Chappers.

The deal in the UK was that the price agreed when the contract was signed at order was the price you'd pay, so effectively immune from any price rises. The variable would be trade-in value of your old car which could change between order and delivery. That said, I've just cancelled my order as the delays are getting longer and 4 months later it's still not been accepted by the factory. I get the impression from my local dealer that this is a regular thing recently.

Why shouldn't they continue to build cars? At least when the relevant parts become available they can be added to the part built vehicles quickly and the order completed. If they stop production altogether then everyone ends up waiting even longer and the list will grow exponentially. After looking at other manufacturers a lot are suffering from similar issues especially for popular or desirable models.

In my case, the very fact that I get an email once a month from the dealer with an update (even though it is just to say they have no further information from last time) means that they are at least checking on orders. Yes, I see the email and my hopes are raised until I read it and then everything is dashed again, but at least I know they've still got an interest in proceedings. My dealer was upfront about delays, in fact it was the first thing they told me before we even started discussing the car and specs etc. Dealers can only pass on info they are provided by Skoda UK, and don't have any input or sway on the factory. They're as frustrated as we are and they don't get any money until the car has arrived and is about to be driven off the forecourt. What I would never do is get rid of a vehicle I am dependant on until I knew its replacement had arrived at the dealer and was ready to go.

The problem is most car manufacturers globally are experiencing long delays with uncertain delivery times or dates. If Toyota are less than 4 months (and I don't think that is the case across the range when we were in the dealers looking for a car for the wife the other week), the response from most manufacturers would be to go to Toyota and get a car from them. Personally speaking, do I want to wait for an unspecified time for the car I ordered to be manufactured and delivered? No Is there anything else out there that ticks all the boxes I want in a car for a comparative price? No Therefore my choice is do I go for a compromise vehicle sooner or wait for the car I really want? I did consider nearly new (Superb Sportline, Audi A4/6, BMW 5 series), but choice is also limited especially in the spec and options I want and most potentials from those cost over the £40k new list price barrier, and I'll be damned if I'm paying the government an additional £500 a year in tax for five years.

Q3 2023, but I thought that was for more recent orders (I could be wrong however).

Not sure anyone that ordered an Octy in November 2021 will have had any update on build dates yet. I ordered mine in late November (vRS estate petrol) and get monthly emails from my dealer apologising for still having no updates from the factory.

Pretty much sums up my position. There isn't anything else for a similar price (still sub £40k list price) that really does it for me. There are a handful of Superb 280 4x4, almost new or pre-registered out there available, but I'd be paying £500 a year VEL for 5 years instead of £155 - and I'm loathed to throw any more money at the government than I have to.

Problem being most manufacturers are the same or similar. 12 months plus now for many brands.

Not great either. We visited a handful of dealers over the past week or so and everything has a wait. Some of the Japanese & Korean makes may be better than VAG but that is model dependant. Ford dealers were quoting 8 months or more for a Transit Custom early last year and I can't imagine that's improved.

Was at my dealer this morning collecting the wife's 'new' Fabia and chatting to the dashed manager who confirmed that delays for most Octavia's (and a lot of other models) are now in excess of 12 months. The only things they are able to get within around 18 weeks are the new Mk4 Fabia but he's expecting the delays to start with them very soon. In regards to builds, they are built in campaigns as when I made a couple of changes to the spec of my vRS the dealer contacted Skoda UK to make sure it wouldn't affect or delay the order any longer. Mine was ordered in November and no update or even acceptance from the factory yet. The dealers get little to no information from Skoda.

Thanks for all your help folks, it has really assisted. Placed an order this evening for the estate in Race Blue (with a couple of options 😉 ). Now just got to settle in for the looooong wait.

Thanks for the response folks. The old quartz grey was nice but I'm not sold on the graphite grey option. I'm a sucker for a black car but can't help think there's a bit too much black on the new estate with nothing to break it up (plus the wife isn't keen 🙄) so it looks like I'm going to go for the race blue - the colour really does pop when it's waxed and it's got the sun shining on it (not got the guts to opt for the Phoenix Orange 😂 ).

He folks, not posted for quite a long time but after 7 years with my mk3 vRS hatch I'm about to put an order in for for a mk4 vRS estate (I can't wait for 9 month wait 🙄). Unfortunately, I can't decide on the colour. Really liked the quartz grey but that's been discontinued as an option now. Colour choices for past cars were a race blue Blackline and my current black hatch. What colour did you choose and why? Pictures appreciated, especially of estates.