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Specialist Cars Skoda - Aberdeen


DGW

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Originally posted by Robzer - Wed Oct 27, 2004

Pros: No sales pressure, must have visited on 5 occasions and had 2 test drives. Sales staff knew i was working with a very limited budget and bent over backwards to do all they could to help/Get a sale, depending on which way you look at it. Very helpful and friendly

Cons: none

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Originally posted by calderscot - Thu May 5, 2005

I recently bought a used car from this dealer,overall I was pleased with the experience.

I would return again, I picked the car from the internet on the Skoda dealer list. It was a 260 mls round trip but the deal was worth it

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  • 3 months later...

Good

Went looking at small cars one W/E and ended up buying a used Fabia. Salesman very friendly and helpful, no aggressive patter, price was in the midrange of target prices considering age and mileage, car delivered to house, service due soon so negotiated a free service when due, radio promptly replaced under MF warranty when problem spotted just after delivery. Very pleased overall and would consider using again.

Not so good

On a previous visit, was given a rock bottom trade in price on existing car and told that average mileage expected was 9K per year. Possibly done to discourage trade-ins?

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  • 5 months later...

Been there twice , both times with a Citroen potential trade-in . Not very encouraging either time - certainly no pressure as it seemed my money was not good enough . Ended up getting a better deal ( and better service ) from Thomson & Potter in Burrleton 70 miles south .

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  • 1 month later...

Have purchased a new Octavia (1.9TDI Elegance) and a Superb (1.9TDI Comfort), and my father has purchased a Fabia (1.4 Comfort). The attention from Mandy is second to none, and is the reason we keep going back. My dad wanted a Fabia Estate for our dog, and was told to put the dog in the car so he could try it! If only more dealers were like this...!

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  • 5 months later...

Just got my Octy vrs Mk II from here and generally alright. Tom and Ross, the two salesmen, were both great, very helpful. However, the manager was the opposite, the kind of idiot who thinks he's doing you a favour by letting you buy one of his cars. Certainly wouldn't buy a car from him.:mad:

Trade in price was laughable, think this is part of their overall attittude. Not a great job done in preparing the car either but I couldn't be arsed arguing with them as I just wanted to get out in the car.:cool:

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  • 1 month later...

A work colleague and I both have Mk1 Octavia vRS estates, and we have both been waiting for about a month now for Specialist Cars Skoda to call us in for repair. We have different car problems, but both require spare parts that are on order. I phoned about a week ago and was told that the parts my car requires are still on order (I was told 3 to 5 working days originally).

I am sympathetic if there is a demand for parts, but when you don't even get a courtesy call, you start to wonder whether your details are even on file somewhere, and inevitably start chasing things up.

The chap I phoned a week ago did not apologise at all, but instead treated me like a mental case who had unrealistic expectations.

My colleague is not having any success with them either, and decided to speak to the person in charge. After several phonecalls, he finally got through to the "brand manager" Rob McWilliam this morning, who said "I'm in a meeting, will call you back". Nice. Time will tell if he actually does.

It's a bit too much of a coincidence that the two Skoda vRS owners at my work are having similar problems with the same Skoda dealership.

There is an air of disorganisation up at Specialist Cars Skoda. For now, it's a thumbs down from me.:thumbdwn: :thumbdwn: :thumbdwn: :thumbdwn: :thumbdwn:

I'll post an update when (or if !!!) there is anything to report.

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I detect the same old Specialist Cars attitude here...

I've had issues with their VW and Audi dealerships attitude...so maybe I'm slightly biased.

Went in a couple of weeks ago to ask about the Fabia vRS SE.

Was told bluntly "give me a £500 deposit, and I'll see if I can get you a car"

I think not...

"What if you can't get me one" I asked...

"Er"..."You can have your deposit back" says he.

I'll tell you what...I'll ask another dealer and keep my £500 in my pocket, thanks all the same.

I was in a few years ago and the whole attitude seemed much more positive...now it seems the same old Specialist Cars approach has taken over.

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  • 3 months later...

OK, it's been a while since all this happened, but here goes...

I put my vRS Octy Mk1 in originally for three problems:

1) Oil Light

2) Loss of Turbo power

3) Slight damage to underside on speed bump (part of underside now "hanging")

I dropped off the car in the morning, and received a phonecall just after lunch to tell me that they had found no problems with oil levels/warnings, or with the turbo. They also explained that they did not have the parts to fix the underside, but had ordered them. I collected the car later that afternoon, and the chap told me to come back if the oil-light and/or turbo problems persisted. He would also call me when the parts arrived so I could have them fitted.

About a month on, I refer you to my post of 21st March 2007 above.

About a week after that post, I phoned them again and the chap I spoke to that time went and had a dig around, and discovered that the parts had been sitting on their shelves for weeks. Nice...

So I booked the car in to get the work done on the underside. The oil/turbo problems had sorted themselves out, so no worries there. I dropped the car off the next day for the underside repairs.

No phonecall by 4pm, so I called the garage and asked if the car was ready. It was. Finished up some work and made it up to Specialist Cars at 5pm-ish. Went to the reception and the chap there took my details and went off to find out about my car.

He returned about 10 minutes (yes, 10 minutes) later and proceeded to tell me that they had tried to diagnose why my oil light and my turbo were having problems to no avail. I interrupted him and explained that my car was in fact in to get some parts replaced on the underside. He looked very embarrased, and went off to find out exactly what was going on. Another 10 minutes later, and he re-appeared.

He explained that the misunderstanding was entirely his fault, and in fact the repair work had in fact been carried out as requested, and would be covered under warranty (i.e. no cost to me). By this time, they were starting to shut up shop, and the showroom door was locked behind me as I left with my keys returned to me. I located my car at the front of their building. I had a quick peek underneath, and as I had secretly dreaded since talking to the chap moments ago, absolutely nothing had been done to the underside of the car. The offending tray and bracket were still sitting at the same jaunty angle as before.

Since my car was still in the same parking space as when I'd dropped it off that morning, I started to wonder if anyone had even been near it. On starting the car, I can confirm that someone had indeed been in it, since the radio was on a different channel, and the air-conditioning was set to 18deg instead of my usual 20deg. Man, I'd hate for the folk at Specialist Cars to be a bit warm while doing absolutely nothing to my car.

After two minutes of personal deliberation, I decided (since I hadn't had to pay anything) to go elsewhere as no amount of explaining/arguing would turn these people into competent human beings.

I phoned Victoria Garage in Maud, who looked at my car that evening. I came back on the Saturday (after the parts had arrived), was presented with a coffee, paper and comfy seat, and the work was completed in approximately 30 minutes.

As I expected, I had to pay the invoice (i never expected it to be covered under warranty in the first place), but it was very reasonable, and a pleasure to be treated so well by professionals.

My opinion of Specialist Cars Skoda now is that unless you are buying a new car from them, they don't give a ****. It's a shame to tarnish the good name of Skoda by associating it with incompetents like them.

My advice?

Avoid Specialist Cars Skoda like the plague.

P.S. The service indicator has just appeared in my car this morning. It'll be Victoria Garage in Maud this time for sure. It's worth the 40 extra miles round trip for me.

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  • 3 weeks later...

Just picked up my new MkII Octavia Vrs. I went in expecting to be considering a year old car, but no, the deal they offered was out of this world (looked on Internet and did some phoning and no one could look near it). They knew I was on a budget and worked hard to meet me. Very impressed with the deal that was given to me by a new salesman Brian. First class chap with no pressure at all. Finished the deal thinking that we had a new family friend. I traded my 05 Fabia VRS, which I was sorry to see go.

Only thing is that they supplied the wrong number for the car and I arranged my insurance to get Tax. They quickly realised and worked hard to rectify. They also supplied the wrong mats with the car. Not a big deal. What was good was I phoned, left a message and Brian phoned back when he said he would. Sorted.

Overall, I have been imprssed. Sometimes things do go wrong, but if they are rectified well, I think it makes you more loyal.

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  • 1 month later...

You must have cought Brian on a good day. He wasn't interested in looking at the deal I was offered from Delmore Skoda in Inverness! Perhaps he's getting better and selling more so doesn't have to give so much discount away.

Hope you are enjoying your vRS ... I can't wait for mine. :)

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  • 3 weeks later...

:thumbdwn:

I went in several months ago and met with Ross, looking for a Scout (or a Octavia 4x4). He just was not interested and gave me an abysmal price for my trade in and nothing off the list as he stated that he had marked up my trade in. Even when shown a printout of the parker's page for my car and a internet deal for the Scout he came out with the same old "Would you trust a person over the internet" etc etc etc.

Even when I said there was no trade in, he only offered about £400 off the list price, options at full list. Complete joker.

I went to a dealer about 400miles away and saved nearly £2500, so :finger: Specialist (needs) Cars.

I met with Brian later on and he is great but had only started, I had already spoken with Ross so his hands were mostly tied. Shame, because he is genuine bloke and usually does a great deal (I know him from a different sales franchise!).

Funnily enough, I had a 15min phone call from Skoda Customer Service UK, asking why I bought elsewhere, why I did not use the local dealer etc etc. Someone must have moaned:confused:

Dave

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I had a call on Thursday from Skoda Customer Services asking me about my visit to Specialist Cars. I was as constructive as possible - which was not very.

They have some decent staff. Mandy in particular is nice but then I know her partner quite well so that may account for something. Attitudes far too stuck up - like the rest of the John Clark Group IMHO (and experience)

Come on, sort it out!!!

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  • 6 months later...

Pretty terrible experience each time.

Last year wanted a vrs- blue one with my trimmings- but they said i couldn't get the deal offered by Skoda (still 2 months to run) cos it would be 3 month wait for factory build. Said they were gettin 2x 1 year olds in soon so I could test maybe buy. Eventually they got in an estate and after that changed their minds 3 times about the other they were gettin in. I was only interested in hatch but test drove the estate, with wife in tow. mandy insisted on coming along and kept trying to get me to go out onto dual carriageway instead of testing in town. After a wee while I gave the accelerator a blip as I went down a bendy road and was told to take it back to the show room immediately. They weren't offering great trade in either and seemed completely uniterested in my money even for a new sale.

I bought my 07 VRS (blue hatch) in Wigan and was happy with it.

But broke down 4 months ago with no electrics- skoda assist were good but had to put car into specialist cars for repair. They reset everything and put in a new airbag sensor and told me if it SHOULD be OK, but bring it in if further problems. I asked what further problems could occur other than told electric failure again. Since then drivers console stays illuminated after key out I call about this immediately and was told they would talk to a skoda regionla techgnician and would get back to me, but still waiting.

Now the exhaust sounds like it is blowing (after 8300 miles) but after taking it to exhaust place there is no external problems and was advised to take it to dealer. I phoned them and after an hour and a half of phoning them I eventually talked to service reception depsite being promised twice they would call me back. Could not get anyone to look at car for NINE DAYS and was advised not to drive car. I booked in car and called Skoda customer services (who were great). They advised gettin skoda assist to send out AA to see if it was undriveable and if it was I shluld get a courtesy car. RAC guy says exhaust OK but seems to be a warped baffle or somthing like it but is fine to drive.

After reading this I think I will put it to garage in Maud.

Specialist cars are just not worth it.

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  • 5 months later...

Looking at some of the reviews of Specialist and the waiting for calls to be returned, waiting for parts to arrive, waiting for disks to do update and flash the computer, Funny all the calls that never come and the discs that never arrived. Be fore reading this forum I had thought it was only me. It really does all sound very familiar.

Glad to see Maud Motors do skoda servicing and they have just found another customer as I really hate the attitude at Specialist.

I have bought my first Octavia soon after they were first intoduced from what was formerly Village Garage, now Specialist cars aberdeen.

When it was Village Garage they were really nice friendly dealership. Bought my next Octavia three years later had changed name to Specialist cars. I placed order before I had moved away and had driven 150 miles to collect new car from them. had to argue to get a tank of Diesel after spending 16,500 on elegance estate car.

Moved back to Aberdeen and went back after the car was three old to look for a Superb. I honestly felt that the salesman was doing me a favour in even speaking to me. Trade in offer was abysmal and it was a case of take it or leave it. I decided to leave it and bought a superb from Queensborough motors Glasgow. Got £1,000 better trade in offer and far superior deal against new car.

Strange how attitudes can change at some places. I ponce dropped in past with my working clothes on, (I am a minister and had suit and dog collar on) different attitude altogether.

I decided to try something different from Skoda and must be honest and say that Specialist cars attitude was a contributory factor inthat decision. After six months running a vauxhall signum I have gone back to Superb.

I dropped past a few weeks ago to take a look at new superb.

They had one parked outside and as soon as I began looking a salesman came out. I asked him to give me an idea of the cost of an equivalent to comfort model.

He could not tell me unless I went inside to find out.

All he was interested in was getting me inside and would not even give me an idea of the price range.

I went online and found a car that I wanted and have ordered it up and the service is second to none. It has a 30 days if I don't like it to change my mind and is backed by full skoda warranty.

Sorry to say this but in my opinion this companies attitude really sucks and does not deserve customers in the manner they treat them.

Sorry but I do not need Specialist cars to spend my hard earned cash and am really gald to take it elsewhere.

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  • 1 year later...

I dont think I will be returning to Specialist Cars any time in the future after my most recent visit. The car was booked in due to a fuel contamination issue and had the fuel system flushed through and a new fuel filter fitted, I got the car back and had problems with it being very reluctant to start, eventually I had to resort to bump starting the car, I then put the car back into the garage for them to check it again. The car was returned to myself with no other issues with the fuel system, according to Specialist Cars, however they tried to tell me that my problems were due to a sticking actuator on the turbo and I needed a new one, at £1700 for the part and fitting, I did not beleive what they were trying to tell me so put the car to an Independant garage in Maud.

After an hour at the garage in Maud they had traced the problem to the fuel lines which had been fitted the wrong way round when the car was at Specialist Cars having a new fuel filter fitted, the supply for the tandem pump was acting as the return and the return as the tandem pump supply, as soon as these were swapped over the car was running perfect again.

I called SC and spoke to the service manager who to his credit was apologetic and offered to cover the cost of the work carried out by Victoria Garages.

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  • 1 year later...
  • 7 months later...

I can't recommend specialist cars highly enough. They were extremly helpful (especially tom mcmillan the sales guy who came in on his day off to finalise the deal) and i was handed the keys to their octavia vrs demo and was told 'see you in a bit' (bear in mind that i am only 20) while they valyed my trade in. I got about an average price for my trade in and managed to haggle sone money off my blackline. When getting the finance sorted out i was told by tracey noble the business manager (who also deals with the seat side of things) that if a better finance deal came up i would be put on it and i would recieve a phone call to confirm that i had been transfered on to it.

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  • 2 months later...

Well I'm ready to give them one more go. I'm ready to order a new Superb but it will only be ordered from Speccy Cars if they are prepared to move on price a bit towards what can be achieved via DriveThe Deal.com. Taking into account the fact that the bulk of the discount comes from Skoda (Vat free promotion) and what it would cost me to have it shipped from down south if I bought from there they don't have to budge all that much but last time they wouldn't budge from list price so we'll see how it goes this time.

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  • 4 months later...
  • 10 months later...

I had a very bad experience last week in Worcester where I nearly bought a second hand car from a alleged family firm. A approved dealer. To be fair the young salesman I saw one day was great as was the girl. Very sadly a very bumptious head salesman was very rude and treated me like I was some sort of dumb Scotsman. My communication lasted all of two minutes and I walked away and they lost a sale.. My point is that I went into Specialist Cars aberdeen this week and they were excellent no pressure fair and thus I walked away with a virtually new Vrs Octavia...

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