23 hours ago, scr64 said:

 

Just out of interest, I don't want to use my phone in the cradle so I unclipped it. Could not find the little blanking plate for the hole  which my old PID equiped car had. Phoned the dealer who said they don't come with one any longer. Am I being spun a line? Did you get one?

 

I don't think that you are actually being spun a whole load of S H One T, scr64, I've just checked my car), & I can categoricallycallycally (if there is such a word, & if there isn't, then there damn well ought to be) state that the latest non PID models don't have the blanking plate as were fitted on the PID-equipped models - there's a USB (my God aren't I getting technical?) Port, but the only thing that covers up the USB Port & everything that dwells within it, is the new & weird, bird-eating-spider-lookalike cradle for a Smart Phone.   When you remove the cradle (as you can't ideally use a sat nav mounting with this new version of the cradle sitting there emptily smirking at you) you simply expose the USB Port & the 1/2 dozen differently shaped holes that the new cradle would latch into.

So, it's either have this new nouveau-art Cradle permanently mounted on the Dash, or remove it (as I have done & stuck it in the glove box) & expose a few little holes for the world to see. 

  

And to MillyS, don't allow yourself to have your dis "gruntled" by not opting for certain (quite costly) extras.   If you went for the SE-L version, then there's very little (& I mean "little") lacking on the 2018 versions - it's a cracking little car even in its' "standard specification" mode.   All one can wonder/worry about is whether they will finish up with a 3-instrument Binnacle, or the implied bit-down-market single instrument.    Either way, one only throws an occasional casual glance at the rev counter, so they're not indispensable - nice to have from an ascetic point of view, but not essential - Ye Gods it was many years after I started to own cars that I first possessed a car with a rev counter (1968 ish, if I remember correctly, my 1st MG Midget), & did I miss not having one before - well one never misses what one never has.  One yearns, but there's hardly a hole left in ones' life.   Just enjoy your new little Tonka Toy, whether it comes with a 3-instrument or just the new style - if it's now simply waiting for transport from the factory to Emden, then you should be burning up the roads round where you live within a couple of weeks at most.  Perhaps 2 days from Bratislava to Emden: 3 days on "Das Boote": a couple of days max to the Stealership, + another couple for PDC checks, & then delivered into your eager, sticky little hands. 

To MillyS,  Forgot to mention, as this seems to be your first Citigo.    One thing that you (& all other Citigo owners) do need, is Wind Deflectors - I found that HEKO fits the bill admirably, as when it's raining (something that is a way of life in the British Isles) rain collects on the roof, & if one opens the window, the accumulated rain floods into the car as you go round the fist corner - OK if you actually enjoy a cold shower when fully dressed, but not so great for those who don't.   HEKO (a Polish Company, I think) were fast & efficient, and the Deflectors fitted on swiftly & effortlessly.

 

Enjoy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

Mine is an ASG SE L so the three dial binnacle is just aesthetics for me. I've only ever driven old bangers so I've never had a rev counter aside from in my driving instructor's car. 

 

Thanks for the tip on the wind deflectors. The dealers didn't have a delivery date so I've been working on 3-4 weeks based on what I've read around. If it's two weeks I'll be a very happy woman.

1 hour ago, MillyS said:

I've only ever driven old bangers .

 

My daughter has an 08 Micra. Looks pristine. The difference in the driving experience between that and a new city car is huge, in terms of noise, ride, insulation, comfort. And the Citigo is the best one out there. You will love it!

Our order is for the ASG SE L too. We're just waiting for Skoda to tell us whether we can have a trip computer or not.

 

My wife. currently has an SE L on a 16 plate and one of her favourite features this winter has been the heated seats for some reason.

My partner has a '17 Audi A4 with all sorts of fancy bits (company car) but he's jealous that I'll have heated seats 

 

My only worry about moving to a new car are the brakes. It's been a few years since I've driven because I used to live in a city. I'm having refresher lessons in an i10 and I'm surprised at how quickly the brakes go from nothing to emergency stop.

5 hours ago, MillyS said:

Mine is an ASG SE L so the three dial binnacle is just aesthetics for me. I've only ever driven old bangers so I've never had a rev counter aside from in my driving instructor's car. 

 

 

 

Most of us, MillyS, & despite all our possible protestations, spent the bulk of our lives in driving old bangers - in fact I was so accustomed to "old bangers" that I even married one.

And let me assure you, the heated seats on the SE-L is the main reason that I went for one again.  If I had settled for a SE, then Heated Seats (I think the Winter Pack) would have definitely been on my bucket list - they're absolutely great whenever there's a slight nip in the air.    There's not all that much difference between an SE loaded with extras  & a SE-L - either way, all the models are extremely good.

 

Just enjoy what you're about to receive, & as far as the brakes go, running smackbang into the back of the car in front, not only slows you down just as fast, but also saves wear & tear on your brakes. 

And HEKO make wind deflectors specifically  tailored to fit both 3 & 5 door models - the ones for the 3 door are a tad more expensive, as they're a little longer.

Day 9 of 'Binnacle Gate'.

 

Rung Skoda UK and the dealer this morning and they still don't know if we can have a trip computer installed in the SE L that's on order.

 

Apparently a message has been sent to the factory but as yet no reply.

They’re just waiting & waiting while the days pass by then tell you no, your too late now!

☺️☺️

Really hope not Ronn or I'll be making an official complaint to Skoda.

I dared to ask the dealer about the binnacle out of curiosity more than anything. He was bewildered by the online configurator. He's had two come in this week without the maxi dot display option. They both had 3-instrument binnacles with a white on black display. As far as he is aware, that's how my SE-L should be and only the entry level model will have the single speedo. He did add the caveat that they hadn't ordered an entry level model in a long time so he wasn't 100% sure that it had a single-instrument but he was quite certain about the SE and SE L models.

 

He emailed me later to say he'd mentioned it to the boss who said it definitely hasn't changed. Skoda update dealerships on any and all changes to the cars. It's just a question of finding a dealer who actually reads the updates and remembers to pass the information on.

 

I'm inclined to believe them as I've seen the manager with clients and he is a walking, talking configurator. Perhaps it's a glitch in the configurator which has been left there to make us more grateful for what we get?

That's some reassurance if we can't have the trip computer,thanks.

 

Our dealership doesn't seem very proacticve, although I do believe they have emailed the factory.

 

Edited 13 March, 20188 yr by RickW
Additional information

The SE L is the column third in from the left and clearly shows the trip computer as an option.

Wow, RickW, that's really some breakdown that you were given: on neither of the 2 Citigo's that I've bought, was I ever presented with anything so comprehensive - I feel most "left out". 

 

And this "is it 3, or is it a 1 instrument-binnacle" issue, has really been bugging me: bugging me to the extent that I actually configured various models (even a Monte Carlo) and on all the photographs of the interior, it shows just a one-instrument Binnacle.

Then I bent my mind to a possible explanation (& came up with a likely solution that only a "bent" mind could suggest).     If the Configurator is designed with perhaps even-cheaper "Eastern European" markets mainly in mind, then perhaps these Buyers are only too pleased to put their little Donnies on a cracking little modern car, & the lack of a Rev Counter doesn't matter a damn to them - on the basis of what you never have, you never miss.   True, the photos all show a RHD model, & that theory wouldn't perhaps stand up.

But if Mr Skoda is using some "cheapskate" design studio (& paying them as few Korunas as he can get away with), then the very cheapest way of showing both LHD & RHD models in a Brochure, & rather than to take 2 expensive separate photos, is to simply take a photo of a LHD car, & then to reverse it for a RHD model.      Could that be the answer, & German, Brit & other western European countries who like a few "bells & whistles" on their cars, will continue to receive a 3-instrument Binnacle & Counties like Romania, Bulgaria, Russia, etc etc do without?

Could (just "could") explain why Skoda Stealers in UK (apart from being generally ignorant of the products they are selling to motorists, & also thoroughly idle to Boot) have no knowledge of the great 3 -instrument Binnacle controversy? 

Just a thought.....................

Maybe, just maybe, one Skoda dealer somewhere reads these forums?

 

I certainly would if I sold Skoda's to learn from customers where I might be going wrong.

 

Day 10 of 'Binnacle Gate'. 

 

Wonder if anyone has read our request at the factory in Bratislava and is scratching their head now?

 

The order manager has asked the binnacle manager if we can have a trip computer on the SE L asg who has now asked the binnacle fitter if it's possible and will it have the new binnacle or an old style binnacle from the binnacle stores. They are all staring at binnacle pictures on the configurator and in the brochure looking puzzled.

Edited 14 March, 20188 yr by RickW

1 hour ago, RickW said:

Maybe, just maybe, one Skoda dealer somewhere reads these forums?

 

I certainly would if I sold Skoda's to learn from customers where I might be going wrong.

 

Day 10 of 'Binnacle Gate'. 

 

Wonder if anyone has read our request at the factory in Bratislava and is scratching their head now?

 

The order manager has asked the binnacle manager if we can have a trip computer on the SE L asg who has now asked the binnacle fitter if it's possible and will it have the new binnacle or an old style binnacle from the binnacle stores. They are all staring at binnacle pictures on the configurator and in the brochure looking puzzled.

I don't think that any of the Skoda Stealers read Briskoda, RickW - if you don't want to know what customers really think about you, then don't read any of their comments, as what you don't know, can't possibly hurt you - at least until customers start voting with their feet, & drive the Dealership into bankruptcy!

Your latest comment just goes to show that by-and-large, the Stealerships have an abysmal knowledge of what they're trying to persuade customers to buy - or perhaps they're simply hoping that the customers will move up to a Fabia, & give them just a tad more of their money.    Although (as I mentioned previously) I could have had a Fabia for less than what I shelled out for on the Citigo, but I wanted a TOTR Citigo, as I happen to rate them very highly - anyway, & as certain car journalists have pointed out, there's as much "people" space in the front of a Citigo as there is in a Fabia - just more Boot space with a Fab.  I want the people space, but the Citigo Boot is more than adequate for our needs.

I reckon that it mainly depends of who's calling the shots at Skoda Bratislava - Mr Skoda (+ Mrs Skoda & all the little Skoda's) or the omnipotent VW?   If it's VW then we haven't a hope in Holle - we'll get what they decide, & if we don't like it, then "zah"!    (I knew that those many years spent with BAOR would come in handy)  .

 

But please do keep us all posted on the eventual results of "Binnacle Gate".

Just had My Citigo in for its first service at Johnsons/Lawries,there was 4 brand new Citigos outside straight off the transporter (colour editions and SEL ) and ALL had the 3 dial set up.

1 hour ago, leckman said:

Just had My Citigo in for its first service at Johnsons/Lawries,there was 4 brand new Citigos outside straight off the transporter (colour editions and SEL ) and ALL had the 3 dial set up.

Most comforting to know, leckman, and in view of this, I must stand by my previous guess, & simply hope that UK/Western European buyers will continue to have the 3-instrument Binnacle, & the single, tatty, down-market one instrument may just be aimed at the more basic Eastern European markets.

Either way, it is certainly comforting to assume that us "Brit" buyers will/may continue to receive a more-fashionable Binnacle, & the single instrument may be restricted to just the entry model Citigo in UK, & possibly more "nearer-home" markets to Bratislava - although  I read somewhere that it was in fact, the Skoda Octavia that was the most popular vehicle of choice in CzechLand & also some of the surrounding countries.  I was somewhat surprised, as I had idly thought that, given the general lower incomes in that neck of the woods,  the Citigo would be hugely popular.   We live & learn!

Thanks for the reassurance leckman. I wonder if they had trip computers fitted?

 

Day 16 of 'Binnacle Gate'.

 

No call from the dealer to say whether we can have our trip computer added to the order or not.

 

I'll be ringing Skoda UK tomorrow and being more forceful about getting an answer one way or the other.

 

I feel like ringing the factory direct if it were possible.

Christ, how much more of this must we endure. It's plainly obvious now that there is no plan to "downgrade" to the lower spec speedo only instrument cluster on the higher spec cars.

Hi Miller,I honestly don't believe it is plainly obvious,that's why this thread is enduring.

 

Until Skoda UK give a definitive answer I'll persist,it's in my nature.

20 hours ago, RickW said:

Hi Miller,I honestly don't believe it is plainly obvious,that's why this thread is enduring.

 

Until Skoda UK give a definitive answer I'll persist,it's in my nature.

 

Good for you, RickW, until there's a definitive answer from Skoda, there's obviously only going to be concerned  "guesstimates"  from buyers who don't seem to be as convinced as Miller 73, that it's all merely rumour & speculation.

 

If (& mainly aimed at  Miller 73) there wasn't these continual nagging doubts, then just why would all the photos of the Citigo interior on Skoda's very own configuration webpage show just a single-instrument Binnacle on all models?     These individual photos cost money, even if not very much in the greater scheme of things, & why on earth would Skoda commission them if they weren't applicable in some circumstances?

There's something "smelly" out there, & it's not just the socks that I left under the drivers' seat - & if all this speculation  really is anathema to you, then simply don't log in & read what's been written by concerned  potential buyers.  

No-one else seems to be getting so uptight about  the possibility of what they may, or may not get in return for their hard-earned money, & they're perfectly entitled to express their concerns & worries without risking  being covered in S H One T & derision.. 

Skoda have certainly invested "some" money in acquiring a redesigned Binnacle, & if there was (as there had to have been) expenditure involved, I doubt that it was a decision taken lightly.   If you have 'em, then you've gotta use them - the question that we're all asking, is exactly where & when & on what.

 

Morning fellow binnaclegaters, just picked up the new toy. Three instrument cluster as promised by the dealer. Chuffed to bits with the new car. Just need to get it home in one piece now. 

3 hours ago, MillyS said:

Morning fellow binnaclegaters, just picked up the new toy. Three instrument cluster as promised by the dealer. Chuffed to bits with the new car. Just need to get it home in one piece now.