SteveTheElder

I use CarPlay with my iPhone without issue. As others have stated, for your Samsung you’ll be able to use Android Auto, which AIUI, need a 5Ghz Wi-Fi connection - so depending on the revision level of the car and phone you may or may not need a USB cable connection.

Sorry for spoiling your weekend; but in a perverse sort of way the microprocessor/Covid shortages are working in your favour allowing more time for the s/ware to be sorted. Must be costing VAG a fortune as the Golf 8 is similarly afflicted.

There have been a few revisions of the head unit (and probably other embedded component too) in the first 9 - 12 months of production, later revisions seem to have fewer problems but that is a bit too simplistic. Also, the majority of problems seem to be in the SE L and VRS models with the extra ‘toys’ such as ACC etc. Again, a bit simplistic but hanging around this forum for the last 5 months since I got my SE L FE I’d say that was the general trend. The loan 1.0 e-Tec SE FE I have is fault free, and has given me a great opportunity for me to discover the pluses and minuses of a DSG ‘box.

My SE L FE 1.5tsi was registered in September ‘20, so a similar vintage to the one you’re looking at. It has a few problems and been at the dealers for 4 months now awaiting a fix for the kph/mph issue. I think the ACC was ok on mine but didn’t really use it enough to find out. if you like the car enough then I suggest you ask for an extended test drive, preferably over a couple of days. Check… - the ACC allows overtaking but not undertaking (those with a fault get that but wrong) - the SatNav displays miles (not Km) and that you can change between them - the Speedo can be set to kph and retain the setting. Then change it back to mph, again it should retain the setting. (With mine I could change the setting but it made no difference to the display!) - that there is a Travel Mode setting to drive on left or right (mine doesn’t have that). This AIUI is supposed to set the ACC for driving on the right and overtaking etc. - if it has Traffic Assit, that it recognises speed limit signs as mph, NOT kph (the P.ACC ought to take speed to, say, 50mph and not 50kph (31mph). One day, microprocessor/Covid delays permitting, I hope to get my car back! Like you, I, and my usually bored by cars wife, are/were really excited about it - just want it back!

Very understandable that you have concerns though it is worth remembering that forums such as this are used to moan and complain, or ask questions - rarely to say how wonderful a car is. Thus you'll be getting a biased view. That isn't to downplay the issues though - my car, bought in March as as ex-demo at six month old, has [frustratingly] been with the dealer since mid-april at the request of Skoda UK. It has the infamous kph/mph issue which is a matter of compliance with UK regulations as I understand it. I am told a fix in being tested on a couple of cars in the UK ahead of a wider roll-out in due course. How long that will be I have no idea. To counter that disappointment & frustration, the loan car provided by the same dealer/Skoda UK is also an Octavia Mk4, registered in January '21. I have driven over 6000 miles and it has been 100% fault free. It is a SE First Edition spec so doesn't have ACC or Traffic Assist, both of which have ongoing issues. The Octavia Mk4 is a lovely car to drive, quiet, comfortable and economical - and with an enormous boot, which from your comment is what you're looking at it. Several on here have rejected their cars, I and a few others are hanging on in there awaiting the fix from Skoda UK whilst loading the loan/hire car with mileage. Should you buy or avoid an Octavia Mk4 - your call. Basically, it is a great car but it may test your patience and tolerance if your motor suffers with the well documented issues/niggles.

Anybody using the Skoda accessory roof bars, or have experience of them compared to the Thule products?

I understanding is that the 753 is an older system which is gradually being replaced by the Evo etc systems; thus I doubt there will be a fitting kit for new car models like the Octavia Mk4. Probably worth checking direct with Thule though.

I like the idea of stop/start being temporarily disabled when the indicators are on. Quick, patent it and sell it… 😉

I sort of get your point here - BUT, it could be read as you’re blaming the Skoda implemented engine stop/start technology for creating an incident whilst you admit to not seeing the motorcyclist. That aside, what I have noticed is that Stop/Start is different with a DSG ‘box compared to a manual. With a manual ‘box, foot on clutch means the engine is running. With the DSG (and Auto-Hold enabled) however, the engine is not running until you hit the accelerator - which gives the kind of latency you describe. Does yours have the DSG? Overall I think Stop/Start is a good thing, especially in a busy urban context with lots of traffic queues. Urban air pollution is a big problem and, as the [annoying] UK Tesco advert says, ‘every little helps’.

Each to their own. Personally, I'm hanging on in there. Bough the car in March, left at dealers in April and driving a loan Octy 4 since then. The loan car is fault free and a pointer to how nice these cars can be! Encouraging noises for a fix to my own too (despite several false dawns). It you do choose to get rid, then as @SurreyJohn says, aim to reject rather than sell back.

I can understand @TheUltraRunner disliking stop/start, especially in busy places or junctions of fast roads. There is something about the lack of immediacy that bothers me too. I am getting used to it though, and in the Octavia 4 it is a lot better than early cars with the system. What I do find odd is the way the loan cars e-TEC engine cuts out and the car coasts at 0 rpm. Quite odd at 70 mph on a motorway! Lifting my foot off the accelerator will sometimes result in the car coasting (no engine braking) and sometimes leave the engine running (with engine braking). Nearly 6000 miles in and I haven’t properly worked out the logic! Has to be with the suddenness of lifting off, I think…

In theory yes. Something like Car/Settings/Units in the menus. Having said that, some of early build cars like mine, the settings have zero effect! One of numerous software glitches.

Just been out in the loan which has ordinary CC (not ACC). on the stack the incremental speed change in 1 mph with a single press up or down. A press and hold increments it repeatedly by 1 mph until I let go - a quick way to get from, say, 50mph to 70 mph but less precise than counting the clicks…

I use CarPlay and the behaviours I see are that the car resumes playing whatever was playing when I turn it off. So, if Spotify music via CarPlay was playing, it will resume when I next restart the car. Alternatively, if a DAB radio channel, then that resumes on restart even though CarPlay reconnects automatically. Similarly, whatever I had displayed on the screen (eg Vehicle Status) will show again on restart - with CarPlay/Spotify or DAB radio playing in the background, if it was when turned off. All seems to work as I’d expect. This is on the loan car, an Octavia 4 SE FE 1.0e-TEC Estate. It’s so long since I last drove my own SEL FE that I can’t remember what that did - apart from a load of weird stuff…

Actually I’m quite pleased the pictogram is silver - else I’d have a black car on a black background 😂

Yeah, my 12 plate Octavia 2 had both footrests. Surprised and disappointed the Mk4 doesn’t.

Thanks. The loan car I'm driving is a DSG and my left foot is very comfy as you describe. Like you, I found left foot braking more of a liability than a benefit and as my own car (which I hope to get back soon) is a Manual I need my left foot calibrated for the clutch! I'll try again keeping the right foot on the floor and see if I get used to it and practice a few quick moves.

Assuming your TomTom will run powered by USB, all you need is a USB-C to [whatever your TomTom has) cable.

One for us drivers of RHD cars - when using cruise control what do you do with your right foot? I'm finding that I tend to place the outside of my foot against the wheel arc but as there is no rest there my foot twists and becomes uncomfortable after a while. Moving my foot to be flat on the floor is far more relaxing but is further away from the throttle or brake pedal, and therefore feels that it's slower should I need to take a quick action. Not sure if it is made worse by the fact that I'm shoe size 11-12.

I have used it to turn on seat heating, increase temperature - both independently for driver and passenger. That was in the few weeks I have my SE L FE before leaving at the dealer for three months! Not tried it with the loan car; in fact not sure now if the SE FE includes voice control or not! Something to look up later…

As I understand it, Long Term is about 3000 miles (probably a round number of Kms) and resets itself automatically after that distance. It is manually reset-able which I use for a weekend trip/holiday. The 'Since Start' is literally that excepting for short stops (up to 2 hours IIRC). Since Refuel is again literally that. Not sure if that can be reset or not (user manual implies that you can), but as I've only every used it for what it says on the tin. If, however, it is reset-able, then there is your second trip counter.

Does anyone know how to activate the car voice control when using CarPlay? All I get is Siri - great for getting music or setting a destination but can’t change AirCon settings or the radio. Thanks

The ones on my loan car (Octy 4 estate) are the same. The hotter the weather the stronger they are.

Welcome to the forums. To answer your question, I reckon it’s just that many of us are awaiting a significant update which frustratingly is not materialising. Meanwhile we’re driving loan or hire vehicles which are working fine. Ongoing niggles/annoyances/bugs in things like the ACC & KESSEY continue to be commented on however.

Sadly typical of too many of the Mk4 Octavia.... Just a thought on the car maybe being confused about the location, do you get the same problem when using the built in SatNav? Thinking that maybe the SatNav would know the location and somehow inform the wider system and hence ACC.