2.0 SEL DSG

Driving slightly more gently but still making progress, and my highest range so far, mind you it cost £100!! to refill it against the normal £75.

Not a lot we can do about that though, eh?

Not bad! I think I got 54mpg driving up through Wales going steady at national speed limit speeds, which I was very happy with.

I think the car does well, especially if it's not regenerating the DPF. I've read you can do better if you don't use adaptive cruise as the car tends to use brakes to manage speed where as a sensible human just lets off and coasts to saves energy!

I gave up using Adaptie Cruise, simply because it would drive the car like a maniac, driving at the speed limit rather than a comfortable speed, charging at bends, braking sharply. It frightened me as a driver, I dread to think what would happen if I used it if my wife was a passenger.

Agreed, it can be a thrilling ride haha. If you're behind a car on a straightish road doing sensitive/safe speeds it is handy, but when it gets twisty the car thinks it Max Verstappen.

In an Octavia vRS a few years ago I had the adaptive lane assist disengage mid corner on the A449 in Wales, and I had to sharply take over, which took away my confidence to use it on anything but straight forward roads/motorways. I take the blame though, I was asking a lot of it.

On 02/04/2026 at 08:56, buaan said:

Not bad! I think I got 54mpg driving up through Wales going steady at national speed limit speeds, which I was very happy with.

I think the car does well, especially if it's not regenerating the DPF. I've read you can do better if you don't use adaptive cruise as the car tends to use brakes to manage speed where as a sensible human just lets off and coasts to saves energy!

Yup.

I used to use ACC on the same route because I was lazy, getting low 600’s, but just using human powers of observation improved things.

The car has very little engine braking so I can let off quite early for speed limit changes and approaching slower vehicles in front. We get a lot of tractors round here.

Also letting off to coast down hills and only applying throttle when needed to maintain speed help massively.

In the current fuel price hike I’ve also started driving on dual carriageways and the motorway at 65mph. It seems to make little difference to journey times. We’re doing a 400 mile trip shortly and I worked out that it will only add 30mins so I call that a win.

BTW, has anyone else noticed that quite a lot of other drivers seem to be doing the same?

Edited 9 April9 Apr by CFB

On 02/04/2026 at 12:08, Routemaster1461 said:

I gave up using Adaptie Cruise, simply because it would drive the car like a maniac, driving at the speed limit rather than a comfortable speed, charging at bends, braking sharply. It frightened me as a driver, I dread to think what would happen if I used it if my wife was a passenger.

There is a thing called predictive whatever, you can use the ACC like in older cars, just keeping the spped you set and the distance to the car in front. Travel mode is adjusting to road speed limit, and that is indeed dangerous, I thik it is best used in heavy traffic, not much else.

9 hours ago, koditzadispater said:

There is a thing called predictive whatever, you can use the ACC like in older cars, just keeping the spped you set and the distance to the car in front. Travel mode is adjusting to road speed limit, and that is indeed dangerous, I thik it is best used in heavy traffic, not much else.

ACC adjusts to the speed of traffic ahead and to speed limit signs.

Travel mode does exactly the same.

The only difference between the two is travel assist steers to keep the car between the lines on the road even round bends.

There are a few circumstances where it gets a bit confused though.

Edited 30 April30 Apr by CFB

12 hours ago, CFB said:

ACC adjusts to the speed of traffic ahead and to speed limit signs.

Travel mode does exactly the same.

The only difference between the two is travel assist steers to keep the car between the lines on the road even round bends.

There are a few circumstances where it gets a bit confused though.

I need to disagree. I had the predictive thing on and it drove me crazy, I wanted to keep it at 100 KMPH and the damn thing reset to 130, since I was on a highway. It was night, foggy and snowing, with slush already on the road, so I did not want to go 130. Ended up not using the CC at all. Then I searched the web, found the solution, went to the car and disabled the predictive thing.

Now, if I use travel mode, it will adjust to the road speed signs, as it sees them, w/o preparing for it, as in slowing before the sign. If I use ACC, it will keep the speed I set, no matter the road signs, but still keep the distance from the car in front. This is what I wanted. Travel mode is way more than just steering, it can also be used in slow traffic, as it will stp and start the car from standstill, keep the distance from the car in front, keep you at the speed limit etc. Why do you think VAG would put options doing the exact same thing, safe for assist steering?

This is what Google gives you - what I explained is Option 2:

1. Option 1: Complete ACC Deactivation (Stalk Method)
   Push the cruise control lever on the left side of the steering column all the way away from you until it "clicks" into the off position.

2. Option 2: Deactivate Predictive Elements (Infotainment Method)

   1. Open Driving Assistance on the central screen.

   2. Select ACC.

   3. Toggle "Road layout preview" (corners, roundabouts) and "Speed limit preview" (signs) to off.

3. Temporary Cancelation

   • Tap the brake pedal.

   • Push the lever slightly away from you (not to the full click).

4. Permanent Deactivation
   To disable PCC permanently for all trips, it must be switched off in the driving assistance settings menu.

5. Switching to Regular Cruise Control
   Some models allow switching to standard cruise control by holding the distance button on the stalk/steering wheel.

A really bad idea to even consider using cruise in fog and snow or heavy rain - these are conditions where the driver needs to be fully in control at all times.

15 hours ago, koditzadispater said:

Travel mode is way more than just steering, it can also be used in slow traffic, as it will stp and start the car from standstill, keep the distance from the car in front, keep you at the speed limit etc

ACC does exactly the same in standard form. For me, travel mode is only really useful on the motorway and dual carriageways, where there are clear road markings down the carriageway and is not really suited for driving on any other type of road due to road markings not always being present.

It can pick up kerbs but is easily confused on rural roads.

14 hours ago, Warrior193 said:

A really bad idea to even consider using cruise in fog and snow or heavy rain - these are conditions where the driver needs to be fully in control at all times.

I disagree. I use ACC heavily - especially in traffic or poor weather. It allows me to focus on other drivers and such things that I might normally take an extra second to notice, was I to be looking at my speedo, etc. One such example is in heavy motorway traffic. I don't care what the car in front is doing - I'm looking ten cars behind or ahead.

If there is a situation where having ACC on affects the outcome of an event, then you were going too quickly to begin with. I am always supervising what Occy is doing, and ready to step in, or take action, should it be required. I believe the car will brake or swerve faster than I can react (probably, anyway) and I feel I'm far more useful monitoring other cars, the road ahead and things the car can't do.

14 hours ago, OccyVRS said:

I disagree. I use ACC heavily - especially in traffic or poor weather. It allows me to focus on other drivers and such things that I might normally take an extra second to notice, was I to be looking at my speedo, etc. One such example is in heavy motorway traffic. I don't care what the car in front is doing - I'm looking ten cars behind or ahead.

If there is a situation where having ACC on affects the outcome of an event, then you were going too quickly to begin with. I am always supervising what Occy is doing, and ready to step in, or take action, should it be required. I believe the car will brake or swerve faster than I can react (probably, anyway) and I feel I'm far more useful monitoring other cars, the road ahead and things the car can't do.

Funny you mention swerving. I was demonstrating travel assist on our brand new Octavia to my wife. The road had clear double solid white lines in the middle. All was going well until suddenly, the car decided to swiftly serve over to the other lane. Luckily there was no other traffic and I had my hands on the wheel. Had there been traffic coming the other direction, I cannot be certain that my reaction would have been quick enough but then, maybe I wouldn’t have chosen to demonstrate it in that case because I have fairly low expectations of such systems anyway.

I can see no rational explanation for what it did and of course, trying to replicate it could be quite time consuming and somewhat dangerous.

Thankfully, travel assist is not the default… for now at least.

On 01/05/2026 at 11:45, Warrior193 said:

A really bad idea to even consider using cruise in fog and snow or heavy rain - these are conditions where the driver needs to be fully in control at all times.

I was driving from Romania to France, I believe it's better to use ACC and have your foot rested and allowing you to focus on driving than not use the automation and be tired and distracted. The problem with the automation is whn you stop paying attention to driving, not when you use it to keep your car speed steady.

4 hours ago, davegr said:

Funny you mention swerving. I was demonstrating travel assist on our brand new Octavia to my wife. The road had clear double solid white lines in the middle. All was going well until suddenly, the car decided to swiftly serve over to the other lane. Luckily there was no other traffic and I had my hands on the wheel. Had there been traffic coming the other direction, I cannot be certain that my reaction would have been quick enough but then, maybe I wouldn’t have chosen to demonstrate it in that case because I have fairly low expectations of such systems anyway.

I can see no rational explanation for what it did and of course, trying to replicate it could be quite time consuming and somewhat dangerous.

Thankfully, travel assist is not the default… for now at least.

The systems are meant to help / assist you, not replace you, this is why you are responsible. You need to constantly pay attention, take all the actions and look everywhere, not only to keep your hands on the wheel. The fact that it surprised you means you were disconnected, probably chatting and not focusing on what the car is doing.

31 minutes ago, koditzadispater said:

The systems are meant to help / assist you, not replace you, this is why you are responsible. You need to constantly pay attention, take all the actions and look everywhere, not only to keep your hands on the wheel. The fact that it surprised you means you were disconnected, probably chatting and not focusing on what the car is doing.

I was being responsible, paying attention, keeping an eye on conditions and absolutely not chatting or disconnected. However, there was absolutely NO expectation at all that it would suddenly try to swerve across the road when there was a perfectly clear double solid white line. This tech is not ready for prime time, simple as that. That you choose to judge me for finding an outright dangerous action by the assist surprising is rather curious.

1 hour ago, koditzadispater said:

I was driving from Romania to France, I believe it's better to use ACC and have your foot rested and allowing you to focus on driving than not use the automation and be tired and distracted. The problem with the automation is whn you stop paying attention to driving, not when you use it to keep your car speed steady.

Automation disconnects you from the driving experience, increasing the possibility of getting distracted due to lower engagement. I much prefer to actually drive than worry about what stupid thing the driver assists will do next anyway.

If your foot needs a rest, I think you have a medical condition? I can’t recall ever having a tired foot from driving!

1 hour ago, davegr said:

Automation disconnects you from the driving experience, increasing the possibility of getting distracted due to lower engagement. I much prefer to actually drive than worry about what stupid thing the driver assists will do next anyway.

If your foot needs a rest, I think you have a medical condition? I can’t recall ever having a tired foot from driving!

I have, but that was after an hour on track in a manual GT4.

Lots of reactions to my above post! For a bit of background, I’ve done quite a bit with IAM and ARDS, so I’d like to think I know how to drive. The whole point of these systems is to make your life easier, safer and more efficient. It’s easier because I’m able to not stare at my speedometer. It’s safer because I can look ahead, behind and be far more aware of my surroundings. It’s more efficient because, as I said, I’m able to channel more energy into doing tasks the car can’t do - such as monitoring vehicles hundreds of meters ahead, and being more focused on the road and not my speedometer.

I don’t use lane keep. I use lane assist as a safety feature, in case anything happens.

One of my favourite uses of ACC and lane assist is changing my glasses to sunglasses. I am a reasonable prescription, and I’m not able to drive without my glasses. If it suddenly gets dark, I need to change my sunglasses out, or I can’t see! Having the car “drive itself” means that in the second I’m without my prescription something happens, I won’t instantly veer into a bridge support. These safety features also allow me to check my map, or directions, safe in the knowledge that if a car suddenly pulls out in front of me, I stand a reasonable chance of not having a smash.

For all those that say “oh, you should stop and change glasses, you’re distracted on your maps, etc” - get real. If people had to stop every time a cloud meant they needed to change their eyewear, nobody would get anywhere.

I am in full control of the car at all times. I use the systems to better myself as a driver.

Do you think airline pilots sit all day with their hands on the sidestick and throttles? As I said, if using ACC, etc means that you have a collision, then you were going too fast, too close, or whatever, to begin with.

7 minutes ago, OccyVRS said:

The whole point of these systems is to make your life easier, safer and more efficient. It’s easier because I’m able to not stare at my speedometer. It’s safer because I can look ahead, behind and be far more aware of my surroundings. It’s more efficient because, as I said, I’m able to channel more energy into doing tasks the car can’t do - such as monitoring vehicles hundreds of meters ahead, and being more focused on the road and not my speedometer.

I'd just be worried that it might do something stupid.

7 minutes ago, OccyVRS said:

I don’t use lane keep. I use lane assist as a safety feature, in case anything happens.

I've only done 800 miles in mine and I've already found it to be dangerous enough to definitely want it switched off.

7 minutes ago, OccyVRS said:

One of my favourite uses of ACC and lane assist is changing my glasses to sunglasses. I am a reasonable prescription, and I’m not able to drive without my glasses. If it suddenly gets dark, I need to change my sunglasses out, or I can’t see! Having the car “drive itself” means that in the second I’m without my prescription something happens, I won’t instantly veer into a bridge support.

To me that sounds like you're putting a lot of faith in immature technology.

7 minutes ago, OccyVRS said:

These safety features also allow me to check my map, or directions, safe in the knowledge that if a car suddenly pulls out in front of me, I stand a reasonable chance of not having a smash.

I follow voice guidance most of the time with an occasional quick glance at the map if necessary. Anything more and I'll pull over somewhere safe or if I have a passenger, I'll ask them to clarify the situation.

7 minutes ago, OccyVRS said:

I am in full control of the car at all times. I use the systems to better myself as a driver.

Any time the car is doing something for you, you're not practicing that aspect of driving, so how does it make you a better driver? You're also definitely not in full control of the car, considering the car can fight with you over lane positioning, slam on the brakes, etc.

7 minutes ago, OccyVRS said:

Do you think airline pilots sit all day with their hands on the sidestick and throttles?

That's a very different scenario and autopilot systems are much more mature than driver assist systems.

7 minutes ago, OccyVRS said:

As I said, if using ACC, etc means that you have a collision, then you were going too fast, too close, or whatever, to begin with.

Or maybe the ACC is not bulletproof and could make a collision more likely in some very specific conditions?

How can the car fight with me over lane positioning, or slam on the brakes? Are you suggesting everyone with a car built after 2019 needs to disable every single safety feature every time they get in the car? That sounds like the only way to be in “full control”.

Whenever I have fun with the car, both TC and the ESP are turned “off”, meaning front assist and the like are unavailable. I don’t find myself suddenly unable to drive. Like I said, it’s about making life easier. If I have to stand I will, but if there’s a chair, why wouldn’t I sit down? You possibly speak for yourself on that point - I don’t need to practice staring at my speedo keeping the car at the limit. I can drive under it, I can drive over it, but why wouldn’t I just let the car do it for me? As I’ve said many times, it leaves me free to focus on more important things. I’m still able to intervene - closing a gap, opening a gap, etc.

I hate to break it to you, but just because you’re not using adaptive cruise control, the car will still brake for you. Most newer cars will swerve for you, and in recent years they’ll pull over to the side of the road and call for help.

ACC is a simple system. It allows the car to go up to a predetermined speed, keeping a set distance to the object in front. It’s not witchcraft, and it’s not taking over driving. I’m still sat in the seat, steering and with my feet on the pedals. As I’ve said before, the car will react far more quickly than I, or anyone else on this forum. Yes, front assist does sometimes have false triggers, but that’s nothing to do with ACC. I don’t use lane assist except when on the motorway. It annoys me.

I don’t have BSA, but I’m assuming that also means the driver is lazy and can’t practice turning their head? That isn’t the point. It is an additional layer of safety, designed to enhance the spatial awareness of the driver.

There will be a time in the future when people can’t believe that humans were once allowed to control two tons of metal moving at 70mph. The average UK driver is a complete moron with no spatial awareness, common sense or understanding of how to drive. If these safety features mean one extra life is saved, I’m all for them.

One last thing - there is definitely a difference in braking assist between different cars. My vRS has only braked for me once (I was already hard on the brakes), whereas the little Ibiza does it once every few months. It’s not the sensitivity or anything - the system just seems to care less. If I sit on the brakes in the Ibiza, the hazards come on. If I sit on the brakes in my vRS, they don’t!

5 hours ago, OccyVRS said:

How can the car fight with me over lane positioning, or slam on the brakes?

Because it has control of the steering and braking?

5 hours ago, OccyVRS said:

Are you suggesting everyone with a car built after 2019 needs to disable every single safety feature every time they get in the car?

I'm not necessarily suggesting it applies to everybody, nor every safety feature, nor every time.

5 hours ago, OccyVRS said:

That sounds like the only way to be in “full control”.

Yes.

5 hours ago, OccyVRS said:

Whenever I have fun with the car, both TC and the ESP are turned “off”, meaning front assist and the like are unavailable. I don’t find myself suddenly unable to drive.

I didn't say you would. I just questioned how having assist features turned on could make you a better driver.

5 hours ago, OccyVRS said:

Like I said, it’s about making life easier. If I have to stand I will, but if there’s a chair, why wouldn’t I sit down?

What if the chair has a wobbly leg?

5 hours ago, OccyVRS said:

You possibly speak for yourself on that point - I don’t need to practice staring at my speedo keeping the car at the limit.

That's not what you suggested before?

5 hours ago, OccyVRS said:

I hate to break it to you, but just because you’re not using adaptive cruise control, the car will still brake for you.

Obviously, because other assist features involve braking.

5 hours ago, OccyVRS said:

Most newer cars will swerve for you, and in recent years they’ll pull over to the side of the road and call for help.

Why would the car need to swerve for me? My other car doesn't have any of these features and it hasn't been a problem. I wonder about liability, if by swerving a collision is caused?

I wouldn't mind a car pulling over and calling for help if I'm genuinely incapacitated. I definitely would mind if it does it due to faulty logic, failing sensor etc.

5 hours ago, OccyVRS said:

ACC is a simple system. It allows the car to go up to a predetermined speed, keeping a set distance to the object in front. It’s not witchcraft, and it’s not taking over driving. I’m still sat in the seat, steering and with my feet on the pedals. As I’ve said before, the car will react far more quickly than I, or anyone else on this forum. Yes, front assist does sometimes have false triggers, but that’s nothing to do with ACC. I don’t use lane assist except when on the motorway. It annoys me.

I wasn't strictly talking about just ACC.

Why does lane assist annoy you?

5 hours ago, OccyVRS said:

I don’t have BSA, but I’m assuming that also means the driver is lazy and can’t practice turning their head? That isn’t the point. It is an additional layer of safety, designed to enhance the spatial awareness of the driver.

All well and good until a driver becomes habitually reliant on it, then finds themselves driving a car without it.

5 hours ago, OccyVRS said:

There will be a time in the future when people can’t believe that humans were once allowed to control two tons of metal moving at 70mph

I 100% agree that this will happen but it's a shift of perspective only.

5 hours ago, OccyVRS said:

The average UK driver is a complete moron with no spatial awareness, common sense or understanding of how to drive.

Agreed.

5 hours ago, OccyVRS said:

If these safety features mean one extra life is saved, I’m all for them.

In theory, so am I. Are we sure that they haven't contributed to any deaths though?

5 hours ago, OccyVRS said:

One last thing - there is definitely a difference in braking assist between different cars. My vRS has only braked for me once (I was already hard on the brakes), whereas the little Ibiza does it once every few months. It’s not the sensitivity or anything - the system just seems to care less.

Oh come on, cars don't have feelings. The difference can only be due to things like sensitivity to inputs (different programming or software versions), different number of inputs/input types, sensor types/outputs and so on.

5 hours ago, OccyVRS said:

If I sit on the brakes in the Ibiza, the hazards come on. If I sit on the brakes in my vRS, they don’t!

Though I'm not saying that it should be, I'm a bit surprised this isn't regulated by law.

Edited 3 May3 May by davegr
Spacing

Time to lobby the EU & EU Commissioners then and your MP or Transport Minister about what Legislation was introduced on Mandatory features that in some cases are poorly implemented by manufacturers on some models. Good luck with that. Or just buy pre 2024 vehicles if your driving style is nor compatible with 'supposed safety features'. If the vehicle as sold is unsafe contact the DVSA / Dft, The PM and Secretary of State for Transport & your MP.

9 minutes ago, Evolution13 said:

Time to lobby the EU & EU Commissioners then and your MP or Transport Minister about what Legislation was introduced on Mandatory features that in some cases are poorly implemented by manufacturers on some models. Good luck with that. Or just buy pre 2024 vehicles if your driving style is nor compatible with 'supposed safety features'. If the vehicle as sold is unsafe contact the DVSA / Dft, The PM and Secretary of State for Transport & your MP.

I think I might just stop using this forum.

I’m quite a new user here. I had read elsewhere (can’t remember where though) that there’s quite an attitude on this forum and I’m now starting to see it for myself!

@davegr Sorry to see that you are expecting everyone to just agree with your point of view or that you think they will have the same experience as you with new vehicles in the UK.

2 minutes ago, Evolution13 said:

@davegr Sorry to see that you are expecting everyone to just agree with your point of view or that you think they will have the same experience as you with new vehicles in the UK.

That’s not what I expect at all and maybe you should re-read your own reply because it cuts both ways.

@davegr

I'm with you.