Having vowed never to return, here's an update for ya...

If you'll remember, I ordered an Octavia Estate 1.6TDI CR 4x4 back in May 2010, (18th to be exact), and I'm now onto my fifth 'unconfirmed' Build Week.

Having been told at the time to expect to have the car in 10-12 weeks, I'm now looking at Build Week 9.

No that's not a typo - I do mean 9, 09, NINE...

Assuming 4 weeks from factory to dealer to me; I don't expect to see it until April 2011 - approximately 11 months after it was ordered.

Has anyone else got a similar tale of woe, or is my going from a wait of approximately 11 weeks to one of approximately 11 months unusual?

I've browsed the vRS thread and wish my wait was as 'short' as these guys, so too some of the Scout orders, but I'd be interested to hear your stories.

Yours

Methuselah

Having vowed never to return, here's an update for ya...

If you'll remember, I ordered an Octavia Estate 1.6TDI CR 4x4 back in May 2010, (18th to be exact), and I'm now onto my fifth 'unconfirmed' Build Week.

Having been told at the time to expect to have the car in 10-12 weeks, I'm now looking at Build Week 9.

No that's not a typo - I do mean 9, 09, NINE...

Assuming 4 weeks from factory to dealer to me; I don't expect to see it until April 2011 - approximately 11 months after it was ordered.

Has anyone else got a similar tale of woe, or is my going from a wait of approximately 11 weeks to one of approximately 11 months unusual?

I've browsed the vRS thread and wish my wait was as 'short' as these guys, so too some of the Scout orders, but I'd be interested to hear your stories.

Yours

Methuselah

It appears VAG, especially for the Skoda brand, put the diesels at the back of the queue, I did hear they were trying to encourage people to transfer to the petrol engines which they have a better profit margin on.

I know the 1.6CR is suppose to have very impreesive fuel consumption but many users have struggled to reach the advertised mpg. I think more buyers should look at the petrols as the gap between diesel and petrol is smaller than it has ever been. We get over 40 mpg from the TSI VRS, I expect to get 45 mpg out of the 1.8 TSI DSG I am picking up today, ordered it last week in July, I would expect over 50 mpg out of the 1.4 TSI and probably close to 55 mpg out of the 1.2 TSI. Match that with fuel that is 4% cheaper and cars that are 5% or so cheaper to buy plus about 10% better acceleration for the equivalent car, unless one lives in a country where diesel is 10 to 20% cheaper than I cannot see the current logic of going for a diesel and it us unpatriotic, petrol comes from North Sea and Diesel has to be imported!

Edited 27 November, 201015 yr by lol

It appears VAG, especially for the Skoda brand, put the diesels at the back of the queue, I did hear they were trying to encourage people to transfer to the petrol engines which they have a better profit margin on.

All they're doing is encouraging people like me to transfer to a different manufacturer - never mind a different engine!

Edited 27 November, 201015 yr by Rab-k

That is horrendous!

I hope I'm not waiting that long :no:

Wouldn't think so, given you've ordered a vRS.

Dealer is at a loss as to why so long a period to build the damned thing.

Skoda UK CS not all that forthcoming either; saying delay due to popular trim coupled with popular engine...

Can't see that accounting for 11 months - you'd get a new Morgan built in that time these days FGS!

Anybody else in the same boat?

Has anyone checked out the possibility that the long wait could have something to do with right side steering.

I waited 8 weeks for my scout(ordered in sept). Dealer told me that he had not experienced longer deliveries than 3.5 mnths for any skoda model :|

Has anyone checked out the possibility that the long wait could have something to do with right side steering.

Certainly seems to be the case that Skoda buyers in the UK are waiting far longer than their equivalents on the continent.

Parts for Right Hand Drive (RHD) vehicles may well be in short supply due to the increased demand following the UK Car Scrappage Scheme, Skoda's Tax Free offer and the imminent increase in VAT due in January, all combining to increase sales across Skoda's range.

The model I've ordered comes from the Vrchlabí plant, which also produces the vRS and Scout. My model is probably the cheapest diesel Octavia to purchase which Vrchlabí manufacture. Given what ''lol'' said re. the 1.6TDI's profit margin, it sounds like I'll forever be at the back of the queue, given that my model will have the smallest profit margin of any Octavia produced there.

What RHD parts that are available would likely be used for the vRS, Scout and 4x4 Estate 2.0TDI and 1.8TSI models long before they'll ever go on a 1.6TDI 4x4 Estate.

What to do...

Suggestions anyone?

Edited 27 November, 201015 yr by Rab-k

Certainly seems to be the case that Skoda buyers in the UK are waiting far longer than their equivalents on the continent.

Parts for Right Hand Drive (RHD) vehicles may well be in short supply due to the increased demand following the UK Car Scrappage Scheme, Skoda's Tax Free offer and the imminent increase in VAT due in January, all combining to increase sales across Skoda's range.

The model I've ordered comes from the Vrchlabí plant, which also produces the vRS and Scout. My model is probably the cheapest diesel Octavia to purchase which Vrchlabí manufacture. Given what ''lol'' said re. the 1.6TDI's profit margin, it sounds like I'll forever be at the back of the queue, given that my model will have the smallest profit margin of any Octavia produced there.

What RHD parts that are available would likely be used for the vRS, Scout and 4x4 Estate 2.0TDI and 1.8TSI models long before they'll ever go on a 1.6TDI 4x4 Estate.

What to do...

Suggestions anyone?

Order a LHD and drive on the right

Order a LHD and drive on the right

Ask a silly question...

It appears VAG, especially for the Skoda brand, put the diesels at the back of the queue, I did hear they were trying to encourage people to transfer to the petrol engines which they have a better profit margin on.

Could be a strategy they've adopted in an attempt to mitigate the DPF time bomb, the petrol models avoiding this costly weakness!

The 1.6 diesel with 4x4 is a popular model here in norway.

The 1.6 diesel with 4x4 is a popular model here in norway.

I don't think that is the case here - my salesman said mine was the first 1.6TDI CR 4x4 he'd sold, and I've not seen any on the road in the past 6 months since I ordered it.

The only FL 4x4 estate I've seen was a 2.0TDI on www.newcarnet.tv

Still in the dark as to why 11 months wait for a car.

to read about your unduly excessive wait; think I'd be asking for a rather large discount when she does eventually turn up, say 50% . That might shake them up a bit :yes:

As a side note the Vrchlabí plant is taking over full Roomster production in January I believe. This is to free up space at Kvasiny, so they can build more Superb's and Yeti's.

Regards,

TP

I don't think that is the case here - my salesman said mine was the first 1.6TDI CR 4x4 he'd sold, and I've not seen any on the road in the past 6 months since I ordered it.

The only FL 4x4 estate I've seen was a 2.0TDI on www.newcarnet.tv

Still in the dark as to why 11 months wait for a car.

I also ordered May 2010 Scout crd with quite a few extras, original delivery was Oct 2010. I was then advised week 47. Made contact last week, salesman was on holiday. i will make contact this week to ascertain if any progress has been made, looks like a 2011 delivery.

I also ordered May 2010 Scout crd with quite a few extras, original delivery was Oct 2010. I was then advised week 47. Made contact last week, salesman was on holiday. i will make contact this week to ascertain if any progress has been made, looks like a 2011 delivery.

Beginning to wish I'd ordered the Scout instead; at least yours should be awaiting transport - mine is still 5 months away...

Well I ordered my Vrs Diesel on 20th June, & have just been told to expect collection on 20th Dec ( 6 months ) . but I am prepared to wait as it is the car I want.

I probably could have gone elsewhere, but there is no guarantee that I wouldnt have been the the same position waiting for my 2nd choice.

Reality is premium brand Audi are getting 1st priority on shared parts, followed by VW, Skoda being the 'poor relation' are only getting scraps ( despite certain Skoda models outselling its VW relative).

order my 1.6cr TDI elegance in July and got it in October, so not to bad.

Well I ordered my Vrs Diesel on 20th June, & have just been told to expect collection on 20th Dec ( 6 months ) . but I am prepared to wait as it is the car I want.

I probably could have gone elsewhere, but there is no guarantee that I wouldnt have been the the same position waiting for my 2nd choice.

Reality is premium brand Audi are getting 1st priority on shared parts, followed by VW, Skoda being the 'poor relation' are only getting scraps ( despite certain Skoda models outselling its VW relative).

I can only wonder what the delay would be if we were not in one for the worst credit squeezes since WW2

I'm getting the impression that:

• Due to higher than forecast demand there exists a shortage of shared components for RHD models across the VAG range
  
• Where components are in short supply, Audi are being given priority over VW; VW are being given priority over Skoda/SEAT
  
• Waiting times for RHD vRS and Scouts suggest that at Vrchlabí those models are being given priority for components over RHD Octavia 4x4 models, in particular over those fitted with the 1.6TDI CR which has a lower profit margin than other petrol or diesel engines
  
• Given that my model and engine combination would appear to sit at the bottom of the heap in terms of allocation of components, my 11 month wait could easily run to 12, 14, 16 months and so on if supply of shared RHD components has not met demand come Easter
  
• If all the above is correct, I could still be waiting this time next year?!
  

All speculation, but reasonable at that do you think?

Edited 1 December, 201015 yr by Rab-k

• If all the above is correct, I could still be waiting this time next year?!
  

P'raps not - forward to Build Week 1as of today. (unconfirmed...)

Build Weeks to date: 30-32 / 40 / 41 / 45 / 50 / 09 / 01

Here's hoping no more changes.

Anybody know when/at what stage 'unconfirmed' becomes 'confirmed', usually?

Currently waiting for an L&K estate dsg 140 cr.

At present it will be ready after 27 weeks and delivered after 31 weeks.

I am a fleet buyer and buy lots of these and the wait is getting ridiculous!!

Beginning to wish I'd ordered the Scout instead; at least yours should be awaiting transport - mine is still 5 months away...

Contacted by dealership today build week NOW 02 YES 2ND WEEK JAN thats 8 months. Also advised that part exchange may not be honoured !!! have yet again asked for another meeting with the sales manager. As previously stated, do not mind the delay as long as there is no detriment to me. anyone else had this dilemma ?

Is there any adviCe from a legal perspective.

Also advised that part exchange may not be honoured !!!

My dealer has said they'd have to honour the agreed price for my p-x Passat as the delay is not my responsibility. They've made a point of stressing this saying that the delay to my order penalises them also; given the p-x car will have +10K on the clock and (assuming Feb delivery) be 6 months older that anticipated when p-x price agreed.

I don't think your dealer can alter the terms of the sales contract without your mutual agreement. If they say they'll be out of pocket; point them in the direction of Skoda UK.

If Skoda UK can bung you £300 for the delay as a "Goodwill" gesture, tell your dealer to chase them for a similar amount as the delay is not of your doing.

Check with your local authority trading standards office if in doubt.

Ordered Elegance Estate 140 CR manual gearbox late October. Been advised built week 50. Delivery late January?

.... and I thought my six month wait for a Yeti (ordered end of June and delivery expected just before the New Year) was long.

Commiserations.