GlawsterIB

I've just changed from a Partner to a Superb. Love the Partner's sliding doors, spare wheel under the car, not under all the luggage, and the carrying capacity (without the suspension bottoming out), but being so stiff in the suspension department it became a pain on our terrible pot holed roads. it drove me mad. Before retirement I always ran Berlingo vans, good load carriers, but much better to drive with some weight on board, empty vans were proper bouncers!

Sad to read this, seems I'm not alone. Love Skoda as a manufacturer, just bought my 5th in 12 years (we run 2 cars), due to my buying experience (NOT the vehicle) at Blade I'll never go near them again, and it's only 15 minutes away!

Bigman1976, I'm delighted that you had a very positive experience with your Skoda purchase, I was expecting likewise, but it was not to be! I guess the purchase of a brand new Skoda entitles the purchaser to an outstanding 'buying' experience, sadly I'm in my 10th year of retirement and with limited funds my 'new' Skoda purchase from Blade's was over 6 years old. From my experience of Blade's, my second hand car purchase resulted in a very second hand, very, very poor 'paperwork' experience. It's now four and half months since I collected my Octavia, the now 7 year old car is fantastic, probably the best car I have ever owned. I am determined to remain a Skoda brand owner, but next time I'll find a dealer who cares about those who cannot afford a new car.

I don't know where to start, in describing my 'BLADE' buying experience, it's been that bad. No problem whatsoever with the vehicle, but the paperwork, just dreadful. Right from when I paid the deposit 7 WEEKS ago, they knew I intended to use it for my holidays from Dec 10th. I collected it 5 WEEKS and three days ago, all I received was the sales invoice, no mention of the two year warranty, breakdown and service package that they offered as being included in the purchase price. So, that 2 year package was written in biro on my purchase invoice! From 2-3 weeks after collecting the car I have been phoning and emailing, demanding that I have the breakdown and warranty details before my holidays. On Tuesday this week I received an email with my 2nd year warranty details (beginning NOVEMBER 2017 !!!) Despite my phone calls and emails, and frustrations of dealing with this outfit I have finally received an email at 5pm tonight (because I phoned,yet again, at 16.30 today) with phone numbers and the necessary details needed, should we have a problem. But, on 7th November I phoned Blades to inform them that I had changed the reg number, giving them the new registration number, for the warranty, breakdown and service package, guess what, the number they have used for the breakdown and warranty is the old registration number !! The car is packed, only a few hours until we depart now, but I'm dreading a problem in France, when the car and breakdown/warranty numbers don't match. Frustration, disappointment, brassed out, understatements to how I feel right now. Would I buy from this dealer again? Would I recommend them? Most certainly no, not in a million years.

I speak as I find, and so far I am far from impressed! I did a deal with them last month, to PX my 2011 motor for a low mileage 2010 Octavia. As agreed, I took my PX in on October 30th when the road tax expired. Then returned the next day to collect my 'new' 2nd hand Octavia, taxed online at Blade's. Part of the deal was a two year warranty, servicing and breakdown package, this was not shown on my purchase invoice, so it was hand written on the invoice. Despite phoning up after two weeks, and visiting the dealership after three weeks, to find out why I still have no paperwork supporting the two year package, here I am four weeks and three days after collecting my Octavia, and still nothing. Is it necessary to keep phoning or visiting Blade's ? I believe not, a professional business should have all the documents available at the point of payment, considering that my deal was concluded and the deposit was paid about ten days before I was due to collect the car. The Octavia, yes, very happy with the vehicle, it's my second Octavia, the first one was trouble free in over 7 years, so no concerns. If only their paperwork was as reliable as their vehicles!

Snap, I returned to the fold on Nov 1st with a 2nd hand Octavia. I bought my 1st Octavia (04 model) in 2008, ran it trouble free until May '15. Decided after 7 trouble free years to replace it, before any big bills appeared, with a Berlingo. No problems with the Berlingo either, a very spacious vehicle, but with troubling knees I figured an automatic gearbox would be better for me, andthe VW/Audi/Seat/Skoda ESG auto was an obvious choice, ideally in a Skoda. My local Skoda dealer had an auto estate, one owner, etc. etc. + a 2 year warranty, breakdown and service package included, how could I refuse. A very content Skoda owner, all over again.

L & K, for a comparison think Rolls (&) Royce !!

Part 2 completed. A lovely, black, Octavia auto estate, is on my drive. I took a longer route home than was necessary, as you do! An automatic box, why did I not try an auto box years and years ago? The wife and I has a little run planned for it today, but still not absorbed all the info in the hand book.

Morning Jollyfriar, I B Glos too, collecting me new (1 owner, 6 year old!) Octavia later today from our local Skoda dealership !! My 1st Octavia (1 owner, 4 year old) was from 2008 until 2015, a truly outstanding motor in all respects. But, I tried another brand last year, again, no problems, but I have to admit I'm really a Skoda only enthusiast after my 1st experience. I have owned a few motors in me 67 years, but the only brand I wanted to return to again, very enthusiastically, was Skoda! I know I've paid a few more £'s than going to an independent garage, but it has a full 6 year local service history, only 45K miles, one owner, I'm prepared to pay more for that. Can't wait for my lift to 'Bamford's'.

Thank you 'superb170'. Half the deal completed today! I took my P/X in because the road (theft) tax runs out at midnight. I have a lift sorted for tomorrow am, then tax the Skoda online at the dealer, the insurance is active from midnight, and hopefully new wheels to clean as of lunchtime-ish tomorrow. Absolutely no doubts at this stage about being a Skoda owner again, after all, it's only an Audi with a Skoda badge! Can't wait to go out for a drive tomorrow night, and test them Xenon's out, I had them on the 04 model, brilliant lights, but probably even better on the 2010 model. Roll on tomorrow, and I'll be back into the Skoda 'family'.

I will be another 'newbe' from Nov 1st, but I have taken the Skoda route before. My 1st was an L&K Octavia (04 reg.) from 2008 until 2015. Changed to a French brand last year, it's been trouble free, but fancy an auto for me dodgy knees, so my 1st choice was another Skoda. My 04 did about 40K in 7+ years, no problems at all, I probably should have kept it instead of changing at 11 years old. It was a 130 bhp, 6 speed motor, totally faultless, and good for 60 mpg on a run. Looked for another Octavia last week, but an auto box this time, a real coincidence, but my local dealership had a 6 year old L&K auto, 45K miles and fsh. With a 2 year warranty, AA breakdown and recovery, and a 2 year servicing package thrown in, I was an easy catch! Roll on Nov 1st, when I hope to be a Skoda enthusiast once more, I'm coming home!