Does Australia miss out?

[chriskan]

Someone in Finland probably did not get theirs!

Haha well the dealer did say the car has a rare combo of options for a stock order, maybe it got on the wrong boat! No complaints

[GTR27]

Pano roof is totally worth getting. One of my favourite options.

We dont get lane assist, heated seats (mk2 octavia rs got heated fronts std), only elegance gets puddle lights under mirrors. We also dont get the amundsen sat nav option. Its Swing (basic), Bolero (touch screen, but basic), or Columbus (8" top spec) only.

Our base models are higher spec than the UK ones. S is kind of like our ambition - although our base model engine is the 1.4TSI. SE is roughly ambition+ (although we get 9 airbags std in that and a few other things). Then elegance and rs are roughly the same, however ours are higher spec std (full leather std in elegance).

Manual gearboxes based on this forum are highly sought after, but we are mostly forced to take DSG as manuals are essentially a "build to order" for us. And you cant get a elegance in manual. You also cant get an awd octavia. We get treated like **** compared to the UK from a customer service point of view - VW Australia run skoda, and you can tell its run like a bunch of arrogant germans are at the helm. I think *insert harsh ww2 german pun* had better customer service than we get.


But, compared to a lot of other cars, Skodas are comparable in price to the UK for the options etc. Most other cars here in Oz are way more expensive for what you get. Especially anything euro (although VW is also, similarly priced).


If you want a manual, call up and order it about 6 months at least before you actually need it.

[Guest001]

Perhaps a rather specific requirement but as a rather senior cycle racer who has to regularly start races in near freezing temperatures, nothing better for pumping heat into those old groin muscles driving to a race start.
(That's maybe too much information)��

You should drive with both hands on the wheel

[afterdarker]

Perhaps a rather specific requirement but as a rather senior cycle racer who has to regularly start races in near freezing temperatures, nothing better for pumping heat into those old groin muscles driving to a race start.
(That's maybe too much information)[emoji3]

Aha, keeping the cods warm is certainly a good enough reason for a heated seat.

[brad]

Aha, keeping the cods warm is certainly a good enough reason for a heated seat.

All the younger gents should remember that it kills a percentage of the swimmers. Don't use the seat warmers if you're trying to start a family. OTOH, it doesn't kill 100%, so don't use it as a family planning method either...

[brenno]

In Australia we also miss out on the variable boot floor option for reasons unknown - perhaps we are not practical enough. We also miss out on the option where you can fold forward the passenger seat to allow large cargo.

http://imgproxy-core.skoda-auto.com/wwk2-sitecollectionimages/hotspots/octavia/octavia-estate-b22_foldable_passenger_seat_201306071327.jpg

Also conspicuously missing is stop-start on the lower spec models. My car had the stop-start button installed from the factory which was odd.

Early Ambitions missed out on a functional USB port, quickly rectified by Skoda after they realised they printed the brochure advertising otherwise.

[woofy]

would have thought all front passenger seats fold forward like that. Never tried it with our current Skoda from memory though. Unless you mean completely flat but most cars I have owned fold foward to some extent. We had the variable boot floor option in the Mk2 and pretty much noone took it up, ie the false floor that made loading level you could order.

[woofy]

All the younger gents should remember that it kills a percentage of the swimmers. Don't use the seat warmers if you're trying to start a family. OTOH, it doesn't kill 100%, so don't use it as a family planning method either...

I never used it, but my low body temp workmates (female) did as well as my wife. I ironically hurt my lower back due to the deepness of the boot and the angle I used to get into in my tight work car spot and then found it amazing to free up my back on Winter days. Don't have it in my work car, and the drivers side is working intermittently in our Skoda which is now my wifes car. Not sure if I could be bothered getting a comfort pack to have it back.

[Gerrycan]

Our passenger car seats do fold forward a bit but nothing really useful though.
According to Briskoda threads the folding seat has a different hinging point to enable it to lie flat.

[T_BONES]

Chriskan & GTR27 thanks so much for the info on the pano roof, has helped a lot.

I have noticed on the online creator the puddle lights do come with the comfort pack on the RS. Skoda may call them "Environment Lights" though?

[hobbie2k]

Australia misses out on the ice-scraper in the fuel flap. This was a concern to at least one person - and they didn't live anywhere near a snowfield

I was disappointed in that too. Not because I expect to need it, or because I want a "complete" car, but because where I'm from it would have been very handy. It is a clever solution to a problem I used to face regularly.

[brad]

I was disappointed in that too. Not because I expect to need it, or because I want a "complete" car, but because where I'm from it would have been very handy. It is a clever solution to a problem I used to face regularly.

I believe the partno is 5E08675759B9 & they are <$10

[afterdarker]

It is only temperate around the coast of Australia, when you get into the interior and especially the southern mountains, then the temperature often drops well below freezing in 'winter'.
Australia actually has a larger area of snowfields than Switzerland.

I would argue that the proportion of Australians that routinely experience freezing temperatures is less than 10% of the total population. Whereas in Switzerland it is 90% of the population. But this is one of those internet arguments that is slightly pointless. I accept that some people like heated seats and think they are an important feature, but really 95% of Australians don't care. (In a convertible they would be useful I reckon and on my motorbike heated grips are a great winter option but otherwise pah! unless you are a barking mad Abbott type pre dawn cyclist)


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[aslsw]

Try Canberra winters! Also, my wife appreciated the heated seats for her shoulder complaint. But horses for courses - I'm just glad the heated seats are there as an option, without them I think I would have struggled to convince my wife.

Now, can we just get paddle shifts back as an option?!

[brad]

I occasionally turn the heated seats on as a practical joke on my wife. She claims it feels like she crapped her pants. I assume she's not a fan of heated seats.