Thanks for all the encouragement and for pointing me in the direction of the dealer reviews on this site. As you say Haverfordwest doesnt seem to come out too well, well not against Sinclair in Swansea. Maybe I am biased against Sinclair as my Merc is serviced by them! 'Enuf said there! Anyway I will mull things over for a day or two and see how I feel.

Mike

Forgot to say that the local dealer said that you can now order the pano roof for UK delivery

Try James @ Allam, helpful guy and good p/x as well. Haven't been an actual customers, but p/x he quoted for my S to upgrade to SE was very reasonable.

I tried Swansea Skoda, as I was told they were pretty good. But despite leaving all my details last Thursday (almost a week ago) I haven't had a call back to discuss price of the Yeti or what they can offer me in p/x for my Merc! The dealers just seem all caught up in the run-away success of the Yeti. Well if you believe the news, lean times for all are coming - must have car or not! :S

Mike,

I have found it is actually better to pick up the phone and speak directly to someone. Email in lots of businesses, not just Skoda, doesn't seem to have the importance it deserves yet!!

Yep, I did phone, spoke to a lady at Swansea, asked to speak to Andy Shoreland as recommended, but he was away. She took the details of the model Yeti I wanted with the extras, the details of my car and said she or Andy would phone back. But here we are a week later and no call. I think I've decided that someone is trying to tell me that a Skoda is not for me! I think maybe I will just change the Merc for another convertible and get a cheap 4x4 for the snow

Must admit I had two ' no return of call' experiences following visits to Skoda dealerships and this was a factor in deciding not to proceed with further investigation of the Yeti.

Must admit I had two ' no return of call' experiences following visits to Skoda dealerships and this was a factor in deciding not to proceed with further investigation of the Yeti.

I wonder if all Skoda dealers are given a very small budget for phone calls? My major gripe with my salesperson has been his apparent unwillingness to pick up a telephone unless pestered by me.

Must admit I had two ' no return of call' experiences following visits to Skoda dealerships and this was a factor in deciding not to proceed with further investigation of the Yeti.

My view on this is that if I want something I will get it (since through my research I found it to be the best). A dealer not returning my call will most certainly not make me now go and buy a Nissan just because a someone did not call me?! That is childish beyond the extreme. I will own said car for many years and will only deal with a salesman for a short period. So you just take your money elsewhere. Not rocket science I'm afriad.

Mike,

I have found it is actually better to pick up the phone and speak directly to someone. Email in lots of businesses, not just Skoda, doesn't seem to have the importance it deserves yet!!

I find the car business entirely unique in its ineptness of dealing with customers. To ignore a sales lead in the fashion they do is gross incompetence and in most jobs would lead to you getting the sack. Pretty much everyone will have a tale of walking into a dealer and have 4 salesmen talking around a desk ignoring the customers. I reply to any email enquiry at work within 24 hours at the most, anything less is poor at any level.

From my experience this is car dealers in general not just Skoda dealers. Obviously busy enough to ignore the odd customer or two, or were daft enough to pursue them so they stay in business :wonder:

Must say though my experience with Allams on the communication front has on the whole been good. So far received a reply to all quires, admittedly not always straight away but at leaast James does get back to you and without the usual sales flannel or waffle

TP

My view on this is that if I want something I will get it (since through my research I found it to be the best). A dealer not returning my call will most certainly not make me now go and buy a Nissan just because a someone did not call me?! That is childish beyond the extreme. I will own said car for many years and will only deal with a salesman for a short period. So you just take your money elsewhere. Not rocket science I'm afriad.

I understand what you are saying exactly - but in my case the decision was finely balanced. The dealership for my current car is excellent in all respects,purchase, warranty issues and service. This is such an important part of the ownership experience that it can tip the balance. I had an uncomfortable feeling that this was not going to be replicated at either Skoda dealership and so backed off.

I understand what you are saying exactly - but in my case the decision was finely balanced. The dealership for my current car is excellent in all respects,purchase, warranty issues and service. This is such an important part of the ownership experience that it can tip the balance. I had an uncomfortable feeling that this was not going to be replicated at either Skoda dealership and so backed off.

That is a real pity. This is my first Å koda and I was really drawn to the company due to it coming out nearly tops every year in Autoexpress magazine's Driver Power Survey for customer service. Yet then I come to a forum like this (where yes people will mostly come to moan not praise!) and find the Å koda dealers vary a great deal. I fear for the companies lower down on that dealer satisfaction list if one of the top 5 companies is in fact this bad at what they do!

The Yeti is a great package and should not need any attention at all outside of servicing. I urge you to order one via DrivetheDeal.com and have it serviced (what, once every year or so?) in a totally different city with a good dealer. Book a B&B and make a day trip out of it! For the other 364 days of the year you need not see a dealer ever and you'll have the enjoyment of a great car to boot!

That is a real pity. This is my first Å koda and I was really drawn to the company due to it coming out nearly tops every year in Autoexpress magazine's Driver Power Survey for customer service. Yet then I come to a forum like this (where yes people will mostly come to moan not praise!) and find the Å koda dealers vary a great deal. I fear for the companies lower down on that dealer satisfaction list if one of the top 5 companies is in fact this bad at what they do!

The Yeti is a great package and should not need any attention at all outside of servicing. I urge you to order one via DrivetheDeal.com and have it serviced (what, once every year or so?) in a totally different city with a good dealer. Book a B&B and make a day trip out of it! For the other 364 days of the year you need not see a dealer ever and you'll have the enjoyment of a great car to boot!

Thats exactly what we did too....No regrets..We just can't decide which lovely part of the country to go for that first service. :p

That is a real pity. This is my first Å koda and I was really drawn to the company due to it coming out nearly tops every year in Autoexpress magazine's Driver Power Survey for customer service. Yet then I come to a forum like this (where yes people will mostly come to moan not praise!) and find the Å koda dealers vary a great deal. I fear for the companies lower down on that dealer satisfaction list if one of the top 5 companies is in fact this bad at what they do!

The Yeti is a great package and should not need any attention at all outside of servicing. I urge you to order one via DrivetheDeal.com and have it serviced (what, once every year or so?) in a totally different city with a good dealer. Book a B&B and make a day trip out of it! For the other 364 days of the year you need not see a dealer ever and you'll have the enjoyment of a great car to boot!

It all sounds like a good idea, but do Drive the Deal offer a p/x on my current car? I am currently looking at 9/10 year old Daihatsu Terrios' to put in the garage and bring out when it snows and drive my SLK the rest of the year - sad!

It all sounds like a good idea, but do Drive the Deal offer a p/x on my current car? I am currently looking at 9/10 year old Daihatsu Terrios' to put in the garage and bring out when it snows and drive my SLK the rest of the year - sad!

Just do a search on the forum for DtD. This has all been covered elsewhere. DtD only puts you into contact with the dealer and how you pay said dealer is up to you... Part exchange, cash, whatever... So there is no issue with having a p/x.

It all sounds like a good idea, but do Drive the Deal offer a p/x on my current car? I am currently looking at 9/10 year old Daihatsu Terrios' to put in the garage and bring out when it snows and drive my SLK the rest of the year - sad!

I don't want to rain on your parade BUT I test drove a Terios just before I bought the Yeti. I was very disappointed in its handling and general setup - it just did not feel right. The cornering was poor and it did not perform well on the road. I accept it is well specd but I felt unsafe in it.

The background to the story is this:-

My Nissan dealer changed to Daihatsu after a falling out with Nissan. Being faithful to this dealer, I went to test the Terios as first choice but, because of the weak pound at the time, they were not importing Daihatsus. Being a bit desperate at the time, I looked round the market and noted a Yeti advert. I looked up dealers and found that the local Skoda dealer was not that far away. We went to look at the Yeti, had a test drive and, as they say, the rest is history. (This is September 2009.)

I bless fate that the Terios was in short supply when I wanted to change my car and that the Yeti had just become available. I am sure that the Terios would suit some people but I would not recommend it to anyone!!!!:(

Thanks for that. I know the Terios isn't great, my sister has an old one, but it has been very reliable. My idea is just to bring it out of the garage on 'snow days'to get back and forth to work. I love the Yeti and enjoyed the test drive, but I also love my SLK and getting the roof off IF we get a bit of sun! Now if I could afford a Yeti & the Merc that would be good! Maybe if I wait long enough the queue to buy one would go with the downturn and I might get one from stock

"I don't want to rain on your parade BUT I test drove a Terios just before I bought the Yeti. I was very disappointed in its handling and general setup - it just did not feel right. The cornering was poor and it did not perform well on the road. I accept it is well specd but I felt unsafe in it"...............

Point taken on the above but I think MW was only seeing it as a cheap 'bad weather get me out of trouble' option, for which it might well do the job, with the right tyres on it.

The fact that Daihatsu no longer import anything in to the UK is enough to stop anyone in their right mind from buying a new / newish one, I'd have thought. How much longer will there be Daihatsu dealers in the UK?

"I don't want to rain on your parade BUT I test drove a Terios just before I bought the Yeti. I was very disappointed in its handling and general setup - it just did not feel right. The cornering was poor and it did not perform well on the road. I accept it is well specd but I felt unsafe in it"...............

Point taken on the above but I think MW was only seeing it as a cheap 'bad weather get me out of trouble' option, for which it might well do the job, with the right tyres on it.

The fact that Daihatsu no longer import anything in to the UK is enough to stop anyone in their right mind from buying a new / newish one, I'd have thought. How much longer will there be Daihatsu dealers in the UK?

If I was in the position to need a "winter" vehicle, I would aim for a second hand Land Rover. I had one some years ago and it was the best vehicle for bad conditions. It was totally unacceptable for normal use as it had a canvas cab which was noisy and cold - but as a Snow Monster it took some beating.

I hope I did not give the impression that Daihatsu were no longer importing, at the time I wanted to buy there was a halt on imports due to the weak pound.

If I was in the position to need a "winter" vehicle, I would aim for a second hand Land Rover. I had one some years ago and it was the best vehicle for bad conditions. It was totally unacceptable for normal use as it had a canvas cab which was noisy and cold - but as a Snow Monster it took some beating.

I hope I did not give the impression that Daihatsu were no longer importing, at the time I wanted to buy there was a halt on imports due to the weak pound.

Again I take your point about LR's and indeed have a secret hankering for a pre '72 Series LR...but would do so with trepidation for fear of the ongoing costs and it wouldn't be practical for me. If I had one it would have to be an immaculate rebuild...I just love the look of them when they're as new. A Jimny would be easier to justify for myself - but still doesn't warrant realistic consideration. BUT I don't wish to pursue that as it would readily constitiute major thread drift.

What I am confused about is......I hope I did not give the impression that Daihatsu were no longer importing, at the time I wanted to buy there was a halt on imports due to the weak pound....though. They have stopped importing....see - http://www.daihatsu.com/news/n2011/11011401/index.html

What I am confused about is......I hope I did not give the impression that Daihatsu were no longer importing, at the time I wanted to buy there was a halt on imports due to the weak pound....though. They have stopped importing....see - http://www.daihatsu....1401/index.html

Oh dear! I did not know that. I will now have to see what my ex Nissan dealer is turning to. Just hope not too many fingers have been burnt. Now back to Yeti.