Mirrors that can't be folder, buttons that can't be used

[Pietra]

Hey all - long time reader - had my RS for a few weeks now (i feel like a very rare species here in Sydney) and some questions are starting to light

1st Question

I understand that the RS doesn't come with the Automatic Folding mirrors and apparently this isn't an aftermarket option (???), but is there a way to allow the mirrors to be folded manually. Primary concern is people squeezing past in car parks - if the choice is the mirror being allowed to be folded manually and give with the applied force or simply not give and break i would rather go with the first former

2nd Quetion

The RS came with a "phone" button the steering wheel rather than the media cycling button - however, i didn't get the phone pack - when i quried with the dealer if the button could be reprogrammed to allow cycling of media i was told no and it seems the button is effectively redundant if i don't option up. Surely they can't be serious - can't the button just be reprogrammed?

[K1W1]

All external mirrors on vehicles can be folded manually it's an Australian Design rule and has been that way for over 20 years. The rule is to protect pedestrians and bicyclists if they get wacked by a passing car.

I just checked my vRS and the mirrors can be folded back to the same position as they would if they were electrically operated.

I have no idea about the phone button.

[Pietra]

i did actually try to fold them in the other night while playing with the roof racks in the garage and they felt like they didn't want to budge

i'll give it another go

[woofy]

They are always stiff, I rarely do it, but they do fold in. Just watch if you have any rings as it would be easy to scratch the paint pushing them in.

[Jake02]

I fold the mirrors in every time I park (apart from in the driveway) as I've seen the results of not folding them in (on Skodas I mean, not just other brands) and it's not pretty. The lack of folding mirrors on the new RS kinda annoys me, because the RS is the top-spec Octavia and should get the highest equipment levels, which I know it already does, but if the 1.8TSI/2.0TDI have it, why not the RS??? I was looking on carsales last night and there was an RS just like KIWI's that they claimed to have the folding mirrors so maybe Skoda Aus have included it...

I might add, guys have a look at the RS in NZ. Folding mirrors with puddle-lamps, xenon-lights, F/R Parking Sensors, corner foglamps, a rear wiper on the Liftback. Etc, etc, but for around the same price (the RS TDI manual Liftback is AUD$42k - they only have diesel Skodas over there) Makes me even angrier at the morons that run Skoda Australia.

Oh yeah, I wouldn't have a clue about the Phone button, sorry.

[Inego]

My Scout appears to have heated mirrors, but not folding mirrors. For whatever reason I got all excited about folding mirrors when reading the manual, but then unexcited when I looked at the switch.

Slightly different to the "no cables for the MDI included" rip-off.....

[K1W1]

I can think of way more times I'd use electric folding mirrors in Australia than heated front seats.

[selurs]

If you squint really closely at some hi-res images of the RS from overseas the mirror folding button seems to be there (try this one). Don't ask my why it's not on the real cars though. Running down old stock?

Anyway, as to the phone button, if you don't option the bluetooth, then you have a useless button. That is normal, and it's exactly the same on the Golfs. I can't remember how you get that "media cycle" button (circle icon instead of phone icon), but it's requires a certain option. Columbus maybe? Or MDI. Don't know...have a dig around, I read it somewhere last year, but don't remember where.

And yes, I optioned bluetooth just so I didn't have a wasted button. Guess their reverse-psychology trick worked on me

[K1W1]

If you squint really closely at some hi-res images of the RS from overseas the mirror folding button seems to be there (try this one).

It's there on that photo but photos are just photos and usually there is a disclaimer about "non standard accessories" somewhere. That car is LHD so nobody could assume it's Australian spec.
In the UK for example virtually everything is a option including the spare wheel and tools so I'm sure in some markets you can get the folding mirrors as an option but just not Australia.
The real issue is that many of us who purchased FL cars sight unseen were led to believe that the folding mirrors (and steering wheel controls on manuals) would be included because they had been on earlier models.

BTW that photo also appears to have the gear indicator display (left of the clock on the MaxiDot) which doesn't appear to have reached Australia yet as it seems to only be included in overseas cars built after later October 2009. It may never even reach Australia which imo won't be a problem we turned it off in the Audi as it wanted to be in 6th gear at anything over about 50kph.

There is also a third button between the ESP and the tyre pressure set buttons on the lower dash that isn't present on Australian cars.

[selurs]

It's there on that photo but photos are just photos and usually there is a disclaimer about "non standard accessories" somewhere

Oops, sorry, didn't mean to suggest that stuff in photos of overseas models should be available in Australian cars, just that somewhere, at some point, a foldy mirror has been fitted to an RS. It would be interesting to know *why* the feature was dropped for the higher model seeing as it's on the lower models (someone forgot to tell the workers on the factory floor to start fitting the new units? ). Things are always done for a reason - even if we can't figure it out...

There is also a third button between the ESP and the tyre pressure set buttons on the lower dash that isn't present on Australian cars.

Actually, that's the front park assist enable button. I will have that one on my car when I (finally!) pick it up tomorrow. With my parking ability, I need it!