Hi guys, wonder if anyone can help on this please?

Been searching everywhere for my first car and after tons of groundwork I decided on SKODA.

In particular a new SKODA Fabia colours 1.2. Got my heart set on this now.

Unfortunately though in carrying out my groundwork I've also discovered a major theft issue.

It seems that VW group cars are a prime target for inbuilt Satnav theft and I wanted inbuilt.

Anyway, after more research I decided that I will go ahead with the car order, but without Satnav.

Buy a separate one and reduce the risk of my car being broken into.

Another concern of this though is that the media unit looks very similar to the Satnav anyway...

I'm wondering if I'm still likely to be broken into despite not having an inbuilt Satnav?

I'm thinking the criminals probably won't know until breaking in.

What's anyone's thoughts and experiences with this please?

When you google the issue thefts are absolutely rife for these units. They are too easy to get out.

Seen vids where they have been taken within 26 seconds

The units being stolen are the RNS510 from the mk2 Octavia era.

 

The mk3 Fabia unit is completely different, and almost useless to any thief as the encryption has not yet been broken. 

Also, the mk3 unit is different in that the screen and computer are separate. The screen in your dash is simply that. The actual brains behind it are in the glovebox.

 

The RNS510/Columbus units are all in one, and are only held in with 4 screws, so are very easy for a their to take and resell.

Edited 21 June, 20169 yr by softscoop

Oh really, that's something i failed to spot during my research.

Fantastic news, so I'd be safe with the Amundsen then.

As another question, anyone know if they are worth it. Do you get speed camera notifications like a tomtom?

I'm not sure if it's worth the £500 if you have a recent Android phone or an iPhone 5 onwards, as the standard SE up has SmartLink. I've not used CarPlay, but Google Maps through Andriod Auto is fantastic. In use it all the time, as it adjusts the route to avoid delays on the fly. Quite a few times now it's popped up messages saying that it's changing the route to avoid traffic.

 

The advantage the Amundsen would have though is that you get directions in the Maxi-Dot, and of course you don't need to plug your phone in and use up data, and it also has European mapping IIRC.

I'm not sure if it's worth the £500 if you have a recent Android phone or an iPhone 5 onwards, as the standard SE up has SmartLink. I've not used CarPlay, but Google Maps through Andriod Auto is fantastic. In use it all the time, as it adjusts the route to avoid delays on the fly. Quite a few times now it's popped up messages saying that it's changing the route to avoid traffic.

The advantage the Amundsen would have though is that you get directions in the Maxi-Dot, and of course you don't need to plug your phone in and use up data, and it also has European mapping IIRC.

I can confirm CarPlay is awesome to use, though it's widely known Apple Maps isn't on par with Google Maps (serves my needs, mind).

CarPlay just got updated by Apple last week. The update will come out in a few months time, but it includes support for the maps to be displays on the screen in front of you. Weather this will work with the Fabia and if it will also require a update by Skoda, not just to the iPhone, I'm not sure.

Unfortunately, unlike with tech companies, car companies can take years to implement stuff. Example being Apple released a update to CarPlay to allow it to work wirelessly instead of wired (through Bluetooth) a year ago, but there is yet to be any manufacturer to implement it (as far as I'm aware).

But yeah, if your happy using your phone SatNav don't bother paying the extra.

That's good to hear- my mum's planning to get a new Superb at the end of her current one's lease, and she'll probably go for an iPhone next as Microsoft seem to have abandoned Windows Phone (which she and I both like a lot). 

 

It is so frustrating the way that car companies take a lot longer to update stuff (Tesla excepted). I think though this is due to the long lead times in quality testing. Any hardware required is in a much harder environment than your phone, and is expected to work for much, much, longer than your phone too. Most phones barely make it through the 2 year contract, but cars should last 15 years easily. It's not as simple as just dropping in an updated Bluetooth dongle!

 

Also- I'm not sure if it's on iOS, but Here Maps on Android (and Windows Phone) is great if you're somewhere without signal. I downloaded Tennessee for my recent trip to the States so that I wouldn't chew through expensive data, and it's got good turn-by-turn directions. It's not as good as Google Maps, but it's pretty damn close, and being able to download whole countries at home over WiFi makes it much easier when travelling abroad, or off into the wilds beyond the reach of 3G/4G data coverage!

Great info guys, thank you. Especially regarding the theft issue. I was worried about that

Once an MIB unit (the module in the glovebox) is removed from the original car it's basically a brick when fitted to another car.

Component protection does exactly as it suggests and makes it difficult for even a dealer to pair a second hand unit.

I think the updates are now for the life of the car, so if you keep it, should still be updated (at least in theory)

To the OP:- are you sure that it is not the plug in to the dashboard top Garmin things that SEAT used to supply that are getting nicked from cars?

I've chosen to continue down the "buy a TomTom" route as we only tend to be out in serious traffic or away from home with one car at a time. Plus use it driving hire cars in Europe.

To the OP:- are you sure that it is not the plug in to the dashboard top Garmin things that SEAT used to supply that are getting nicked from cars?

I've chosen to continue down the "buy a TomTom" route as we only tend to be out in serious traffic or away from home with one car at a time. Plus use it driving hire cars in Europe.

Yeah I'm sure, you only have to google it to be greeted with endless pages to forums etc.

Also my local news put out a warning only the other day, this follows a previous warning a few years ago.

It's been absolutely rife

This is what i was referring to

http://m.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/14566770.Surge_in__sat_nav__thefts_from_Volkswagen_group_vehicles_provokes_police_warning/

Seems on my part "ignorance is bliss" - thanks for that link!   I just hope these cons know their stuff and don't waste time on my cars!!