SteveTheElder

This from the pictures thread… https://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/488077-skoda-octavia-iv-pictures-thread/?do=findComment&comment=5519508 Personally, I think that the Petrol Blue is a bit more conservative (staid?) and perhaps more sophisticated than the Race Blue. Having said that, if I was in my 30s (half my current age!) I’d probably go for Race Blue…

There is an update due soon so If you can hang on for a few weeks you’re likely get a more useful response. How soon is soon depends on your level of scepticism! I’m expecting another call from Skoda UK early next week - was told earlier this week they were awaiting confirmation from the factory re the final release. The car is great to drive, spoiled by numerous software issues as you have no doubt read. The loan car I am driving is fault free (1.0 eTec SE 1st Edition DSG Estate) over 3500+ miles. My own car, 1.5 TSI SE L 1st Edition Estate, has a few niggles including the kph/mph issue - which is why it’s at the dealers for investigation & fix. You made a great choice of colour BTW - same as mine 😊

Several of us took our cars to the dealer and were given a loan car whilst Skoda UK initiated investigations for the issues, notably the kph/mph issue afflicting many an early build vehicle. There are of course several other notable issues and some design features & compliance features which cause frustration, along with the inevitable software bugs. In order to escalate it to the factory and get past the ‘one off problem’, Skoda UK needed a certain number (greater than five, or maybe seven. Can’t remember what they said) for that investigation to be done. Pressure through us writing direct to Skoda UK and through Honest John no doubt had some influence. Ultimately I believe it to be the kph/mph issue that triggered the call-in of some cars, the issue (I understand) makes the vehicle non-compliant with UK regulations, and whatever implications that may have. My car, an SE L First Edition, has been been back at the Dealer since mid-April; and I hope for a fix for the kph/mph issue to be applied soon. But am I now the only one? I’m beginning to feel like a lone voice here! So, I’m curious. How many others still have their car at a Dealers, driving a loan car, and awaiting the fix to be applied to their own?

That’s useful to know, thank you. I guess similar could occur with the Lane Assist camera, if that gets covered in spray and grime too.

And it is surprising how lightly you need to press the accelerator to override the AI; the indicator light in the Virtual Cockpit changes colour when on ‘manual override’.

It is fair to say that @Gax and I have had very different experiences dealing with Skoda UK (Kate Laws). Whilst I’m in the frustrating position of having my car sat at the dealer since mid-April, conversations with Skoda UK (and the dealer) have, on the whole, been positive, constructive and reassuring. All of this to do with the kph/mph issue in my case; other cars are off the road for this and other s/ware issues. He’s absolutely right, your contract is with the Dealer not Skoda UK so it’s the Dealer you should pursue for any rejection. As for the update scheduled for this week, I guess there is some interpretation of the wording used. When I reported that I’d been told the update was due for release this week it is/was easy to assume that was release to the customer vehicle - whereas it may be ‘release from the factory’, as in sign-off by the test team or whatever authority needs to release it; how long it then takes to get to nation distributors and the Dealers is open to speculation too (but ought to be pretty quick I like to think). Also, what is meant by this week? I may have, mentioned in another thread, my experience of software developers where I used to work was that ‘this week’ did not mean 0900hrs Monday - it was more like 1700hrs Friday (or even the Sunday after then). I am one of those who are hanging on in there awaiting the fix to come through (not sure how many there of us left now!); and in the meantime I am driving a loan Skoda Octavia Mk4 which is absolutely trouble free - which is giving me the encouragement that mine will, one day, be fixed. The loan car doesn’t have all the gizmos I paid for on my car, but I am enjoying the experience of learning the subtleties of driving a DSG for an extended period after 40+ years of manual ‘box motoring. As a result I am quite chilled about the whole thing, though I admit that wasn’t always the case! A few weeks back when there was still no clarity of the extent/scope of the problems, hence no planned date for an update - that was a low point for me, and from what I read, for many others here too. @Kendoddsdadsdogisdead whether you choose to reject or not is clearly your call and I hope my rambling comments prove to be some help to you making up your mind.

Short answer is ‘no I haven’t’ - longer answer includes ‘yet’ ! I’m at the same stage as you, I reckon. I have a pair of Thule bars that fit those with normal rails but not the flush ones. I’m pondering new Thule fittings or the Skoda branded bar set.

There are many on this forum that have done just that - except it might not have been a full refund. Down to the time & then mileage since the 30 days after purchase I believe. Take a look here…

Been a while since I drove my car which has Mode Selection - from memory it had an indicator for the Mode if it was in anything other than Normal; showed up near the Lane Assist/ACC symbols.

I had a call from Skoda UK this afternoon. They’re awaiting final confirmation from the factory later this week regarding the release of the update. Managing my own expectations, I’m assuming it’ll well in to next week before we see the first cars with the update installed - and that rollout will likely be impacted by Dealer workloads. Even though they have my car, I can almost guarantee they’re not sat there twiddling their thumbs waiting to apply the update to it. Like to think they’d prioritise it though!

Adding to my earlier comments, my own Octavia Estate is the 150PS TSI (manual ‘box) - but the loan 110PS 1.0 e-TEC is fine for me. To be honest, if the loan car had the extra ‘toys’ that mine has (powered/heated seats, blind spot assist, ACC, …) I’d be happy to have swapped cars. Let us know what you decide…

Yeah, I realise that, but the current 2.0TDI has both 116bhp and 150bhp variants. I used my 1.6TDI as an example of a diesel with similar power to the 1.0TSI e-TEC

I’m currently driving a 1.0 e-TEC DSG estate (loan car); have covered well over 3000 miles with plenty of motorway and well loaded. To say I was pleasantly surprised at the performance is an understatement, copes well enough with all roads and traffic. In an ‘urgent’ and busy urban context I switch the DSG box to Sport mode otherwise it up-changes a bit too soon. Fuel economy is over 56mpg overall and like @VinzClortho can comfortably get 60mpg on longer runs (a recent 50 mile trip returned 64mpg, mixture of motorway and country roads). I am also surprised at how quiet the engine is, even when working it hard. Some of the down changes can be a bit jerky, but this is the first DSG I have driven for any time/distance so can’t compare it with any others - and after 40 years of driving manuals a couple of months in a DSG hasn’t given be time to perfect the throttle control. I think the e-TEC mild hybrid energy recovery system adds to this too, it’s taken me a while to get used to the additional ‘engine’ braking which I initially thought was inconsistent - much less so now I am more familiar with it. Which 2.0TDI are you considering? There are two versions 116bhp & 150bhp - the power curve chart from @EnterNameis the 150 unit. I used to own a Mk2 Octavia Estate (c. 80k miles in it) with the 1.6TDI (115bhp, I think) - this 1.0 e-TEC is easily as drivable.

I guess nobody will promise a fix, but I have been told that it will address the kph and the other issues… Also, that as of last Tuesday, it is still in track for next week. Time will tell !

Look in the settings for the assist systems and check if cruise control is activated

Really encouraged to hear that your car is trouble free - gives me hope that mine will be fixed some day soon. Equally I can see that it could be frustrating - some cars are OK and others are not. Clearly @janmand had a car that was not and I'm sorry that you reached the point to return your car. Hope you find a good alternative.

Could well be right. The update which I have been told about is not yet released, rather it's scheduled for next week. When your dealer requested your car go in they may well have had a general update in mind - or they are being proactive in the hope that the kph/mph update is released early in the week (personally, and based on the s/ware developers where I used to work, I don't expect it till 5pm Friday). @Coume - no you didn't dream it ;-) Last I heard (Tuesday) its still on track for next week.

Same camera on the loan SE e-TEC I’m driving at the moment, and on my SEL FE still at the dealers - neither have the road sign recognition.

I’m sorry to hear that - so frustrating for you as I got the feeling you were looking forward to the VRS. Hope you find a suitable, enjoyable and satisfying vehicle very soon. All the best….

Yes, been quiet because we're in 'wait mode'; my car been at the dealers since 14th April. Meanwhile, I'm piling the mileage on the loan car too. I missed a call from Kate Laws yesterday but picked up her voicemail - basically, still on track for the update next week. Not sure of the full extent of the update, but 'miles per hour' mentioned in this call whilst a couple of weeks back also made reference to a number of other issues. My dealer is also expecting a second update in a further five weeks. Well said @golfnut. I feel Kate Laws has managed my expectations very well in a difficult situation over which she has limited (maybe no) control.

Absolutely. I had a voicemail from Skoda UK yesterday afternoon - still on track for a s/w release next week.

I wonder if the sensor is overly sensitive? Moving a hand to almost touch the light switches it on/off, but maybe it’s too sensitive to movement?

Yep, for the assist systems - but why don’t car manufacturers build in front & rear dashcams? Seems daft going to the bother of adding a USB-C port by the rear view mirror when they could just record from the one that’s there.

Thanks @Jim2015 - that’s really helpful and confirms that given my current driving pattern a hybrid is less than optimal (and I can’t get a company car so no BIK ☹️) . I’m so pleased for you that you’ve got a car that is delivering on the economy, performance, appearance etc. I’m loving the Octavia Estate, currently a loan 1.0 e-Tec whilst my 1.5TSi is at the dealers (mph/kph issue)

Certainly impressive mpg figures; I’m getting 55-60 from a 1.0 e-Tec DSG and that is mostly motorway driving (cruise control set at 70 - which means I’m the slowest car on the road!). I’m curious as to what an iV hybrid would do on a 400 mile motorway run. Not many of my journeys are short/local/urban and I guess my two miles to the motorway wouldn’t stress the iV battery.