You can add lamp replacement which requires partial dismantling of the vehi cle to the list of totally insane 'improvements' foisted on us by car manuf acturers.
To replace a front indicator lamp on my Skoda Octavia:
[1] Remove bumper [2] Remove headlamp cluster [3] Extract sealing plug from rear of cluster taking care not to break too much of the cluster (as warned in service manual) [4] Replace almost-bespoke lamp. That'll be £20, Sir [5] Fit blanking plug kit. Cost: unknown.
And you wonder why so many new cars have failed lamps.
Clearly the above is not a 'roadside' repair so the question I asked Skoda is whether it is necessary to take a spare front indicator lamp when I take the Octavia to Europe. I'm still waiting for a reply.
I did take one and, unfortunately, the indicator lamps did not fail because , as I understand it, Les Flics will replace your failed lamp if that is wh y they have stopped you. I would have loved to see a French copper taking the car to bits on the side of an Autoroute
Richard