I've had no problem with the heated screen on my Superb and I would be reluctant to take a car that didn't have one (or something equivalent). I can see an auxiliary heater being a good alternative as diesels seem to take a long time to start pushing heat in to the car interior. However would the UK market understand it? I guess it would also require a uprated electrics which is going to add expense?

Best regards

Electrics need to be uprated also for heated windscreen, you get stronger alternator and similar length of cabling for both, in fact Skoda actually save on wiring an extra switch in the cabin with factory aux electric heater install, and the price differential of std vs heated windscreen more than enough covers aux heater cost. The real difference from salesman's point of view is that you can see a heated windscreen while you cannot see an auxiliary heater.

But then VW just puts aux electrc heaters as standard in most if not every car in the UK, so I really see the complete lack of aux heaters on SUK cars as a petty downgrade option. It was similar with ESP/ESC 10 years ago, and same actually with heated windscreens of all things about 5-7 years ago .

Edited 10 February, 201313 yr by dieselV6

I still belive that those extra auxheaters (or whatever) are not very good when it starts to rain, and the temperature is just right and the rain turns to ice against the window......

As long as you turn airflow to windows, both normal car heating and aux heaters work just fine. I had Octy (non heated) windscreen ice up from time to time, usually not in rain but in freezing fog and driving at speed, all that was needed was to direct airflow to the windscreen ("demist").

Heated windscreen used to be a safer option than an auxiliary heater as the fire risk was lower, but fire risk pretty much went away with multi-tap PTC heaters. The current per section is not enough to cause fire e.g. on bad connection, and the heater element itself stops conducting whenever temperature rises.

Also, heated windscreen has one annoying issue that has not been mentioned so far, namely with light hitting it at certain angles you can see the heater matrix mesh which some people find very annoying, and at night the glare from headlamps of cars going towards you is noticeably worse compared to standard windscreen.

Anyway, I do not mind being able to choose one or the other option like it is e.g. on the Superb in Ireland, but if SUK must really choose the winter heating option for us, I would rather be able to select an auxiliary electric heater option than a heated windscreen.

Edited 10 February, 201313 yr by dieselV6

Auxiliary heaters are explained for you here

Re damage to windscreen, it depends how much and how fast you drive in winter. UK motorway (A1) alone this year was good for 2 more chips/cracks. Chips alone would not bother me, it's the fact that every time a chip appears, there is at least 5mm crack going through it, Auto glass companies do not want to fix these, they want to replace the lot every time. I resorted to filling the chips/crack with UV hardening resin, works wery well but does not look as good. Still, every couple years there's enough damage to have the whole windscreen replaced.

My Octavia's windscreen had 1 large chip after nearly 10 years and 130k miles. My Superb has had 2 windscreens replaced due to cracks going all the way through, and currently has 2 large chips+cracks, and 3-4 minor ones. This is over 7 years and 110k miles.

I would take aux electric air heater option over the heated windscreen option any day, just to get the standard windscreen and still be able to demist it quickly.

Agree about the windscreens........except it's not just those with heated screens!

I had no issues in 10 years of driving, then 1 crack repaired in the next 4 years; since owning the vRS, I've had a chip repaired and TWO windscreens replaced. That's in 2 and half years.

Spoke to the Autoglass chap, and he said they are making windscreens thinner and thinner all the time, so it's bound to happen.

Edited 10 February, 201313 yr by Herschel

As long as you turn airflow to windows, both normal car heating and aux heaters work just fine. I had Octy (non heated) windscreen ice up from time to time, usually not in rain but in freezing fog and driving at speed, all that was needed was to direct airflow to the windscreen ("demist").

Obviously you have different circumstances than we here. I still haven`t found a car that could keep the windscreen clean when it start to develope ice. No matter how you use the heating system. It`s just not realistic. And wipers also get ice and snow in wintertime, and the heated windscreen solves that problem also.

Where is "here"? I drive UK / Herts most days and across most Europe in winter, including Denmark, Sweden, and occassionally the Alps (next week).

Set heater to 22degC+, direct airflow only to windscreen only (if you're too warm) or windscreen and legs if 22degC is what you like (I prefer colder). Set fan to 60%-80% maximum and the windscreen is kept warm. In fairnes, automatic airco does not do a good job of it, neither Octy nor Superb did this on its own, especially if you set a sensible 18-20degC temp in the cabin.

There are problems with ice at very low temps on every car, last February I went across France, BeNeLux and Germany overnight at around -20deg C outside. The insides of rear headlamps would freeze up in the Mk1 Superb, resulting in novelty tail lamps. Condensation on rear window was also an issue but that's where rear demister helps. But windscreen was most definitely not a problem.

I should perhaps add that I have been driving without heated windscreen in Continental Europe winters for about 7 years/60k winter miles, prior to getting the car with a heated windscreen, and simply tried out various heater settings on the Octavia until I was happy with the result. Plenty of time on 15hr+ trips. Once you have warm cabin air heated by engine, you can direct 10x more heat to the windscreen than the electric windscreen can provide.

Electric aux heater is still 2x-3x more powerful than the heated windscreen.

Anyway, if you have this much problem with the windscreen that car's regular heating cannot possibly sort it out, despite being 10x-20x more powerful than the heater in the windscreen, what about side windows

Edited 11 February, 201313 yr by dieselV6

Fortunately we do not have really long* warm (compared to the outside temperature) tunnels in the UK,

Take 1 freezing vehicle with blower on full speed directed to the screen and the air con turned on (to keep the moisture out of the air as much as possible) do this 5 mins before you get to the tunnel, now enter the warm tunnel and straight away the windows steam up, not so with a heated screen.

Tried all the different combinations possible… including the night heater (auxiliary heater) turned on, granted this is in a truck so the windscreen is much larger than a car, but each time it resulted in the same outcome until the glass was warmed up enough by the outside air (warm to touch!).

* 5+ miles

Where is "here"? I drive UK / Herts most days and across most Europe in winter, including Denmark, Sweden, and occassionally the Alps (next week).

Set heater to 22degC+, direct airflow only to windscreen only (if you're too warm) or windscreen and legs if 22degC is what you like (I prefer colder). Set fan to 60%-80% maximum and the windscreen is kept warm. In fairnes, automatic airco does not do a good job of it, neither Octy nor Superb did this on its own, especially if you set a sensible 18-20degC temp in the cabin.

There are problems with ice at very low temps on every car, last February I went across France, BeNeLux and Germany overnight at around -20deg C outside. The insides of rear headlamps would freeze up in the Mk1 Superb, resulting in novelty tail lamps. Condensation on rear window was also an issue but that's where rear demister helps. But windscreen was most definitely not a problem.

I should perhaps add that I have been driving without heated windscreen in Continental Europe winters for about 7 years/60k winter miles, prior to getting the car with a heated windscreen, and simply tried out various heater settings on the Octavia until I was happy with the result. Plenty of time on 15hr+ trips. Once you have warm cabin air heated by engine, you can direct 10x more heat to the windscreen than the electric windscreen can provide.

Electric aux heater is still 2x-3x more powerful than the heated windscreen.

Anyway, if you have this much problem with the windscreen that car's regular heating cannot possibly sort it out, despite being 10x-20x more powerful than the heater in the windscreen, what about side windows

I live in Finland, and I`ve been driving here for about 20 years. And still, there are no cars that can keep the windscreen clear when the icing against the window starts . It doesn`t matter what you do.....

My previous car - 51 bottom of the range Mondeo - had a heated front screen as standard. It was brilliant: switch on, wait a minute or so then wipers on and drive off. A few areas had packed up over the years but it was still effective. I think it had heated nozzles as well. I don't see these items as luxuries in the same way as heated seats certainly are.

I live in Finland, and I`ve been driving here for about 20 years. And still, there are no cars that can keep the windscreen clear when the icing against the window starts . It doesn`t matter what you do.....

Well, then we are talking -35degC, and you have a choice of heaters and can still add the heated windscreen on top. The original post is more about SUK/ SIE desire to decide that heated windscreen is the best option for anyone living in the UK. I'd say the only reason they do that is to please ex-Ford customers.

As I stated earlier, I would not mind having a choice of heated windscreen vs aux electric heater, the problem is we have no choice here in the UK (and now in Ireland either, at least on Octy 3). Plus some people do not want heated seats as part of the (winter money making) package. Ditto for third rear headrest as part of £££ "safety" package (because thrid rear headrest makes car so much safer...how exactly?).

My previous car - 51 bottom of the range Mondeo - had a heated front screen as standard. It was brilliant: switch on, wait a minute or so then wipers on and drive off. A few areas had packed up over the years but it was still effective. I think it had heated nozzles as well. I don't see these items as luxuries in the same way as heated seats certainly are.

+1, but good luck explaining this to Skoda in the UK. I did try in 2002 with ESP/ESC on Mk1 Octy, I offered £500 which was double what I paid in the end in Ireland, but Skoda UK point blank refused, no doubt because at the time the VW UK was running large banner ads about how ESP/ESC is standard with every Golf. It is the same for aux heater now. I would not mind heated windscreen were it not for ease of cracking/chipping and increased glare at night (~half of my main car's mileage is at night).

Edited 11 February, 201313 yr by dieselV6

Well, then we are talking -35degC, and you have a choice of heaters and can still add the heated windscreen on top. The original post is more about SUK/ SIE desire to decide that heated windscreen is the best option for anyone living in the UK. I'd say the only reason they do that is to please ex-Ford customers.

No, we are not talking about -35 degrees, but let`s say between +1 - -5 degrees when it can still rain water and that turns directly into ice.....

If you cannot defrost the windscreen on a hot engine with stock heater at +1 -5 degC outside, even with rain freezing onto the windscreen, there must be still room for improvement with cabin heat setting, or the airflow positioning flaps are broken. Basic physics says so, 5kW+ heat is a lot, and the Skoda windscreens are not really that insulating .Heated windscreen is only 200W-500W depending on car. Even allowing for insulation that the windscreen offers, the ventilation system can still deliver more power to the outside windscreen surface than heated windscreen can. The only advantage heated windscreen has is that it heats the outer surface more uniformly without blasting the cabin with air, and also on a cold/partly warmed up engine (aux heater does this part as well as heated windscreen). But the price for uniform heating is lower durability and increased glare. Aux electric heater does not have these faults. You do not drive faster than 60mph in winter Finland, as far as I recall, so chips/cracks may not be as much of a problem, but surely you did notice glare problem at night as the winter nights are quite long?

In any case, if you really want heated windscreen on the next car you can just tick it on the options list in Finland. Once again, the original post is more about SUK/ SIE desire to decide that heated windscreen is the best option for anyone living in the UK. I'd say the only reason they do that is to please ex-Ford customers. I really do not want heated windscreen again (it's my best argument against a Mondeo now ), but I still need some preheat option. If I buy Octy 3 I probably will have to import it again just to get the aux heater.

Edited 11 February, 201313 yr by dieselV6

Heated windscreen rules !!!

its really strange, if you look at the literature for the UK it says the three items form a "Winter Pack"

But if you go into the 3D configurator it lists them as separate options, but you have to order all three!!!

I saw that when I was having a play earlier.

Its all a question of what will sell, and what will sell easier in the showroom environment.

The Skoda factory will supply whatever options/extras you like from the vast array of options available, however, Skoda UK are the ones that decide what options will be available in the UK, like they are the ones that decide what spec the S, SE, Elegance etc will be.

Skoda UK (probably/possibly) get a bulk rate on heated screens for example, or heated seats, so why not bundle it as a pack? For £430 against the cost of a new car circa £17000-£20000 then £430 becomes a very small number, admittedly, add that along with a few other options and you can easily add a couple of grand to the car.

Look at it this way, I can see the arguements from everyones point of view, the preheaters, the heated screen etc etc however, if I was sat in teh showroom with Mrs P and the salesman says to me 'Are you interested in the winter pack?' and Mrs P asks 'Whats that then?' and he replies 'heated seats, heated washer jets and touch a button and within a couple of minutes your windscreen is clear on a cold winter morning' Mrs P says 'Yes please', but if I am sat in the showroom with Mrs P and the salesman says' Are you interested in the winter pack?', and he then says 'its heated seats, heated washer jets, plus an engine and cabin preheater, which is set with a timer, or on the key fob or however its set' then Mrs P says 'that sounds like a fuss, no thanks', they have lost an extra £430 sale. Thats the way I see it pure and simple!

Its all about the amount that Skoda UK can say to the manufacturer that they can shift, the more they can shift, the better the price they will get, so I expect the winter pack option works out a good deal cheaper than a preheater for example, why do VW offer these things either as standard or as an option? Simple, because the VW brand has to be seen as being slightly more upmarket than the budget brand Skoda.

Dont get me wrong, I am not saying that Skoda UK get it right everytime as they dont, they do miss things out, i.e. the Blackline, Leather interior and no heated seats, if you look in the Mk2 forum, what is one of the most talked about things in the Blackline thread, no heated seats on a Leather interior! That proves the point that they dont get it right every time. But the vast majority of time they have to make choices and bearing in mind they target the lease, taxi, fleet market etc then I am sure the business model works well with the choices they have made! If Hertz are putting out a tender to Ford, Vauxhall, Skoda etc for a batch of 500 new cars, are they going to be that fussed about having lots as 'standard' that adds to the cost of the basic car? Skoda UK see that sort of business as potentially huge, so they have to try and get it right for the biggest market they can.

We see the right and wrong in whats available as standard on the cars available to us, but you start to look at whats available as standard on cars in other countries and I think we have a fairly good happy medium? Pretty sure that the Mk2 vRS in Ireland for example has a few extra toys as standard, yet I see mention of if being 25,000E or more if my memory serves me right? Would you pay what works out as £22,000 for a base model vRS when you consider that a base model Mk 2 vRS in this country starts at about £16,000 with discounts? So for an extra £6K is it really worth the few 'standard' extras?

For me, I think overall we dont get a bad deal on Skodas, they are a budget brand and generally overall in the UK offer value for money against similar cars.

Sorry, if I went a bit off topic but its just my views on how I see things??

Duff info!

No, Skoda does not put aux electric heater in the UK diesel Skodas, nor petrol ones for that matter, my Roomster arrived without one in May 2012. VW does put them in, and I am guessing this is the reason why SUK is not allowed... market differentiation and Skoda just has to be that one notch lower :(