Are those times from order to delivery or just to the build week? you can probably knock 3 weeks off a delivery date for Sweden as the cars would not (I assume) need to go on a boat, this would obviously not apply to Spain - it will be interesting to see the actual delivery times.

As said, I got a preliminary build week of 51. So delivery should be some time in January if its built week 51.

/P

As you know I emailed SUK with the following a few days ago:

I have a Superb combi on order and would have liked to order the panoramic sunroof. I'm told by the dealer that this option has been withdrawn from the uk options list for the Superb. It appears that some European countries still have access to the Panoramic sunroof as either a standard fit item or as an option. Can you explain this? If it is correct why can UK customers not order this option?

Thank you.

They replied today with this:

I confirm safe receipt of your e-mail dated the 14th October 2010.

Sales of Yeti and Superb Estate in the UK continue to outperform our expectations, and a high percentage of these have been

ordered with panoramic sunroof. This demand has led to supply difficulties with these models.

We have therefore decided to suspend ordering of panoramic sunroof until further notice, whilst we clear the current backlog.

Please accept my apologies if this causes you any disappointment.

Thank you for contacting Skoda Customer Services.

Kind Regards

So either the respondant hasn't read the question or, more likely I think, they've deliberately avoided answering what I've asked. I'm not really surprised, I just needed to try.

Mark.

That sucks for all you UK buyers wanting the sunroof.

Regarding the delivery times. My dealer told me that there has been a delay when ordering the sunroof, but that it was better now.

But he also said that there was an even larger delay if you order a car with the DSG gearbox. Mine is a manual, so no extra delay there.

/P

Edited 17 October, 201015 yr by perka

Well this is making me think that Skoda customers in the Uk are being seriously shortchanged. My car has an expected lead time of 5 months and I can't order a panoramic sunroof. In Sweden delivery is quoted as 6 weeks earlier than that with a sunroof. Order the same car in Spain and get it in 5 weeks again with the sunroof.

Anyone got any ideas? Is it because UK customers order RHD and most other countries take LHD cars? That still wouldn't explain why other countries can still order the pan roof as that isn't dependant on where the steering wheel is.

Mark.

Hi Mark

Could it be so that the UK costumers have different delivery times and schedules because you have the steering wheel on the rightside?. There might be some longer delivery times for parts for right side drivers? and maybe even it's own assembly line in the factory? Thats the only possible logic since both sweden, norway, denmark, spain and portugal has much shorter delivery times as far as i know.

But then again, this is purely speculation...

Edited 17 October, 201015 yr by tomcatdk

Hi Mark

Could it be so that the UK costumers have different delivery times and schedules because you have the steering wheel on the rightside?. There might be some longer delivery times for parts for right side drivers? and maybe even it's own assembly line in the factory? Thats the only possible logic since both sweden, norway, denmark, spain and portugal has much shorter delivery times as far as i know.

But then again, this is purely speculation...

Dear All,

I'm new to this forum but have been watching things with interest, and disbelief at some of the uninformed and wild speculation, for the past few months. I want to order a Superb Estate with panoramic sunroof too but I have to wait.

Earlier in the year I was waiting for my company car lease term to expire so I could get out of the scheme, do my own thing, and buy a Superb Estate. The waiting is getting painful, but I've just bought my company car off the lease company to tide me over as I think the panoramic sunroof will be worth the wait. There are other specification changes in the pipeline that I also want to wait for.

When, at the end of May, a new brochure was published, without the panoramic sunroof, it was a bit of a shock. In July, I wrote to the MD of Skoda UK, Robert Hazelwood, about the availability of the sunroof and also about the lack of DAB radio options (the govt had just re-affirmed their commitment to the scheduled switchover to DAB in the next couple of years), but that's another topic.

The response I got was along the lines of that given above albeit explained a little better. The sunroof issue is exactly the same for the Yeti. It is not about availability of glass or any other raw materials, and it is a supply issue from the manufacturer. However, it's a little more complicated as it's to do with Skoda UK's annual budgeting and getting it slightly wrong...well not wrong really, as they are just outperforming their 2010 budget and sales expectations. Every year they will budget to sell a certain number of vehicles of each model and they will also budget (forecast) to sell a certain number of options and accessories. Skoda in the Czech Republic will then try to meet the demand from all the individual countries forecasts. This year Skoda sales in the UK have been very strong – up by 28% year to date for September (source - SMMT). Demand for the sunroof has also been strong and as a result they have sold their budgeted quota very early, hence the withdrawal from the brochure in May, so they can catch up with the backlog and also so they do not have orders that take over 6 months to fulfil.

I think this was a fairly honest approach but it needs some better explanation to customers. However, perhaps they’ve not been quite open and honest enough as they will want customers to order cars without the sunroof rather than provoke a complete stall in order volume for the estate. Perhaps this is why the lack of info, but I’m speculating.

Because this is an issue with Skoda UK outselling their budgeted quota, it explains why the sunroof is still available in other countries. Don’t forget that budgets for sales volumes for 2010 will have to have been set before the car was launched in February this year. It seems they just underestimated the popularity of the sunroof and what a good year 2010 was going to be for UK sales.

A recent further enquiry has led to no new information except to say that Skoda UK are working hard with their colleagues in the Czech Republic to reintroduce the sunroof at the earliest opportunity. I’m hoping that they get their forecasts for 2011 a little closer to reality and that, as we get closer to 2011 build dates, the sunroof will be back in the brochure once more. However, I have no idea if Skoda’s financial year is Jan-Dec or other.

So, for me, it’s just a question of watch this space, and make the occasional enquiry to Skoda UK to see if there’s any more info. I’d also advise against relying on information from dealers too much. In my experience, they often do not know what’s coming until it arrives, and quite often they’re not bothered anyway as they’re more focused on selling the stock they’re already committed to. I don’t think you’d find a dealer who would advise waiting for a particular spec change. Cash-flow is everything and they’d rather have the sale now than next month.

On the other subject of DAB, I was advised that Skoda was planning to introduce a new navigation/audio system (revised Columbus I presume) including DAB options (made by Kenwood) sometime in October this year. No sign yet, but again I’m hopeful this arrives at the same time as the sunroof comes back. I cannot do without DAB. On MW, 5 Live sounds like everyone’s talking through a pillow whilst in a snake pit. The Bolero unit has already been updated this year.

If I get any further info I will post again. I hope this helps those wanting a panoramic sunroof and willing to wait.

Cheers

PS. The LHD/RHD argument is also flawed. Whilst most countries indeed drive on the right, nearly 34% of the world’s population live in left hand drive countries. It’s a substantial number and therefore Skoda will be tooled up to meet the demand in those markets.

On the other subject of DAB, I was advised that Skoda was planning to introduce a new navigation/audio system (revised Columbus I presume) including DAB options (made by Kenwood) sometime in October this year. No sign yet, but again I’m hopeful this arrives at the same time as the sunroof comes back. I cannot do without DAB. On MW, 5 Live sounds like everyone’s talking through a pillow whilst in a snake pit. The Bolero unit has already been updated this year.

I suspect this is the Kenwood unit you were advised about:

http://www.kenwood-electronics.co.uk/car/vw/

http://www.accessories.skoda.co.uk/productdetail.aspx?p_no=ZGB000035523

No DAB in the specifications though, maybe that is in the works.

Best regards

David

I suspect this is the Kenwood unit you were advised about:

http://www.kenwood-electronics.co.uk/car/vw/

http://www.accessories.skoda.co.uk/productdetail.aspx?p_no=ZGB000035523

No DAB in the specifications though, maybe that is in the works.

Best regards

David

Hi David,

I'd seen this and wondered...bigger screen will be better. However, I suspect it will not look exactly like any of their current models (even though the innards are probably the same) and it will still be badged 'Columbus'. Kenwood used to make a DAB tuner module but as far as I can tell they no longer market it. I hope this time they offer the TV option in the UK.

Simon

Thanks for your response smf1007, I read that with interest. A few points I'd like to make in response:

If Skoda, as you suggest, have used up their allocation of panoramic sunroofs for the UK for a set period of time due to strong UK sales and they still have available sunroofs for other European countries then surely someone in the factory management would realise that if they don't allocate more sunroofs to UK customers they are potentially losing revenue on every car they build for the UK by denying this option to their UK customers.

Can I politely suggest therefore that what you are suggesting doesn't make much sense. Skoda build cars to make a profit, no argument. If, for example, there were 5,000 Panoramic sunroofs available in 2010 for Superbs and Yetis for all markets then yes, I could see that the factory might at the start of the year apportion, for example, 2,000 to the UK and 500 to Sweden. If 6 months in to the year, all 2,000 allocated to the UK had sold with firm orders waiting for another 200 and, on the same basis only 100 had sold in Sweden with no more on order, the answer is obvious. Re-allocate at least a proportion of Sweden's unsold allocation to the UK. Doing anything less would mean the factory throwing money away and I can't imagine that.

Having said that, Skoda have some strange marketing tactics. Witness the non availability of the factory fit TV receiver for the Columbus in the UK, despite clear interest from a number of potential customers. I can't see any actual cost to make this option available to UK customers since it's available in other parts of Europe on the Columbus fitted to Skoda cars. Similarly, a 'rough road package' mentioned on another thread about the Superb (presumably similar to that on the Yeti). Apparently available in at least one country but not in the UK. If Skoda have engineered it for the car, then why not make it available to all? I can't undestand their logic there.

Lastly , 'uninformed and wild speculation'? I think of it more as intelligent discussion :yes: .

Mark.

Thanks for your response smf1007, I read that with interest. A few points I'd like to make in response:

If Skoda, as you suggest, have used up their allocation of panoramic sunroofs for the UK for a set period of time due to strong UK sales and they still have available sunroofs for other European countries then surely someone in the factory management would realise that if they don't allocate more sunroofs to UK customers they are potentially losing revenue on every car they build for the UK by denying this option to their UK customers.

Can I politely suggest therefore that what you are suggesting doesn't make much sense. Skoda build cars to make a profit, no argument. If, for example, there were 5,000 Panoramic sunroofs available in 2010 for Superbs and Yetis for all markets then yes, I could see that the factory might at the start of the year apportion, for example, 2,000 to the UK and 500 to Sweden. If 6 months in to the year, all 2,000 allocated to the UK had sold with firm orders waiting for another 200 and, on the same basis only 100 had sold in Sweden with no more on order, the answer is obvious. Re-allocate at least a proportion of Sweden's unsold allocation to the UK. Doing anything less would mean the factory throwing money away and I can't imagine that.

Having said that, Skoda have some strange marketing tactics. Witness the non availability of the factory fit TV receiver for the Columbus in the UK, despite clear interest from a number of potential customers. I can't see any actual cost to make this option available to UK customers since it's available in other parts of Europe on the Columbus fitted to Skoda cars. Similarly, a 'rough road package' mentioned on another thread about the Superb (presumably similar to that on the Yeti). Apparently available in at least one country but not in the UK. If Skoda have engineered it for the car, then why not make it available to all? I can't undestand their logic there.

Lastly , 'uninformed and wild speculation'? I think of it more as intelligent discussion :yes: .

Mark.

Hi Mark,

It all makes perfect sense to me...I can only relay what I've been told by Skoda UK. I agree with your logic of diverting some sunroof units from one country to another and maybe they did some of this to cater for the backlog before the sunroof was taken out of the brochure. The only thing I know is that Skoda UK underestimated the UK demand. After all, it's not the cheapest sunroof ever, so maybe that's why they made the mistake in thinking not too many people would shell out the £950. Perhaps Skoda in Sweden are on target to sell their quota...who knows. I'm assured that the sunroof will be back.

I wasn't referring specifically to anything in this topic as 'uninformed and wild speculation' and I enjoy some intelligent discussion. However, I have read posts relating to the sunroof issue suggesting reasons such as a lack of glass...it's made from one of Earth's most bountiful resources!

I'm sure the reasons are as Skoda UK have stated and doubtless they are tied up with contracts etc. One other think to think about, and speculate over...I've seen it mentioned that same panoramic sunroof unit is going in the new VW Passat Estate. That puts more pressure on the supplier and if there's a problem we all know where VAG will be diverting unsold units.

Mark, I hope you can get the sunroof added to your order. I'm going to wait and see what happens for a while.

cheers Simon

It is a great pity that the panoramic sunroof has been deleted. I have it in my V6 wagon delivered here in Australian in August. The naysayers kept telling me that because my car is Black Magic, the sunroof would make the car unbearably hot in our really hot season. Although only mid October, we have had a few hot days (30 degrees C) but I have found that the athermic glass actually seems to keep the cabin relatively cool. The sliding blind is actually a type of shade cloth that allows some light but very little heat to pass through. The car is appreciably cooler than my black Citroen C5 that has no sunroof.

I've ordered a Yeti two weeks before the sunroof ban came about and thankfully will get my Yeti with said roof. Though it would have taken seven months for it to get built for the exact same reason. Oh well. But also interesting to note is how many Volkswagens now sport this EXACT sunroof! The new Sharan, then new Touran, the Golf estate, the Tiguan to name but four... So I think perhaps Skoda has very little to do with the shortage but the mothership is taking them all before the children can get any...

But gwundu you are not using your sunroof correctly in hot weather! The best thing about a sunroof for me is that I can park my car in very warm weather and leave it open just a smidgen on tilt. Warm air rises and easily escapes through this gap. My Audi is markedly cooler inside as a result when you get back after leaving it in the sun and thus the AC hardly has a struggle to get the temperature down - so saving you fuel in the process. For this reason alone I will never again order a car sans a sunroof.

And also remember that if you have a rain sensor you can also set the sunroof to automatically close when it starts to rain should you think rain will get in through the tiny gap.