Bengaluru has cold to pleasant weather. So I do not need to use AC much.

BHPian tristis2008 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

T-Roc 1.5 TSI DSG - Model Year 2020:

I am not a mileage freak, but I do keep capturing the car's expenses.

Here is the mileage of last 10 fillings. The drive of around 5000 kms, if I roughly calculate, was 40% Highway and 60% City, with full usage of AC on highways and rare use of AC during city drives.
Bengaluru has cold to pleasant weather. So I do not need to use AC much:

 However, if one were to drive with a very light foot, the engine returns very good mileage. In fact I made an attempt and got the below:

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Love the ease of driving an AT and the above-average ride quality. This car is a pleasure to drive on the highways and really saves the left knee in Bengaluru traffic.

BHPian drive.helios recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Allow me to introduce myself and share a review of my beloved "Helios", our VW Taigun 1.0 Topline AT. For most of my life, I was a bike guy, even though I had my driver's license for nearly a decade. But then, the pandemic struck and I found myself back in my hometown of Kannur, Kerala, after spending the last 12 years in Bengaluru. As I began to venture out in my trusty Tiago, I started with short trips and gradually worked up to 200+ km drives. This was partly because my usual ride, Jasper, a 2014 Royal Enfield Classic 350, was stranded in Bengaluru and I had to get it shipped and repaired (a story for another time).

I spend my daytime as Product Owner for a Petro-chemical Major's IT wing and nights as a wannabe poet. I enjoy good food - some of our future trips will thus be food tasting I wish, literature and talking, apart from biking and being on the road. A couple of accidents (was hit by a bike that did not have the headlight on while crossing the road at night, another time an Uber car jumped the signal at a 4-way crossroad and T'd me and Jasper all the while the traffic cop has stopped the traffic from that end and it was a Go for me) and covid had slowed me down. I'm a newbie car owner/driver, and hardly have got my hands dirty, I trust the service centers / FNGs to get this done, but I compensate for the lack of such expertise by being a super careful and sedate driver on road. Often, I'm the last driver to pass through a congested road or in traffic.

Fast forward to 2022, when I asked my best friend to marry me - out of nowhere, our lives changed! We were set to tie the knot in September, which meant it was time for me to return to Bengaluru. Until then, I had been on the fence about getting a new car, opting instead for the convenience of ride-sharing services like Ola and Uber. But after several frustrating experiences trying to book a cab, combined with the exorbitant wait times and prices, I knew it was time for a change. My then fiancé, now partner ("D") and I love going out and taking midnight drives, and as the biker in me evolved to prioritize safety on long trips with a partner, we decided it was time to upgrade. We would end up gifting ourselves a wild cherry red Taigun 1.0 AT in August 2022.

The selection process, but first the demands in no order:

• SUV preferred for visibility and driving comfort.
• Automatic transmission.
• Petrol engine with acceptable mileage.
• Reverse assist with camera preferred.
• 360-degree cameras optional.
• Budget range of 12-16L, but also flexible to go up, with intention to keep car for at least 7-8 years.
• Emphasis on safety, as car will be driven frequently.
• Decent boot space.
• Delivery before Sept 2022.

Our usage pattern:

The cars at our respective homes are only used for short city drive and occasional visit to relatives, hospitals and mostly cover 5-8K kms a year. With the new car, we do not foresee a lot of city drive but quite a lot of outstation drives. in the Last few months we have perhaps driven around 500kms in Bengaluru city and the remaining 6K kms are all outstation trips. we are anticipating a monthly usage of 1000-2000 kms, with a few vacation / road trip plans already in the pipeline. The car remains parked during the week days unless we decide to take a late/mid night drive. We do not drive for work.

Cars, TD experiences and why we chose a Taigun:

Tata Nexon: I had initially considered the Nexon as my first choice for a new car. I had a positive experience with the Tata Tiago and believed the Nexon would offer similar value for money and good build quality. However, my experience with Tata service centers (TASS) had been hit and miss in the past. Despite this, I had built connections with the local dealership and service center and knew the issues would be resolved. I also knew a few local mechanics / FNGs who could fix any problems with the car. The Nexon also has an AMT transmission, which my friend had recently purchased and seemed to enjoy. In addition, the Nexon had received positive safety ratings and I felt confident in its build quality. Despite not having test driven the Nexon, I almost convinced my partner to book one.

Other cars: My brother, who is a better driver and knowledgeable about cars, convinced me to test drive other vehicles in the SUV segment to get a feel for them on the road. This ended up being a great decision as it helped me make an informed choice.

Tata Altroz: The salesperson recommended we try the Altroz, specifically in the MT guise. While I liked the car, I ultimately decided not to purchase it due to issues with visibility and confidence in the seating position.

Tata Harrier: I did not initially consider the Harrier, but after test driving it, I was impressed by the 2.0 diesel engine and the car's strong road presence. Discarded as it’s a huge car, also a diesel one.

Hyundai Creta and Kia Seltos: I test drove the Creta 1.4 DCT and while I liked the features it offered, I ultimately discarded it due to safety concerns and a long waiting period (5-6 months). The Seltos dealer gave us the GT top variant for a test drive and I was impressed by the features it offered. It was also a better car than the Creta under similar considerations. However, I had concerns about the maintenance of the DCT gearbox in the long run, along with their safety ratings. I had by then spent enough time in the TBHP forum consuming content. Two weeks after declining the Hyundai Creta, the SA called back to say that a Knight edition was readily available. I declined the offer and he then made an unusual request to book the car regardless and cancel it later, as he had not met his quota. While I felt sorry for him, it was not a wise decision for us and I politely declined. Another reason to discard the creta was the frequent face-lifts and we were told that seltos is due for a face-lift in 2023 as well.

Kia Sonet: I did not test drive the Sonet due to safety concerns.

Volkswagen Taigun and Skoda Kushaq: I was blown away by the 1.5 DSG Taigun, but it was beyond our budget. We test drove the 1.0 AT Taigun as well and were impressed by its refinement. Driving these two cars also meant we no longer liked the AMT transmission and head nod associated with them. The car was also smaller in size compared to the Creta and Seltos, which we liked. We ultimately decided on the Taigun due to its shorter waiting period (2 months) and other options discussed in the pros and cons below. We also considered the Skoda Kushaq, which had a similar experience to the Taigun but with a more subtle, less chrome design that we preferred. However, we ultimately decided against it due to a lack of service centers in my hometown and the need to drive 100+ km to get it serviced.

MG Astor - never got the test drive scheduled.

Maruti S-Cross - Did not do a TD as the SA confirmed the end of life for this model.

Maruti Baleno - The new model ditched the CVT for an AMT, hence did not do a TD. It did fit a lot to the requirements otherwise. 360-degree camera, improved design language and perhaps the only car that has factory fitted tinted glass other than the XL6/Ertiga.

Cars not considered:

• MG Hector: a huge car for a first time - full time owner.
• Mahindra XUV700 - long waiting period and budget issues
• Jeep Compass - beyond our budget.
• Mahindra XUV300 - after Nexon's AMT experience, decided against AMT.
• Mahindra Thar - not practical for us, but in the Wishlist for a future car.
• Maruti XL6/Ertiga - did not consider as they were a tad bit bigger in size.

EVs weren't considered at all given both our home runs are over 350kms one way.

Shortlisted car: Taigun or wait for 5/6 months to get Seltos and borrow our family car until then

The deciding call:

Since my brother and I had been the ones test driving the cars, D and I decided to take a second test drive together to ensure she was also comfortable with the car we chose. We were unsure between the Kia Seltos and the Volkswagen Taigun AT, but ultimately chose the Taigun. There were both emotional and logical reasons for this decision. On an emotional level, the car felt good to drive and instilled confidence in me as a less experienced driver. We were also confident in its safety ratings. The dealership and salesperson's attitude were also important factors in our decision. The salesperson, Ashish, was patient and listened to our demands and concerns, and even brought the car to D's home for a test drive after reports of AC issues emerged. Overall, the way we were treated at the PPS Richmond Road showroom and Ashish's positive attitude sealed the deal for us.

The logical reasons though defied our initial budget and we ended up paying upward to 20+L for "Helios", are listed towards the end.

The booking & delivery experience:

We walked in to the showroom on a day that seemed relaxed for them. We were greated by the gentleman who also became our SA and handled all the affairs from our initial visit to multiple TDs to delivery. We stated that we were looking for. The SA made a suggestion to select the 1.0 AT and not the DSG version after listening to our requirement and driving style. We complied. We wanted the Carbon Steel Grey color but was recommended to go with the Wild Cherry Red. We were informed that the Grey color fades after couple of years. The Wild Cherry Red was appealing as well, so we complied with this recommendation as well. Thanks to the various threads in this forum, I was very direct with my timeline and delivery requirements stating if it cannot be delivered before Sept 2022, we would walk out of the deal. If we cannot do a PDI before payment was initiated/settled, we would walk out of the deal. The SA complied and promised delivery by August 2022, and he came around it. Got the car delivered in the last week of July 2022. We did the PDI twice - at their Yard before disbursement of the payments and on the day of delivery. We were driven to the yard by the SA and given enough time to look at the car. The ODO was at 65 kms when we took delivery, I do not remember what it was when we checked the car out at their yard. There were no offers running in May/June 2022 so we negotiated on the insurance and they matched my external quote without any changes to what was covered. We did not also purchase the essential kit priced at 10K, but instead placed an immediate order at the service center in Kannur for few items that we wanted - specifically the mud flaps, read window blinds, car cover, and a dual horn. Collected and fixed them during the "Swagat" service. We did not spend much time there as this was more of a checkup and not a service. I will have to wait for the next service to comment on the service experience in detail, this one was trouble free. We asked for the 7D door mats to be installed and paid a discounted price for it before taking delivery. Again, did not negotiate hard. I had seen a few models in amazon and the price was matched. We were slightly disappointed at the way the car was presented even though when asked, I sought no special arrangements. I did ask that all plastics items (seat covering etc.) be removed. There were a few hand marks, dirt etc., which were cleaned promptly. We had carried sweets for the showroom staff and a small gift for our SA. We were kept updated all throughout the waiting period. I continue to have a cordial relationship with Ashish though he moved jobs.

• Ex-showroom price :16,89,900.
• Extended Warranty - 4+2 Years, No discounts.
• SVP - 4 years, No Discounts

Short summary of the car specs & observations on them:

• Model: Volkwagen Taigun 1.0L Topline AT - absolute love the AT, we hardly notice the shift ups/downs. Hoping to master driving using the paddle shifters/taking manual control. Have experimented it, the downshift to generate power is a adrenaline push.
• Engine: 999cc, 3 cylinders - Peppy, confidence inspiring. have not let us feel like like we should have gone for higher displacement.
• Max. power - 114 bhp @ 5000 rpm - pulls along quite well, as mentioned earlier faints above 150kmph, but dont foresee us doing it again.
• Max. torque - 178 Nm @ 1750 rpm - the initial torque available is fantastic. Took us a couple of days to get used to it. Brings a smile on our face every time we drive out.
• ARAI Mileage - 16.44 kmpl - Currently average mileage is around 10.2KMPL. have see the lowest of 7 and highest of 16.9 so far.
• Dimensions (lxbxh in mm) - 4221x1760x1612 - smaller than competition, but we love it.
• Kerb Weight - 1275kg. Love the planted feel this adds, along with other dynamics of the car.
• Ground clearance (unladen) - 188mm - scratched the bottom twice, once on an unscientific super high bumper and once on a broken road in the ghat section.
• Brakes - Front discs, Rear drums - super confident, and the drums work well enough.

What we liked and considered as pros:

• Helios drives so well and effortlessly that we do not notice it touching 80kmph or move until the chime comes on. we have to enforce restrain ourselves to slow down.
• The ease of driving an AT and the above-average ride quality. This car is a pleasure to drive on the highways and really saves the left knee in Bengaluru traffic. The on-demand power surge is addictive. We hardly use the S mode but we do the Bengaluru - Kannur via the makkuttam ghat road at least once a month and it's where it really is fun. We also do the Palakkad-Coimbatore-Bengaluru route on our return leg and enjoy the benefits of cruise control. We were fortunate to take the new Bangalore Mysore highway for few stretches when it had initially opened and pushed the car to its limits. The 100-110 kmph range in cruise control is the sweet spot. The car tugs until the 140+ easily. Anything beyond seems demanding. We clocked 175kmph and decided not to repeat. This was attempted on an empty stretch, with enough visibility upfront but in no way is recommended.
• Convenient features such as cruise control, ACC, automatic headlights & wipers, and a cooled glove box, which have all been used and found to work well in the first 6500 km of ownership.
• The smaller size compared to other cars in its class which makes it easier to maneuver and park, also the design language that has sharp lines, an upright stance.
• The well-contoured seats with sufficient thigh support, although they are not suitable for a third passenger in the rear.
• The good front visibility.
• The cornering lights are quite handy and substitutes okay for the white LEDs at times.
• Touchscreen infotainment is very good. Sound quality is decent enough. We are not audiophiles but have music playing in the car always at the lowest of volumes.
• The sunroof, albeit small makes the cabin airy.
• The ventilated seats.

What we wish were better in this car:

• The AC. We have a Tiago and Altroz at our respective homes and when compared, the AC is an under performer. With just two of us onboard, we keep it at 22-23. With more people in the rear, we have to reduce further to 18-19.
• The lack of 360 cameras in this price range. Not a deal breaker though.
• The passive TPMS.
• The AC controls. This duty is now designated to the co passenger and not the driver, not intuitive at all.
• The windshield and side windows - not tinted and the heat gets through. Couple this with the underperforming AC and it's a struggle.
• Sunroof mechanicals - an eyesore when opened.
• The wireless AA disconnects randomly or hangs.
• The empty barrel in the headlight cluster. We don't drive long distances in the night but have found it to be inadequate when the vehicle in the opposite side has a better beam.
• The rear wiper feels cheap.
• The dummy sunglasses holder.
• The reverse assist camera quality is not up to the mark.
• The IRVM/ORVMs are one size smaller. It serves the purpose after taking a while to get used to.

Ownership experience until now:

The car continues to be a pleasure and we have driven over 6500kms now across South India. The engine noise gets into the cabin. I did not notice this until a while ago. But this is a sweet note, and I have come to enjoy it, especially when we accelerate a bit more. We always have music playing in the car, so it helps to mask this to an extend as well. We have a few more trips planned for 2023 and hopefully will make them come true. We got almost all the chrome parts wrapped in matt black. I'm considering painting them black after a few months, D disagrees on spending unnecessarily on Helios. We are trying to use the cruise control as much as we can in highway drives. The average mileage in Bengaluru hovers around 10-11kmpl in bumper-to-bumper traffic with the lowest so far being 7. Otherwise, we get around 12-13. On highways, without CC we clock around 14-15 and with CC 15-17. We drive with the AC on all the time. We do let my brother and cousin drive Helios occasionally with the mileage dropping to 12-14kmpl on highways. Clearly, the car responds to how you floor the pedal.

Unforeseen issues faced so far:

• Third day after delivery, an Activa fell in love with Helios and crashed on to the rear. Minor scratches which we decided not to fix for "Drishti". No time was wasted in getting out of the car and arguing with him.
• The infotainment system hung once - fixed itself after engine was shut down and restarted.
• The defogger didn't work and in fact made it worse - had to roll down and drive for a while. Issue not reproduced.
• Driver side window one touch doesn't always work. Hit or miss.
• Scratched the left rear door and the right front bumper to a gate. My fault as I was preoccupied in thought as I started the car and panicked.
• Somebody left another scratch mark on the rear door by slamming their door to ours while parked at the Inox Galleria mall. I'll get this fixed during the 7500 kms service. I have a minor OCD and the itch is really bad.
• A dog crashed on to the front right-side bumper on a highway run. We were blinded by a lorry in the right lane. Fortunately, the dog survived, Helios did too. Had to replace the right fog lamp as its clips broke. We asked for the car to be picked up from our place of residence and dropped back after getting it fixed. Owning the tiago had given me enough wisdom to request that no additional work be done without my explicit consent. The car was dropped back in the same day evening. The rest of the parts didn't suffer any damage. We are sedate drivers and this was something that couldn’t be avoided. Read about the horrors of such hits later and consider ourselves lucky.
• Filled diesel instead of petrol accidentally - we always fill XP95 or from the Reliance station when we travel to Mangalore and avoid everything else. If we are in Kannur and is driving south - we drive to Mahe and tank up. This unfortunate day, traffic was redirected and the immediate next station was seeing rush that they didn't expect. Even though I had got out of the car and told the person to fill XP95 - he filled diesel. Noticed it when approximately 5L was in, cut it off at 8L as I took some time to process what to do and called for RSA immediately. We were on a long drive and did not want to risk it. The pump owner offered to call local mechanic but we knew that we had to get it to the authorized service center. This was at 2300kms in the odo. We neither started the engine nor allowed anyone to do it and waited for 90+ mins until the tow truck arrived. Not starting the engine saved us the service cost and warranty I think now. We got the tank, fuel pump and spark plug cleaned, refilled and took a test drive and set off for the rest of the journey. The pump owner paid for the service and petrol. I did not find the need to penalize him more. He did ask us if we would take lesser money. Since I had explicitly stated to fill XP95 by getting out of the car and walking to the attendant, I politely told him that if I do so, and something happens in the future, I'll regret it. The service manager at Phoenix VW Calicut was very approachable. We found his number from the dealers' website and appraised him of the situation. By the time we reached the service center, folks were informed and they worked at the best speed they could. It took three hours for us to resume the drive. We were told to drive without caring for milage and burn as much as we can. So, for once, we filled any petrol we could and drove away. Once we reached Palakkad, we switched back to XP95. We have not faced any issue so far because of this mayhem. While I now ask the attendants thrice to fill petrol and is a little paranoid, the experience has not deterred my love for the car or driving.

What next for Helios:

• The 7500km checkup is due. Hoping to do it in January itself. Will get the paint fixed this time.
• I have spoken to drcodemyvw to get few items coded but have not been able to. I need to find some time to work with him and get the usuals done.
• Replace the rear wiper with the one from Polo.**
• Install a dash cam. I have shortlisted Viofo A229 duo for now with the parking surveillance hardware hit.
• Drive a lot more, responsibly, safely.
• VW on a response to my tweet confirmed that a phase 1 solution is now made available for the AC performance issue. I'll get this done during the 7.5K km checkup.
• Not considering performance tires at this point.

Wish list:

I'm not a fan of aftermarket customization of physical parts. I try to run everything as they come. We opted for an XZ+ Tiago for the parents because of this. Opted for Topline AT for the same reason. But I do want to make a second exception for an aftermarket headlight unit that gets rid of the empty barrel. This is the only time I wish if we had opted for the Highline Variant and swapped the units to aftermarket solution. But the other features were on the no compromise list, so we stuck with Topline.

Where I need help/guidance from the forum/other owners:

Is it worth doing a PPF or ceramic coating on the car? A friend recommended Kriti car care ( also read here in the forum) but I've been in and out of Bengaluru for various personal reasons and never quite visited them. (The cost is exorbitant for PPF, I can actually paint over the scratches once a year, but the OCD for clean cars is quite high).

The windscreen and windows are a pain. We do not drive long distances in the night. Is it worth getting the tints (CR70/Ice shield) ? I know it's illegal but placing convenience over the fine it may attract..

Suggestions on fixing the dash cam with the hardwire kit. Is it recommended or not?

As i wrapped up writing, i realized that all the pictures have been clicked in my head, and not really in my phone. Nevertheless, adding some of them from our Dec 2022 drive to Gandikota. Helios needs a wash now, and i can possibly click some pics after:

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The most common issue with VW 2.0 cars is the auto-up-down feature of the driver-side window. That thing really has a mind of its own. sometimes it works, sometimes doesn't.

BHPian Atharva14 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Well, it really has been a great drive so far for me. Many road trips and daily commutes have really been a joy.

However, during my last trip to Konkan, I happen to hit a deep pothole at almost 50-60km/hr. Knew something is wrong and within a few meters got the deflation warning on the cockpit. The front left tyre got a cut on the sidewall (not repairable).

Changed it with stepney and carried on with the journey.TPMS error. On a break, I happen to notice that the rear left tyre also has a bulge on the sidewall. Bad luck max. Contacted a bunch of tyre stores in Kolhapur for the available size but Volkswagen decided to put such a unique size(205/55 R17) that it is hardly available! Also being a Sunday, VW Kolhapur was also shut. Risked it and carried on with the journey to Mumbai at a speed below 80km/hr every time.

The next morning visited VW Autobahn(Goregaon west). Advisor advised me to change the front left with a new one and to claim warranty for the bulged tyre. My car has MRFs and they're the worst in warranty processes. Obviously, the warranty claim was rejected, and had to pay for both tyres.

Also, the advisor checked for any strut leakage and alignment. Found everything to be perfect. Drove almost 1K kms after that no issues.

The other and most common issue with VW 2.0 cars is the auto-up-down feature of the driver-side window. That thing really has a mind of its own. sometimes it works, sometimes doesn't, and sometimes it does the opposite of what you do. I'm on my third power window motor now(1st changed due to faulty, 2nd changed while adding auto fold mirrors). The issue starts to persist again and this time I really want a robust result. Went again to the service center, Mr. Purshottam( Asst. Service Manager) promptly looked into the matter and kept the car for a day, and did the necessary changes needed. The window lifter was changed this time under warranty. The motor remains the same. A great experience as always at the workshop (VW autobahn Goregaon). Mr. Purshottam looked into the matter carefully and gave me timely updates on the same. All warranty claims were handled by him and the part was also made available quickly.

The car was washed and returned the next day. The auto-up-down works fine now and I feel the speed by which the window comes up has also fastened.

Changed the fogs to LEDs! A simple yet tricky swap. Need to remove the wheel liner to access the fog light housing. Easy swap after that. Used Osram's H8s. The throw is 10X better now. No glare of any sort:

Well, that's it for now folks.

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Overtaking is piece of cake. Press the accelerator down, the DSG shifts to D5, and the car surges ahead. Switching to S mode or manually shifting a gear down has the same effect.

BHPian amit1agrawal recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

We completed a 3000 km round trip from Bangalore to Jabalpur. My observations:

• The car is a comfortable cruiser & miles muncher. It can run all day without any issues.
• Overtaking is piece of cake. Press the accelerator down, the DSG shifts to D5, and the car surges ahead. Switching to S mode or manually shifting a gear down has the same effect. I found switching to S mode overtaking the quickest & easiest one.
• Both front & rear seats are very comfortable. My weak back didn't pain even after 12 hours of driving. It absorbs the undulations and patches & keeps the passengers comfortable.
• NVH is very good & we barely heard anything at 110+ except a slight hum from the tire noise. I am running on stock tires & switching to softer rubber might make the cabin silent.
• High-speed driving dynamics & stability is excellent. I touched unmentionable speeds a couple of times & there was no nervousness.
• The AC is good enough. When the outside temp is high, I had to reduce the inside temp to 20 to make it effective. My daughter, who sat in the rear seat most of the time, didn't complain. It's not a set it & forget it though.
• Headlights are very good & don't think an upgrade is needed.
• FE figures BLR-HYD: 15.3, HYP-JBP: 16.6, JBP-HYD: 16.2, HYD-BLR: 17.2. All MID figures. I checked tankful to tankful FE for Blr-Hyd and it matched MID figure 15.3!

I faced one minor glitch. A couple of times in the whole trip the tire pressure loss warning came up, the first one for left rear tire & second for the right rear tire. When I checked the pressure using the inflator it was all fine. I reset the tire pressure in ICE & moved on without any issues.

Near Bhedaghat on a foggy winter evening:

Bargi Dam, Jabalpur. It looks best during dusk:

Passing through Mowgli's Den (Pench National park):

Also shot a POV video driving through Pench National Park.

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The entire trip saw me refill my car with normal petrol. I was dreading the performance & fuel economy drop.

BHPian asmr recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Just wanted to post an interesting update. During my weekend trip to Madurai, I did not get any RON95 fuel. The bunks near my place were not having XP95. And I didn't have the mind to go out of the way to get Speed 97. The nearby BPCL outlet didn't have standard Speed too. The same was true for Madurai.

So this entire trip saw me refill my car with normal petrol from BPCL. I was dreading the performance & mileage drop. I couldn't have been wrong.

5 people - 3 adults, 2 children (9+ yrs). 3 suitcases, 3 bags. Tyres set to 38(F) and 42(R).

I got an average mileage of 17.7Kmpl on the onward journey. On the return journey, thanks to the wide open, empty stretches from Madurai to Trichy, a steady 80-85Kmph cruise saw my car touch 20+Kmpl for real! Here's a screenshot taken after driving 110km from our hotel in the southern end of Madurai:

I had even driven to Vaigai dam on Sunday through 2 lane highways, with good bit of traffic and I was able to see 15+Kmpl on the instrument panel. The car was not sluggish but the "pep" you get with RON95 was missing surely.

Just thought I will post this here, since I have been telling people to stick to RON95 petrol. I think it is still the recommendation, but on long trips, where RON95 petrol might not be available, I think we should be fine with good quality normal petrol IF mostly running on highways.

Also, since these are connected topics, I would like to bring the question up that I had asked several months ago. If anyone has had any luck with octane boosters in their Taiguns, I would request them to share their experience here.

During this drive, I did face one issue. The steering wheel, when centered (visually, aligning to the side stalks) saw the vehicle drift to the left. I then started noticing that I had to hold the steering 2 or 3 degs turned to the right to keep the vehicle straight. Is this the same as the left drag issue that people have been complaining about? or Something that got to do with wheel alignment? I had checked the tyre pressures and they were fine. Any guidance would be appreciated.

Here's what BHPian MismatchD had to say on the matter:

Yes, there's almost NO 95RON fuel pumps here in Madurai (though I've seen advertisements of it here, haven't seen an actual pump yet). But ever since I got my Taigun delivered (1.0 Topline MT), I have only been using regular fuel (91RON) and never have we filled anything else.

Mileage on the city hovers around 12-14km/l with AC, which is pretty good for me. On highways, it's around 15-17, as we love to rev it hard when we find empty long stretches.

By the way, we went to my dad's native for a visit today, and the roads were almost deserted, so we did some triple-digits (100-120kmph, though cruised at 90-ish when the road had other vehicles), and after the 60km to-and-fro run, the mileage was 15.7km/l on the display.

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Headlights are pretty decent. Nothing compared to my other cars where I have extensively upgraded but definitely isn't begging an upgrade.

BHPian audioholic recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Last weekend I had taken the car from Bengaluru to Chikmagalur and it was only the second 'long' drive for the car apart from regular runs to Kolar. Much has already been spoken by both me and others about the car and just to summarize the deltas:

• NVH at high speeds is just bliss. You can enjoy a conversation at normal voice and there is just no wind noise, tyre noise nor engine note heard unless you hit the throttle and it downshifts a couple of gears.
• Overtaking anything and everything is a piece of cake and you cover gaps in no time.
• There were some squeaks between dashboard panels during the initial months but now they are gone. No intervention done except for some silicon spray.
• High speed stability is just amazing. People in the car will not be able to realize the kind of speeds it is doing.
• Headlights are pretty decent. Nothing compared to my other cars where I have extensively upgraded but definitely isn't begging an upgrade.
• Had hit a few potholes hard and the tyres held up well and neither is there any change in wheel alignment after 5k kms.
• FE was around 13.5kmpl after driving aggressive and not having start stop on.

Skoda service has learnt a thing or two from Maruti/Toyota. Got a feedback call from dealership and only after I said I was satisfied they closed the ticket after which I got a call from Skoda India for feedback which was recorded. All this was for a job card which involved only a horn change.

Car is a looker with the white lighting at night:

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Fuel efficiency has been surprisingly better than I expected. I am getting between 9-11kmpl in city and around 12-13 on highways. The worst I’ve ever got was around 8.3kmpl.

BHPian Fun_to_drive recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Updated ownership review at 3500 kms:

Its been 70 days since I’ve got this amazing machine which brings a smile on my face everyday. Thought of sharing my experience so far:

• The build, the thuds feel solid for the most part. Except for a few cheap plastic bits , and the thin sun roof cover, the car feels premium and reassuring.
• Mileage has been surprisingly better than I expected. I am getting between 9-11kmpl in city and around 12-13 on highways. The worst I’ve ever got was around 8.3kmpl. It comes down to how you drive, I ve been a little intentional about it. I’ve tried the ECO mode, coasting feature(honestly both made a little difference) and Auto start/stop which do come in handy to save fuel. I’ve configured an individual mode which puts drive in ECO, steering in normal , and DCC in Comfort mode(sharing the pic). I use the gear lever to put it in sports to surge ahead in an open patch to have the best of both worlds. Even in Normal mode with Auto start/Stop, you should be fine with the mileage.
• Honestly been a little disappointed with the DCC feature. I expected the comfort mode to absolutely glide the car over bad roads like it happened in an Endeavor I once drove. The ride quality is good but not plush. It's little on the stiffer side but not uncomfortable by any means.To simplify- its not bad in normal mode to begin with, but putting it in comfort doesn't improve it by a lot. I would request other members to please share their observations around this. Do you feel a huge difference wrt to DCC in Normal vs Comfort mode? . If DCC is not a differentiator, TPMS being poor and 360 camera being only good to have, the decision of many owners to go with Sportsline seems vindicated. I honestly would still pick Lnk just for the looks, and dual tone interiors alone.
• The car is just the perfect size, perfect as a 5 seater without feeling too big for weekdays, and practical enough 7 seater for two families to go for a weekend trip with luggage comfortably. Have done two road trips and the practicality factor is amazing.
• It’s a well put together machine, everything works as it should without any noticeable rattles or niggles. There’ve been minor static noises that I’ve heard but not noticeable with music on. There’ve been times if you take off the seat belt at the rear, it keeps beeping even if no one is sitting at the back, restarting the car had resolved it.
• The drive is just amazing . Its comfortable at cruising speeds that you can maneuver through the city with just one hand with that light steering , ignoring traffic stress as the car cocoons you. At the same time, push the pedal a little and you will see it zip past everything and easily achieve that claimed 0 to 100 in about 7.5 seconds. The only gripe being that at low rpms there is a lag of about a second for that power to get unleashed. There’s plenty of grip on the road and the car is well planted and stable at triple digit speeds as well.
• I never thought a great music system can make so much of a difference, feels like a moving concert and a great place to unwind after work. I’ve found my perfect settings and sharing in this post with everyone.

I’ve loved everyday with it so far, the love for its looks and the eagerness to drive it is still the same as day one.

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I had a Skoda Rapid diesel manual (Elegance 1.6 TDI) before this, which I owned for about 9 years and put close to 2.9 lakh km on the odo.

BHPian travelex recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

As I write this, I have done 13900 km in about 5.25 months. My travel is quite a bit. 100 km daily, and occasional additional outstation trips. I had a Skoda Rapid diesel manual (Elegance 1.6 TDI) before this, which I owned for about 9 years. I completed close to 2.9 lakh km on the odo, before deciding that it was giving me frequent niggles, and the trips to workshops were causing inconvenience.

Additionally, I also purchased a Tata Hexa AT in 2017. That has done close to 85k to date. For daily driving, I prefer a sedan. Hence the addition of the Slavia Style 1.0 AT. Why not MT 1.5? -Because I have driven manual cars a lot and with the distances I drive at times, it becomes tiring. Why not DSG? - Because the salesperson, who also helped me during the purchase of my Rapid, knowing my driving, warned me. Almost half of those 13900km have been done by me, while I have been driven for the remaining half.

Having driven diesel engines for close to 10 years, this felt smooth and light. At the same time, it feels so light that I feel unsafe at times. I can’t explain and pinpoint why but I do get the feeling at times. I just made one to and fro 400 km trip, that I thought was very comfortable and convenient. Highway cruising was relaxed and comfy. Navigating in metro traffic again was a breeze. I for one, am very satisfied with the driving dynamics as a non-technical, but a person who has driven around a fair bit over the years. I have a rather sedate driving style, which is what has been dictated to my drivers too. The mileage has been good for me. It has always been over 16 kmpl and close to 19 on good days. No way near what I used to get with the Rapid diesel, but still good enough. The cabin feels fresh and stylish, and I don't get a feeling of getting bored of it anytime soon. The rear leg room is adequate.

Most of the things I did not like have been discussed threadbare already. Here are a few:

• AC - Enough has already been said. I don't need to add any more.
• As I said, I feel the car (not necessarily only the steering) feels too light at times.
• No option of one-touch up and down for non-driver windows.
• No option to open and close the windows using a remote.
• Reverse camera - aaaargh
• Skoda Connect is buggy, They should have done better.
• Lumbar support - why did they have to remove it?
• While the seats are comfortable, a little more cushion would have been good.

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I would have booked an Octavia right away, but my family had started moving towards SUVs,

BHPian nks81 recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Background:

I moved back to India in December 2019. I started using my dad's Honda Jazz for daily rides to work and other things. Dad had already stopped driving and now prefers Ola or Uber.
I had plans to buy a new car after coming back and was always smitten by the looks and performance of the Octavia. Then came COVID, and we dropped all plans to get a car soon. we weren't going anywhere!

The itch to get "my first" car started again in 2022, and I started looking at existing cars and new cars that would be launched.

Requirements:

We are a family of four, and here are our preferences in descending order:

• Driving dynamics and performance.
• Safety and comfort for two adults at the front and two growing kids at the back.
• Good suspension setup for Indian roads.
• Good interiors.
• Good music system.

Some other simple requirements:

It had to be a petrol automatic.

The initial budget was set at around 20-30 L after discussion with wifey.

The contenders:

Jeep Compass: I had my heart set on it once I saw it in flesh after coming back to India. The facelift also improved the interior quality.
The TD experience was meh. The petrol engine did not appeal to me.felt lethargic for such a big car. Also, the space inside is a letdown. Still was my first crush, but it wasn't to be.

Hyundai Tucson: During college days and my early career, I drove my dad's Santro / i10 / i20 a lot. I didn't like any of them, so I assumed we wouldn't get another Hyundai. I saw the upcoming launch of the Tucson and saw / read the international reviews. The car is a looker. I loved it. I thought we would definitely have to wait for it. Saw the India launch, but then saw the petrol specs - disappointed. 153 bhp and 192 nm of torque? in a 30L car! I still thought, "Let's do a TD", but the showroom never sent a petrol for a TD. The salesman flatly stated that there is no petrol version of the TD. It was probably for the best. dropped.

Skoda Octavia/Superb: Loved the Octavia's smooth ride, awesome comfort, and good build. There was a problem with availability. I saw tons of reviews and drooled over it every time. I would have booked it right away, but my family had started moving towards SUVs, so we at least had to consider other SUVs before we said yes to the Octavia.

I also tried the Superb again and found it to be excellent.no complaints. However, an Octavia would have sufficed. I didn't need the "longer" Superb.

VW Tiguan: I liked the car, felt very nimble to drive, and it had plenty going for it. had started considering it seriously and went for a second TD with family this time. They liked the car but were not wowed by it. The interiors feel bland, the seats are OK, and it would not feel luxurious even after spending 41 big ones. kept in consideration but did not finalize. In the midst of all of this, we considered the Kushaq, which was significantly less expensive than the Tiguan.

Most folks suggested getting the Kushaq or go for the Kodiaq.

Skoda Kodiaq: During all of this TDing and researching, I asked my kids (8 and 11) to make a spreadsheet with all of the features we wanted in a car and fill it out for each of the shortlisted vehicles. They came back after a few days and said Kodiaq is the winner. I knew the Kodiaq was a solid car and was recommended to buy it by my German neighbour who works for VW. Discussed again with wifey and we agreed it will not be a stretch for us to go for a 40L Kodiaq.

But it was already sold out for 2022, and I called the dealers, and they said they weren't taking bookings. But suddenly, sometime in August, they declared they were taking bookings for Q1 2023.

When I inquired again, I was told that there would be a 6-month wait with delivery in March 2023. Went with family to the showroom, saw a parked Kodiaq, checked it out, but did not get to drive it.

BMW X1: We had put the Kodiaq on the shortlist On the same day we saw the Kodiaq, we visited the BMW showroom and drove the X1. The drive is smooth, the performance is good, and it has the snob badge. But that's it; there's nothing else I could like.

Interiors are just ok—there is a lack of space and features.struck it out.

I returned with the impression that Kodiaq is providing so much for so little, or, as GTO puts it, "value luxury".

Paid the booking amount for a Lava Blue Kodiaq L&K on 22nd September 22. Then the wait started.

Why we booked the Kodiaq without driving it:

• Luxurious interiors.
• Awesome reviews within the forum and outside. I didn't hear a single negative comment about the drive or performance.
• Loaded with safety features.
• Amazing music system.
• It has fantastic looks and the added benefit of seating two children in the third row.
• Quality inside and out.

The booking and delivery experience:

As is currently the state of things, it's a sellers' market, and we buyers are at the mercy of most dealers and manufacturers. I had booked the Kodiaq but was wary of waiting for six months. I was always on the lookout for something better.

Kept calling the dealer every 1-2 weeks. One day he mentioned there is a white Superb available, but by the time I got back to him, he said it had gone. Then he mentioned that there was a Lava Blue Kodiaq available, but only if I paid in full as soon as possible. I said I would take a loan, but that will take a few days at least. I called him back after a few hours, and he said it was taken by someone who paid the full amount.

So I told him to keep an eye out and let me know if another allocation became available; this time, I will pay some down payment and process the loan as soon as possible.

I have no idea how allocations happen. Skoda India appears to manufacture white and grey in large quantities but not Lava Blue and black. Allocations are also happening randomly, and either people are not claiming their allocations or the dealers play a game of who has the most money to throw and push the car their way. There's no way to tell. That's the way things work here.

Fast forward two months, and on November 29, I got a call again that I may be able to get a Graphite Grey Kodiaq L&K as it is allocated to them. I tried to dig into it, like whose allocation it was initially, but got no satisfactory answer. I talked it over with my family, and they all agreed on Graphite Grey. I went down to the showroom, met the showroom manager, paid 10L, and confirmed. They immediately started the loan process, and within 2–3 days my loan was approved, and they sort of pressured me to release the disbursement. I went again and checked out the car in person, confirmed the VIN, and did a basic PDI.

I bargained hard for the insurance and finally got them to give me TATA AIG's full comprehensive 1+3 plan for 102k. I couldn't haggle for the accessory set, which was going to set me back 23k, up from 17k in June 2022.

Delivery time was set to be on December 9, but due to delays in getting insurance (they had trouble getting approval for matching the external quote), it got pushed to December 11.

I took it out of the showroom after all the customs and filled her up with Shell V Power. I will be looking for XP95 bunks for next time.

The family is ecstatic on getting this amazing car, and we soon want to go on some longish drives!

Thanks for reading!

I haven't had a chance to take better pictures of her since delivery day.

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Trying to keep my expectations reasonable, and most comparisons are therefore with the Polo, as this is the only other VAG vehicle I have driven other than the 2014 Q7.

BHPian manveet recently shared this with other enthusiasts.

Took delivery of my Slavia 1.5 TSI AT yesterday, reached home to find out that the rear left glass is not going down. I can hear the motor whirr, but the glass won't go down. Need to get that sorted.

Other immediate observations.

The golden-bronze strip running across the dash, the one on the passenger side has an LED light on it, the part to right of it, does not. Looks weird. Picture for reference.

The handbrake is too high even in the not-used position. Should have been lower and tucked away. The gear shaft is too huge and too easy to mistakenly move into manual mode - should have been shorter and more firm. Also, gear position LED indication on the gear knob is odd, how can I see what it's slotted into, if my palm is covering the same. Above issues are not present in a Polo that is less than half the price. Trying to keep my expectations reasonable, and most comparisons are therefore with the Polo, as this is the only other VAG vehicle I have driven other than the 2014 Q7.

The AC temperature touch slider is a nuisance to use, very non-intuitive and distracting - it should have been a simple knob or button(s).

There is only one display option that shows the tachometer, very odd that they don't show the speedometer inside the hollow circle, but on the side. Picture below for reference.

I am short (5'5") but still couldn't find a comfortable position for my left leg - too narrow a space.

Volume control scroller feels light and plasticky. Forget comparing to any other car, the one on my my Logitech mouse feels more weighted.

Upside, engine is smooth and gearshifts are seamless. Still taking it slow, so more on that later.

And oh I debadged it as well:

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