Hi All,

 

Having just placed an order for a factory build SE-L model with 2.0tdi and DSG, I'm mulling over the options I've not picked and having second thoughts!

 

I've had a good read over the forum, but to be honest I think I've confused myself more than got an answer, so I am hoping one of you kind folk can help.

 

I understand that some of the 'options' on cars now can simply be turned on and off via software, but I also understand that others are more dependant on hardware to enable.  We've added a few bits to the car, but in particular I'm now looking at some of the driver safety stuff, like lane assist and acc that I didn't spec.  From my understanding I can add to my SE-L the 'Travel Pack' this comes with ACC and some front cameras for things like lane assist and sign recognition.  With this added hardware can I then, via VCDS, turn on the 'High Beam Assist', and is there anything else it enables me to turn on!

 

I also think I am right in thinking that without the hardware, the 'Blind Spot Assist' and 'Park Assist' aren't turn-on-able?  Out of interest does anyone know the minimum hardware to enable such a feature?

 

Many thanks in advance.

Iain

I am not really much of an expert on the adding stuff to the car.

What I can say to you,I ordered an style with Lane assist,side assist,front assist,High Beam Assist... pretty much everything except Traffic Sign Recognition with the thought that I would simply code it using OBD 11 after receiving the car. The option of TSR would have cost 80eur extra.

My car is a MJ 21 with MIB 3 and after delivery I learned that I can only activate TSR using swaps which essentially means hacking of the main unit(and a lot more money) hope I don't say anything stupid here.

Considering that MIB 3 and MJ21 are coming with different A5 cameras then the other Kodiaq's (Normal cars have either a 5Q or 3Q HW camera, the MJ will have a 2Q camera= > therefore not a lot of people would have experience in codding stuff)

If I wore you I would consider to add to the order all the stuff that you would really like on the car and be done with it. 

Yep MY21 cars are more locked down than before, requiring SWaP codes as @Iasmin90 here has mentioned.

We have had a software/coding problem with our car and the dealer told us that Škoda have made it a lot harder for anything on it to be recoded on their cars. 
The dealer could not do it on our car and had to get the main Škoda technical department in head office to sort out the coding problem with our car. 
Just be sure that what you want done can be done after you have the car delivered

Hi, thanks everyone, some really useful comments there.

I wasn't aware how much more complex the systems had got, I'll be doing some research on the MIB's stuff and restrictions, always good to know about it.

Personally on my Audi platform it was always relatively easy to use VCDS to re-code modules to get additional features and functions, my A8 was fairly fully loaded but with a few VCDS tricks I found I could turn on a few other bits, which was a pleasant surprise.  Never even looked at what we could do on the Ford Kuga as we both knew we'd never be keeping it!

In regards to the Škoda the wife isn't too fussed about High Beam assist, so I think we'll just stick with the Travel Pack, this gets me the lane assist, acc and sign recognition.  If I find later I can add the High Beam then it will be a bonus, if not it's not a major issue.

Right, time to get the updates passed to the dealer, then wait the 12 weeks we've been quoted before it turns up!  That's the tough part!

On 17/12/2020 at 13:52, Iainwil said:

I also think I am right in thinking that without the hardware, the 'Blind Spot Assist' and 'Park Assist' aren't turn-on-able?  Out of interest does anyone know the minimum hardware to enable such a feature?

 

 

That's right - extra hardware needed. Two rear radars for blind spot assist (plus wiring, and additions to the wing mirrors). For Park Assist, you'll need four extra parking sensors (if you've already got front and rear sensors) and I think maybe a different control unit. Kufatec do retrofit kits for about 6-7 hundred euro for each of these features, but far better to just spec them if you think you'll want them. I'm also not sure if these retrofit kits work on MY21 cars. For what it's worth, I haven't yet heard anyone say that Park Assist was genuinely useful. 

25 minutes ago, Teir said:

 

... For what it's worth, I haven't yet heard anyone say that Park Assist was genuinely useful. 

 

I can vouch for this in a A6 and the A8 neither did/do a particularly good job by the time it had decided it could park itself I could have done it in half the time!

+1 on the park assist, very novel but used it about 3 times on a Superb I had. I can do a much quicker job with mirrors, reverse camera and sensors (front and rear on the SEL), though it might be handy having the extra side sensors - but expensive.

 

Hope you enjoy your Kodiaq after the long wait.

9 hours ago, Teir said:

 

For what it's worth, I haven't yet heard anyone say that Park Assist was genuinely useful. 

8 hours ago, Iainwil said:

 

I can vouch for this in a A6 and the A8 neither did/do a particularly good job by the time it had decided it could park itself I could have done it in half the time!

 

1: It was the 1st option that I picked, I wouldn't have bought a car without it. There are some brands where park assist is a pain to use ( ford and Volvo being two ) but there's noway you can parallel park a car faster than park assist on a modern Skoda.  And it works 1st time which is never the case with manually parking the car. I hardly ever use it for bay parking as that can sometimes take longer, but for parallel parking? I use it everytime and I'm a confindent parker. It's so easy and relaxing to to use.

 

2: regarding car settings - just look at the ODB11 webpage. Under the coding / programming section for the Kodiaq it reads " The programming temporarily is not supported on models that are manufactured from 2020 and have SFD protection. The negotiation regarding the support of these models is in progress. "

Edited 18 December, 20205 yr by Guest

41 minutes ago, Scot5 said:

there's noway you can parallel park a car faster than park assist on a modern Skoda

With the dynamic guidelines and the tilting passenger side mirror it’s pretty easy to ‘beat’ Park Assist in my experience? The only times I’ve used Park Assist is on a busy main street with a very tight park, otherwise I’m faster just about every time. 

ACC is definitely worth the cash. Haven’t used Park assist, it’s fitted but quicker doing it myself. Might be more useful at night  though. 

12 hours ago, ZacDaMan72 said:

With the dynamic guidelines and the tilting passenger side mirror it’s pretty easy to ‘beat’ Park Assist in my experience? The only times I’ve used Park Assist is on a busy main street with a very tight park, otherwise I’m faster just about every time. 

 

How can you BEAT park assist? You've just said that you're looking at a screen ( you still have to turn a steering wheel to judge using those lines ) and then looking at mirrors and making judgements too. I do none of that, I drive past a free space, select reverse and that's it. I don't have to make any judgements, the car just drives itself into that space and does so 1st time, everytime.

 

I'm not saying it's quicker ( tho it often is ), but what I am saying is that unless they're this guy then I can't see how anyone can park the car faster. 

 

There are systems on the market where you have to delve in to menus and settings and it's defo cumbersome, but with the VW Group's latest offering, you simply press a button when you're looking for a space. It's so easy it's untrue. I think it's more people's fear than anything that turns them off park assist. 

Edited 19 December, 20205 yr by Guest

By doing the same job faster...clearly if I thought Park Assist did the job faster than me then I would be using it. I can just pull up to a parking space, flick it in reverse and twirl the steering wheel and be done within 10 seconds - not that hard is it? 

+1^^
 

It lines up on the other vehicles so it can and will kerb your alloys if you are not careful, but it will get you into a small space that you may not attempt yourselves, - but quicker - not from my experience. You can’t drive too quick, have to go past the space till it’s ready (at this point the people behind are covering the space) etc....

 

It may be for you and it’s very novel, but in my humble opinion it’s not something extra I’d pay for again.

 

ACC on the other hand is, but not everyone likes that.

30 minutes ago, ZacDaMan72 said:

By doing the same job faster...clearly if I thought Park Assist did the job faster than me then I would be using it. I can just pull up to a parking space, flick it in reverse and twirl the steering wheel and be done within 10 seconds - not that hard is it? 

 

Yet you still don't say how you can do it faster?

 

Clearly if I thought manually parking was faster I'd be using it.

 

I too can just pull up to a parking space, flick it in reverse and the system twirls the steering wheel and can be done within 10 secs.  Not that hard? No...  but it's harder and takes more effort than having the car turn the steering wheel for me. And I can guarantee you don't get it right first time everytime. And given that about 80% ( if not more ) of the alloys I see on cars are scuffed, people have a higher opinion of their abilities that is actually the case.

42 minutes ago, Greenliner1 said:

+1^^
 

It lines up on the other vehicles so it can and will kerb your alloys if you are not careful, but it will get you into a small space that you may not attempt yourselves, - but quicker - not from my experience. You can’t drive too quick, have to go past the space till it’s ready (at this point the people behind are covering the space) etc....

 

It may be for you and it’s very novel, but in my humble opinion it’s not something extra I’d pay for again.

 

ACC on the other hand is, but not everyone likes that.

 

   ha ha ha....   What do you mean you can't drive too quick?  What speed do you drive at when driving alongside a parking space?  I think you may be kidding yourself on that one.

 

And you're so wrong about it lining up with other cars. Assist means you have two extra sensors on the side of the vehicle which detect obstructions. So even if you park manually when there are no other cars around, you'll see on the infotainment system and hear the bleeper when the car gets too close to the kerb. By the way, that's something you don't get if you haven't specified Park Assist. So even if you drive your car manually, it's worth having.

 

If people don't like Park Assist that's fair enough, but it sounds like folk have convinced themselves the system isn't good and they're just making up stories to justify it. The fact is that it's no slower than parking the car yourself. And as I keep saying, people can't park the car 1st time everytime. Park Assist can.

Edited 19 December, 20205 yr by Guest

You say we've convinced ourselves that we find Park Assist to not be good, yet you're convinced that literally nobody can park their car right the first time? Oh, the irony.

Max speed with park assist 25mph when looking for space, not when maneuvering, and yes, I had it on a superb and realize (as I said) it had side sensors, and no, they don’t always pick up the kerb, all to do with the drivers skill levels and comfort zone  I suppose? If you like it use it, each to his own.

Edited 19 December, 20205 yr by Greenliner1
Clarification

Thanks everyone for the comments.

We’ve opted to forgo the parking system, neither of us were particular keen on that, but we’ve added the travel pack, family pack and apparently I needed to add the heated two spoke steering wheel, so there are all on...

Right, now time to put away the brochure and stop looking at options!! 

@Iainwil Sounds great, some nice options, you’ll have to give us your thoughts when you get it.

6 hours ago, ZacDaMan72 said:

You say we've convinced ourselves that we find Park Assist to not be good, yet you're convinced that literally nobody can park their car right the first time? Oh, the irony.

 

You know fine well you've sometimes had to pull out of the manouver and start again because you've misjudged the angle at which you've reversed. We all do it, we've all be distracted by something or other.

 

But you still haven't explained how driving past a parking space in both cars, engaging reverse in both cars and then using the accelerator to park in both cars is somehow quicker in a car without park assist

 

Please tell us how this is possible.

 

6 hours ago, Greenliner1 said:

Max speed with park assist 25mph when looking for space, not when maneuvering, and yes, I had it on a superb and realize (as I said) it had side sensors, and no, they don’t always pick up the kerb, all to do with the drivers skill levels and comfort zone  I suppose? If you like it use it, each to his own.

 

' Max speed with PA 25mph when looking for a space, not when manouvering '.  That could be interpreted as it's faster to reverse into a space without park assist.  Was that your intention? You manouver at the same speed whether you have park assist or not.

 

Don't know anything about Superbs but the sensors on my Kodiaq picks up kerbs and objects. ( Why bring up a Superb on a Kodiaq thread? ).   

 

Couldn't agree with you more that it's each to their own, but people shouldn't be puting forward false and misleading information simply to further their own belief. It's physically impossible for Park Assist on the Kodiaq to be any slower because apart from turning the steering wheel Park Assist is not doing anything different from how you park a car manually. And the system does not just use front and rear sensors, it has two extra sensors per side.

 

All I ask is for people to be accurate with their replies.

 

 

 

     

Sure. Once out of 50 times I'll have to reverse and readjust, however I've never had to pull out and completely start again in my ownership of multiple Kodiaqs. The speed depends on the driver, I'm a fast parker. It's not hard when you have all the cameras in the world to get the job done quickly.

 

Plus, since when did the side sensors actually pick up kerbs? Not once I've had the car detect a kerb.

On 19/12/2020 at 19:56, Greenliner1 said:

@Iainwil Sounds great, some nice options, you’ll have to give us your thoughts when you get it.

I most certainly will...