Noz

My local garage was actually more expensive so had it done at the main dealer and had them do all the jobs/parts inc. spark plugs etc. Seemed like a reasonable price after phoning around a few garages.

Just had my 2014 Octavia 1.4 petrol serviced. It's domne 42K. They said it's due a cam belt change in a few months according to the age. What's a reasonable price for that? Im in the Southeast if that helps. Thanks.

Great thanks. So I just phoned them and the service dept said they would definitely replace all filters and plugs at that service given the car's age and mileage. I called my local garage who have always done good work but they are actually more expensive if all the listed parts are replaced and similar work done.

Ahhh...yes well spotted. Of course you're correct. On the Skoda page, there's little symbol ^ which at the bottom of the page then says " These items will be replaced, if required. This will be determined by the manufacturer's service regime data". Same with the filters. That could turn a reasonable value service into a rip-off.

Really? And still put in the report they've changed then? Are they that dodgy?

Looks like the major service includes replacing: oil, pollen filter, oil filter, sump plug, spark plugs. I guess all of that is going to take up a decent chunk of £279 inc vat? So I'm thinking the only way to get the price down significantly would be not replace all of that. I don't remember ever replacing spark plugs on the various old cars I've owned for instance,.

Hi My 2014 Octavia 1.4 has done 42K miles and is due a service - a Major Service apparently. I bought it this time last year as used, approved Skoda from a main dealer and so this is its first service since then My nearest Skoda dealer is saying £279 - is that right? I'm used to getting my cars serviced infrequently and locally at low costs so my shock is probably unrealistic but all the same... Also, what is your opinion on even bothering with main dealer servicing for a car like this? Is it worth the premium over a local garage? Cheers

I think it must be. I only heard it spoken but sounds about right.

Well it's supposedly all going ahead. New turbo to be fitted under warranty. Is this is a common fault. Seems a bit early to be needing one. I wonder if it was thrashed before I got it. The hire car is a new Octavia estate with half-leather, better entertainment system etc. Nicer than my car.

I guess at this stage I either take their word for it, or I don't. I'm hoping that the repercussions being caught forging a Service book etc would be too much for a Skoda main dealer to risk. But perhaps I'm being naive.

I'd had to deal more with them since buying the car and it's not been a good experience. A couple of weeks ago the service indicator came on, which it shouldn't given it's an approved used car which had been serviced before I bought it. I rang and they said I could take it to any Skoda dealer to get the indicator reset. However on doing this, the other dealers wouldn't do it because the service wasn't showing on the Skoda "VMS" system. So I got back to Citygate to get this sorted. I called 4 days in a row, explaining the same thing each time to various people. Each said they'd get the dealer to call back but each time nobody did. I ended up making a complaint to their "brand manager". I don't know if this is what helped (seeing as he hasn't replied to me either) but suddenly action was taken and it's supposedly fixed with the computer updated....although I need to test this with another dealer as my confidence in them isn't all that high now. They have a central call-centre number and they all sound like they're going to be helpful but it's really not good enough. I'm surprised the Watford branch didn't call after hearing I was chasing them repeatedly - if I was the salesman I'd want this fixed ASAP as bad service experienced really damage customer loyalty. Overall- not at all keen to go back for anything now.

I think the idea that people thrash rentals to death is overplayed. I too have never done so, and yet I'm happy to thrash my own cars. I'm way too scared of accidents in rental cars, knowing how their dodgy insurance excesses and exceptions work. So I drive them very sedately. I'm sure I'm not the only one. Plus 12K miles is nothing on a modern engine even if revved up a bit. However if these cars really are flying off the shelves like that, I'd be tempted to look at other makes too. I don't like being rushed into decisions and feeling like you have to buy the first thing available may lead to a bad decision. My mate just bought a Toyota Avensis estate and that seems a like a great car.

Depends on the dealer and how much they paid for the car themselves etc. Offering cash doesn't help as they make a good margin on selling credit but I wouldn't worry about that. Independent used car places usually give much bigger discounts than main dealers but some have fixed price policies (but even then you should be able to get a bit off) I assume that's a main dealer approved cat at that price? I just bought an approved Octavia myself. My buying "strategy": 1. Don't get married to one car - there are always others out there if you're not getting the deal you need. 2. Know how much they should be - get the Parkers or Glasses guide price for the type sale (private, trader, main-dealer) and watch prices on Autotrader etc so you know what's a good price to start with. 3. Let them know you're looking at other cars especially another car later that day - gives them some motivation to close the deal there and then 4. Look carefully for anything wrong - scratches, older tyres, marks, missing mats or whatever and point them out 5. Let them try to sell to you and then when asked for a decision "well it is nice. Bit worried those tyres having got a lot left...as I said I do have that X to look at in couple of hours so it's hard to make my mind up.....what can you do on the price?" and go from there. 6. Keep negotiating until they are prepared to let you walk out - then you know you got the best price they were prepared to offer. You can always walk back in 5 mins later 7. But don't get too silly about like £50 on a £15K car! I'd also personally refuse to pay any "administration fee" nonsense that companies have started to add on. We got some off but not a huge amount but then they did claim to be a non-negotiating showroom. I've looked around the market since and not had any "oh god I could have paid less" moments. It was pretty much the exact Parker's main dealer price so I guess not a terrible deal. My brother has a trick I've not had the guts to pull which is to negotiate like mad and get it on credit for great deal....and then simply cancel the credit later when the cooling-off period comes to an end!

The manual mentions a storage container under the passenger seat. I can't see anything like that - just the normal space under the seat. Mine's a saloon 1.4Tsi SE model 2014. Should there be one? Can you get them if it's missing?

I've had this is a few cars. Defo worse if you don't use the AC all the time but my last car had it even though I did. Bacteria gets into the system. Not sure where it's living exactly. I got some AC spray and found the air inlet and sprayed it in with the AC on full blast. Had to do it a few times a year but it works. Bizarrely I tracked my problem down to sneezing, believe it or not. I had a minor sinus infection and every now and again I would do a sneeze that smelled rank and I noticed it was exactly the same smell as the AC so I reasoned it might be the same bacteria. Got it treated and problem solved. So I'd been reinfecting my AC system repeatedly.

Bought an approved, used Octavia from them. The price was about right I think but service only so-so. Salesman got a bit funny about price negotiations and we ended up leaving when really the sale was to be had but I rang up the next day to take it. Getting back to me via email took chasing. Handover was OK but a few things haven't been as good as they should have been 1. The car didn't have Mirrorlink as I was told. They've simply brushed that aside - no attempt to make up for this lack of a feature I actually really wanted. 2. 12V system was fused - I fixed it myself rather than the drive back. 3. Rear washer didn't work at all. Again, fixed it myself by buying a new nozzle. 4. Now the valeting chemical smell has gone, it's apparent it was owned by a heavy smoker. I know how flipping hard it is to get rid of that smell so that's not gonna be fun. The faults they missed make me wonder just how good the multi-point check is. I wouldn't avoid them like the plague but then I wouldn't rush back either.

Thanks for that. So If bought say one of these: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Skoda-Amundsen-RNS-310-RNS310-Navigation-System-Sat-Nav-GPS-315-GB-UK-V4-CD-2012/301853865537?hash=item4647e47641:g:cYUAAOSwgQ9V3ta0 I'd need to get a dealer to remove Component Protection, and get someone to activate all the useful stuff?

So, in a nutshell, what is required to do that?

Hmm that all sounds too complicated and not worth the effort. It's not like I had it in my previous cars. I've always relied on a magnetic phone holder so I guess I'll just get one for the Octavia.

Ha. I thought it might be! Thanks mate.

Looking at boot liners on ebay for my 2014 Octaiva 1.4Tsi Ebay's model selector comes up with two hatchback variants: the 5000 or the 5E3 - how can I tell which one I have? I wanna make sure the mat fits perfectly Thanks

I'll see how I get on without it for a while If I wanted to upgrade the unit, what are the options and how easy is it? E.g. I notice people selling Columbus's and Amundsens on ebay

Someone please tell me it's a terrible system that I won't miss! I was looking forward to that, sounded like a good feature.

That's a shame. Appears the salesman has misled me then

Should a 2014 Octavia 1.4Tsi SE have either either of these technologies? The sales man mentioned "mobile-phone screen sharing". Skoda's website says "If my car was built prior to the 25 May 2015, am I able to upgrade my MirrorLink system to SmartLink? - Unfortunately it is not possible to upgrade the MirrorLink system on existing cars to incorporate SmartLink." That implies it can't possibly have Smartlink but might have Mirrorlink?