Hi All

 

After some feedback if I can?  Am not a massive car person, tend to only know to put fuel in one end and other fluids in the other if you know what I mean.

 

Currently driving a fantastic Superb L&K TSI220 which I have had from new, it will be 7 years old this Easter (60000 miles) and if I am honest the only real failing it has is the ride height ( road clearance ).  We are a family of four photographers who holiday in the Scottish Highlands a couple of times a year and despite the car being aimed more at a cruising style road it has done itself proud up on the single track roads.  The springs and shocks were all replaced at about 45k, had a couple of leaky shocks and a chipped spring so did the lot in one go.  Even with new the car drops quickly with the rear wheel disappearing inside the body.

 

However, we have various areas ( Islands, Shetland, Orkney plus areas on the mainland ) that we would love to visit that the car just cannot get to.  It is simply too low when four adults and full camera equipment onboard.  Last year we were unable to get over several islands as both the front and the rear of the car would have grounded. 

 

So, looking to move on and have been looking at the Kodiaq L&K with the TSI190 engine etc in Petrol Blue – never seen this colour in real life yet but in videos it looks great and I do intend to have it coated (detailed) with the same as I did with my Superb which made the paintwork look very good.

 

On my Superb I have mud flaps which I have caught at the back a few times in Scotland so am not planning on getting them on the Kodiaq – is my thinking dodgy here?

 

Am looking at the following upgrades, am I wasting any money here?

·         Crew protection assist and rear side airbags.

·         Driver alert with fatigue sensor.

·         Dynamic Chassis Control (DCC) including off-road function when in combination with 4x4.

·         Rear seat backrest release.

·         Textile floor mats with lounge steps in rear (middle row for 7-seats).

·         Park assist. Parks the car in parallel or bay spaces. Includes front and rear parking sensors.

·         Leather upholstery with ventilated front seats and massage function includes electrically adjustable front seats with memory function, cushion depth adjustment, electrically adjustable lumbar support.

·         Family Pack includes door edge protection, manual roller blinds for rear side windows and bin in door panel.

·         Winter pack - heated front and rear seats. Includes heated front and rear seats, heated steering wheel with paddles for DSG, tri-zone climate control, heated windscreen, and heated windscreen washer nozzles.

·         Travel Assist. Includes traffic sign recognition, adaptive lane assist, predictive adaptive cruise control and traffic jam assist. DSG engines also have emergency assist.

·         Running boards

 

Intending to buy on PCP but after four years my intention at this point will be to keep the car for a few more years but having the option to hand back and start again nearer the 2030 cut off for new petrol cars could be advantageous.

 

Have not made my mind up on the wheels at the moment, I like the really look the of 20inch but having seen tyre prices I am not sure I like them that much so looking at the 19" Procyon alloy wheels with anthracite aero covers.

Also the upgrade to Leather upholstery with ventilated front seats and massage function is concerning given that the L&K already comes with Leather ventilated seats which if they are similar to the Superb are already electrically adjustable with memory function and lumbar support.  Has anyone got more info on this, the guy in the dealership was sketchy on it - given it is £775 is it worth it?

 

Many apologies for the length but was not sure if I should break this up or leave in one.  Any thoughts are really appreciated.

 

Cheers

 

Paul

4 hours ago, pentaxian said:

Hi All

 

After some feedback if I can?  Am not a massive car person, tend to only know to put fuel in one end and other fluids in the other if you know what I mean.

 

Currently driving a fantastic Superb L&K TSI220 which I have had from new, it will be 7 years old this Easter (60000 miles) and if I am honest the only real failing it has is the ride height ( road clearance ).  We are a family of four photographers who holiday in the Scottish Highlands a couple of times a year and despite the car being aimed more at a cruising style road it has done itself proud up on the single track roads.  The springs and shocks were all replaced at about 45k, had a couple of leaky shocks and a chipped spring so did the lot in one go.  Even with new the car drops quickly with the rear wheel disappearing inside the body.

 

However, we have various areas ( Islands, Shetland, Orkney plus areas on the mainland ) that we would love to visit that the car just cannot get to.  It is simply too low when four adults and full camera equipment onboard.  Last year we were unable to get over several islands as both the front and the rear of the car would have grounded. 

 

So, looking to move on and have been looking at the Kodiaq L&K with the TSI190 engine etc in Petrol Blue – never seen this colour in real life yet but in videos it looks great and I do intend to have it coated (detailed) with the same as I did with my Superb which made the paintwork look very good.

 

On my Superb I have mud flaps which I have caught at the back a few times in Scotland so am not planning on getting them on the Kodiaq – is my thinking dodgy here?

 

Am looking at the following upgrades, am I wasting any money here?

·         Crew protection assist and rear side airbags. NOPE

·         Driver alert with fatigue sensor. NOPE

·         Dynamic Chassis Control (DCC) including off-road function when in combination with 4x4. YES - EXCELLENT TO RING THE CHANGES ON EVERY JOURNEY. ESPECIALLY WHEN SWAPPING FROM 19” SUMMER WHEELS TO 17” WINTER WHEELS. 

·         Rear seat backrest release. WASTED MY MY MONEY ON THAT ONCE BUT FOUND I ALWAYS HAD TO SORT THE FOLDED SEATS FROM THE INSIDE ANYWAY.

·         Textile floor mats with lounge steps in rear (middle row for 7-seats). I’M A RUBBER MAT GUY

·         Park assist. Parks the car in parallel or bay spaces. Includes front and rear parking sensors. WASTED MY MONEY ON THIS IN MY SUPERB. NEVER TRUSTED IT ANYWHERE. COMPLETE WASTE. I KNOW HOW TO PARK WITH MIRRORS AND SENSORS.

·         Leather upholstery with ventilated front seats and massage function includes electrically adjustable front seats with memory function, cushion depth adjustment, electrically adjustable lumbar support.

·         Family Pack includes door edge protection, manual roller blinds for rear side windows and bin in door panel.  I WASTED MONEY ON ROLLER BLINDS.  PREFER TO ADD TINT ON TOP OF OEM TINT WHICH ISN’T DARK ENOUGH

·         Winter pack - heated front and rear seats. Includes heated front and rear seats, heated steering wheel with paddles for DSG, tri-zone climate control, heated windscreen, and heated windscreen washer nozzles. LOVE MY HOT WHEEL AND SCREEN BUT WON’T WASTE MONEY ON OCCASIONAL REAR PASSENGERS

·         Travel Assist. Includes traffic sign recognition, adaptive lane assist, predictive adaptive cruise control and traffic jam assist. DSG engines also have emergency assist. NEVER HAD THE NEED AND HATE LANE ASSIST AND ADAPTIVE CRUISE. SPOIL A GOOD DRIVE.

·         Running boards 

 

Intending to buy on PCP but after four years my intention at this point will be to keep the car for a few more years but having the option to hand back and start again nearer the 2030 cut off for new petrol cars could be advantageous.

 

Have not made my mind up on the wheels at the moment, I like the really look the of 20inch but having seen tyre prices I am not sure I like them that much so looking at the 19" Procyon alloy wheels with anthracite aero covers. 19” TRIGLAVS ARE SOOO EASY TO KEEP CLEAN

Also the upgrade to Leather upholstery with ventilated front seats and massage function is concerning given that the L&K already comes with Leather ventilated seats which if they are similar to the Superb are already electrically adjustable with memory function and lumbar support.  Has anyone got more info on this, the guy in the dealership was sketchy on it - given it is £775 is it worth it? NO

 

Many apologies for the length but was not sure if I should break this up or leave in one.  Any thoughts are really appreciated.

 

Cheers

 

Paul

I became Skoda fan in 2011 with a Superb estate for 6 years. Then moved to a Kodiaq. My third in a row Kodiaq SEL should have been built last week.

 

We all have different preferences and priorities.  I’ve never chosen most of the extras listed above in my factory build orders.

I’m actually disappointed that latest SEL comes with cheap leather seats instead of Alcantara that I love.

 

I added kick open tailgate. A godsend on many occasions.

 

And digi-dash which I love flipping through as the mood takes me.

 

I’m even going for FOC blue paint as Red is now silly at £1,000+

 

I think the Superb boot floor area is bigger. 

 

My trips to Coup have included 6 interior doors. Or 4 builder bags of garden rubbish.

 

And if you have 5 grandchildren then the 7 seats are handy.

 

I’m sure you’ll enjoy a Kodiaq.

 

I can't comment on suitability for your adventures. I replaced a FreeLander 2 with the Kodiaq SEL 1.5 TSI, but the FL2 was bought for size, driving position and dealing with adverse weather. Never really needed the last, and Kodiaq well serves the first two. I never really looked at ground clearance etc, and wouldn't know how it compares to other Skoda models.

 

Options...

 

Rear seat backrest release - Not sure I'd bother again, all it does is release the seat, you still need to open the side door or climb in to push the seat down, so you could release the seat at the same time. Cheap option though.

Textile floor mats with lounge steps in rear - if you're out in the mud a lot then I'd consider the rubber mats. They are lipped, fit nicely and should catch any fluids.

Ventilated front seats and massage function - I've experienced ventilated seats in 35+ degrees C heat and they were a boon, particularly as I do feel the heat, especially when driving. I considered them for my Kodiaq. My other half talked sense into me and instead just went for the electric driver's seat with memory. Saved me a considerable sum, and like BoxerBoy I really quite like the 'cloth'. I have had leather in many previous cars, not really sure why now. My neighbour has massage seats in his Velar. Gimmicky in my view. If money is no object then go for it, otherwise I'd think twice.

Winter pack - heated front and rear seats - I do like heated seats, think front are standard on SEL+, so if you regularly have passengers in the back then heated rear makes sense.

 

Kick boot - very useful, and hopefully extends the life of the boot switch.

Virtual Cockpit - added this more for resale value, but do like that I now have all the information I want on screen, and can modify it should I wish to.

 

If you're off roading then personally I'd choose the smallest wheel/deepest tyre available

A lot of options there which could increase the allready rumoured 12 months waiting time for a new Kodiaq. 
DCC, never had it but posts on here suggest it doesn’t do much for the money, comfort too soft etc.

Park assist, had it on a Yeti a few years ago, and only time I used it was as a party piece to impress the grandkids, pretty pointless IMHO.

Running boards could have an effect on ground clearance, and only function I found they did on the demonstrator Kodiaq I had a test drive in, was to make the back of your trouser legs dirty.

Rear seat backrest release seems pretty pointless.

Heated Windscreen really useful, and since my Yeti that had one , I’ve always picked as an option on my 2 Kodiaq’s.

Virtual Cockpit is a nice addition, does the L&K not have it as standard anyway?  Latest models have the basic digital dash as standard now.

Agree with the mats comment, rubber mats front and rear and rubber tunnel mat also, much easier to keep clean.

As other have said it’s really up to you to choose the options that you will make use of, and that suit your lifestyle.

Hope you enjoy the Kodiaq if you get one, I’m on my second one.

Thanks all.

 

Yes the L&K comes with virtual cockpit as standard and also Ventilated Leather Seats which is why I am concerned about that upgrade when from what I can read it is just the ergo seats vs non-ergo seats.  I must admit to be skeptical and am struggling to understand what the £775 cost actually gets you.

 

Interesting to read 12 months wait, the dealers system said 12+ weeks, 15+ weeks for diesels.  But the dealer reckoned it would be 15 weeks for the spec I was looking at.  I do admit to being surprised by that, as I had already assumed it would be longer.  

 

Thinking about how I use DCC on my Superb, I must admit to not really using Comfort mode as it is a bit too soft given the state of our roads.  I do use Sport just to get into where I work as we have some speed humps that I find the car really comes down hard on when set to Normal no matter what speed you do.  Leaving that off would be a good way to save £1100.  Without it is Drive mode selection, what does that give you etc.  Not had a Skoda without DCC.

 

Like you @Kenny R I find Park Assist pointless in that I have never used it as I don't really trust computer controlled cars in that way being a computer geek/programmer.  I was only adding it as I assumed it would increased the value of the car in the future.

 

Have got the virtual pedal for the boot on my Superb and don't use it that often, I am the only one in the family that gets it to work.

 

In terms of Running Boards, the reason I was looking at adding them was to help with loading a roof box.  We currently use one each time we go on holiday and am not sure if the extra in the Kodiaq boot will be fully sufficient to do away with the roof box. @BoxerBoy mentioned that he thought the boot floor space was similar to the Superb and from looking at the one in the showroom we thought the same.

 

 

8 minutes ago, pentaxian said:

Without it is Drive mode selection, what does that give you etc.

 

Drive modes are the eco / normal / sport / etc. modes that determine throttle response, gear changes (on autos), etc.

 

9 minutes ago, pentaxian said:

I was only adding it as I assumed it would increased the value of the car in the future.

 

Options don't really increase the future value of a car - they may slightly, and/or they may increase the ease at which it can be sold - but I really wouldn't add an option on that basis alone.

 

10 minutes ago, pentaxian said:

help with loading a roof box

 

I'll admit that I've given up with putting stuff on the roof, but if I was to use a roof box I'd get a small folding step-stool or something that I could lob in the boot for the other end of the trip. Far cheaper than the running boards!

Thanks @Yogi-Bear, just had a facepalm moment.  I had not even thought about using a small folding step-stool.

20 weeks delivery from order.

 

If my factory order car actually got built last week.

 

+VC, DCC, Virtual Pedal, Winter Pack 1, FOC Triglav, FOC Blue Paint.

 

Must have saved quite a few micro chips 🙂

 

If delivery from factory to handover takes 6 weeks.

 

Maybe I’ll see it late March.

 

Hope so as this one is due to hand back 23 March. Happy Birthday Bear.

I too went from a Superb to a Kodiaq.

 

Imo the build quality on the Superb was better, but plenty disagree.

The Kodiaq has slightly less legroom than the Superb, though both are fine for me (6'3")

Arguably the Superb is better VFM.  Lots of things that were std on the Superb are costly addons.

 

The Kodiaq is easier to get into and more practical.

Superb offers better mpg like for like - in my case around 8mpg better.

 

In terms of your addons then it's all really personal.  No-one can tell you what they are worth.

 

I would argue the fatigue sensor is the exception.  It's only £50 or so and it could save your iife.

Crew protection assist and rear side airbags.
If you're carrying people in the back, then definitely a good thing to have the optional airbags to protect their body. 

Agree with the comments about Rubber mats. The Kodiaq ones aren't bog standard, they really cover the carpeted areas much better. 
Personally I would add the rough road package as well based on what you've said. Will keep some of the crud getting into the engine bay. 
 

Also worth having a peek at it's sister car the Seat Tarraco if you're specifying a lot of options. You tend to get a higher spec car for less money, but there are some subtle differences. 

On 13/02/2023 at 19:51, pentaxian said:

Have not made my mind up on the wheels at the moment, I like the really look the of 20inch but having seen tyre prices I am not sure I like them that much so looking at the 19" Procyon alloy wheels with anthracite aero covers.

 

Also the upgrade to Leather upholstery with ventilated front seats and massage function is concerning given that the L&K already comes with Leather ventilated seats which if they are similar to the Superb are already electrically adjustable with memory function and lumbar support.  Has anyone got more info on this, the guy in the dealership was sketchy on it - given it is £775 is it worth it?

 

 

 

As others have said, options add no monetary value but will empty your wallet. If the question is 'am I wasting my money" then my advice is only chose what you really need.

 

Regarding wheels - if you're talking about going down rough roads and need clearance then you'd be mad to choose 20" wheels. The larger the wheel the lower the tyre profile - i.e. you want thick tyres not thin ones. 19" absolute maximum, probably better with 18".

 

That £775 only gets you massage function over the std seats. Complete waste of money IMO, more so in your case because if you want massaged, just drive down one of those single track bumpy roads. Or go for the 20" wheels. 🤣

 

Out of the options you mention I only chose two - family pack ( only because I wanted rear sun blinds and it was cheaper to order the family pack than sun blinds on their own ) and park assist, simply because I had it on my last car and found it so stress free in use. ( I only ever use it for parallel parking ).  There are many occasions where I'd never dream of trying to park the Kodiaq as the space looked too small, yet Park Assist says,  yep, no problem.  I have no issues parking a car on my own, more so a large estate, but there's simply no way I'd be able to parallel park the Kodiaq in such a tight space first time, every time without fail. My car is now 27 months old and it's never once hit a kerb. 

Edited 15 February, 20233 yr by kodiaqsportline

I've never had a Superb, but from a rough road point of view, the Kodiaq appears to have a very slightly shorter wheelbase - which helps prevent grounding in the middle, when laden.  Also, as you might expect, a couple of inches more ground clearance, so you should see a reasonable improvement.  Our youngest has piano lessons on a farm with a rough track about half a mile long, leading to it.  We don't travel it fully-laden, but I could JUST get my 5008 to kiss the odd bump, whereas the Kodiaq doesn't.  I'd definitely go for smaller rims and taller profile tyres though - they're heavy cars, and if you're going to be going over poor surfaces, you need the extra sidewall depth to protect your rims!

Can't really comment on the option.  Haven't tried Skoda massage seats, but the Peugeot ones were a bit of a gimmick - more like being kicked in the back sporadically, by a bored toddler, but without the "are we there, yet?", every 5 minutes... 

48 minutes ago, Avocet said:

Can't really comment on the option.  Haven't tried Skoda massage seats, but the Peugeot ones were a bit of a gimmick - more like being kicked in the back sporadically, by a bored toddler, but without the "are we there, yet?", every 5 minutes... 

 

Same as any mainstream VW group seat I've tried. ( never sat in a Bentley, that might be different though I doubt it ).

 

One benefit of VW electric lumbar is it can move vertical as well as horizontal so you can tailor the support depending on the height of the driver, that's why given the choice I'd always chose electric seats. But all massage does is move that lumbar thru the two planes to give some effect of....  well I'm not quite sure what it's supposed to represent but it's certainly not like any back massage I've had.

 

Of course as a result of the lumbar movement, the reality is you've just lost the lumbar where you need it most and as a result, I found the seat more uncomfortable when the massage function was on than when it was off !  'Gimmick' sums it up perfectly but we're all different and I'm sure someone will like it. It's amazing how £775 can twist your mind. I suppose they have to justify it somehow. 🤣

Edited 15 February, 20233 yr by kodiaqsportline

I had a C4 Picasso 6 years. It had massage seats as standard. I tried it out when it was new, but never used it again.

I went from a 2018 Superb Sportline to a 2021 Kodiaq SE L.. Not a huge difference, higher driving position is great as is the the 3rd row of seats.. I had a boot liner from the superb and use it in the Kodiaq so the boot size / shape is nearly identical..  You have lots of options.. Enjoy..

I went from a MkII Superb to the Kodiaq. As with the Octavia the Superb is softly sprung at the rear.

 

You’ll struggle to scrape the Kodiaq’s rear mudflaps on anything so don’t let your experience with the Superb put you off.

 

I have the genuine Skoda running boards, they’re not cheap but brilliant. Accessing the roof box, washing the roof, stone chip protection and great for the kids getting in and out. They look smart too. If you’re far enough off-road to catch them on the terrain then the running boards will be the least of your worries.

 

My only other must haves would be the heated windscreen and rear seats and spare wheel, but I think these are already standard on the L&K?