While looking for a car, I came across Skoda (I'm a yankee and we don't have Skodas in the US). I've been impressed by what I've seen and tested a diesel (dealer doesn't have petrol engines in stock). I'm thinking of buying one as my wife had a 1.8 turbo new beetle in the US and we liked it.

Any other Skoda people on the forum in New Zealand who can comment on service and the such?

Thanks

Give - bigreddognz - he's a kiwi, and purveyor of fine badges!!

While looking for a car, I came across Skoda (I'm a yankee and we don't have Skodas in the US). I've been impressed by what I've seen and tested a diesel (dealer doesn't have petrol engines in stock). I'm thinking of buying one as my wife had a 1.8 turbo new beetle in the US and we liked it.

Any other Skoda people on the forum in New Zealand who can comment on service and the such?

Thanks

Try RobClubley. He exported his vRS from the UK to NZ he loved it so much!

If I move to the US with work, I'd take my Skoda with me too! Great cars.

Ask the dealer if they need a salesman!! I'd love to move to NZ!

Hi Bluedevil - as your in Auckland I guess your looking at Giltraps? Haven't dealt with them, but the Giltrap "brand" has a generally good reputation.

What model are you looking at? Just watch as they had a VRS wagon that was used by one of the overseas teams as a recce vehicle for the Rally of New Zealand last month.... 800kms over gravel roads on 18s can't have been particularly good for it! :'(

It's true I brought my Mk1 Octavia vRS with me to NZ.

I haven't really used the dealers though, I tend to use independents for servicing or do it myself.

Giltraps are meant to be pretty good - there's a local forum www.vask.org.nz and one of the members works there I think.

I'm in Christchurch and just took the plunge a couple of weeks ago with an order for a new Octavia Scout. That decision was reached after a lot of research and driving quite a few cars in the segment. In the end it came down to a straight fight between a new Subaru Outback and the Scout. Cost was not a factor (both cars were similarly priced). We've owned 4 Outbacks, all pretty competent reliable cars, so you can imagine this was not a simple call to make. For me, it boiled down to the overall size of the new Outback, its bloated exterior styling, and the driver experience. I much preferred the Skoda drive. Build quality of the demonstrator seemed excellent and the low down torque of the 103Kw turbo diesel was great.

The main issue I see with Skoda in New Zealand is their serious lack of stock. Right now in Christchurch, they have zero cars across the entire range! Delivery to NZ requires a degree of patience. We've been advised that our car should be here around the end of September.

Good luck with your choice!

Skoda have a fairly long history in NZ having been available in small quantities through most of the communist era in fact the worlds largest Skoda wrecker was Harupitu Motor Wreckers near National Park during the 1980's. they used to get requests for vintage Skoda parts from all over the world.

The NZ manufactured Trekka vehicles from the 1960's were based on a Skoda Octavia chassis

Giltraps have been associated with Audi since I think the late 1970s so they have an extensive history with the VW group of cars and in a worst case a Skoda is just another VW variant so anybody with a reasonable skill set and VW knowledge should be able to maintain the vehicle.

BTW. Is Colin Giltrap still alive? The last time I met him was probably 1983.

BTW. Is Colin Giltrap still alive? The last time I met him was probably 1983.

I believe so. He's made a pretty good living form the car industry, with an estimated personal wealth of £102m (2008). Only 2 months ago, he purchased a multi-million dollar penthouse overlooking Mount Maunganui, so I'm guessing he's still with us.

Thanks for all the replies; I've been out of town.

I've narrowed it down to the Honda Accord and Skoda Octavia liftback (hatchback in American). I realize they are not typical comparisons; but in the US we had an Acura TSX (which is the euro accord) and a VW turbo beetle.

The old euro accord was smaller and sleeker; similar bloating has occured as Simon mentioned with the Outback. It's too bad because it was rock solid reliable, fun to drive and had the best short-throw manual (6-speed) transmission I've ever driven - and I grew up in Detroit when that used to mean something and everyone's dad was an auto engineer rebuilding a porshe or vette in their backyard.

The current accord only comes with the manual at the lower spec which doesn't have the features I want; while it's fun to drive, and handles reasonably well, it feels like navigating the harbor ferry more than a sporty sedan.

So the Skoda seems to have all the safety features and doodads I feel are "necessary." I don't drive enough for a diesel; so I'll go with the petrol turbo.

Any thoughts on the 1.4T with a manual vs the 1.8T auto? I'm not sold on DSG; I've driven cars with tiptronic and after the first bit of fiddling decided not to bother. I know the Skoda has an option for steering wheel "racing inspired" paddle shifters, but those were designed for race car drivers who are system managers/efficiency experts more than Sunday curvy road drivers. Does anyone think they are worth it?

Any other options that people strongly recommend? The dealer is pushing the Bolero radio "for it's superb integration" but as Simon pointed out, there is no stock, so I'm ordering a lot of this stuff blind. I am getting it in red (hard to find red cars in NZ!!!) and they have one older red one here in Auckland.

Thanks to all,