Having had 4 Skodas over the last 20 years I thought the new Octavia would be yet another excellent car. How wrong I was!
There are so many annoying things surrounding the use of the new infocenter and with the car software that doesn't work correctly as mentioned in other posts. I can't see Skoda sorting these things out anytime soon, if at all, and the frustrated feelings every time I get in the car I can no longer live with. Despite the huge financial cost I'm off!
Skoda you've let us down and you're losing loyalty.

I found my 2020 - 21 1.5 SEL bewildering also. ‘Laura’ is pretty unhelpful unless you pose a question exactly as she is programmed to hear. The infotainment centre often takes a while to open-up and respond. I persevered with various setting and have now trumped them but my concern is about ‘kangaroo-ing’ and transmission noise below 25 mph. Any experience of that?  It’s a lovely car when bundling along the open road and the emergency detect system saved me from reversing into trouble in the first few days. 

9 minutes ago, PoloPaul said:

I found my 2020 - 21 1.5 SEL bewildering also. ‘Laura’ is pretty unhelpful unless you pose a question exactly as she is programmed to hear. The infotainment centre often takes a while to open-up and respond. I persevered with various setting and have now trumped them but my concern is about ‘kangaroo-ing’ and transmission noise below 25 mph. Any experience of that?  It’s a lovely car when bundling along the open road and the emergency detect system saved me from reversing into trouble in the first few days. 

I’m finding ways to live with some of the infotainment silliness. When I first picked up my car, I thought the initial getaways and sluggish throttle response was just me shifting from diesel to petrol after many years.  But having had a courtesy car for the last 8 days whilst my car is in for a towbar made me realise it was the car and not me. The courtesy car is like a different engine (I thought it was diesel before I checked) because it pulled so well at low revs. 
 

I’ve asked the dealer to look at my car to see if it has had all the updates whilst he has the car, so I’m hoping it will be sorted when it comes back.  

 

I also noted that when started from cold it was making a strange popping noise from the exhaust (this when my wife was taking the car out of our garage and I was standing outside).  It sounded like it was maybe in eco mode with only two cylinders working which would be odd!  The courtesy car does not do that. 
 

 

2 hours ago, PeteHav said:

Having had 4 Skodas over the last 20 years I thought the new Octavia would be yet another excellent car. How wrong I was!
There are so many annoying things surrounding the use of the new infocenter and with the car software that doesn't work correctly as mentioned in other posts. I can't see Skoda sorting these things out anytime soon, if at all, and the frustrated feelings every time I get in the car I can no longer live with. Despite the huge financial cost I'm off!
Skoda you've let us down and you're losing loyalty.

Sorry to hear your frustration leading you to the end of the road. I’ve read your posts and can empathise with you, as I suspect my car may develop or already have same issues.  I just haven’t driven that much since owning it due to lock down and because it’s been in the dealer’s garage for the last 12 days.  
 

Better luck with you next car!  

Hello Ajdude

 

I did the opposite to you in that I went from 20+ years 2.0 litre Passat TDIs to a 1.5 petrol Octavia SEL. I found the TDIs a joy to drive - so much flexibility and pulling away in any/every gear - thought I’d miss that when I changed  I have to say the Octavia petrol 150 bop has a whole load of oomph - enough to pull away in low reeves in higher gears. 
My issue is the transmission noise which I mention and have posted. 

2 minutes ago, PoloPaul said:

 

Hello Ajdude

 

I did the opposite to you in that I went from 20+ years 2.0 litre Passat TDIs to a 1.5 petrol Octavia SEL. I found the TDIs a joy to drive - so much flexibility and pulling away in any/every gear - thought I’d miss that when I changed  I have to say the Octavia petrol 150 bop has a whole load of oomph - enough to pull away in low reeves in higher gears. 
My issue is the transmission noise which I mention and have posted. 

Hi.  Having driven the courtesy car which is also a 1.5 petrol for the last 7 days, I 100% agree that engine is great.  It’s just my 1.5 petrol doesn’t behave the same, is sluggish and kangarooing at low speeds.  I’ve had the rare luxury of having a long term test in another car to be able to compare which highlighted the issue. 
 

With regards to transmission noise. I noticed that today when driving at low speeds through the services mid way through a long journey (for work). It reminded me a lot of my old 1990 mini metro with a whine from the gearbox. It may be a common “feature”. I’ll listen out for it a bit more and report back.  

Please do - it’s spoiling my enjoyment of an otherwise lovely car. If it is typical of the Octavia (Golf!!) drivetrain then I’ll forget about it. Cheers

Stick with it mate , we are all getting some annoying things with the software and im sure they will be sorted. Im my exp i get better treatment from this brand from the dealer than in any other. I had a 320d Beemur and what a terrible relationship i had with Harry Fairbairn up here in Glasgow.

As an NHS worker i was redeployed recently to deliver and install ventilators. I had a prob in wave 1 with my KESSY and my dealer sent a car to me and took my Superb on a flat bed to get fixed. They asked what size of car i needed and i told them something big due to the tubes and accessories for the vents. They gave me a top end Kodiak. I cant fault my dealer up here Henrys. Ive driven many brands but this one has looked after me when i needed them. Im now 3 Schkoda cars in since 2015. VW or Audi might not be as accommodating and im sure most of the dealer network up here being Arnold Clark would have cared less to my plight 

16 hours ago, PeteHav said:

Having had 4 Skodas over the last 20 years I thought the new Octavia would be yet another excellent car. How wrong I was!
There are so many annoying things surrounding the use of the new infocenter and with the car software that doesn't work correctly as mentioned in other posts. I can't see Skoda sorting these things out anytime soon, if at all, and the frustrated feelings every time I get in the car I can no longer live with. Despite the huge financial cost I'm off!
Skoda you've let us down and you're losing loyalty.

Defo sympathise with your position. If you could keep us updated with what you go for as an alternative in the end that would be great. 

On 07/03/2021 at 19:09, PoloPaul said:

Please do - it’s spoiling my enjoyment of an otherwise lovely car. If it is typical of the Octavia (Golf!!) drivetrain then I’ll forget about it. Cheers

Hi PoloPaul.  Quick update.  The courtesy car had a slight whine after a long journey.  Just got mine back and took it for a quick spin and noted my gearbox seemed a little notchier than courtesy car and there was also a slight whine in first and second. 

 

The delivery guy acknowledged there was a difference but it’s marginal. 
 

Hope that helps. 
 

 

If you are having problems with your Octavia please email HONEST John. There are a number of us that have done so and they are contacting the head of PR with a list of complaints.

6 minutes ago, OctaviaFirstEdit said:

If you are having problems with your Octavia please email HONEST John. There are a number of us that have done so and they are contacting the head of PR with a list of complaints.

Thanks. I saw that on the KPH/MPH posting

Just now, PeteHav said:

Thanks. I saw that on the KPH/MPH posting

Please do, there are a number of us pushing on this. I have sent emails to Whatcar, Autoexpress and a number of other places. It is not good enough that they know of the problems, especially the KPH issues (making the car non compliant with the law!). They need to recall and fit the new hardware but they don't seem to care. I have told my dealer that I want a fix soon or I want my money back. Please do send Honeat John a message. The more pressure we can put on as a group the better.

Sorry to here this.

 

If it is failing to do what was advertised, and if you complained early enough, AND the dealer hasn’t been able to fix it (they get one go, not lots of attempts to fix) then you should be able to reject.   The law is quite clear, selling dealer has to fix it in one go, saying they are waiting for manufacturer isn’t relevant (your sales contract is between you and dealer).  Any commercial contract between dealer and Skoda is their problem, not yours and doesn’t change your rights.  How the dealer gets refunded by Skoda is not your problem and no reason to delay remedy to you.

 

Don’t let the dealer try and get away with making you accept a bad deal, you are entitled to your money back (less an amount for usage, say same per month as a PCP payment).  Not obliged to get an exchange or replacement, and are free to take your money to another dealer (or another car brand).

 

I suspect the dealer will be very selective in what they tell you, try and suggest anything else, and avoid you returning the car, until you put both sets of the keys on the desk and ask if they would like your debit card to process the refund (bit drastic, but a good way to show you are serious).  You are not required to agree to a non-disclosure (gagging) agreement to be refunded.

 

Others might also like to be aware of distance selling rules, if you ordered remotely (phone, online etc) get 14 days to reject from delivery, and won’t be any deduction of price.

 

If you get a chance, let everyone know what outcome is, or what you have chosen instead.

 

Edited 13 March, 20215 yr by SurreyJohn

There is a problem with 'What Car' / Autocar / Pistonheads and that is Haymarket Media Group that own those publications, and also do work for the VW Group.

 

What Car is liable to make the Skoda Octavia Mk4 'What Car' Car of the year regardless of Owner Feedback because they drove Media Cars and decided they were fantastic.

As these issues appear to be on the First Edition cars (is it just the FE?) and these were the vehicles used as press cars, it seems strange that no review that I've read mentioned them. Are the press cars more thoroughly checked than those for mere mortals? Not every media publisher is commercially linked to VAG surely. 

The Motoring Journalist and their Editors know very well that VW Group had to get vehicles First Registered in the UK and get the Average C02 g/km average low so as not to face financial penalties so the cars were punted out without the Software Issues being sorted.

That is across the brands and includes the VW ID.3's.

 

It is time the poo hit the fan but none of the publications are biting the hand that feeds them.

 

Bob Flavin might tell it as it is, but that is about it really.

 

https://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2020/07/vw-group-hands-software-development-over-to-audi/

 

 

https://europe.autonews.com/automakers/vw-recalls-56000-golf-models-software-problem

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited 13 March, 20215 yr by e-Roottoot

13 hours ago, just music said:

As these issues appear to be on the First Edition cars (is it just the FE?) and these were the vehicles used as press cars, it seems strange that no review that I've read mentioned them. Are the press cars more thoroughly checked than those for mere mortals? Not every media publisher is commercially linked to VAG surely. 

The cars given to motoring journalists are all prepared and will have a recommended route loaded in sat nav.   If it is a winter or Alpine country will probably have had winter tyres.  They usually are high spec and options.

 

I suspect most never try and tune a radio, put fuel in it, reconfigure the infotainment, try and fit a child seat, sit in back (except for few seconds with door open for a photo) etc

 

And of course, if the manufacturer is hosting the event, providing hotels and meals, and your airfare to get there and you want to be invited to next one, how critical will they be writing it up, much easier to avoid mentioning downsides.  If they have a 1-5 star review system, is there equal numbers getting each star, or is it just use 3.5-5 stars.  Is it biased, silly question.

 

I posted this in another thread a while ago but this review on YouTube seemed to have a model that was affected by the bug. Relevant bit starts at 2:04

 

 

I was asked what I got instead ... A Volvo V90... and yes it all works very very well!

The guy from the dealer who drive the Octavia away later said 'there were some strange things going on with the car' ... enough said. I hope you all get your things sorted but I couldn't wait. Bye bye Skoda. Such a shame

51 minutes ago, PeteHav said:

... A Volvo V90... and yes it all works very very well!

 

Nice!

Hope you enjoy it...

3 hours ago, PeteHav said:

I was asked what I got instead ... A Volvo V90... and yes it all works very very well!

The guy from the dealer who drive the Octavia away later said 'there were some strange things going on with the car' ... enough said. I hope you all get your things sorted but I couldn't wait. Bye bye Skoda. Such a shame

I actually cancelled my Octavia order and went for a V60 that arrives later this month. I have a fondness for Skoda as my first car was a Fabia mk1 that only needed a new alternator in 12 years of ownership. Hope they can resolve all these issues with the new Octavia. 

The garage, Skoda and Skoda finance (VWFS) have accepted my rejection so I'm hoping to drop it off next week. It really should have happened last week but they couldn't agree the figures. As a result of this, I've ended up hundreds out of pocket as another finance payment was taken automatically and the April price increase has affected the price of cars I've been looking at.

 

I've already ordered a stock Tiguan to replace it. I still prefer the driving experience in. VAG cars but I've completely lost confidence in the Skoda brand and my local garage. I thought I'd go for a modern example of the last good set of kit and, from what I've seen, people on the Tiguan forums seem to be relatively happy with them.

mine should arrive soon, in next couple weeks. 
All these things i am reading, should be easy fixes with software update, but they should not have so much bugs in production, some seems to be too obvious like nobody even tested software before releasing..

 

I have had mu Octavia Combi iV+ for just under a week now, and have had a change to drive it in the city, small roads in the countryside and a longer trip on the motorway.
It's my 3rd Skoda, and after having been completely content with the two before, I have to say, that I have quite mixed feelings about this one.
As a car, I think it performs very well. The hybrid system functions just as it is supposed to, the DSG-gearbox works very smooth, it handles well in general and have all the power needed. The interior is nice and comfortable.
But the infotainment system is a shamble. If it worked flawlessly it would have been quite OK. But it doesn't. In the way of stability it resembles a cheap chinese toy - not a 45.000€ car.
Anyway - since the car in itself is very good, I shall stick with it for now, and hope that updates will take care of the software issues.....