First impressions then, it's very refined. The lack of extra artificial sound makes it just a nicer place to sit. 

Gearbox in normal mode feels a bit quicker to respond

It's still easy to turn of the lane assist, but now there's a speed warning as well, it's in the same place so you just knock them both off at the same time.

Velvet red looks lush 

Pics on Friday as detail and gtechniq getting done today and tomorrow

Ooh great stuff! Nice that the ability to knock functions off is quick and easy, and to hear that there's no pumped in sound/noisy rattle box under the dash. Look forward to Friday pictures 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited 12 December, 20241 yr by Gingernick70

On 17/10/2024 at 17:38, arturp said:

I can't provide any specific links for your location but you can search by product code:

Nut covers: 000071215P UZ7 (Glossy grey)

Centre caps: 5E0601151 FOD

 

so annoyingly in the uk the nut cover packet for the glossy grey doesnt include locking wheelnut size caps

 

the only ones I can find in the uk are matt grey, so I may have to source form czech side I think!

That looks proper nice 👍 That paint looks incredible! I bet you're pleased with that. I'm picking my new one up on Saturday.

Are the Aero covers fairly easy to get off?

They are a bit fiddly , and not very chunky, on a cold day I could see an arm snapping off, mine are just going into the loft 

Wheels are actually nicer than the previous 19's

Edited 12 December, 20241 yr by Gingernick70

Looks good in the red.

 

Some other impressions to add to other peoples. It seems like Skoda listened to the feedback on dislikes on the MK4 and fixed/changed a bunch

* No pretend sound

* Easy switch between standard cruse control and adaptive (and travel assist)

* Easy turn off/disable of wireless charging

* Wireless charging cooling

* Infotainment s/w is very responsive

 

I am sure there are others.

 

after a couple of weeks behind the wheel, some more personal observations

 

it feels more dynamic from the get go then the previous model, there is obviously a small power hike, but the gearbox in normal mode just feels quicker, throttle response in normal feels quicker. so it feels like it always just wants to go..it feels fast all of the time, it feels like its just ready to go at it straight away. 

 

and anybody else whos got velvet red...it looks amazing when the sun catches it, its got a flake in it that really pops, like a little golden sheen

Edited 23 December, 20241 yr by Gingernick70

After having the facelift for nearly two months now, the best way to describe the improvements from pre to post facelift is that all aspects of the car are more refined/fine tuned.

 

I am not saying that the pre facelift was bad but it feels like Skoda has looked at the weaker points and tried to correct them.

 

Best way to compare is when Apple released S versions of their iPhones e.g. iPhone 6 to iPhone 6S - the 6S was just a better all rounder and consumer experience (hardware and software was more in sync and refined)!  Hope this makes sense.

That's good to hear @BA Baracus I just need my car to arrive to know what you mean proper! 

6 hours ago, BA Baracus said:

After having the facelift for nearly two months now, the best way to describe the improvements from pre to post facelift is that all aspects of the car are more refined/fine tuned.

 

I am not saying that the pre facelift was bad but it feels like Skoda has looked at the weaker points and tried to correct them.

 

Best way to compare is when Apple released S versions of their iPhones e.g. iPhone 6 to iPhone 6S - the 6S was just a better all rounder and consumer experience (hardware and software was more in sync and refined)!  Hope this makes sense.

 

Thanks for this. Loved having my pre facelift and whilst it is a similar car it is good to hear the facelift is an improvement! Looking forward to getting mine hopefully this month! 

 

Trying to decide whether to take the aero covers off or not, I don't think they look too bad to be honest (I know this is likely a controversial opinion 😂)

I prefer the aero covers on as will be easier to clean with sponge!

 

I think for the facelift, I feel as though I can just jump in the car and get going without having to wait for the entertainment system to reset, boot up and then switch off various settings because your preferences wouldn't be retained as in the pre-facelift.  In the facelift a few button presses and I am good to go.

 

Thank god the sound generator thing has gone because I would always select economy previously to get it switched off - now I just drive in normal mode and life is good and quiet with some sporty noises from the exhaust.

 

Wireless charging and Apple CarPlay is fab - just put your phone down and it will charge, sync etc etc. and it doesn't need to be positioned in an exact sweet spot.

 

I have Canton - difficult to tell the improvement over the stock system, must be better but bass doesn't shake the car or anything - probably more clear with additional speakers - would I get it again? probably.

 

I also got a sunroof - not getting much action right now but really like it in spring/summer so glad I got it.

 

Winter pack is great - obvs using it right now for heated screen and steering wheel.

 

Infotainment system works very well and has had a significant improvement from previous version - responsive and screen a lot bigger.

 

This is my 5th vRS estate and do miss the LED strips in the rear doors - I know this has gone for a wee while but just looks cheap and naff with the front doors having LED strips and then it just goes pitch black on the rear doors - am sure the bean counters could have afforded this in a £40k car.

 

Can't think what else could be better but this is about it - so can't be all bad.  No regrets about buying another vRS estate as I get no hassle from the dealer when buying new or servicing and Octavia's have not given me any grief over the years.

 

Glad I bought this and not a Golf GTI - see ya VW!

 

 

Edited 5 January, 20251 yr by BA Baracus
Can't spell bass.

Good info. I really like the facelift tail lamps and hope it can be easily retrofitted to the pre-facelift mk4.

 

If anyone has the same idea and is going to attempt it, pls keep me updated! 👍

Had FL as a rental for a week not so long ago. Though from PHEV to gasoline is not fair comparison, still I'd say I like my pre-FL more. Was not impressed by anything in FL, especially by its big infotainment screen. Feels weird, like the screen is bigger but everything is smaller on it, so go hit that tiny button when you need it... As well, certain functions did not work (classical "function is currently not available" message) and infotainment went black twice until car was restarted. Beyond me how these things still happen after they had 4 years to solve exactly same issues.

On 17/10/2024 at 17:38, arturp said:

I can't provide any specific links for your location but you can search by product code:

Nut covers: 000071215P UZ7 (Glossy grey)

Centre caps: 5E0601151 FOD

 

I don't suppose you know the code for the for the locking wheel nut caps? I can't seem to find them anywhere in the same colour 

On 05/01/2025 at 12:46, BA Baracus said:

Winter pack is great - obvs using it right now for heated screen and steering wheel.

 

Did you go for the Winter Package Plus or Winter Package Premium? Can I ask which steering wheel you got?

 

When I'm configuring the car on the Skoda website, I need to keep it under £40k to avoid the hike in car tax. I can add the Winter Package Plus which takes the list price to £39800, but in the spec shec sheet it says...

 

Removed – Three-spoke leather sports multi-function steering wheel with paddles for DSG

Added – Heated leather multi-function steering wheel with paddles for DSG

 

What I'm trying to check is that by adding one of the Winter Packs you don't end up with one of those hideous two-spoke steering wheels. I'd rather have cold hands than stare at that :D

Assumning its the same as the pre-fl, It's the same wheel just with the heating incl.

Really struggled to get a picture of it clean, so instead I've taken a quick couple of pics when the sun just popped out, whilst away camping for the night 🏕️ it's an awesome car

Camping in January you must be tough.

Looking good not easy to keep clean in winter.Still running in I guess.Colour will certainly standout in the summertime.

I really like camping, and a supportive partner who lets me run away for a night every six weeks or so (better for me than antidepressants). Just need a bigger fire in winter, and a thick wooly cardigan from army surplus shop. Staying out in a hot tent tonight (tent with a small wood burner in it), and maybe a couple of drinks later 

 

Only managed 150 miles in the car so far, so very much running in period 

I was asked whether I had a video with the exhaust sound. I made one previously comparing the mk4 and mk4.5 cold start but this one also has some pops and bangs.

 

Had mine now for nearly a month and 600 odd miles. This was going to be a positive report until this morning. Got in the car to find the display on the touchscreen resembling a watercolour in the rain (to borrow a phrase from Al Stewart) and also behaving like our old 1950’s TV when the vertical/horizontal hold was playing up. The unreadable and unusable screen was slowly flipping over and over. I reset it by holding down the on/off button until the screen went black and it’s now okay. My last 2 cars were Mk8 Golf GTi’s and the first one particularly suffered from really annoying software issues. It seems that despite heads rolling at the top, an apology from the new head of VAG and an all new suite of software it’s still beyond VAG to design something that works reliably. It’s been a bit of a shock having this problem so soon after delivery. At least the first Golf waited a few months before introducing “computer says no” mode. Apart from that there’s lots to like and enjoy about the car. I’ll post again on this topic if this glitch appears to be a one off.

New member here. Considering a face lifted combi. Can confirm the facelifted vehicle sounds significantly better than the old one and the sound actuator is gone.  I wondered whether the pops in sport mode on the overrun might have been synthetic because I thought you couldn’t get stock cars anymore with that because of particulate filters etc.. turns out you can.  I know the EA888 is seen as a good engine but not a very sonorous one but I have test driven a bunch of them in different vehicles and the new Škoda sounds by far the best to me ears.

Space wise in this vehicle class, it's hard to beat. I know Mercedes E class estate is a bigger load lugger, but this is a class above the Octavia (and reflected in price), and if it's pops and bangs you want you'd probably have to get one of the older AMG versions (E43/63). Yes it doesn't sound like a boxster, V6 or V12 when you rev it, but it does I think have enough character when comparing to others similar cars

Made the deal today, get the car in around a week. Race Blue with the suede / leather seats and Canton system. Will post my review once I get it.