Well, on Tuesday I hope to collect a nearly new White VRS TSI DSG, only spec in addition to usual was the Canton sound system and tow bar prep.

 

I had a bit of a tight budget and couldn't wait 20+ weeks for a car so went for this one.

 

The good;

 

Well the 2.0 TSI engine is a peach, having come from 2 x VW Golf MK5 GTI's in the past amongst others (one was an ED30), I have to say the engine has come on tenfold in that time, largely helped of course by the 258flbts of torque! Build quality has also improved massively, or certainly has on the car I'm collecting.

 

The car feels planted, makes some lovely noises when in sport mode and to be honest, I just felt safe which I haven't in some previous cars when giving them the beans if you get my drift?

 

Mega comfy seats with a huge amount of space in the boot and in the back which I find odd considering this isn't a massive car from the outside, in fact it seems to have more space inside that my mates new BMW5 series and another mates Audi A6.

 

I suppose this car give me the feeling that it could last 100's of 1000's of miles, which can't be said from others I have had which include Volvo's, BMW's, Merc's and some VW's!!

 

The not so good/concerns;

 

I needed cruise which it hasn't got, however it's good to see this is coming as an accessory option. I also need sat nav which it doesn't have, however again this is coming as a very costly upgrade for now albeit in time, I'm hoping this will come down in price?

 

For the time being, I'll need to use either a tom tom or my iPhone although not experienced either and not sure how they'll rate compared to an integrated unit, thoughts on this guys?

 

Lastly, Skoda always seem to be near the top when it comes to reliability, however I have read a few horror stories on here recently with people rejecting cars due to issues with either build quality of electrical/mechanical. Am I being unfair in worrying as most seem over the moon with their cars?

 

I've had several test drives just to be sure on this one and every time I just wanted to drive further, and this one only has 2k miles on the clock, still feels new and goes like you wouldn't believe whilst feeling rock solid and able to take anything the world throws at it.

 

Will post some pictures in due course and just wanted to say hi,.....

 

 

Well, on Tuesday I hope to collect a nearly new White VRS TSI DSG, only spec in addition to usual was the Canton sound system and tow bar prep.

I had a bit of a tight budget and couldn't wait 20+ weeks for a car so went for this one.

The good;

Well the 2.0 TSI engine is a peach, having come from 2 x VW Golf MK5 GTI's in the past amongst others (one was an ED30), I have to say the engine has come on tenfold in that time, largely helped of course by the 258flbts of torque! Build quality has also improved massively, or certainly has on the car I'm collecting.

The car feels planted, makes some lovely noises when in sport mode and to be honest, I just felt safe which I haven't in some previous cars when giving them the beans if you get my drift?

Mega comfy seats with a huge amount of space in the boot and in the back which I find odd considering this isn't a massive car from the outside, in fact it seems to have more space inside that my mates new BMW5 series and another mates Audi A6.

I suppose this car give me the feeling that it could last 100's of 1000's of miles, which can't be said from others I have had which include Volvo's, BMW's, Merc's and some VW's!!

The not so good/concerns;

I needed cruise which it hasn't got, however it's good to see this is coming as an accessory option. I also need sat nav which it doesn't have, however again this is coming as a very costly upgrade for now albeit in time, I'm hoping this will come down in price?

For the time being, I'll need to use either a tom tom or my iPhone although not experienced either and not sure how they'll rate compared to an integrated unit, thoughts on this guys?

Lastly, Skoda always seem to be near the top when it comes to reliability, however I have read a few horror stories on here recently with people rejecting cars due to issues with either build quality of electrical/mechanical. Am I being unfair in worrying as most seem over the moon with their cars?

I've had several test drives just to be sure on this one and every time I just wanted to drive further, and this one only has 2k miles on the clock, still feels new and goes like you wouldn't believe whilst feeling rock solid and able to take anything the world throws at it.

Will post some pictures in due course and just wanted to say hi,.....

Don't worry about the build quality - no issues whatsoever with mine and I'm a bit pedantic with my cars - if you do get any issues the warranty will cover you in most cases. Just make sure dealer has re-coded the car properly post towbar prep as a few people on here have had some issues with integration with rear parking sensors. Enjoy!

I prefer my Co-pilot sat nav on my phone to built in.At least you can set it up out of the car Its free updates for life inc speed cams. I can use it when abroad in a hire car. It comes top in the pay app tables.

Obviously not the same as a built in one but I just use the Google maps app on my iPhone and it's brilliant.

I wouldn't be worried, you have driven the actual vehicle and are happy, that's one thing you don't get when you order a new one !

What are you doing about sat nav ? Only according to my dealer a retrofit can be arranged, I don't know details but apparently it can be done. Ok its more than speccing it as an option, but if the car is available and just needs that option for you ... 

I wouldn't be worried, you have driven the actual vehicle and are happy, that's one thing you don't get when you order a new one !

What are you doing about sat nav ? Only according to my dealer a retrofit can be arranged, I don't know details but apparently it can be done. Ok its more than speccing it as an option, but if the car is available and just needs that option for you ... 

The retrofit is available although I think I'll be lucky to get change out of a grand which isn't good,...might have to wait for the price to come down although some other have post don here about using their iPhones and either google maps or col pilot which are working well, all I'd then need is a decent iPhone 5 holder?

 

I don't mind paying about £500, however at the moment it just seems the retrofit is going to cost too mush,...

I prefer my Co-pilot sat nav on my phone to built in.At least you can set it up out of the car Its free updates for life inc speed cams. I can use it when abroad in a hire car. It comes top in the pay app tables.

How has co pilot been for you, is it accurate and does it re route okay?

 

For the time being, I'll need to use either a tom tom or my iPhone although not experienced either and not sure how they'll rate compared to an integrated unit, thoughts on this guys?

 

 

I use tomtom on an iPhone 5 and pay the £23 per year for live HD traffic, which is brilliant. Apparently Vodafone tracks the movement of its mobile phone users on the roads and tomtom uses that data to identify traffic problems enabling the app to reroute you. 

The downside of using a mobile phone satnav app is the need for an ugly mount on the windscreen or dashboard and the charger cable running to the 12v outlet.

Had it several years on a few phones,easy move over ( just remember passwords etc). I got the Europe version and have used it in Spain, Italy, Portugal and Tenerife. UK also obviously. You can use it to plan routes same as full sat nav.Just remember it takes up phone space.So only put on the countries you need at the time.wouldn't buy a full sat nav after this.

Forgot the main question, Yes it re routes instantly

In terms of satnav I guess it depends on how reliant you are on the device. I have recently purchased Garmin Nuvi 2598 LMT-D. I have been a TomTom user since 2006 and have owned 3 of their high end devices.

When comparing the two, the TomTom is more intuitive to use (although this

may change once I have used the Garmin a little more). However the fact that it has free european maps, digital traffic and camera updates for life were a big factor in swapping allegiance. Price wise I paid 170 quid with free travel kit case.

I have the satnav built-in on the Seat - similar to Amsden I think. I've found it easy to use and integration with the dash display (maxi dot) to allow you to toggle other functions on the main screen is excellent.

In terms of the mobile apps I quite like Google maps with traffic overlay - although this is data heavy and saps battery power. Use this more as confirmatory device when traffic is bad across Europe I.e. most Friday afternoons.

Edited 9 March, 201412 yr by Black_Sheep

I use a tom tom that we have had for a few years - we have a mount that clips into the air vents and we plug it into the usb socket under the radio. Quite happy with it - warns of speed cameras and later models have traffic problem warnings  -it only cost a round £100 so good value for money.

The retrofit is available although I think I'll be lucky to get change out of a grand which isn't good,...might have to wait for the price to come down although some other have post don here about using their iPhones and either google maps or col pilot which are working well, all I'd then need is a decent iPhone 5 holder?

 

I don't mind paying about £500, however at the moment it just seems the retrofit is going to cost too mush,...

 

Yes, I was quoted £750, which is more than the cost when you spec on a build (£550 I think for the amundsen), but I am happy to pay that as I got a nice deal on the car and I prefer not having something stuck to my window

I'm a fan of built-in satnav, just for the convenience and integration with the ICE, but I'd recommend Waze for anyone trying to run satnav on a phone. It's probably the best out there.

 

Caveat, I've only ever used it in densely populated areas, not sure how good the info would be in more remote parts.

Yes, I was quoted £750, which is more than the cost when you spec on a build (£550 I think for the amundsen), but I am happy to pay that as I got a nice deal on the car and I prefer not having something stuck to my window

So you've been quote £750 to take the Balero up to Columbus or do you mean £750 to go to Amundsen,...

 

I think the Columbus is the 7inch screen,...that's the one I'd want and if it were going for £750 and you've had it done, point me to your dealer please :-)

I doubt its Columbus, not sure what they are doing tbh, but I know that I'll get the fully integrated system I presumed Amundsen.

That is what I spec'd with my original order (but I jumped the que by snagging a car the dealer had got in unsold), as I didn't see the Columbus as being worth the extra for me. 

 

I will try and find out some more, because from reading up the satnav cars have a little shark fin aerial, obviously the ones not supplied with satnav from factory don't .....

I think there's an addon module being offered abroad that you have to press an hold one of the standard buttons (car?) and it then switches over to sat nav which is perhaps what is going to be offered.

 

I wish I'd actually realised the difference between columbus and admundsen when I specc'd my car as I'd have spent the extra money.  When I looked at the manuals it looked like it was just DVD playback and a larger screen.

 

However I failed to take into account the manual for the Admundsen is just full of lies.

It might be worth a look at the Kenwood system that's designed for vag cars. I believe it works with the factory steering wheel controls, parking sensors and so on.

I think there's an addon module being offered abroad that you have to press an hold one of the standard buttons (car?) and it then switches over to sat nav which is perhaps what is going to be offered.

 

Do you have a link please ?

 

EDIT* NM I believe this is what you are referring too gullyg:  http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/287980-3rd-party-navigation-add-on-for-octavia-3/