Marwood

Dave you are right. There is a clear distinction to be made between hand polishing and machine polishing. In the context of my problem it is a vital one. My original hologram marks were caused by a machine, and as you correctly state, Mitchells were certain they don't use a machine on new cars. I am grateful to you for this post, as I needed reminding too! Steve, My son wants to reassure you that his boiled sweet collection never touched your lovely race blue paintwork. However, I did see him with a selection of '3M 5 inch buffing pads' and a bottle of 'T Cut' in his sticky paws shortly after our inspection of you car. Paul.

Don't think I'll every know and I suppose it is better to look at the positives at this stage rather than go over well trodden ground dstev2000, I hope you really enjoy your car. I am sure it will be great! Thanks, Paul

Sorry about the double post, putting this thread on page one again, but something came back to me today, and I can't think why I haven't mentioned it before! :confused: After Kennedy was assassinated the Warren Comission made a right dog's breakfast of the whole thing, leaving the way open for countless conspiracy theories to run rife through the whole thing. Was there a 'smoking gun' on the Grassy Knol? About two weeks after I picked up my vRS, I noticed a mark, about 3 inches long running along the edge of the bonet; visible through the front screen when driving. I remember remarking to SWMBO that I hoped it wasn't a mark left by the car being washed at the dealership with the wipers moved away and out from the windscreen. I remembered reading on here that if you do this and accidently knock the wipers 'on' from going into the cockpit at some point the wipers will graze the edge of your bonet, removing paint. One Sunday morning, two weeks after pick up, I pulled into the Halfrauds car park in St. Helens and checked. I was delighted to find that the paint was fine and that it was only a thin white line of polish that had been left behind. A thin white line of polish.........this is what came back to me today as I drove to Sealand in Chester. Who did polish my car and when was it done? :( This is the smoking gun. The 'official enquiry' stated that new cars are not polished at the dealers. Independant and very reliable testemony confirmed this when I asked. Cars are steamed, then washed, that's it. But surely this would remove any polish Skoda had applied at the factory, the official cause of the original hologram mark........and a guy who worked for Ford told me they did polish new cars at the dealership, which was interesting. A magic bullet theory? So if Oswald didn't do the polishing, who did? Oliver Stone, if he were a car detailer could have a field day with this. I wonder? Paul. Incidently, the Kennedy case is a 'Case Closed'. Oswald did it, no question. I researched this to death. I used to think it was a conspiracy, but sadly, it really isn't!

Fixed, and looks stunning mate !!!

My Mark ll mists up less than my old Golf GTi and my Dad's BMW. It does mist up, but the air con sorts it....UNLESS you have the rear nearside passenger window obsured by a Skoda part sunshade. Geting out of a junction and seeing past parked cars for on comming traffic was IMPOSSIBLE this evening....had to hope for the best after an educated judgement. Paul

Yep no pics, but congratulations. For me the boot is on the other foot. SWMBO has a Civic and has asked many times as to the exact date she has been penciled in to drive 'our' new family car. Given her driving style (nervous boy racer and former handbreak turn expert in a VTR) it appears she wont be getting a go in the near future. Alex is on the insurance, but that is merely a token gesture! Sexist?...I got a 2:1 in this particular area of my psychology minor, so i'd say common sense! Paul

Two months........you are into the 'grey area'. To reject a car or have it replaced it needs to go back, ideally within two weeks. The dealer is also obliged to act, once a fault has been reported, within a reasonable period of time. When did you report the defect to the dealer? My fault was reported and the car was initially inspected on the 4th of May after being handed over on the 23rd March. I reported the original fault plus the dealer's mess up in sorting it out on the 22nd of June. I had carefully washed the car 3 times by then. This was the first time I had put it in writing. Previously I had spoken to the Service Manager who had seen pictures and 'researched' the issue. Using the CleanYourCar site I had posted pics before and after first washing the car in April. To be fair to myself I didn't know what I was looking at in my paint and the 'hurley burley' of new parenthood delayed my action. The lesson for anyone else reading....report the fault in writing asap! HOWEVER, with the paint being affected on your roof it is not a simple case of correction. I would contact trading standards, but in your case I think you have a stronger 'not fit for purpose' case than I did. My dealer told me that my fault was repareable so a replacement would not be authorised by Skoda. If a panel can be replaced and sprayed they will opt for that. But the roof may be different. My dealer told me if a car has a crease in its roof it can be replaced as it is not a simple case of just ordering a replacement. This argument/advice, from a respected Skoda dealer, coupled with the warrenty factor may mean you have a stronger case in saying you want a replacement car. Still it is all in a 'grey area' and it could take some time to resolve the matter. As I say contact Trading Standards and Skoda UK direct. Also PUT EVERYTHING IN WRITING AND TAKE PICTURES. Can you post some? You could consider a second independant opinion. I did. It will be worth it for peace of mind and also to establish your position with greater confidence. A little spent now could facilitate a more 'resonable' solution, especially if a partial refund becomes your choice of 'remedy' I am not sure how a Refinisher or a Detailer could make good your paint if it is damaged to the extent I imagine. We may be talking at least a respray here and that throws up questions about who does it and quality control. Skoda do have access to Bentley's 'White Light Room' so they can, if they wish, really examine your paint work properly, Skoda UK have warrenty assessors they call upon to look at problems as assess Skoda's response. The 'White Light' was offered to me. If the paint finish can not be made good and to your satisfaction, then you have the option to press for a partial refund. Not really what you want but you do have options, especially as the paint seems clearly to have been damaged at the factory and could be open to corrosion. Not fit for purpose in my opinion, but it is only my opinion at this stage. My paint may well have been damaged at the factory but it is not a corrosion issue, mine is asthetic. (Well it is at the moment, unless I can establish from PD readings that it 's long term integrity has been shafted after what will be three corrections....then it may be a partial refund issue after all. Iain is going to do before and after readings, and I have the ones before Morris had a crack at it too!) If you want to ask me anything at all, please PM me if you think I can help. Wardy helped me with the paperwork and so I can help you there, if you need to. Keep the dealer onside and be as nice as possible. They will want to help you, but are going to need Skoda UK to "come to the party" (my dealer's words). No dealer wants negative publicity, and the bottom line is they will want you to leave them alone.....sorry........to achive 'customer satisfaction'! Nothing cynical there! Ahem! In the meantime I wish you the very best, will be rooting for you. Don't hesitate to ask. Paul.

Baffling....if they can't get the part who can? A bit like Fluffy's engine coils that the RAC had, but the dealer coludn't get at the time. Still at least you got something for the inconvienience. Hope you vRS runs ok now! Paul,

Blimey Nick, This is turning into another episode of 'Eldorado'. Having read the thread so far I see no rational reason for the dealer not to be able to supply the wheels you want. Although, I reckon you would struggle to get a jumbo box on a vRS without the other 'pieces' of the options jigsaw, the wheels on your car should be a simple switch over. Still what is rational about buying a new car these days, a minefield of possibilities which in the end mean that you opt for a trusted local dealership for perceived peace of mind. The money issue is fully understood at my end as I had to forego the Jumbo Pack myself, due to my new son and master! I would agree dealers do compete to get your cash, I talked to a dealer in Liverpool who offered to beat my Mitchells deal. I am sure they would have done, but by how much. 50 quid? My inclination would be to confirm what other people have suggested. Tell your dealer you are going to walk and go to another one if they can not deliver the car they agreed they could. Put it in writing as this can help focus the mind too! If you are unsure you can contact the CAB or Trading Standards re your agreement. I suppose I am stating the obvious but, for crying out loud, are they are so inflexable that it results in the loss of a sale?? I would defo speak to Skoda Uk to clarify exactly why it is such a problem, and hear it from the horse's mouth. (oh, sorry you already have!) I have every sympathy, it should be so hard to stump up the right amount of cash and get what you asked for in the first place. 'It's so depressing', as Marvin the Paranoid Android might have noted as he shuffled of to view a selection of alloy wheels at Halfrauds. Good luck and best wishes, Paul.

.....or strong direct sunlight!

Bob, Thanks for your post mate! I wouldn't say I now had any expertise, but I would be quite prepared to have a gander at your lovely new vRS if you wanted me to I can spot them holograms easy peasy in the right light and the same is true with bad swirls. However, if you inspect your car in the handover area, at the front of the showroon I doubt we would will see much. Direct sunlight or the or a gently 'wafted' hand held halogen light are the best things for showing up the blighters. Still, I wouldn't mind seeing the look on Richard's face if I showed up! Sorry Richard. Anyway, there are shed loads of Skodas supplied by Mitchells that are perfect, so you will be very very unluck to experience what I have had. Mitchells has a very good reputation and were excellent with me when I purchased my car, check my review on the forum! The date for sorting out my paint by Iain was confirmed by the dealer today so I can now see 'the light at the end of the tunnel'! Thanks again, Paul.

Oh yes, I'm made up that we are reaching the end of this. The whole thing hasn't quite ruined the experience of getting my first new car but without everyone's help on here, it could have done. Thank you all again! My main reservations are that this should not have happened in the firat place and the fact that my paintwork should not have lost so many microns of clear coat at this stage of its life!! I was starting to think that all my posts would start to become irritating the longer this went on, however I have learned a heck of al ot and I think all this should be compulsive reading for anyone buying any new car, especially if it is a black one! I am chuffed to little mint balls that one of the best detailers in the country will be working on my car. I have been really impressed with Iain's work....I did check him out carefully before I asked him to do my car.....it would be foolish not to. In the detailing world Iain seems to be getting the reputation as 'the detailer's detailer'. He is very modest, easy to get on with (treats you like a mate he has known for years), yet is uttlerly confident in his ability. It won't be dead easy for him either as he will have to work really carefully to correct the damage already caused by others with the minimum of further stress to the paintwork. However, I know my car is going to look super stunning and I can't wait. I will try to do a full write up with pictures when it is done! Paul.

DRUM ROLL PLEASE....... ........Richard kindly rang me yesterday evening. Skoda have approved the work to be done by Iain which is excellent news I can have the work done at home or Richard will free up a 'bay' for the whole day at the dealership if I prefer this or the weather is bad. This is excellent work on the part of Richard the sales manager and I am very grateful to him for the cosiderable time he has clearly had to spend on all this and his speedy action. It is fair to mention that Skoda took the view that, regardless of exact cause of the fault, they wanted me as a customer to be satisfied with my car. This was very pleasing to hear!!! Iain spoke to me at lenght again yesterday even though he appeared to be involved in some sort of 'equestrian show jumping event' at the time of my call. He has also spent some considerable time on this, over and above the call of duty! We both thought it would be cool to use the Skoda dealership for the work....for several reasons. anyway It is now just a case of when Iain can fit the vRS into his really hectic schedual. we are looking at a weekday around the end of the month. Thank you Richard and Skoda for agreeing to what I wanted. And thank you to Iain for working so well with me and the dealership. Back 'o' the net! Paul.

I will certainly try to do a write up with pics. Yes Tom, the Dealer seems to have been very good indeed from what I have said so far. It's all about people and relationships. Individual people in the front line make or break the reputation of the larger corporate entity. I used to be a bank cashier in London and a sales person in retail. It was true there and it is also true in teaching. People make the difference to the positive or negative experience of others. Thanks for the support gents, Paul.

May I suggest the following. Works well on my Mkll vRS 18s. Sonus Rim Bright Alloy Wheel Cleaner Black Wheel ShMitt Paul