Just thought I should mention an example of good customer service on the spare wheel issue.

I ordered my Elegance spec car in March, but delays with the 1.4TSI engine mean that it'll be a MY 2010 car, delivered September.

I indicated that I wouldn't be happy with a can of gunk, and asked what could be done. Dealer pointed out that as a spare is now an optional extra, he can't modify my order without going to the back of the queue (which after 4 months wait already isn't appealing).

So he's ordering all his stock cars to have a spare wheel, so he can swap one into mine without delaying my order.

All achieved very simply, without any threats of legal action or anything. I'm sure most dealers would come to a sensible compromise if you approach them in the right way.

Sounds like a good dealer Mr Hugo, could you tell us which dealer it is ?

Most dealers may do similar but as as been pointed out before on this forum some dealers once they have your money don't want to know. It's good of your dealer to make thsi arrangement but the cost of the spare is coming out of his profits and other dealers may not be prepared to do this when it should be Skoda who should be paying for it.

Just thought I should mention an example of good customer service on the spare wheel issue.

I ordered my Elegance spec car in March, but delays with the 1.4TSI engine mean that it'll be a MY 2010 car, delivered September.

I indicated that I wouldn't be happy with a can of gunk, and asked what could be done. Dealer pointed out that as a spare is now an optional extra, he can't modify my order without going to the back of the queue (which after 4 months wait already isn't appealing).

So he's ordering all his stock cars to have a spare wheel, so he can swap one into mine without delaying my order.

All achieved very simply, without any threats of legal action or anything. I'm sure most dealers would come to a sensible compromise if you approach them in the right way.

That's a good result for you, will it be a full size matching alloy (16" Crateris), a full size steel wheel or a space saver?

Sounds like a good dealer Mr Hugo, could you tell us which dealer it is ?.

Mitchell Skoda, near Chester, and I'm very pleased with the way I've been treated.

Thing is, I'd be happy to go there for all my servicing, accessories and repair needs and that's worth more to their business than one wheel. It's a bit short sighted if dealers are making a big fuss over a £50 option on a £15k car.

That's a good result for you, will it be a full size matching alloy (16" Crateris), a full size steel wheel or a space saver?

I expect a full size as per my order (it's only the models with wider tyres that came with space saver - L&K, vRS, 4x4 and Scout?), but I'm willing to come to a compromise on whether it's alloy or steel.

Mitchell Skoda, near Chester, and I'm very pleased with the way I've been treated.

Thing is, I'd be happy to go there for all my servicing, accessories and repair needs and that's worth more to their business than one wheel. It's a bit short sighted if dealers are making a big fuss over a £50 option on a £15k car.

I expect a full size as per my order (it's only the models with wider tyres that came with space saver - L&K, vRS, 4x4 and Scout?), but I'm willing to come to a compromise on whether it's alloy or steel.

Thanks for replying Mr Hugo, that's not too far from me. I've ordered mine from Alex Lawrie of Liverpool so I'll see how I go on there. They have had some positive reports on this forum.

I also let my dealer know that I was not happy with the can of gunk instead of a spare wheel and, in much the same way as the OP, he explained that they could not modify the order without me going to the back of the queue - again not very appealing. What he did agree to do was to take a spare out of one of his demo/stock cars for me on delivery of my new car and put that in the car for me.

Good service and all dealt with by way of a couple of emails and a telephone call.