SteveTheElder

So, have I got this right? You charge your EV for free, then fleece the UK tax payer for the tax relief. 😡 Let the moral debate begin…

A very good point. Now, if only we had a viable and affordable public transport system 🙄 - but that’s best left for another thread! As someone mentioned in another thread, a small EV for local/urban use and a half descent ICE for the longer trips. I could live with that - £££ permitting.

I thought the whole idea of Matrix LED headlights was that, once on full beam, the dynamically changed the beam pattern based on what it ‘sees’ ahead of it. It’s an option I don’t have but would like! So, three possibilities… I got the wrong idea The OP Matrix LEDs are not setup correctly - hence the question The OP doesn’t have Matrix LEDs - but based on comments above, they are fitted.

Reading the news app this morning and there’s an article in the Independent which says Sir Richard Branson has suggested cutting motorway speed limits to 60mph to save fuel - hence reducing demand for oil and in turn reduces need for Russian imports. What do we think? It would certainly reduce fuel consumption. By coincidence, yesterday I had a 60 mile trip, 50 of which was motorway, mostly at a smart motorway set limit of 60mph, some 50mph. At the end, the car (1.5 TSI 150, Octy 4) showed an average consumption of 71.3mpg. Considerably better than the mid-high 50s I’d get at 70ish mph. Probably better for the environment too.

Don’t knock it till you’ve tried it. And by that I mean try it enough to become familiar with else its not a fair comparison.

Switched from Superb Mk2 hatch/twindoor to Octavia Mk4 Estate last year - not Sportline to VRS however. It was a 1.4TSI 125 'S' spec to 1.5TSI 150 'SE L 1st Edition', both manual. I gained a huge bunch of 'tech' on changeover, which was bit of a steep learning curve at first but I love it. Probably not fair/appropriate to comment on performance and suspension 'cos the cars are quite different to the Sportline/VRS but in terms of space, I do miss the cabin space and overall size of the Superb - having said that, I don't need the space other than on the odd occasion I carry a rear seat passenger behind me (at best part of 2m tall the seat is a long way back). Fuel economy is at least 10% better in the Octavia, but I found the 1.4 engine in the Superb to be more drivable; it has more low-rev torque than the 1.5. Boot space is fantastic in the Octavia estate, slightly bigger, more useable, and I prefer the shape to that of the Superb, seems a bit deeper (tall) and not so long front to back. Do I regret it? Nope - but if I could have got a Superb with the same spec/tech and efficiency I'd probably have gone for it. Like I say, my Superb to Octavia journey wasn't quite the same as you're considering, but hopefully some useful info.

Thanks @MCG1975 for sharing your mpg figures and costs. When I bought my 1.5 TSI I had debate with myself, as usual, about petrol vs diesel. Which is better value etc. etc. based on my anticipated mileage, fuel costs, driving patterns (journey lengths, traffic, etc.). In the end decided on the 1.5 TSI. Overall, mine is at 54.2mpg over the last 10k miles, brim to brim calculations, which gives me a cost of 13.6p/mile. Using your consumption figures as a comparison, my anticipated annual mileage, and the current WhatCar Target Prices (1.5TSI 150, 2.0TDI 150) I reckon it'd take about 5 1/2 years fuel cost difference to make up the purchase price difference. Not a clear winner either way for me, and close enough for me to 'justify' the debate with myself each time I change the car! It is of course all academic as new ICE cars will soon be a thing of the past 🙄

... or with the Lane Assist systems. Mine on the Mk4 was overly sensitive when I first got it, but after a few updates it's been fine, well it has for the last 6 months.

Nice one! Certainly an impressive mpg; pleased you mentioned it's a diesel, is it a manual 'box? Bit like you, I usually try to be a my record, and am disappointed if I don't more than 56mpg from my 1.5 TSI (manual) on a long run. Best so far at normal motorway speeds is 58.8 over a 160 mile trip.

tbh I haven't tried to get my head around the favourite radio stations as I usually use voice control to change stations. Line of least resistance (for me anyway). With you iPhone, have you set up CarPlay? If so, then it can't sync phone numbers as well as it will be a different (second) Bluetooth connection). Incoming calls can be answered easily enough (through CarPlay); and to make a call, use Siri. Not sure if that answers your questions or not, but hopefully some help.

Thanks. I decided to get a bottle of VW 508 00/509 00 0w20 FS IV for the Mk4 TSI; amazingly thin, which is, I guess, part of the low friction, low emission initiatives. I won't be wasting the older bottle as it'll go fine in the other car.

Checked mine yesterday a few minutes after parking up on the drive. 1/4ltr added bringing it to the top of Zone B as indicated in the diagram @roottoot shared earlier. Bottle now stashed safely in the boot as I’ll be on the road a lot - 3000 [mostly motorway] miles in 3 weeks coming up (and a second mortgage for the fuel 😂). Going back to earlier mention of diesels and oil consumption, when I took delivery of my then new 2012 Octy 2 1.6TDi the dealer included a 1ltr top-up bottle of Castrol. Ran the car for 80k miles, the bottle is still in the cupboard with 500ml left in it. Shame it’s the wrong grade for the modern TSI I now have.

I have traditionally (as in the last 40 odd years) checked the oil level when the engine has stood for a good time allowing it drain into the sump, and is cold. Seem to recall reading somewhere (which I now can’t find) that I should check the level when it’s warm, i.e. only about 5 or 10 minutes after parking up. Thoughts?

Anyone used this Calendar app to launch the SatNav to direct you to an appointment? This from the online Škoda Connect Portal ... "Get your in-car Google calendar to easily navigate to your next appointment and schedule your agenda on the go." Does actually work? Could be handy if it does.

I've got the Columbus built-in SatNav and would like to load some of my own POIs, or at least a list of addresses (going on a road-trip 😊). Somewhere I read that the MyŠkoda app (or web portal) has the capability to upload a route to the car - but I'm pretty sure mine is an early version which doesn't support such clever stuff (same with the remote lock/unlock). Yes, I could use Apple Maps or Waze through CarPlay but I'd rather us the built in SatNav and want to speed up the process of saving favourites. I can't see anything in the user manual about loading POIs, so does anyone know if it's possible, and how to go about it? Thanks.

I went from a Superb 2 hatch to an Octavia 4 estate about 12 months ago. Some comparisons... The ride in the Superb 2 was, I reckon, more comfortable; a combination of a slightly longer wheelbase and the tyre pressures (those stated in the Octavia chart seem a bit too firm and the suspension doesn't make up for it). Fuel economy is better in the Octavia by about 10% (Superb 1.4TSI 125PS, Octavia 1.5TSI ACT 150PS, both 6 speed manual). How much of that is the engine efficiency improvements vs. car aerodynamics I don't know. Noise levels inside are about the same overall. At speed on the motorway I reckon the Octavia is a bit quieter, but typical poor surface urban roads then the Superb beats is hands down. Rear legroom significantly less in the Octavia. Not a big deal for me now the grown up kids have moved away, but last weeks family holiday was a bit tight in the back with both kids at well over 6-foot tall (as am I). Boot is a little bigger in the Octavia, but I guess the Superb estate would be bigger still. Very subjectively, I reckon the Octavia 4 is 'a nicer place to be' than the Superb 3 I sat in before buying last year. It was all about styling and materials. You'll need to make adjustments for the current Superb model with I believe to be a big improvement (ride, handling) over the Superb 2 that I had. And finally, if I had teenagers and dogs, then it'd be the Superb. No question.

Yes.... ... that car manufacturers have given up on common sense😂

Thanks @SurreyJohn, I hadn't thought of it from that perspective. Could be useful for the missus' CitiGo though, it's just over 4 yrs old so that extra warranty & roadside could be useful.

I've just had an email from my supplier/dealer offering 20% off Škoda service plans. £364.80 (one-off) or £15.20/pcm (24 payments) for 2 services, one with pollen filter other being extended scope. There's also a 3 service plan with two extended scope services for £537.60 or £22.40/pcm - see https://www.skoda.co.uk/owners/service-plan I'm doing around 15-16,000 miles a year with the car (1.5Tsi ACT) showing about 6000 to the next service/inspection, with the car set to variable intervals. I'll probably keep it another 5 years or so. Would you go for a plan, and which one?

Adding to that which @MiniNinjaRob mentioned, mine is working fine 99% of the time, and have noticed two scenarios when it doesn’t… If trying to overtake on a long right-hand bend the car ‘sees’ the vehicle in the near side lane as being in front of me and slows down When there is no internet connection when starting the car. It seems to default to ‘driving on the right’. For example, a week or so ago, this happened when I’d parked in a deep narrow valley in the Lake District, no phone signal, no internet. Got on to the M6 within about 15 minutes and ACC was all awry. A further half hour on, it self-corrected and was fine for the next 100 miles to near Hamilton. Was perfect all the way back to Hampshire and ever since. Both scenarios have some understandable logic to them but would be nice if it didn’t occur at all. Not saying these are the causes for every car that plays up, just sharing my experience & observations. The more I drive this car, the more I like it; and my sympathies with those whose cars are more troublesome than mine is.

I read that too, would be a dream with a DSG 'box. Alas less so with a manual, but helpfully the ACC doesn't disengage with a gear change unless the clutch it out for a couple of seconds. I've let mine take me down from 70 to about 30, dropping to third on the way. I chickened at that point and went for the brake pedal 🙄 Might experiment a bit more so I can get the best out of the tech...

As I understand it, an iPhone can connect to the car in one of two ways (not both) - 'traditional' Bluetooth phone sync OR CarPlay (when you don't need the phone sync 'cos you just use Siri to make a call etc). I use carPlay so can't really comment further on the phone sync. I assume (but don't know) that AndroidAuto is similar.

I think the SE has a different shape seat (load SE FE I had were slightly less 'sculpted'), whereas the SEL & SEL FE are the same - apart from the SEL FE has electric memory for the driver side, which I find helpful for the reason you mention (I'm 6'5", my wife 5'8"). My wish is for a great distance between pedals and steering wheel so I could move the seat a bit further back without feeling I'm stretching for the wheel, especially in urban driving. On the motorways I tend to nudge it back a bit though. Talking of Volvos, a friend of mine reckoned his 850 estate had "400 mile seats". I drove it for about 150 miles and was certainly very comfortable; may be worth saving up and looking at a Volvo next time...

Interesting that you find the seats to be super comfy. I've got an SEL 1st edition and after about 3 hours I get a back-ache so always plan to stop for a stretch & walk every couple hours. Having said that, last month I covered 640 miles in a total elapsed time of 20 hours - and could still walk at the end of it 😂 I agree with you about the Octy 4 being quiet and relaxing, and yes, the ACC works like a dream 99% of the time. To chip in on the fuel efficiency, I'm pleasantly surprised that my 1.5 TSi ACT (manual 'box) is returning 55+mpg over the 9k miles I've covered in it. Can be up towards 60mpg on a long run at legal limits. What I have noticed is that it suffers driving in to a strong headwind, more so than my previous Superb II and Octavia II - for example, same route, same load, similar speeds, similar gradients/climbs, outward leg 59mpg, return 48mpg ('twas blowing a gale over Shap & Beatock summits).

Had a closer look this morning, and yes, the numbers behind the needle on the dials are brighter. One of those modern things that I never knew I needed 😂