I've used the driving mode on my previous Octavia, a 2013 1.6 diesel engined car and once set, the driving mode stayed exactly as I set it. Current car is now a 2019 Octavia 1.5 petrol engined car and once again I set the driving mode when I got it, this time to Eco, to try to squeeze more mpg out of it if at all possible!

 

My question is this, following my cars recent trip to the dealers for the software update for the 1.5 engine, I noticed that the driving mode defaults to normal after every journey. Car is back at dealership just now as it's not been running too well since the software update. When I asked them about this, I was told that this is normal behaviour and that you need to set the driving mode for every single journey. Can this be correct for the current cars? It certainly wasn't for the 2013 car, which I left in Sports mode most of the time and there it stayed until the end of my time with it. Pretty sure that the new car was staying in Eco before the update too but fuel economy is definitely worse than it was before and the car feels a bit flatter too, part of the reason that its back at the dealership right now.

Edited 10 October, 20196 yr by AllanDJ

My 66 plate vrs stays it whatever mode you last had it in.

 

It does however reset the traction control setting every time, which is a bit annoying.

Thanks for that Alex, that's how I thought that it should and did work before this software update!

I would call up the dealer and ask them to reset it to your original using VCDS (which, if they're good, they should do for free).  Otherwise, I'm sure one of the nice VCDS folks on here would oblige.

 

9 hours ago, AllanDJ said:

fuel economy is definitely worse than it was before and the car feels a bit flatter too

The classic result of VAG emissions software updates ruining the original feel of the car. If it's yours and you're keen on getting economy, I would 100% promote getting it remapped for economy (since this will increase torque and fuel economy, whilst likely maintaining emissions rules).

7 minutes ago, Ads230 said:

I would call up the dealer and ask them to reset it to your original using VCDS (which, if they're good, they should do for free).  Otherwise, I'm sure one of the nice VCDS folks on here would oblige.

 

The classic result of VAG emissions software updates ruining the original feel of the car. If it's yours and you're keen on getting economy, I would 100% promote getting it remapped for economy (since this will increase torque and fuel economy, whilst likely maintaining emissions rules).

 

I would certainly think about this option if I were keeping the car longterm but as this car is on PCH, so I don't think they'd be too keen on me remapping it! Pretty daft situation to be left in really, the car was running very well before the software update apart from being a bit rough in first gear at low speeds, everything else was good, it really feels quite different now and not in a good way either. Garage said that Skoda would not be interested in any adverse changes in fuel economy/ performance as long as it was performing within its normal range; which is bound to be a very wide range indeed. The only thing they put on the job card this time around was about the car cutting out one evening last week, one minute engine working and car moving, next engine having a nap and car coasting, no warning lights and not stalled either. Whatever Skoda might state, this software update changes a lot more than just the cars drivability at low speeds, I asked if they could reverse the update but sadly not.

It appears to be a bit of a lottery as to whether or not you get a car that remembers your mode settings (leaving it whatever mode you put it in for next time you start up).  

 

I asked my dealer to reset it so that I didn't have to reset my mode selection EVERY time I start the car up and they told me it couldn't be done.  When I said that I found this hard to believe (especially since I had examples of others with essentially identical models that did remember the mode) the service bloke I was talking to asked me if I was accusing him of lying - this alone was enough to make me this about going to a different dealer (or even a different brand) next time!  I enquired of Skoda UK and was told the same and I was given no satisfactory reason why my car appeared to be different to so many others in this respect. 

 

See this thread to see my tale of woe on this:

 

4 minutes ago, jonjc said:

this alone was enough to make me this about going to a different dealer (or even a different brand) next time! 

 

It's a consumers market out there, if your not happy with your current dealer or brand overall then jump ship.

Plenty of other manufacturers/dealers would love to have your business!

As a further point to that, you would likely have to change brands out with VAG as in my experiences you'll most likely find veedub or Audi (can't comment on Seat as haven't had one) not one bit better than Skoda for customer service and reliability. 

Customer service is down to individual franchises. garages or even just people.

I think it's unfair to judge a brand as a whole.   The brand/product may be at fault also, but to change marques based on a single person's unhelpful nature is somewhat extreme.

 

My local dealers (richmond - used to be sparshatts) have always been awful in my experience, from previous visits there to look at cars to customer service on my parent's car that they bought there.

 

In contrast, I bought mine from a garage within Winchester Motor Company and had to return to one of the dealers.  They were excellent for both the sales side and the after support.

I have a 2019 Superb and it definitely always reverts to N from E after the ignition is turned off and back on; which means I have to press the Mode button multiple times every time I get in the car This is a rather annoying aspect of an otherwise great car. It should stay in Eco mode and it's hard to believe that Skoda could not make a minor modification to correct this if they wished to. Also the car reverts to engine cut off at idle when the engine is turned off and on - again it should remain in the mode it was set to

What do you do when the brand backs up their franchise dealer or are plain and simple unhelpful? Which was my experience with Audi, HA and their partnered VW garage along the road (I am far from alone in this view up my way, as HA are not well regarded)...

Audi only took an interest months after I had sold the car when they were "investigating" other customers complaints (what the **** was the point then). 

To simplify my point, the same uninterested customer service both manufacturer and dealers seems to exist throughout the VAGroup, the overall impression I get is they already think they are doing enough. Don't get me wrong, it hasn't put me off too much as I have continued to shop in the VAGroup for the last 12 years and 4 of my cars as overall I like the product. 

Jonjc: mentioned jumping to other brands, I mearly suggested that if looking for drasticly different service he may need to shop outwith VAG to see much difference that's all. 

The problem with the motortrade is the massive difference between good and bad, it's a simple as that. A dealer or manufacturer is only as good as their last performance. When they seem consistently poor you tend to assume that's the rule and not an exception. 

 

P. S. 

Just for the record I am definitely not trying to descend this thread in to a chaotic argument, which seems to happen often on briskoda when folk are discussing things. 

 

Edited 11 October, 20196 yr by Gmac983

I've written quite a lot on here about the benefits of using independent manufacturer-specific tuners (i.e. VAG) even if you don't have or want a tuned car. This is of course with the caveat that many on PCP / HP will have to abide by the contract and get it serviced at approved garages.

I realise that I am definitely in the minority, however, fully owning my car without issues with PCP or dealership contracts.

But the experiences I've had with most independent specialists has more than justified the (often minimal) additional cost in terms of knowledge, customer service, advice, and general service excellence. 

OP - is this car a DSG? 
 

In all of the VAG MQB cars I have owned/driven, the mode stays the same.
 

The only difference is on my two current cars, a MY19 Leon and MY19 A3, both of which are DSG; whilst the drive mode remains the same after switching the vehicle off, the DSG reverts to ‘D’ on start-up. So if Eco/Individual, Cupra/Sport/Dynamic etc is selected, when you switch off the car, the DSG reverts to D. In Eco/Individual, you have to reselect that mode, but all other modes, just flick the DSG box into sport mode.

1 hour ago, Black_Sheep said:

OP - is this car a DSG? 
 

In all of the VAG MQB cars I have owned/driven, the mode stays the same.
 

The only difference is on my two current cars, a MY19 Leon and MY19 A3, both of which are DSG; whilst the drive mode remains the same after switching the vehicle off, the DSG reverts to ‘D’ on start-up. So if Eco/Individual, Cupra/Sport/Dynamic etc is selected, when you switch off the car, the DSG reverts to D. In Eco/Individual, you have to reselect that mode, but all other modes, just flick the DSG box into sport mode.

This ^

 

DSG's always reverts to normal for the gearbox & throttle sensitivity on both my last O3's

 

People get confused on this issue by manual gearboxes or the mode selection screen, only if you look at the MFD will you see the gearbox mode the car is in.

2 minutes ago, themanwithnoaim said:

This ^

 

DSG's always reverts to normal for the gearbox & throttle sensitivity on both my last O3's

 

People get confused on this issue by manual gearboxes or the mode selection screen, only if you look at the MFD will you see the gearbox mode the car is in.

MFD - how very last generation Tony ;-)

Digital dash is the future... have you not retrofitted yet?

On 12/10/2019 at 22:32, Black_Sheep said:

MFD - how very last generation Tony 😉

Digital dash is the future... have you not retrofitted yet?

Like **** have I

 

New car in September, really CBA with all that retro fitting, I've seen the **** @SashaGrace has been through, that ain't me & it don't make it go any faster

Edited 14 October, 20196 yr by themanwithnoaim