I've been driving a 65 plate Octavia 2.0tdi 150ps SE L for a couple of years now and I fancy a change to a Karoq.

 

The Octavia is the first car I've personally owned after driving company cars for forty years.

I'm looking at second hand at around 18/68/19 plate. I fancy a DSG as I've never driven a non manual, except for the odd hire car.

 

Here's the rub. I tow a caravan with a mtplm of just under 1300kg so the Karoq must be capable of towing it.

I started looking at 1.5tsi SE L DSG but I'm unsure if it would tow the 'van. Any coments or advice on that welcome.

I'm also unsure about the DSG on the 1.5tsi. I'm sure it's been done to death, but it's unclear to me which DSG boxes have had (or are still having?) problems.

 

So I started looking at 2.0tdi Karoqs. Must be DSG and at least SEL, cause I like the spec.

Every one I've looked at so far has been a 4x4. I don't want a 4x4, or at laest I don't think I want a 4x4. Higher running costs, higher insurance group etc, unless there is a good argument to having one.

 

I don't do a huge amount of miles anymore so I think the 1.5tsi would suit better, but only if it can tow my 'van.

Oh what to do ...............................

 

Sadly we don't have the Tdi Karoq here in Australia, however from what I've seen the Tdi Karoq is a "4x4". You do know the "4x4" isn't constant don't you. ?

Looking round the used cars here in the UK the 2.0 tdi manuals are not 4x4, but I don't want a manual.

There are lots and lots 1.6 tdi but I think for me it's either a 1.5tsi or 2.0tdi.

 

Have to say I know very little about the 4x4.

 

 

The SE L 1.6TDI (116PS) manual and DSG FWD cars were replaced last summer with SE L 2.0 TDI (116PS) manual and DSG FWD cars; and the latest brochure only lists an SE L 2.0TDI (150PS) manual FWD or a 2.0TDI (150PS) DSG 4x4. 

 

Previously it looks like all the SE L 2.0 TDI (150PS) cars only came as a manual FWD or a DSG 4x4. (All the SE L 2.0TDI (190PS) cars were DSG 4x4s.)

 

So to get a diesel SE L DSG FWD, it looks like the choice is between a pre-summer 2020 1.6TDI, or a newer 2.0 (116PS) car. 

 

If you're towing I'd have thought a 4x4 could be useful (and as it only drives the rear wheels when it senses the front wheels are struggling it shouldn't be too big a hit on fuel economy.)

 

If you're looking to buy a used car with a towbar, then I'd expect most to be 4x4s. And adding a towbar to an existing car seems to be pretty expensive!

 

Chris

Thanks Chris, very informative.

 

It would be nice to find a used Karoq with a factory fitted towbar. I've only seen one so far in my extensive search!

Always thought I'd get a third party one fitted. I did the one on my Octavia myself, which wasn't towbar prepped, and coded it with vcds.

Unsure I'd go self fit on a Karoq. Not decided yet.

 

So it looks like I'm now looking for a used 2.0tdi 4x4 (with towbar) unless anyone has experience towing with the 1.5tsi.

 

Any comments on the two types of DSG gearboxes? One better than the other?

The DSG on the diesel is the wet clutch type to cope with the extra torque, so doesn't have the problems that earlier dry clutches have. If I had the money I would have gone 4x4, the latest version is very clever and selects which wheel gets power even brakes a wheel if needed, you don't feel it in normal driving just the odd push from the rear in very slippery  conditions, a great improvement on the one that was in my Yeti which had a default of I think 10% rear the new one is I believe 100% front till needed .

You may find a car with towbar prep but no towbar. A lot of dealer specked cars to be sold out of the showroom, like my own 190dsg had that option ticked as many end up as tow cars.

It is much easier to add the towbar if it has the correct factory installed wiring and it must be correctly wired to keep all the Car systems working correctly 

Is it possible to see either visually or via t’internet if towing prep has been done?  I could call the supplying dealer (car was prereg ex Skoda central stock) and getting hold if salesmen was pretty difficult when we were buying it, it’ll be absolutely impossible now. 

I struggled when I was buying mine as my requirements were, must be Sportline, must be 2.0TDi, must be a manual, must not be 4x4....

 

The dealer said that will be a rare car indeed......

 

But he managed to find one in my chosen colour, with Virtual cockpit and a proper(ish) spare wheel...

 

Mine might be the only one in the country......

3 hours ago, Phil245 said:

I struggled when I was buying mine as my requirements were, must be Sportline, must be 2.0TDi, must be a manual, must not be 4x4....

 

The dealer said that will be a rare car indeed......

 

But he managed to find one in my chosen colour, with Virtual cockpit and a proper(ish) spare wheel...

 

Mine might be the only one in the country......

One does wonder why you would want such a car, but each to their own.

Either way I hope you find a vehicle that ticks the boxes you want.

Id love if we had the TDI engine in Australia for the Karoq. I've got a sportline with all the bells and whistles, which in the end is ok by me.

11 hours ago, pragmatix said:

One does wonder why you would want such a car, but each to their own.

 

Hate DSG or any automatic prefer to make the decision on what gear I am in myself.

 

Don't need 4 x 4, It hasn't snowed here in 20 years

 

As said, each to their own.....

@Phil245 yes it may not have snowed in the last 20 years but some people still want a 4x4 or AWD vehicle. 

 

I accept that we all have our likes/dislikes but I personally don't see the dislike for 4x4/AWD.

Towing can be so easy or just enjoyable with an Auto or in this case a DSG.

Getting back onto roads while towing can be a bit easier with a vehicle with Haldex as long as the tyres are suitable if getting off wet pitches / grass / mud.

 

Not just about location location location it can be more about use and needs.

 

There were 1.5TSI's with Haldex (AWD) but these are not plentiful. 

In Slovenia, the 1.5TSI DSG 4x4 has been on the list for only about a fortnight in February 2019. But after nine month's wait for it, I was ready and placed the order in time, not knowing it would vanish.

 

Edited 29 May, 20215 yr by agedbriar

On 28/05/2021 at 09:02, e-Roottoot said:

Not just about location location location it can be more about use and needs.

Or a bit of all of the above.  👍

 

Any excuse for a snowy pic!   
 

Just to round this thread off, today I put a deposit on a Skoda Karoq 2.0 SE L TDI scr dsg 4x4.

 

It's a 2019 (19) with ACC, Virtual Cockpit and a steel spare wheel as options.

One owner with 13k on the clock in grey (although it's metallic and looks more like silver to me!).

 

I think I got a fair price for my Octavia in px. Well chuffed.

 

Just need to get a towbar organised if any one has any recommendations.

 

Can’t wait to pick it up.

Edited 8 June, 20214 yr by tfspark

I don't understand why people buy tall cars that are only FWD.  The complaints I see about wheelspin from 1.5 TSI DSG cars when taking off quickly, only reinforce this.  I certainly wouldn't have bought our current 190 TDI if it hadn't been AWD. 

47 minutes ago, Schtum said:

I don't understand why people buy tall cars that are only FWD.  The complaints I see about wheelspin from 1.5 TSI DSG cars when taking off quickly, only reinforce this.  I certainly wouldn't have bought our current 190 TDI if it hadn't been AWD. 

Maybe because the added height makes access easier?

9 minutes ago, john999boy said:

Maybe because the added height makes access easier?

 

Possibly yes.  That could be the upside.  The downside is that the added weight transfer during rapid take-offs will inevitably lead to wheelspin and/or traction control intervention.  

As someone who's interested in how a car goes, stops and handles, that's not a trade off I'd be prepared to make. 

Indeed, I bought my last two Golf MPVs (a Golf Plus and then a Golf SV) because their extra height made entry and exit much less stressful on my back. And although they were tall FWD cars, I had no problems with wheelspin either! 

 

Now I have a Karoq because MPVs are getting rare beasts, and I must admit I pushed the boat out a fair bit when I chose it   I doubt I've tested the all-wheel drive system yet, even in the snow this winter, but it's a lovely car to drive and I love the Area View 360 degree camera option!!

 

Chris

1 hour ago, Schtum said:

I don't understand why people buy tall cars that are only FWD.  The complaints I see about wheelspin from 1.5 TSI DSG cars when taking off quickly, only reinforce this.  I certainly wouldn't have bought our current 190 TDI if it hadn't been AWD. 

Height is largely irrelevant.  Weight over the driven wheels is quite relevant.  My two Mk 3 Octavias - first a 63 plate 1.4 petrol DSG with 140 bhp, then a petrol vRS DSG with 220 bhp, were both very easy to spin the front wheels on take off.  However my Saab 9-5 petrol auto 2.3t with 220 bhp hardly ever did it.  Largely because of the weight over the front wheels.  My current 1.5 petrol DSG Karoq with 150 bhp doesn't spin the wheels as much as the two Octavias did.

Has the art of throttle modulation been lost to the world?

1 hour ago, J.R. said:

Has the art of throttle modulation been lost to the world?

Also known as driving according to the conditions!

The 4x4 system is probably working a lot more than you think. You will not notice most of the time. The slightest slip of a front wheel sends power to the rear. Large steering angles or large amounts of power applied will also send power to the rear even with no slip at the front.

Apart from the extra weight it brings and the need to service the Haldex I can't see any good argument not to have it in a more powerful version of the car. I often feel a push from the rear when turning out of a junction accelerating fast for safety.

 

And the argument above over not wanting a dsg as I want to select gear myself is crazy. The gearbox will change much faster than you can and apply power almost all the time. When you manually change gear you have to disconnect from the power, and then change gear and reapply power which takes a finite amount of time. With a dsg and paddles on the steering wheel you can have the best of both, selecting whatever gear you want when you want, but also being lazy at most times and let the car do it for you. A dsg in sport mode will always beat a manual car of the same power output as it can change gear at exactly the right time and virtually instantaneously.

I had some terrible experiences in long stop start traffic jams in manual cars. Constant clutch operation becomes painfull after a long time but you still have to do it until clear of the issue. A dsg if effortless in the same situation.