Well its been a year now and the new 08 plated Skoda... (it was one of the last ones, bought new but it was nearly a year old) .. so two years old and we have covered nearly 18,000 troublefree miles. The service indicator light has come on and its time to take her in for her first bit of attention (apart from a litre of oil at about 10K...) Driven gently perhaps with the odd blast at 80 she has averaged about 44-45 to the gallon which I dont think is too bad.

Coming to the point - the service at the local Skoda dealer is £280. I have been asked:-

Do I want my brake fluid changing (about another £60....) ...? (The mileage is a total of 18K..)

Do I want my air conditioning serviced....?. A full one ... £95 or 'something less' at £59...? ... I leave it on permanently

Now I am not exactly motor minded..... If they asked me if I wanted my car cleaned, I could understand that.. but these two last items, are they to rack the price up... or are they making a genuine point.....? My point will be on going back to them that both of these items are either required or not required and if they are they should be in the service.... as a layman this should not be up to me...... I still have a years waranty left... if the air con breaks down - would I be covered...?

Any advices to whether this is worthwhile (or not) would be appreciated... (The last time I had this was with Ford... clean your tank out for better mileage.... a veritable rip off... :( )

Many thanks

No to both, change your brake fluid at 2 years. Air con is more reliable when left permanently on so that's OK too. Just get them to put new air con filter in and save some dosh! Most dealers only do a anti- bacterial clean anyway, so you are covered for both .

Edited 17 May, 201016 yr by bluvrs2

No to both, change your brake fluid at 2 years. Air con is more reliable when left permanently on so that's OK too. Just get them to put new air con filter in and save some dosh! Most dealers only do a anti- bacterial clean anyway, so you are covered for both .

Thanks for that .... the car is two years old... 1 year of sitting about doing nothing 08 registered... bought in March 09.. one of the 'last ' Mk 1's.. so brake fluid..? or wait till next year...?

Cheers

Brake Fluid = nice little earner for garage.

Air Con = absolute rip, there are two ways, one is a Tesco Comma bomb @ £6 or less diy, and the other is simply an can of dettol anti bac sprayed into the car on recycle while the heater is running.

Air con doesn't have a filter as such, what the above user means is the pollen filter.

Air con cleaning doesn't effect the component's, so they can't wiggle on that either.

Edited 18 May, 201016 yr by Supurbia

Thanks for the replies....I guess it's their way of attracting more funds in... I expected the Skoda dealers to be more 'ethical'... but guess most are in it to make as much wonga as they can..

What really annoys me is my next door neighbout is 80, reliant on everyone and I bet they catch her everytime...

Will have to go into IFA/FSA mode and ask them if they are treating their customers fairly.. (TCF) ... :yes:

I would expect the Brake Fluid to be a element at a later service..?

I expected the Skoda dealers to be more 'ethical'... but guess most are in it to make as much wonga as they can..

that's the funniest thing I've heard all day, there's only one way a Skoda dealer knows how to respond to customer's needing warranty work, and that's to and as for servicing their second only to the great VW themselves in the dept, and when you get your car back, it's best not to take a :peek: as you never know what you might find that wasn't there hours earlier.

Glad I have given you a laugh.. always thought that the spivs were at the easier end of the market and as such the Skoda dealers were more sympathetic as they realise that their customers could always go back to their Fords BM's VW's etc..

Hoping that you are proved wrong and I can get 75/100K outta the Superb without it causing a lot of the traumas or hideous costs mentioned elsewhere...

Thanks for the enlightenment though.. appreciated..

Will have to go into IFA/FSA mode and ask them if they are treating their customers fairly.. (TCF) ... :yes:

I've got the FSA Principles next to my desk - sad I know :| - and your comment made me refer to them... I got as far as Principle 2 before I gave up. If the motor trade (especially SUK and its stealers) were FSA-authorised they would have been out of business a long time ago (For those of you not in financial services: FSA Principle 1 - A firm must conduct its business with integrity; FSA Principle 2 - A firm must conduct its business with due skill, care and diligence. It goes on... 11 in total)

Yes I meant pollen filter, it is an air filter by a different name but filters air going in to air con rather air box for Engine. Brake fluid eventualy absosbs air in, wrongly described as hygroscopic, <which absorbs water > so you get a spongy brake pedel > It will be part of your 2nd service anyway