I am a high mileage driver on the verge of ordering an Octavia L&K DSG diesel (bit close to B&Q that name). I know its very brown; I had to do the test drive without the family because I know what the reaction would have been - lets have a VRS. I'm not keen because I would prefer gadgets over extra power and I suspect my company may not want anything so overtly sporty.

 

The L&K comes with an electrically adjustable seat with proper lumber support which my now fairly creaky back yearns. Pluses are the spec which has stuff that I could only dream of if I were ordering a Golf and that boot which is brilliant.

 

The Golf has a couple of annoying omissions and lack of spec which I want to check out with the Octavia;

 

1) When you put the ignition key to a position where the 12V socket is live (for charging phones etc whilst working in the car), do the headlights come on. Could this be programmed around? This drains the battery surprisingly quickly, yet I need to charge my phone whilst tethering to allow me internet access from a laptop. I know that there would be ways around this with wifi spots and sticks, but my company is paying the (large) data bills so I am happy to do it their way. Just need to power the phone and pref the laptop.

 

2) Has anyone got the active cruise with dsg? Does the car come to a complete stop if there is a queue on the motorway? The Golf would - I really like this feature so would re-consider my decision if VAG have short changed Octavia drivers. (if this sounds a bit weird to you, I drive for approx 6 hours per day and often get into queues)

 

3) I notice that in some territories a "mains" plug is available to charge laptops for example. Has anyone fitted one to a mark 3 in the UK? I know its easy to fit with generic aftermarket kits, but I wondered about the availability of Skoda UK fittings in the rear of the centre console so it looks original. 

 

Your comments/suggestions appreciated.

Can't help with 2 and 3 but regarding 1,i believe the 12v sockets in the octavia are permanently live, regardless of whether the ignition is on.

12v sockets definitely live with ignition off. Why don't other manufacturers do this.

Do the sockets stay live 'forever' or is there a shutdown coinciding with a power saving mode?

Re 2) Yes it does. But it will start beeping and ask you to press the brake after 5 seconds of not moving

and the ACC is wonderful in slow moving traffic

1)  If you do need the ignition in position 2 then so long as the light switch isn't set to auto, sidelights or dipped beam then only the DRLs will be on.

 

2)  Really?  you can't brake yourself to a stop you would buy a more expensive/lower spec car just to do that for you?  come on.

 

3) Mains is available but only about 150w which may be too low for a laptop.  Get a 500w aftermarket jobbie from halfrauds which uses the 12v aux socket.

2)  Really?  you can't brake yourself to a stop you would buy a more expensive/lower spec car just to do that for you?  come on.

 

3) Mains is available but only about 150w which may be too low for a laptop.  Get a 500w aftermarket jobbie from halfrauds which uses the 12v aux socket.

 

2.) After test driving the system it's a hard thing to let go. (I was amazed how well the system performed on my test drive...drove about an hour without using the pedals at all.) Makes driving in traffic so much more comfortable. Definitely one of the reasons I ordered the ACC for mine. 

 

3.) It has to be one hefty laptop if the charger is more than 150W...even the heftiest MagSafe power supply from Apple is 85W.

Can't help with the acc and 12v questions but i've gone from a fully loaded mk5 edn 30 DSG to a high spec vrs tsi dsg equvalent. (Due feb 15) i regard it as a golf with a big boot. The vrs will actually be a slightly higher spec apart from my old car had a sunroof but i don't like the external look on the vrs. You won't feel shortchanged imo.

I also looked at the l&k. Had it been available in a 220ps version, i'd buy it. I even like the 80's style brown interior but then i do own 2 mk3 escorts lol.

But i wanted power and luxuries so a vrs with £5k of extras it is! I even like the sound generator which divides opinions on here.

Yes, a vrs will be worth less than a golf secondhand but its have the car you want not what it might be worth in the future. I don't think you'll go far wrong with the octavia.

Edited 12 December, 201411 yr by Bindinbear

6 hours per day in a car and you're not opting for the vRS?

 

Masochist....

Thanks for all the replies - now defo going for the Skoda. Bit of a laugh that Skoda have the accessory socket sorted and their parent VW doesn't. Sheldon, I knew my preference for radar control would split opinion and I totally accept that it may not be for you. But you have to understand that I don't get paid for my driving (I get paid for the consultancy I do at the end of the journey), so I am often driving whilst everyone else is either still in bed or sat in front of the One Show; anything that reduces the load on me is a positive. Within 5 years we will all be having a sleep whilst the car drives - that's the progress of technology.

by the way does the L&K come with independent suspension? as I've heard quite a few complaints on the forum about the beam suspension being a bit hard, when compared to the VRS spec cars

6 hours per day in a car and you're not opting for the vRS?

 

Masochist....

 

I'd say it might be the other way around. I'd prefer the softer suspension for extended trips...the sporty suspension on the RS feels (at leas to me) a little too stiff for cruising.

 

by the way does the L&K come with independent suspension? as I've heard quite a few complaints on the forum about the beam suspension being a bit hard, when compared to the VRS spec cars

It's dependent on the engine and or 4x4 system.

 

Beam suspension: 1.2 TSI, 1.4 TSI, 1.6 TDI, 2.0 TDI

 

Independent suspension: 1.4 TSI CNG, 1.8 TSI, 1.6 TDI 4x4, 2.0 TDI 4x4

Edited 12 December, 201411 yr by kallekilponen

I am a high mileage driver on the verge of ordering an Octavia L&K DSG diesel (bit close to B&Q that name). I know its very brown; I had to do the test drive without the family because I know what the reaction would have been - lets have a VRS. I'm not keen because I would prefer gadgets over extra power and I suspect my company may not want anything so overtly sporty.

 

The L&K comes with an electrically adjustable seat with proper lumber support which my now fairly creaky back yearns. Pluses are the spec which has stuff that I could only dream of if I were ordering a Golf and that boot which is brilliant.

 

The Golf has a couple of annoying omissions and lack of spec which I want to check out with the Octavia;

 

1) When you put the ignition key to a position where the 12V socket is live (for charging phones etc whilst working in the car), do the headlights come on. Could this be programmed around? This drains the battery surprisingly quickly, yet I need to charge my phone whilst tethering to allow me internet access from a laptop. I know that there would be ways around this with wifi spots and sticks, but my company is paying the (large) data bills so I am happy to do it their way. Just need to power the phone and pref the laptop.

 

2) Has anyone got the active cruise with dsg? Does the car come to a complete stop if there is a queue on the motorway? The Golf would - I really like this feature so would re-consider my decision if VAG have short changed Octavia drivers. (if this sounds a bit weird to you, I drive for approx 6 hours per day and often get into queues)

 

3) I notice that in some territories a "mains" plug is available to charge laptops for example. Has anyone fitted one to a mark 3 in the UK? I know its easy to fit with generic aftermarket kits, but I wondered about the availability of Skoda UK fittings in the rear of the centre console so it looks original. 

 

Your comments/suggestions appreciated.

 

 

As a GTi driver I would expect the Active cruise to be the same

 

The Cigy socket is normally live at all times in a Skoda but can be switched to 'Ignition on' only live simply by moving the fuse supply  -can not find the post at the moment but the cigy socket can be live always or ignition 'On' only simply by moving the fuse to the up or down position - search the GTi forums??

 

Re the Mains simply issue - not available as an option in the UK and the Cigy socket is only rated at 10 amps so using a mains alternator unit is limited to 120watts or the fuse is likely to blow - more powerful units  have to be direct connect to the battery.