OCTAVIA III Owners discussion thread

[Gerrycan]

Somewhat obvious question regarding gearbox response times but were you in "Sport" mode?
Apparently makes a big difference.

[furiousgibbon]

Yes I've tried Sport mode and it responds lightning fast, as the Golf does all the time. Unfortunately it also wants to downshift too eagerly and won't shift above 4th without manual intervention, so it's pretty useless for me. I'm hoping the software learns my driving behaviour and sharpens things up a little in Normal mode.

I've also noticed the small fuel tank, 50L is a bit light on, made me think the car was really thirsty as it went through half a tank in no time!

The cruise control stalk is a real annoyance too, I've highbeamed people twice, this morning I didn't even realise I'd done it because adaptive cruise made me think it'd been turned off, and i was thinking 'why is that car ahead of me so bright'. I must've looked like a fool. I need to read the manual but can I only change the cruise in 10km/h increments?

[parisfrance]

I need to read the manual but can I only change the cruise in 10km/h increments?

Yes, at first I could only increase or decrease cruise control increments by 10km/h but after another closer reading of the manual I discovered that pulling the cruise control lever towards you (same direction as resuming cruise control) increases the speed in 1km/h increments while in cruise control mode and pushing the set speed button at the end of the cruise control stalk decreases speed in 1km/h increments. I've got it down to a fine art now.

While driving down the coast from Scarborough to Swanbourne Monday night where the speed limits vary from 80km/h to 60km/h to 70km/h, just pulling down on the cruise stalk or pushing up would decrease or increase the cruise control speed limit in 10km/h increments and then pulling the lever towards me or pushing the set speed button on the end of stalk would increase or decrease the speed in 1km/h increments. I always set speed at 4km/h over the posted limit to allow for the inaccuracy of speedometers.

If on the freeway and using the ACC, once I notice the speed of the vehicle decreasing due to the proximity of the vehicle in front, I move in the right hand land (assuming it is clear) and the car increases speed again under ACC. Works like a dream. I've even managed to drive all the way down Greenmount Hill without having to touch the brake pedal until I got to a set of lights. I love ACC.

[GeeMatt]

+1 ^ What he said !
Takes a bit of getting used to, especially the slowing down bit and the gap to the car in front. But if your sneaky and anticipate the traffic it works a treat.

PS. In VIC I find that moving into the left lane gives the clearest run on the freeways !

[GTR27]

On a freeway it's easy to tell... On mine it shows up a car in the maxidot when a car comes into range of the radar (sometimes just lines will show up at extreme distance) once the car approaches the distance bars you can feel it back off or brake depending how high your closing speed is. I still can't believe how good acc is. Even in a manual!

[furiousgibbon]

thanks guys. Yeah the ACC is amazing, I tried it properly tonight on the way home, the closest setting is as close as I feel comfortable following a car which is good, I was expecting it to be very far away. It's amazing how seamlessly it adjusts the speed. In other cars I get used to constantly deactivating or tweaking the cruise, but not having to think about it is so relaxing.

I also spent some time tweaking the stereo and it's actually really good. Someone had faffed with the settings before delivery, EQ was all on max, virtual surround was on, it sounded awful. I set everything to flat, bass +1, sub +4, surround off, sound focus on front. Now it sounds great.

I also can't get over how fricken brilliant the touch screen interface is. As someone who works in IT (software) I appreciate a good UI and for so long I've cursed the various touch screen car interfaces I've had. Today I loaded up a 60 minute set off an SD card, which gets really good from 28 mins in. In my other cars I have to hold seek for an eternity, and if I accidentally tap it I have to start all over. I went to do this and thought hang on, maybe... just maybe after all these years someone has thought to put a duration bar in that I can tap/drag and go straight to that point. I look at the screen, green bar, tap it. OH, YES. I actually said that out loud. I could go on because I've found so many cool features that obviously had some thought put into them, but suffice to say it's just bloody awesome.

[afterdarker]

ACC is very good / excellent but I find mine can spontaneously deactivate and the only way to reactivate it is by pulling over, turning the engine of and re-starting. I think it's faulty - has anyone else experienced this?

[parisfrance]

Sounds like a fault, I haven't experienced anything like that with the ACC. It can get tripped up by vehicles on side roads or even a vehicle ahead that is going around a roundabout, but really it isn't intended to be used on back suburban street. I just use cruise everywhere so I don't have to constantly pay attention to my speedo; allowing me to watch out for pedestrians, dogs etc. I'd rather be looking out the window than at my dash.

[parisfrance]

I also spent some time tweaking the stereo and it's actually really good. Someone had faffed with the settings before delivery, EQ was all on max, virtual surround was on, it sounded awful. I set everything to flat, bass +1, sub +4, surround off, sound focus on front. Now it sounds great.

I also can't get over how fricken brilliant the touch screen interface is. As someone who works in IT (software) I appreciate a good UI and for so long I've cursed the various touch screen car interfaces I've had. Today I loaded up a 60 minute set off an SD card, which gets really good from 28 mins in. In my other cars I have to hold seek for an eternity, and if I accidentally tap it I have to start all over. I went to do this and thought hang on, maybe... just maybe after all these years someone has thought to put a duration bar in that I can tap/drag and go straight to that point. I look at the screen, green bar, tap it. OH, YES. I actually said that out loud. I could go on because I've found so many cool features that obviously had some thought put into them, but suffice to say it's just bloody awesome.

I have to say I am actually pleasantly surprised by the quality of the Canton system. At first I was disappointed, but after three weeks the speakers have worn in nicely and it is actually producing fairly accurate sound reproduction. I have only fed it flac files so far but I don't think I will need to upgrade the factory system, which is a pleasant change from all my previous vehicles.

[Smart1]

Sounds faulty to me, i have never had an issue with mine. I love the party trick of allowing it come to a complete stop whilst showing your passengers are nowhere near the pedals.