Octy0GG

Totally agree although living in the country it's more often when I go past slurry spreading that I need a quick dive for the recirc. If you can't get recirc on fast enough there is no point as all you do by pressing too late is recirculate the stink. Why touch screens and menus upon menus are an unsafe for use when undertaking a complex safety critical task like driving is pretty much page one of any introductory ergonomics text but they are big cost saving that can be disguised as technological progress.

This being a direct injection engine means carbon build up is a concern, like most such things I don't think there is a consensus as to how much of a concern.

Sort of guessed that would be coming but for the time being Skoda have a distinct advantage. At this point in time having the luxury of 3 pedals is still a priority for me though - and yes that will soon be legislated out of existence or relegated to only the most gutless and undesirable models. Can you imagine though how much pre-production testing a VAG mild hybrid will have been subjected to? - genuine pity for the first folk that buy them, they will be paying for the privilege of doing the prototype testing that should have been done pre-production. Were it not for the fact that they are all rotten with rust (or would be by next Tuesday if you used them for real) I would now be back in a much older and simpler car

Hard to disagree with that. The only thing I would add is: Recent VAG cars seem to suffer from the same old lack of prototype testing. I know it was in a different class but I don't believe the Mercedes W201 became the car it was due to inspired brilliance - It was total focus on clear design targets combined with prototype test and improvement and repeat. VAG are now happy to get paying customers to do large scale prototype testing, the thing with this is when a problem is revealed it is too late and too expensive to fix so they have to either not be able to see it or find a way of explaining it away. The deficiency's of the lane assist system would have been revealed if real world pre-production testing had been done.

What to me seems like the 'sensible' engine (1.5 TSI) in an Octavia didn't get off to the best of starts I am ever hopeful that Škippy has finally been brought under control. Škoda and all VAG brands should however be very grateful to Ford for replacing their 150 and 182 PS 1.5 Petrol engines with mild-hybrids. A 1.5 Petrol focus could easily have tempted me out of Octavias but a 1 liter mild hybrid definitely won't.

All these 'assists' just can't cope with the complexity and variety of driving scenarios in the real world, Lane assist probably copes fairly well with preventing drifting from your lane in a textbook motorway driving situation (and I wouldn't deny that as a valuable contribution to safety) - but that seems to be about all it is good for. Most years I do no motorway driving and probably about 1% of my driving on dual carriageways. Touch screen controls are sold as a bonus to the customer but in reality are just a cost saving. Good ergonomics is crucial to safety and as far as possible that means you should be able to feel your way around the controls with good tactile (and possibly audio) feedback to confirm your actions, I am far from familiar with all the individual complexities of different manufacturers assist and auto systems but the impression I get is that they are far from being standardised. The risks when someone jumps from one system to another without fully appreciating the differences have to be fairly obvious. Back in the day moving to an unfamiliar car only required checking. - How do I work the lights and indicators, where is the choke, adjust the seat and mirrors- about ready to go.

Caliper rewind tool (Think it was Laser brand) It's some time since I used this on an Octavia 2 rear calipers but may be about to use again on an Octavia 3 rear calipers in the not too distant future. The thing is I can remember cursing it at the time as it would only wind the piston a little before coming up solid, requiring to be adjusted before rotating further, it was as if the pitch of the thread on the tool was greater than the amount the cylinder went in for each rotation. Something wrong with the caliper, the tool or how I'm using I thought. Looking at some other forums it appears that the thread pitch is indeed not always matched to the piston advance - that's just the way they are. Seems a bit poor particularly as I don't remember any warning about this in the instructions. Can anyone confirm this? Can't find - any figures for pitch on VW tool T10165/1 but looking at photographs the pitch looks less than on the tool I was using. The VW tool is of course VW priced and the ones that I can find on line are in America - Is anyone aware of a UK supplier of this tool or one with the same pitch on the threads.

Lane assist does not sound good, particularly for the rural single track and 2 lane single carriageway roads that make up 99% of my driving. But then again I am realising that cars and their assists are increasingly being designed with only motorway and city driving in mind - with the possible exception of a few high performance cars being designed for the Nürburgring.

Looks like there might be cylinder deactivation in my future (not that I have any desire for it), just wondering how it copes with double declutching particularly on the downshift. If alternatively you would like to explain to the world how terrible double declutching is that would be fun as well but please start a seperate topic

Hello Got a few quotes on carwow for an Octavia 4. Contrary to my expectations for most of the quotes - some already with significant discounting, the Cash and PCP price was the same. In the recent past PCP buyers have been offered better prices with the money clawed back through the PCP deal (Not sure about the more distant past as I used to buy used privately) Has the selling model changed recently (if so I would wholeheartedly approve) are these offers mistakes/exceptions to the rule? or will a price difference open up between cash and PCP open up after the initial introduction phase?

The posts are out there if you look, they are not really hard to find. It isn't Skoda's old pre VAG cars and the associated jokes (cant remember the last time I heard one) that damages Skoda's image it is Dieselgate and Skippygate. Here's hoping they have finaly got it fixed though - and without introducing some other problem in the process.

"Heres something you dont want and its 2000 more expensive" - Thanks! That sums it up beautifully Hate hate hate auto handbrakes. - 3 Hates not enough , add in a few extra for me. Something else a lot of folk don't want but are expected to be excited by when the next model update dispenses with a proper handbrake. Hey Skoda how about doing something really nice that wouldn't cost any extra - not just a proper handbrake but a proper fly off handbrake - that would be a real selling point. (Aye, I know, not going to happen.)

It's genuinely great to hear from OctaviaMK4 that 'I haven't had any issues with the Kangarooing (Skippy) so far. I have the 1.5TSI.' and I have no reason to question their experience of the 1.5 in the MK4. Still a bit early for me to judge Skippy to be entirely banished to history though - particularly if I'm spending my own money. When do you believe Skippy became part of history? (very recent history it would have to be said) and what has he got to to with 'these people' who may or may not still be telling Skoda jokes? There are indeed loads of folk that prefer a manual, the change to autos has not been initiated by consumers - It has been a hard sell from manufacturers and dealers to push autos coupled with ever increasing trend of banishing manuals to the less desirable lower powered models. There is a lot more change going on than there is progress, but for the time being only manufacturers still selling a suitable manual gearbox model have a chance of getting their hands on my money - not saying that won't change in the future but that is where customer choice is a great thing.

Agreed I wouldn't rule out the possibly of tyre brand/ size / inflation or steering firmware / driver modes contributing to a difference, The reported difference is really fairly massive though - can't help but wonder if some cliched image based judgements are going on. And of course I agree more reason, if ever it were needed, to rely on your own experience rather than rely too much on the motoring press - but then again I haven't really attached much significance to their output since sometime around about 1983. All the same, until Skippy is brought under control it's pretty academic for me. Still hoping for a 2.0 TSI SEL Manual though - Yes I know it's not going to happen.

From Autocar reviews https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/skoda/octavia/first-drives/skoda-octavia-15-tsi-2020-uk-review https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/seat/leon Autocar Skoda Octavia 1.5 TSI 2020 UK review: More than almost any other, the brand knows its customer base, but this doesn’t change the fact that the steering and gearshift action are then wholly light and inert, almost to the point where it impinges the accuracy of your inputs. Turning into a bend can feel a little like that phantom extra step you weren’t expecting at the bottom of the stairs. Autocar Seat Leon review: Still, it’s clear that Seat has put some thought into the driving experience. Unlike so many over-servoed offerings in this class, the brake pedal is soft and progressive and the electromechanical steering, steadily geared but not sleepy, paints a clearer picture of the road beneath you than the class average. The comments about the steering are puzzling given they are based on the same platform. I can’t say they are not true as I have not driven either. Is there any explanation other than different driving modes? Having said that the only thing I am interested in hearing is that Skippy has been banished from the 1.5 TSI Manual. I’m afraid that given how VAG have handled this so far I will take a bit of convincing.

https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/motors/prepare-for-new-normal-of-paying-subscriptions-for-optional-extras-1.4299247 This is beyond cynical. Not one to miss a trick I'm sure VAG will be up to the same caper. Possible solutions: 1. National governments legislate to protect consumers. 2. Folk boycott companies operating with these unethical practices. Unfortunately neither are going to happen. I am of course the bad customer companies are keen to stamp out. Just want to buy a car for me to drive, my car, bought with my money, do whatever I want with (within prevailing national laws of course) and when I'm finished with it sell it for whatever I can get for it. No desire to rent or lease a semi autonomous infotainment system on wheels.

Right I'll say it right up front, unpalatable as it is to some - I don't want a DSG. There it is, done it, said it. Following on - Skoda really don't appear to want my money. First the Octavia III 190PS 2.0 TSI SEL - sounded like a great idea, but hold on, DSG only. Ocavia IV, well I still don't trust Skippy the 1.5TSI so perhaps its back to diesel, 2 litre, ah but hold again, 150 PS is reserved for DSG - you want manual -116 PS is good enough for you then. There is the possibility of being able to stretch to a vRS next time (Having said that I don't see the wheel/tyre combo it will come with coping with the roads in my area) but will vRS buyers be allowed a manual option? Looking up the Skoda range further - Superb, wall to wall DSGs Don't get me wrong I'm happy for DSG fans but I'm beginning to hate those 3 letters - every nice looking car I see, start reading the spec, still looking good, but sooner or latter there it is -DSG. Come on Skoda, how about some decent options for folk that still want a manual gearbox?

Hi Trying to track down cause of poor running and would like to check the electrical inputs to the solenoid valve block (containing N18, N75 & N345 - think that's the lot unless there is anything else lurking in there). I know what each of the vacuum pipes controls but can't find any info on the (6 pin) electrical connector, other than an old post which gives pin 2 as being to the N345 valve. Anyone know what is what for the other pins? Thanks