andy1496

Well dealer/SUK have finally acknowledged that there are several petrol cars that have been built with the heated screen option. They are saying it was a mistake in their ordering software and it was never their intention to offer this option on a petrol car. They also acknowledge that the online configurator is still incorrect despite being aware of the error for some time. Whilst trying to resolve this query, I also mentioned to my dealer that I had read about acc causing massive delays and that I would find it unacceptable if the car was going to be substantially delayed into 2014. He promised it would add an additional four weeks onto delivery, at the very most. I memtioned about cancelling my order and was initially told that i wouldn't get my 3k deposit back. They then rang subsequently (unexpectedly) and told me because they couldn't promise that the acc delay wouldn't be significant, they wanted me to have my money back and cancel the order. At the time I thought it must be because the salesman had decided I was gonna be a PITA if the car was late. Something still didn't quite ring true but I couldn't put my finger on it. I then logged on here and discoverd that acc has been withdrawn. I've no doubt the dealer knew this and realised I would cancel. He obviously just decided to beat me to it Anyway, the dream is over and I'm going in tomorrow to get my deposit back. Shame really as I was looking forward to ownership, but Skoda really need to sort themselves out or I suspect mine won't be the only cancelled order. Thanks for the assistance with my queries whilst deciding on spec and for those of you with cars or cars due to arrive- enjoy! Andy Brown

Quality!

configuration-45710765.pdf Not sure if this will work. It should be a .pdf of my spec. Petrol car with heated screen, heated washer nozzles and heated seats ( plus loads of other stuff ) I accept what you're saying and it maybe you didn't spec your car from Skoda's online configurator. The problem is, I did. Website says I must have it, dealer says I can't have it. They can't both be right. Thing is there are cars out there with exactly this spec, suggesting site configurator is right and dealers ordering system is wrong. I've spoken to Skoda UK and they are adamant that they haven't changed the availability of this option. I can imagine that this has been an oversight on someone's part at Skoda UK and it's just easier for the dealer to say it can't be done than properly investigate whether there has been a mistake somewhere and customers can, after all, have this option. Whichever the case may be, I find it unacceptable that there is disparity between two different mechanisms for buying the same car. I'm probably overreacting but being an incurable pedant, it p***es me off. Andy

At the risk of sounding like a stuck record it's really narked me that a car manufacturer can't seem to decide what is and isn't possible, in terms of options, on it's own vehicles. This is compounded by the fact that the Octavia vRS configurator on Skoda's website will not allow heated seats or heated washer nozzles without the heated screen. This is diametrically opposite to what I'm being told at my Skoda dealers. I have managed to obtain information (mainly from kind users on this site) of reg. number and build information of petrol vehicles that have successfully been ordered with the heated screen. I have provided this information to my dealer and they are on with SUK to see what they have to say. The fact that cars exist with this spec counteracts SUKs argument that there are technical reasons why the option isn't possible. I have also pointed out that the spec combination is available in other European countries, further supporting my argument. I'm not too hopeful that SUK will listen, but by involving the dealer and providing them with concrete proof, at least the dealer now accepts that I have a valid point. Thanks Andy

Looks fab mate. Congrats and hope you really enjoy it Thanks once again for the info earlier Andy

Just tried to spec my car again, after the debacle over the heated screen. I still wanted the heated seats and heated washer nozzles but the blasted configurator won't let me have these unless I tick the heated screen option. It actually brings up a screen telling me I must have the heated screen if I want the heated nozzles. WTF?? Is it right that I'm so cross about this and am now concerned that if a vehicle manufacturer can't get their own configurator right, can I trust them to build the car correctly? Seriously thinking about cancelling my order TBH.

Hi mate. I saw that thanks, and mentioned it to the CSR at Skoda this morning. All the girl said was that Skoda change the spec from time to time. When I asked why, the reply was that it could be due to supply or changing the design. I pointed out that a heated screen wasn't really a 'design' issue but it wasn't her fault so I left it at that. I found various posts about the heated screen 'pot luck' situation on this site. Obviously some have got it and some have been told the same as I have. I just don't want to change my order for a diesel and then find that it becomes available again in three weeks on petrol cars. My options at the moment seem to be: 1. Drive the diesel and see what it's like. 2.Choose another car/marque Technically there is a third option: 3. Accept that I can't have the screen TBH this isn't really an option, it's something I've had on the last four cars I've owned and one I use a lot in winter. I work nights and at the end of my shift in the winter months my car is often frozen up. All I want to do is get in, get home and get to bed. A heated screen facilitates this, not having it means buggering about with the scraper/de-icer. It may seem trivial, but this has really ticked me off. If it wasn't available as an option from the outset that would be one thing but finding that Skoda have screwed up their own ordering system is annoying and also makes one wonder what else they can't get right. Andy

Hi. I placed an order for a petrol vRS estate on Sunday 29th. I received a called from the salesman last night, to the effect that he heated windscreen isn't an option now on the petrol engine cars. If I want a heated screen I need to change my order to a diesel. Not his fault but this seems to be a ridiculous state of affairs, especially as others on this site have taken delivery of the petrol model with heated screen. Must say I'm disappointed with the Skoda website allowing me to spec the car as I wanted it only to be told I can't have it I rang Skoda UK today and the CSR I spoke to confirmed no heated screen on the petrol cars. She also said she would flag this up to have the configurator changed to reflect this. Anyone driven the petrol and diesel back to back can offer any insights as to how different (or hopefully similar) they are? Thanks Andy

thanks for sharing that and sorry for hijacking your thread. My dealer rang me about 40 mins ago as they were amending my order having made had several mistakes on it. They charged me £125 (twice) for front centre armrest despite it being standard on vRS. They also charged me twice for heated seats. When they rang tonight it was to tell me that the heated screen is not available on the petrol vRS!! I pointed out that the Skoda configurator allowed me to configure it but they're adamant I can't have it on a petrol. I'll point them in the direction of this post on the web site. They are one of the site sponsors so hopefully they'll nvestigate what I'm saying and get me the spec I want. Thanks Andy

Sorry posted before I meant to.... wanted to also say thanks for all the advice chaps. Andy.

Hi all. Order placed today at DM Keiths in Wakefield. Got the discount I wanted with 0% finance and the free servicing so I'm happy. Car should be ready for mide to late December according to the salesguy. Now the tiresome business of waiting begins! Wouldn't be so bad if it wasn't for the fact that I'm dodging about in an old Fiesta van until I take delivery.

It does look that way. I must admit it' started out with less options but I kept going back to the spec and adding bits and I've added most bits apart from the variable floor option as I have no use for it at all. The deal that the salesman mentioned was 0%. I said I wanted to put 6k down and pay over 42 months. I think the payment was approx. £359 and the FGMV was about £11500. The reason it comes to £32k is 'cos that's how much the car is with lot's of options. I know what I'm planning to do may seem daft to some which is why I'd asked about discount. If I get the 4.5-4.8% discount off the price it just helps me rationalise the purchase in my own mind. Anyway, thanks for the opinions/advice, much appreciated. Andy

Hi. It's not a wind up and I don't consider myself to be bonkers (well perhaps a bit ), but yes I do go mad with the specs on vehicles and do lose lots of money most of the time. In the past this has usually been due to chopping them in a lot more often than I should, and losing thousands each time I do. I appreciate the foolishness of this but I work hard for my money and don't really spend it on anything else. Additionally I've promised SWMBO that this car will be a keeper and for that reason I want the spec to be exactly right. Part of this is because I've been lucky enough to own/drive some really smart motors in the past with all the bells and whistles. The Skoda doesn't fall into this bracket, but with all the toys, it isn't a bad consolation. Once I've had a useful feature on a car I then try and make sure I have it on whatever I get next. I am genuinely not concerned about resale value as I intend to keep the car for 4-5 years and the monthly payments are looking like they could be as low as a third of what I have paid for other vehicles in the past. I thought about this and have looked at Audi A6 Avant's and BMW 5 Series M sport Tourers. Both of these cars I specced came to over 50k and even with better residuals I still think it would be swings and roundabouts as the monthly payments are twice those of the Octavia. I actually had an A6 for a weekend a while ago and didn't like it. I suspect the BMW will be more fun and I'm due to test one tomorrow. In all honesty though I can't envisage it being twice as good as the Octavia despite costing nearly twice as much. Thanks Andy

Thanks chaps Petrol it is. That's one decision made. Andy

Sorry just one more question. Is the discount off the base price of the car or does the discount apply to the OTR price including options? Ta Andy

Hi. Thanks for moving to the right section .. and thanks to everyone who replied. This is obviously an active forum Mileage is probably not going to involve very much motorway driving. It's an 18 mile round trip to and from work and involves driving through traffic on most shifts. I think the petrol does seem to make sense for my circs or I might just be being a bit shallow though and assuming the petrol is quite a bit quicker! Interesting about the resale value. Does the diesel really do that much better coming part-ex/selling? I'm speaking to the salesman tomorrow evening (after I've test driven another make of vehicle in Leeds.) I'll ask and see whether any discount is possible. It's DM Keith in Wakefield and I see that they post on here. Thanks for the info chaps. Andy

Hi everyone. I test drove the new 2013 VRS Octavia estate yesterday and liked it very much. Initially I was going to buy the DSG diesel but having driven the DSG petrol and spoken to the salesman, he was of the opinion that my mileage (6-8k a year) didn't warrant the extra cost of the diesel. Does that sound right? I can't imagine the salesman had any ulterior motive as the petrol is cheaper and it's going to be a factory order, whichever variant I go for. Additionally I am looking at 6k deposit on 42 months 0% PCP. Has anyone managed to negotiate any discounts and still kept the 0% finance? Many Thanks PS I have attached my ideal spec. You will see that I've added lots and lots of extra's but plan on keeping the car for at least 4 years.