Hi!
My Columbus audiosystem has been recently stolen from my 2010/11 Skoda Octavia L & K (by using universal key, so alarm didn't even turned on) and I am looking into (apart a hole in the dash) my options and as I see it, there are three solutions and I would be delighted, if I could hear your opinions, suggestions or experience in this field.

1. Buying used Columbus again
Probably the most ideal solution in terms of compatibility, stock looks and future sell-value of the car, but also the most expensive one. And as I found out, that you can't have **** in eastern Europe and how easy is to get into the car, I am not sure, if it's not only matter of time, when I'll be radio-less again. So, my question is, is there some way how to secure the lock, so it won't be so simply bypassed by universal key or any anti-theft solution for these cars?

2.Downgrading to Swing or Amundsen
Another logical solution would be to settle with lower-end of original hardware, as I am not keen on having big screen or built-in navigation (who is, anyway) and my car being so atractive to burglars is also big plus, but I am bit worried about proper works of equipment connected with the audio system, such as parking sensors, bluetooth connection with the phone (for hands-free) and aux inpunt in the armrest. I really don't like the idea to have two systems working independently at each other (bluetooth for example). Does anybody has an experince with those systems and how they handle functions mentioned above?

3. Aftermarket path
For me, the least desirable option. I am really not a huge fan of aftermarket systems mostly because of cheap and tasteless looking software and the worry of compatibility is same as in the Swing or Amundsen. So I would like to hear your experience with aftermarket systems, how they work, how they look and how are you satisfied?

Which of these three solutions would you suggest and why? Thanks for any answer and sorry for my English :)

I've not come across a universal key before but maybe just install a Bolero and hope that it's not considered to be too shiny for future thieves?

3 hours ago, john999boy said:

I've not come across a universal key before but maybe just install a Bolero and hope that it's not considered to be too shiny for future thieves?

I was really surprised how sure the police was about method of entry. He said that it's quite common. The burglars just need universal key from factory, spin 360° to the left and they are in in 2 seconds without any permanent damage on the lock. Better than broken window I guess. 
Bolero seems like it checks all my boxes, as you said, it probably isn't as tempting to thiefs. Problem is, because of that, they are really really not that many secondhand   

3 minutes ago, Remarkable_Fee said:

The burglars just need universal key from factory, spin 360° to the left and they are in in 2 seconds without any permanent damage on the lock.

 

If you have a factory fitted alarm, it should still go off if someone uses a key to unlock the car. I would hope it used the immobiliser chip to confirm it's a valid key for the car...

 

Relevant section from the owners manual:

 

Might be worth checking the alarm siren battery is still OK as it may be dead after 9 years. VCDS or similar should confirm this.

6 minutes ago, Remarkable_Fee said:

Problem is, because of that, they are really really not that many secondhand   

There's lots on the UK eBay site.

Isn’t “universal key” just a euphemism for a bloody big flat-blade screwdriver?

3 hours ago, langers2k said:

 

If you have a factory fitted alarm, it should still go off if someone uses a key to unlock the car. I would hope it used the immobiliser chip to confirm it's a valid key for the car...

 

Relevant section from the owners manual:

 

Might be worth checking the alarm siren battery is still OK as it may be dead after 9 years. VCDS or similar should confirm this.

Interesting, I do have factory fitted alarm. I had no idea about this feature. But I am pretty sure, my alarm works, it had woken up whole neighbourhood few week prior. Maybe the universal key works for ignition too, after all, why it shouldn't. 

2 hours ago, Pilotguy said:

Isn’t “universal key” just a euphemism for a bloody big flat-blade screwdriver?

Could be, but that would left some visible damage I suppose  And because I live in Czech rep. I wouldn't be surprised, if some universal key from factory "sliped out"

3 hours ago, john999boy said:

There's lots on the UK eBay site.

 Thing is, I from czech rep. and it seems, there was minimim octavias/superbs equiped with this system. And I wouldn't feel comfortible to have it shipped across Europe, the risk and price of shipping are just not worth it  But if I lean my hands on one of these, what are the differences between Columbus and Bolero? Only nav, or are there some other drawbacks?

51 minutes ago, Remarkable_Fee said:

I wouldn't feel comfortible to have it shipped across Europe,

I have bought a number of parts from sloda-parts.com who are in the Czech Republic and had no problems with shipping to the UYK, so you shouldn't have problems  having something shipped the other way.  You would also have eBay's protection - especially if you paid with PayPal.