'Specced up' included the spec in my signature and as I said it was still

I arrived back in UK on November 2nd and my new Octavia 2.0TDi, L&K Estate, DSG, curtain airbags, ESP and tyre monitors in Shara metallic was ready for me.

Now driven 1,000 miles and thought I would share my initial impressions:

Faultless on collection and has performed perfectly ever since, not a rattle, squeak or squeal!

Comfortable seats and great suspension (standard) - not to hard or soft - just right.

Leather seats (heated) are excellent with endless permutations to get just right.

Performance is great (but not tried yet as only done 1,000 miles). Engine is clearly "peaky" BUT - and this is the best part - the DSG gearbox is fantastic!! Tames any peakiness and is so smooth you can't tell it has changed gear. Spirited driving is superb with instant smooth changes, I have only used the manual feature a couple of times but that is equally impressive. Frankly I can't speak highly enough of the DSG gearbox - why would anyone have a manual (apart from cost that is!).

So far averaged 43 mpg - which is good as far as I can see.

Only concern (and dealer is investigating with Skoda) is that the auto light functions insists on switching on the lights almost all the time - even in sun.

I will post an update if anyone is interested.

I arrived back in UK on November 2nd and my new Octavia 2.0TDi' date=' L&K Estate, DSG, curtain airbags, ESP and tyre monitors in Shara metallic was ready for me.

Now driven 1,000 miles and thought I would share my initial impressions:

Faultless on collection and has performed perfectly ever since, not a rattle, squeak or squeal!

Comfortable seats and great suspension (standard) - not to hard or soft - just right.

Leather seats (heated) are excellent with endless permutations to get just right.

Performance is great (but not tried yet as only done 1,000 miles). Engine is clearly "peaky" BUT - and this is the best part - the DSG gearbox is fantastic!! Tames any peakiness and is so smooth you can't tell it has changed gear. Spirited driving is superb with instant smooth changes, I have only used the manual feature a couple of times but that is equally impressive. Frankly I can't speak highly enough of the DSG gearbox - why would anyone have a manual (apart from cost that is!).

So far averaged 43 mpg - which is good as far as I can see.

Only concern (and dealer is investigating with Skoda) is that the auto light functions insists on switching on the lights almost all the time - even in sun.

I will post an update if anyone is interested.[/quote']

Nice one mate sounds like a real nice motor. I've found mine pretty good too but have the same issue as you regarding the light sensor. My boss has the same problem on his A6.

Also, The boot release via the remote doesn't always work properly, there's a loud rubbing noise from the driver's window when you raise/lower it, a slight sqeak from the steering wheel and the offside wing mirror is very slow to demist in comparison with the nearside one. Trip to the dealer planned in December.

Get out and give that motor of yours a blast! VAG diesel engines like a bit of thrashing. My boss only went easy on his A6 for 100 miles or so before ramping it up towards full throttle and it's now bedded in nicely with about 6000 miles on it and average of 41mpg. From 500 miles onwards i've been giving my Octy the odd thrashing and it seems to benefit from it. I now have 1,000 miles on it and it drives smoother with better economy than ever before. I imagine it will improve further too. As you say the engine is peaky and it takes you by surprise at first but you learn to use it and as the engine beds in everything becomes a lot more predictable. It's bloody quick too.

I don't have the DSG which makes the 1st to 2nd gear change in the 2.0 TDi hard to master. To take off quickly you have to change into 2nd really early because if you hit 2nd at over 2000 rpm you get lots of wheelspin and it takes a second or so for ESP to sort it out, meanwhile your'e losing momentum. You get the same problem when changing from 2nd to 3rd in the wet. It would be very easy to get caught out without ESP.

Here's a secret I learned early on: BP Ultimate Diesel. Worth every penny.

Why do you think BP diesel is better than Supermarket diesel? Do you get better mileage (enough to compensate for the 3p difference) or is it also smoother and quieter?

Why do you think BP diesel is better than Supermarket diesel? Do you get better mileage (enough to compensate for the 3p difference) or is it also smoother and quieter?

Smoother & Quieter. I'll refserve judgement on the mileage for a while yet until the car is well run in but I suspect it's slightly better than with the standard BP. I don't use supermarket diesel at all.

Very happy with my L&K 2.TDI DSG, but its a hatch not an estate.

Agree with comments about tunnel lights, though on balance its a great idea. TO be honest, I just leave the lights switched on to tunnel all the time through summer. In early autumn, when the light was a bit variable, I went back to off, and since late autumn permanently on. The great thing is that it switches off.

Windscreen wipers are good fun too - though my wife hates the car making its own decisions!

Don't like the fog lights control - where i can only put the rear fogs on AFTER the front fogs.

Pick up from stationary is a bit hesitant, but it very soon shifts itself. Just that first second when you think "Oh dear, that car is going to hit me", then "whooooosh" and you're OK. Generally a very capable car for overtaking.

The supplied badges are naff. The L&K on the door sill does not even have the proper black plastic protector under it to set it off.

According to my dealer, and to my insurance company, it is merely an upspecced elegance. BE VERY WARY - when my dealer was trying to find the car for me, he found a lot of so called L&K models ordered which did not have their full complement of extras as set out in the brochure. That is because when ordering, the dealer has to choose elegance, and then manually add on all of the bits that make it an L&K. Now there is a recipe for disaster!

Now done 7500 miles, and averaged 43.07 mpg. I distrust the computer in the car - it reckons I am doing 50 mpg on my trips to and from work, and it reckons I have averaged 47 over the last 2500 miles. But careful measurement of the actual fuel and miles recorded since new shows it started at 40 mpg., and increased to 45, but this cold weather really hits hte consuimption down to 43 again. BUT, I'd like to be able to check the miles recorded as well. It seems to be 0.3 miles further to work in the skoda than in my old Honda Accord. I need a satnav which shows actual mileage and speed.

To answer a previous question by Expatman - yes each key gets tagged to one of three available slots. Then when the key holder plips the key, and opens the door, the seats and the mirrors move to their setting.

To answer a previous question by Expatman - yes each key gets tagged to one of three available slots. Then when the key holder plips the key' date=' and opens the door, the seats and the mirrors move to their setting.[/quote']

Ver nice, very tasteful

Here's a secret I learned early on: BP Ultimate Diesel. Worth every penny.

These ‘Ultimate’ style fuels are very expensive and I have never really noticed any performance benefit from the Diesel ones. I did own a couple of Impreza Turbos around 1994 and Super-Unleaded was not only mandatory, but did make a bit of a difference (you should have tried to find the stuff up in the Scottish highlands in those days, panic doesn’t even begin to explain…..I only used to get around 20 mpg if I was being silly!) I agree with johnny c that at least with my SEAT TDi, it seemed quieter and perhaps a bit smoother, but my mpg seemed pretty similar. What’s the general opinion of these ‘advanced’ fuels guys? Should I feed my new baby on it when he arrives next year?:orb_chips

Here's a secret I learned early on: BP Ultimate Diesel. Worth every penny.

These

Please tell me your 'new baby' is a car!

All 1

Slight change of tack - what controls do the L&K electric seats have? Can you adjust the front and rear of the flat bit you sit on up and down independently, or does it just move up and down as a unit, as with the manual version? I presume there's manual lumbar support adjustment? (My old BMW 7-series even had electric control of the headrests' height, but that was a bit OTT...)

Slight change of tack - what controls do the L&K electric seats have? Can you adjust the front and rear of the flat bit you sit on up and down independently, or does it just move up and down as a unit, as with the manual version? I presume there's manual lumbar support adjustment? (My old BMW 7-series even had electric control of the headrests' height, but that was a bit OTT...)

Full adjustment i blelieive. uses about 6 motors

Is the BP Ultimate diesel the diesel I get when I fill up at any BP station - or do I have to look for a special pump at BP stations for Ultimate diesel?

I have so far used diesel from Sainsburys and car seems to be going fine! Or am I missing something in the way of smoothness and quiet???

Ultimate is on a separate nozzle and probably not available at all the pumps. I find it makes the car a bit quieter and smoother than the standard BP stuff. I've never used Sainsbury's stuff in this car so couldn't comment on that.

I have filled up twice with BP Ultimate but at 6p per litre more than regular diesel I will need a 10% improvement in mileage to cover the higher price. I am not sure if the car is quieter and smoother with the Ultimate diesel - guess I will give it another 2 fill-ups than unless my mileage betters I will go back to regular and see if I notice any increase in noise etc.

Anyone else believe BP Ultimate provides a noticeable improvement?

I arrived back in UK on November 2nd and my new Octavia 2.0TDi' date=' L&K Estate, DSG, curtain airbags, ESP and tyre monitors in Shara metallic was ready for me.

Now driven 1,000 miles and thought I would share my initial impressions:

Faultless on collection and has performed perfectly ever since, not a rattle, squeak or squeal!

Comfortable seats and great suspension (standard) - not to hard or soft - just right.

Leather seats (heated) are excellent with endless permutations to get just right.

Performance is great (but not tried yet as only done 1,000 miles). Engine is clearly "peaky" BUT - and this is the best part - the DSG gearbox is fantastic!! Tames any peakiness and is so smooth you can't tell it has changed gear. Spirited driving is superb with instant smooth changes, I have only used the manual feature a couple of times but that is equally impressive. Frankly I can't speak highly enough of the DSG gearbox - why would anyone have a manual (apart from cost that is!).

So far averaged 43 mpg - which is good as far as I can see.

Only concern (and dealer is investigating with Skoda) is that the auto light functions insists on switching on the lights almost all the time - even in sun.

I will post an update if anyone is interested.[/quote']

Just collected my 1.9 L&K estate yesterday and already had a 100 mile round trip for work today, average consumption was 54 mpg (you can't really thrash anything on the M8 in the morning ) . The light assist thing is puzzling me too - seems to have the headlights on all the time. Had a bit of trouble programming the come home function too as the manual has obviously been translated poorly from Czech a that point and isn't exaclty easy to follow - or maybe it's just me being stupid!

Just collected my 1.9 L&K estate yesterday and already had a 100 mile round trip for work today, average consumption was 54 mpg (you can't really thrash anything on the M8 in the morning ) . The light assist thing is puzzling me too - seems to have the headlights on all the time. Had a bit of trouble programming the come home function too as the manual has obviously been translated poorly from Czech a that point and isn't exaclty easy to follow - or maybe it's just me being stupid!

Congrats on the new motor

Light assist is a bit strange. Sometimes lights are on in broad daylight and other times it's overcast and they stay off. If your headlights are on any time the engine is running regardless of the position of the light switch then the car hasn't been set up properly for UK use at PDI stage. The light assist settings are accessed through maxidot. Hold down the up or down buttons until the menu comes up then select setup and then lights.

The light assist is basically useless because, as you say, sometimes in bright sunshine the lights are on then on a dim day they are off! But why? I had 4 cars in the USA all with automatic lights and they all worked perfectly. On a normal day they would be off and at dusk they would come on, if you went through a tunnel they would come on after 35-45 seconds, a time delay that was built in to prevent them coming on when you drove through shady lanes etc.

I believe the problem is that Skoda set the light parameter to be "nanny" fail safe on(having got back to the UK from USA it is clear that UK is now such a nanny state that I wonder anyone can go to the toilet without a social worker to w*** our a**** for us - what the hell happenned here in the last 12 years??) Anyway I don't want to let this go because I know that automatic lights can work so will haunt my dealer and Skoda until they at least admit light assist doesn't work. Evil, but I am retired so these little plots keep me alive!!

The light assist is basically useless because' date=' as you say, sometimes in bright sunshine the lights are on then on a dim day they are off! But why? I had 4 cars in the USA all with automatic lights and they all worked perfectly. On a normal day they would be off and at dusk they would come on, if you went through a tunnel they would come on after 35-45 seconds, a time delay that was built in to prevent them coming on when you drove through shady lanes etc.

I believe the problem is that Skoda set the light parameter to be "nanny" fail safe on(having got back to the UK from USA it is clear that UK is now such a nanny state that I wonder anyone can go to the toilet without a social worker to w*** our a**** for us - what the hell happenned here in the last 12 years??) Anyway I don't want to let this go because I know that automatic lights can work so will haunt my dealer and Skoda until they at least admit light assist doesn't work. Evil, but I am retired so these little plots keep me alive!![/quote']

Just out of interest, what was the word you blanked out beginning with w? I think I worked out the other word myself but that w word is baffling me. And worrying me too

wipe

thought it was probably ipe - just glad it wasn't ank or I'd be emigrating!

Congrats on the new motor

Light assist is a bit strange. Sometimes lights are on in broad daylight and other times it's overcast and they stay off. If your headlights are on any time the engine is running regardless of the position of the light switch then the car hasn't been set up properly for UK use at PDI stage. The light assist settings are accessed through maxidot. Hold down the up or down buttons until the menu comes up then select setup and then lights.

I actually think I read in the manual (it was a skim read!) that they come on when you go over a certain speed, kind of like the set up on Volvos ever since the late 70s.

Just noticed one major pain with the new Octy as compared with the old one, the central mini sun visor that used to block the glare coming between the two main ones has gone. this was a brilliant and simple idea that worked so well....and skoda have binned it! DOH!

I guess we all need something to complain about - with me it's light assist, or rather light unassist!

Basically I have nothing but praise for my new Octy L&K, frugal diesel consumption, good performance, wonderful DSG box, comfortable seats and compliant ride; it's also got all the toys. Not a rattle or squeak and it all seems so ...solid!

Diesel consumption since new started at 42.5 mpg but that has crept up to 43.6 as the mileage increases (now 1,300). In first 1,000 miles it used approx 0.25 litres of oil, I was expecting higher initial oil consumption.

Oh yes, one more thing - the rear windscreen washer jet misses the screen. Can't seem to get it right with a bent pin either.

I actually think I read in the manual (it was a skim read!) that they come on when you go over a certain speed' date=' kind of like the set up on Volvos ever since the late 70s.

[/quote']

Yeah, the headlights also come on if you do 90mph or more for something like 2 minutes.

I guess we all need something to complain about - with me it's light assist' date=' or rather light unassist!

Basically I have nothing but praise for my new Octy L&K, frugal diesel consumption, good performance, wonderful DSG box, comfortable seats and compliant ride; it's also got all the toys. Not a rattle or squeak and it all seems so ...solid!

Diesel consumption since new started at 42.5 mpg but that has crept up to 43.6 as the mileage increases (now 1,300). In first 1,000 miles it used approx 0.25 litres of oil, I was expecting higher initial oil consumption.

Oh yes, one more thing - the rear windscreen washer jet misses the screen. Can't seem to get it right with a bent pin either.[/quote']

I've got 1,500 miles on now. I'm averaging 43 mpg with about 70% town driving. I don't appear to have used any oil but then that dipstick is hard to read. I've been pretty hard on the right foot TBH since about 500 miles with no apparent ill effects. Good to compare notes.