I heard today that the Fabia and Roomster will be VAT free now.

Don't know any specifics of the deal I'm afraid so you'll need to speak to your dealers.

Just checked the SUK website -

http://www.skoda.co.uk/pdf/A-Skoda-Tax-Free.pdf

F**k!!!!!!!!! i live in hope that this offer will be back dated.

Doubt this offer will last very long though! There aren't too many Fabias physically in stock in the UK and it's only meant to last up until the end of March, so in theory factory orders won't qualify for the VAT offer.

It says the offer runs out on 31st march 09.....

May have to consider a new Fabia now, very reasonable.

Would be a step down from the vRS, but I drive more for economy anyway now as me and the wife share a car for work.

sorry but I get a bit annoyed at these "VAT free " offers. They are not VAT free.. the price is maybe discounted by the VAT equivalent but it still include VAT.

..........and breeth

If you look upon it that Skoda and the dealer pay the VAT then it's effectively VAT free to you

For some reason VAT free sounds more appealing than 15% off

If you look upon it that Skoda and the dealer pay the VAT then it's effectively VAT free to you

yeah, understand the logic just the terminology that pee's me off a bit.

bit of a grouchy mood tonight, sorry....

Wholeheartedly agree with you Slider. people are too easily conned.

Wholeheartedly agree with you Slider. people are too easily conned.

What makes you think it's a con?

Con is maybe too strong a word but a VAT free" headline implys that there is no VAT on the purchase, which is plainly not the case - Her Majesty Revenue and Customs may have knock 2.5% off recently but they are not that generous

The supplying dealer will be paying VAT but is giving the customer a discount of the equivalent amount.

People hate paying tax of any kind - these headlines suck in customers by implying they will not so are plainly dishonest. I would imagine that there is something in the small print that gets the ads past the ASA

I think most people are able understand that VAT has to be paid but in truth whomever pays it is largely immaterial so long as the customer makes the saving.

After visiting a dealer last weekend, I was told the offer only applied to factory stock. Still a good deal though, as long as you didn't want any option fitted (i.e. new build car).

Skoda have an advert in today's Autocar clearly stating that the reduction on the cars is equivalent to the customer paying no VAT on the RRP.

Don't have a problem with it. Surprised to see Skoda also dropping the price on the Fabia and Roomster by this much as with the Octavia it's clearly to shift the old pre-facelift stock. Shame I'm not in a position to buy at the moment as there are some excellent deals about!

What makes you think it's a con?

Because it's not VAT free just discounted by 15% off list which must have a healthy margin in it to allow such a discount in the first place. Remember private buyers are subsidising fleets who often get cars to run for 6 to 12 months foc which are then sold as nearly new, ex management etc.

Because it's not VAT free just discounted by 15% off list which must have a healthy margin in it to allow such a discount in the first place. Remember private buyers are subsidising fleets who often get cars to run for 6 to 12 months foc which are then sold as nearly new, ex management etc.

Do you look over your shoulder when you buy everything or is it a phobia of 'being ripped off'

No I just like a good deal, not a phobia but certainly not trusting of most salepeople. Why should I?You seem to have a problem with that. I have worked in sales in a previous occupation so have seen it from both sides. For example the company used to buy grass seed at £12 per acre and list price was £42. So you could sell anywhere inbetween. This was a national well respected Agricultural Merchants.

Maybe you believe all you are told and question nothing! That must be a nice place to be.

Edited 18 February, 200917 yr by loskie

Not at all but I am a realist, and I'm sorry but to dismiss an effective 15% discount on a new car supplied by a main dealer is a little short sighted. Yes, I am sure that SuperMarkets will beat that but all that glistens is not treasure and caution should be exercised when taking such routes.

As for your previous occupation I think it fair to say that I have a reasonable understanding of the sales structure offered at Skoda dealerships.

Now I understand why you are so defensive.

Now I understand why you are so defensive.

I think you may be surprised, it's most probably not what you think.

I'm not defensive as such but I cannot comprehend your attitude towards the deal. Ultimately 15% discount is 15% discount, however it is badged or labled, so long as you get a true 15% then I see no reason to make issue of it.

Please enlighten me then Stu.

I think we'll have to agree to disagree Stu. That's the good thing about a forum. I'm not scoffing at the 15% reduction (although that does make me think things are overpriced) I'm criticising the blatant lie that they say it's VAT free, it's not It's a discount of 15%. Not only Skoda doing it Saab at the moment, DIY chains all sorts.

As for buying from dealers a couple of more elderly relatives bought new cars this past year(Toyota and Skoda) paid full list price and in neither deals was the salesman decent enough to stick any fuel in the tank. Both were nearly empty. This is where mistrust comes from. Relationships have to be built you don't just walk into a showroom and believe what the dealer tells you; that's pure folly.

Please enlighten me then Stu.

I have no connection with any dealerships other than friends in the trade.

I think we'll have to agree to disagree Stu..

That's the good thing about a forum. I'm not scoffing at the 15% reduction (although that does make me think things are overpriced) I'm criticising the blatant lie that they say it's VAT free, it's not It's a discount of 15%. Not only Skoda doing it Saab at the moment, DIY chains all sorts.

As for buying from dealers a couple of more elderly relatives bought new cars this past year(Toyota and Skoda) paid full list price and in neither deals was the salesman decent enough to stick any fuel in the tank. Both were nearly empty. This is where mistrust comes from. Relationships have to be built you don't just walk into a showroom and believe what the dealer tells you; that's pure folly.

I agree they are all at it, it's a headline just like the newspapers use to peddle their wares. It draws attention and draw people in, but as I say as long as the discount is realised I see no harm.

Finding a good dealer is a real boon, and I'm not suggesting by any means that they are all good.

Sorry, but I agree with Stu, if the car is being sold with 15% VAT knocked off I can't see why it's a swindle??

Either way, it's 15%....

I would think that if you buy one, the order sheet will have £0 in the VAT box, so I don't see the problem here, It's a 15% reduction whatever so if they are advertising it as no VAT, so long as the order sheet says £0, they ain't conning anybody.....:confused: + you are getting a car cheaper than before if you aint into haggling witht he dealer??

I would think that Skoda must be supplying the cars to the dealers at a more reduced price than normal so they counteract the 15% so the dealer won't loose out.....

I usually question most things, but this seems pretty well laid out to me?

....just my 2p's worth.....

I would think that if you buy one, the order sheet will have £0 in the VAT box,

They couldn't do that and that's kinda what loskie is saying, legally they cannot not charge the VAT but what they do is give you an discount which is effectively equivlent to the VAT on the purchase.

It's too early for me to think straight about this but I think there is a slight twist to the way it's done -

If for instance a car was priced at £10k and VAT @15% were charged it would cost £11500 inc. However if you discount a £10k car by 15% thus making it £8500 and then add the VAT it becomes £9775 inc so actually to keep the price at £10k they don't actually have to give you 15% discount but approximately 13% which makes the car just about £10k when the VAT is added which will have given you an effective 15% discount and hence my use of the word effective in my posts above.

The consumer sees an effective 15% which costs the manufacturer and dealer approximately 13% and the treasury 2%.

So as we've been saying if the consumer sees VAT free and thinks oooh nice, a 15% discount, it's better than advertising a 13% discount.