Things I'd like to improve on my Skoda:

[Mysticality]

I pull the pull strap, then push on the number plate to close the boot. It's a good system.

My car is currently covered in red dust and some road grit - but that's what you get after driving through a state forest for work!!
I don't mind a country car, but I like to clean the Octy every so often.

I prefer the boot closing idea from the Soreto - a cut out in the boot lid. Can pull it down and flip your hand out in one quick motion. Really nice and handy.
I still remember having to jump to get the door of the Canopy on dad's old ute!!

[donweather]

I prefer the boot closing idea from the Soreto - a cut out in the boot lid. Can pull it down and flip your hand out in one quick motion. Really nice and handy.

That's exactly what the Tiguan's got and it ****'s all over the wanky strap in the Occy. BTW - Is it just my wagon, but I always have to close it twice as it never seems to close/lock the first time. Ya kinda have to slam it almost, if ya just let it drop, it doesn't close properly??

[Mysticality]

No vehicle I can remember owning has ever closed the rear door(s) on the first go, if you just "let it drop"
Hmm, let me see...

Daewoo Lanos
Mazda Bravo B2600 (canopy)
Hyundai Santa Fe
Kia Sorento
Kia Rio (hatch)
Kia Rio (sedan)
Octy vRS Wagon

The locking mechanism always needs a bit of a push to reach far enough to lock the tailgate down.
That being said, I've always sorta slammed the boot when closing it!!

[donweather]

Well, looks like the Tiguan is in an exclusive list then as it closed first time every time just letting it drop.

[dArK5HaD0w]

That's exactly what the Tiguan's got and it ****'s all over the wanky strap in the Occy. BTW - Is it just my wagon, but I always have to close it twice as it never seems to close/lock the first time. Ya kinda have to slam it almost, if ya just let it drop, it doesn't close properly??

No vehicle I can remember owning has ever closed the rear door(s) on the first go, if you just "let it drop"
Hmm, let me see...

c...even more reason not to buy a wagon!!!
hehehhee

my "liftback" closes 1st time every time when dropped.

[zei20t]

yeah I haven't had closing problems with any car I had!

my stagea had a motorised boot lock

[Tigger]

That's exactly what the Tiguan's got and it ****'s all over the wanky strap in the Occy. BTW - Is it just my wagon, but I always have to close it twice as it never seems to close/lock the first time. Ya kinda have to slam it almost, if ya just let it drop, it doesn't close properly??

YESS!!!!!! ME TOOO!!!!!

I have rarely been able to close in in one move!.

I also am sporting some awesome bruises on the forearm from pulling my arm away too slowly...

[donweather]

I took the advice from the guys above and started using the inside plastic strap and then putting my hand on the skoda emblem on the outside when closing. Closes first time every time now.

[Mickyb]

. . . .[*]The steering column being off centre from the instrument binnacle.

After reading this, I have just recently noticed that the Yeti is the same !
I could not pick it until i read this. Not that it bothers me.

[k_rider]

One nice touch I noticed in the Vauxhall Insignia rental car I was driving last week in the UK, was that the cruise control indicator had two colours, white when it was switched on, changing to green when the speed was set. In my Octy, I only see the (green) cruise control indicator, when it is switched on and the speed is set. There's been a number of times where I've forgotten to switch the cruise control off completely, could lead to a sticky situation if the 'res' is pressed accidentally... (I'm pretty sure the last speed setting is retained even after the ignition is switched off)

[k_rider]

c...even more reason not to buy a wagon!!!
hehehhee

my "liftback" closes 1st time every time when dropped.

So does my wagon!

[Tigger]

One nice touch I noticed in the Vauxhall Insignia rental car I was driving last week in the UK, was that the cruise control indicator had two colours, white when it was switched on, changing to green when the speed was set. In my Octy, I only see the (green) cruise control indicator, when it is switched on and the speed is set. There's been a number of times where I've forgotten to switch the cruise control off completely, could lead to a sticky situation if the 'res' is pressed accidentally... (I'm pretty sure the last speed setting is retained even after the ignition is switched off)

I agree.
The cruise set up is not as user freindly as the one from my Tiguan. In that, the lower corner of the MFD shows when the cruise is on, and the speed it is set to.
Very good design...

[wfdTamar]

I wouldn't mind if they could work out a (neat and clean) way to get at the spare wheel from underneath rather than having to unload everything.

[k_rider]

+1

Even worse if you have the heavy rubber boot mat fitted, which has to be lifted out, it's too stiff to roll up out of the way.

The spare is a bitch to lift out too, given that it sits quite low in the car - not at all good for your back.

One of the best systems I've seen was on a Peugeot 504 which had the spare wheel sitting in a cradle under the boot . It had a release handle inside the boot, which when pulled, allowed the cradle to drop down and the spare slide out toward the rear. Getting the wheel back into it however, was a different story! The only way to swing the wheel and cradle back and locked into position was to lift it back up with the jack! Still way better than having to unload everything to get the spare out and then re-load afterwards.

[Mysticality]

My Kia Sorento had the same system as most utes.
You pop a plastic cover and use the tyre iron to wind the spare down under the car onto the ground. Then you unclip the chain and take the spare out.
Pop the centre cap, clip the chain back in and wind it back up to store the spare back up under the car.

Once I actually worked out the system, it was amazingly easy! Even when stressed and yelling expletivs at inanimate objects!