Here is my review of owning my car now since the start of October 2022 (3 months)

 

Firstly I just want to say how great the car is, it brings a smile to my face every time. 

 

If you are in the market for this kind of car then go for it, it give the perfect balance between keeping the wife happy ("it's a family car") and keeping you happy with the great engine and good performance.

 

If you can go for the facelift then I would as it brings the upgraded head unit with android auto and apple car play which was a dealbreaker for me and it glad I went for the facelift. 

 

I've got the 19" Xtrem Alloy Wheels and they look amazing and if you car good a reading the road then they should not be so much of an issue interns of comfort but if they are not a dealbreaker go for the 18"s as they are just better day to day.

 

If you are looking for a Digital Drivers display they were only introduced for the end of production models from around Feb/March 2019 so no luck if you want this on an earlier model. obviously these can be retrofitted. 

 

Do note the front sensors are not standard (rears are standard)

another good feature to look for is the electronically heated windscreen which I would definitely love on mine

 

Please service your DSG every 40k miles and not the recommended 80k and don't forget the VAQ diff if you have it, this cost me £450 for both. (note that Skoda doesn't normally replace the filter for the DSG so find someone who will do that and do the job properly.)

 

I think creaking front and rear suspension is normal as I have read so this is nothing to worry about on you test drive, please do correct me if wrong.

 

If you drive about 55-60mph you will get 50mpg from the car which is not that bad for this kind of car, at 70mph it is about 45 which is still very good. in town though its not great, i've had and average mpg of 23 from a whole fuel tank basically driving just in town. 

 

Don't worry about foggy headlights as they do allow a bit of moisture in especially after it rains or you clean the car. This should disappear after a day of being dry.

 

The undoubtably absolute best thing about the car is the ice scraper, umbrella and torch that it comes with. they are so useful and convenient. Love it!!!

 

I know it's a small thing but the wipers overlap enough so that tiny little triangle is not missed near the end of the wipers. it drives me crazy seeing it on older VAG cars.

 

The VRS models do not come with a spare tyre so check there is something to help out in An emergency like a emergency tyre sealant.

 

In comparison to a W205 C-Class estate (only car I can really compare size to as we have both) the size is no match for the Mercedes, so much more rear leg room and the boot is considerably bigger. Doing long journeys in the back of the Merc was painful and in the back of the Skoda is so much more room and personally feels more comfortable.

 

Basic sound system I think will be enough for most people, I love my music and I love it loud and i'm more than happy with the standard system

 

 

Petty things I really don't like about the car:

When you start a journey in the rain, the automatic wipers do not start automatically even if they are set to on, you have to turn them off and on again (I know, first world problems)

PIANO BLACK PLASIC!!!

Placement of the window switches as I always always roll down the rear windows by accident when trying to roll down the front ones

I can't seem to see a way to see if my headlights are on when they are in automatic mode

Why do Skoda use that weird strap/handle thing to close the boot, a cut out or grove looks so much less tacky 

Occasionally when on a hill and driving off and lifting of the break the car tries to find the 'bitting point' when to release the breaks and it can take up to 5 sec and in that time you start wondering if the car is even in drive or not...

 

 

Defiantly go for the car if you are up for servicing it. Remeber if you look after the car, the car will look after you.

13 hours ago, WillRB said:

Occasionally when on a hill and driving off and lifting of the break the car tries to find the 'bitting point' when to release the breaks and it can take up to 5 sec and in that time you start wondering if the car is even in drive or not...

This does not sound normal.

 

Agree with you on the piano black plastics.

Also agree on the infotainment system, the capacitive screens are so much nicer than the old resistive type.

3 hours ago, EnterName said:

This does not sound normal.

 

Agree with you on the piano black plastics.

Also agree on the infotainment system, the capacitive screens are so much nicer than the old resistive type.

I mean it doesn't do it all the time, mainly when cold but I think its only something that happens in specific situations

 

 

The Hill Hold Assist does its thing when holding the car and you go between the brake pedal and accelerator and holds for a few seconds.

 

This is if there is not the e-Brake and Auto hold enabled.

 

Have the brakes been serviced ever, and had a brake fluid change? 

Edited 18 January, 20233 yr by toot

5 minutes ago, toot said:

The Hill Hold Assist does its thing when holding the car and you go between the brake pedal and accelerator and holds for a few seconds.

 

This is if there is not the e-Brake and Auto hold enabled.

 

Have the brakes been serviced ever, and had a brake fluid change? 

Yes I don't have the e-brake so guessing its just that hill hold assist.

 

Yes in the service history the brakes were serviced and fluid changed in late 2021 and new front pads and disks when I bought the car. (although at first the dealer put pads in that were too small so they moved inside the calliper and made horrible noises)

23 hours ago, WillRB said:

I mean it doesn't do it all the time, mainly when cold but I think its only something that happens in specific situations

 

 

I have a regular journey that involves a few sets of lights on a long incline.

Usually, when I stop at the lights, I put the gearbox in neutral and apply the handbrake.

Then when the lights change, I press the brake, release the handbrake, put the gearbox in drive, release the brakes, and the car sits there until I press the throttle to move forward.

There's no delay between my throttle demand and the Hill Hold Assist releasing the car and allowing it to move on my command.

However, the car is at this stage of the journey fully warmed up to operating temperature, so it's not the same scenario as you describe but I am very familiar with how the Hill Hold works in that scenario as it's a regular journey. I've never noticed the delay you're describing, but I haven't specifically looked for it. I'll have a play when I find suitable test conditions. Even though I wouldn't expect my car to behave like that, it might actually do it from cold.

1 minute ago, EnterName said:

I have a regular journey that involves a few sets of lights on a long incline.

Usually, when I stop at the lights, I put the gearbox in neutral and apply the handbrake.

Then when the lights change, I press the brake, release the handbrake, put the gearbox in drive, release the brakes, and the car sits there until I press the throttle to move forward.

There's no delay between my throttle demand and the Hill Hold Assist releasing the car and allowing it to move on my command.

However, the car is at this stage of the journey fully warmed up to operating temperature, so it's not the same scenario as you describe but I am very familiar with how the Hill Hold works in that scenario as it's a regular journey. I've never noticed the delay you're describing, but I haven't specifically looked for it. I'll have a play when I find suitable test conditions. Even though I wouldn't expect my car to behave like that, it might actually do it from cold.

Normally it will release when I hit the accelerator in my case but don't really ever do this as it can be quite abrupt with taking off, 

 

I will record the next time I'm taking off cold so I can show you what It looks like (demonstration effect will most likely case the car to not do it now)

11 minutes ago, WillRB said:

I will record the next time I'm taking off cold so I can show you what It looks like (demonstration effect will most likely case the car to not do it now)

Hopefully trying to demonstrate the problem with cure the problem. 😄

1 minute ago, EnterName said:

Hopefully trying to demonstrate the problem with cure the problem. 😄

I mean fingers crossed haha, you'll know it's fixed if there's no video 

 

On my Golf R and I think my TTS and both Super and Yeti which all had auto lights, I am sure when they are on the wee light with rays goes green on the actual switch?

 

Not the easiest thing to see when driving ad I cannot check as I am currently VAGless.

15 hours ago, Guy Incognito said:

On my Golf R and I think my TTS and both Super and Yeti which all had auto lights, I am sure when they are on the wee light with rays goes green on the actual switch?

 

Not the easiest thing to see when driving ad I cannot check as I am currently VAGless.

No VAG? GET OUT!!! only joking 😂

 

I thought that too ate first but it seems that the lights switches between green and orange randomly, ill drive into a tunnel and I see the hieadlights automatically come on reflecting of the wall but no change on the switch :(, its only a small issue but I guess it keeps the dash clean with no lights being on it!

6 hours ago, WillRB said:

No VAG? GET OUT!!! only joking 😂

 

I thought that too ate first but it seems that the lights switches between green and orange randomly, ill drive into a tunnel and I see the hieadlights automatically come on reflecting of the wall but no change on the switch :(, its only a small issue but I guess it keeps the dash clean with no lights being on it!

In my defense the TT and Golf were stolen last week!  I am test driving a Superb on Saturday though so fingers crossed I will be back in a VAG soon.