SteveTheElder

Welcome to the forums. Whilst I have not experienced those particular faults others here have. There are [too] many s/ware faults with the Octavia mk4 which are slowly being addressed. Im sure Škoda know about those you mention but keep pressing the dealer and perhaps Škoda UK direct. Hopefully you’ll get a resolution soon - but don’t hold your breath! My car has been at the dealer since mid-April as it doesn’t really know the difference between mph & kph, amongst other things 🙄

The space is indeed useful for a phone. Rather than disable it, perhaps add a dark cloth and place the phone at an angle so it doesn’t charge. That way, if you do need to charge your phone it’s there ready. When I use mine (a third party charging pad I got from Amazon), it shows in CarPlay, not noticed it in the native Infotainment screens.

similar story to me. Mine is at the dealer since April, loan car is a 1.0e-etc estate. Fault free over 7500 miles and average consumption is 56mpg. there is hope…

In the UK generally, not just motorists, the approach seems to be “if I can get away with I’ll do it” - so the bigger the deterant the better. It’s notable how many high power cars on the road don’t have a front number plate. No, I wonder why that is… 🤔

On my previous car, a Superb, I got over 30k miles on the OEM Contis with about 25k on the Goodyears I replaced them with - but it was hardly a tyre shredder with the adequate, but leisurely, 1.4TSI (125) motor up front. Oddly, the rears wore quicker than the fronts; I suspect alignment issues. Guess my driving style is a lot less spirited than it was 10 years ago and most of my mileage is relatively easy on the tyres - last trip to see family in Lanarkshire had about 10 miles of urban/minor roads and 390 miles motorways and dual carriageways! I stick with premium tyre brands, Goodyear being my current choice, and change them at around 2.5 - 3mm (my nipper had a 720 spin on tyres with 2.5mm, thankfully missed everything but it focuses the mind!). Given the recent summer downpours, like @MiniNinjaRob, I’m considering Michelin Cross Climates or similar next time round.

It’s not beyond the realms of possibility. The manufacturer knows what each vehicle has on board, and it’s unique VIN is a key identifier. With some half decent coding the content management system for the manuals could pull out the relevant chapters &/or paragraphs to create a bespoke online/downloadable manual for each car. Through the MyŠKODA app perhaps? Oh wait… Škoda (VAG) and half decent coding… Hmmm 🤔

‘tis a funny old world. I had a Ford once and the dealer was that bad I haven’t so much as considered one since… Sadly history may be repeating itself with Škoda; though to be fair, it’s not the dealer this time.

I’m currently driving a 70-plate SE First Edition Estate DSG (loan car) and am trying to recall/compare it to the features I had in the 12-plate Mk2 Elegance Estate I sold a few years ago. I can only think of one thing this does NOT have that the earlier model did have - and that is the variable boot floor. This current car has in ADDITION… speed limiter Auto lights when it’s raining (as in when the auto wipers come on) as well as when it gets dark LED lights all round USB-C socket near the rear view mirror for a dash cam CarPlay/AndroidAuto DAB radio To answer your specific question about closing windows and locking doors from the key fob, yes, a press and hold. Also can open the windows in a similar manner.

That's interesting and shows how the running cost of an iV can be much lower than those of a petrol car. However, I've just done some sums... I've been returning 56.6 mpg from the loan 1.0 e-Tec estate over the 7000 miles Ive had it, and using your figures scaled up to my usual annual mileage of 15,000, I'd save £232.98 a year. Given the higher initial purchase price of an iV (about £7200) I'd have to run it for nigh on 30 years to get my money back. For the few weeks I was running it, my own 1.5Tsi manual estate was returning similar (55+) mpg; though for long motorway runs I doubt an iV would return 55mpg. That is, of course, using my driving pattern which is very few miles in short journeys whilst most is on trips of 300+ miles each way - in other words, relatively few miles on electric power. So, for me, the rationale for buying a hybrid (and maybe electric?) would not be economics. There are perhaps more important reasons to choose a car with lower fuel consumption and are more 'green' but that opens a whole new 'can of worms'.

Thats really interesting, thanks. My dealer has mentioned they have a replacement part for my car and are awaiting the software. The car has been with the dealer since mid-April while Skoda UK/VAG perform diagnostics etc. Hopefully I will get it be back and on the road soon…

12V socket in the boot is live all the time on the Octavia Mk4 SE FE I’m driving; and I use the USB-C socket near the mirror for the dashcam (which is NOT live with the ignition off).

I am told there is a fix being worked on at VAG/Skoda - my car went to the dealers back in April and been there since whilst SkodaUK requested diagnostics etc. I’m now at the point of the dealer having some of what they need to apply to my vehicle. My understanding is that there is both software as well as a replacement hardware component. In due course I will post an update in one of the several appropriate threads in this forum.

Thanks. That’s useful to know the difference.

As far as I know all Octavia Mk4 models come with the Lane Assist (warning if departing from the lane and will nudge the steering to take a shallow curve - as well as vibrate the wheel and bleep if need be).

I think it does have a collision avoidance in reverse. A week or two back I was reversing into a parking bay in the countryside up to bushes/nettles; as you describe the stopped abruptly as though I’d hit a kerb or rock - but not by there except aforementioned bushes. I recall reading something about the system designed to protect pedestrians when reversing but can’t remember what it was called or where I read it 🙄

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.