds a little worrying - let's trust it's something trivial and, more importantly, cheap to fix. These forums are great for snippets of knowledge / inside information etc., but sometimes it can be a bit scary - a bit like reading medical books.......

I concur, ACC applies the brakes and the brake lights. The myth that ACC only applies the rears is just that, a myth. A pity really inasmuch as a little drag on the rears would help keep the crappy cheese based discs scrubbed up. In my opinion modern ACC has got shortcomings on trunk roads, not least the ones where the topography features a fairly flat terrain but with gentle rolling ups and downs, the motor is forever braking just before kicking down a couple of gears to run up the other side and of course, the vehicle following is perplexed by the continuous on / off braking / lights on what is a clear road.......... On the other hand, it keeps me attentive, I often will knock off the ACC whenever I anticipate an unnecessary computer controlled speed adjustment.

Skoda must surely fit better / more efficient systems on vehicles destined for warmer climes, such as Spain or Italy?

I'm waiting on a 280 ordered through DTD, quite happy with the DVD experience, very helpful and professional. Only 'fly in the ointment' is the Skoda dealer supplying the motor who, I might add, gets quite good reviews online and they call me and give regular updates about the build progress. The price from DTD includes delivery to my house which is 130 miles away - I was happy to collect it myself and by using a very early train the ticket would cost less than £20. However the dealer is quite intransigent and despite having to pay someone a days wage to drive the motor over, put at least 20 litres of fuel in and buy a open return ticket (£80) back they won't cover my £20 ticket - the choice is I fetch it or they deliver it - same price! Strange business practice I'd say. But other than that, a positive vote for Drive the Deal. As for my local dealer, they were over £500 shy and wouldn't budge despite me being a existing/returning customer - kept insisting the DTD price was somehow incorrect.