Just took the plunge and ordered my first skoda, a nice new black vrs petrol. So now have to think about servicing,

in the opinion of forum members should I use variable or fixed servicing. At present cover about 12k a year mixed driving.

If variable was picked would a mid-term oil/filter change be adviseable.

Personally i would go fixed (esp if you live in a city), because doing a mid term oil/filter change kind of defeats the point of variable. My wife's golf was on variable and although a diesel, im not sure if i'd want that colour of oil in my sump!

When i first bought my Mk1 vRS i lived in London, so changed from variable to fixed owing to that style of driving.

How long do you intend to keep the car?

Just a few years? Try variable, take the lower running costs with the peace of mind that the 3 year warranty provides.

Planning on keeping it for many years? Go fixed and know that your car is getting fresh oil every year / 10,000 miles.

Lots of opinion on variable/fixed, and this is just mine, but variable servicing suits fleet buyers looking to minimise costs / maximise service intervals during a typical 3 year ownership.

Whilst there are plenty of private owners out there that will testify to long life on variable servicing, 18,000 to 22,000 miles or two years is longer than I would be happy about leaving oil in my engine.

After spending £15,000 to £20,000 on a car £150/£200 (less out of the Skoda dealer network) for an annual oil change is something I am happy to pay...

As part of the variable regime you should use the correct oil for top ups and then in theory it isn't a problem if it remains in the car for 16K miles or more. If you feel that the car is feeling just not up to scratch and it seems like a service is due to check things over there is nothing to stop you taking it in for a service before it is flagged up by the car. Personally I actually prefer fixed intervals so I know what is happening and when...

I have just had a service done after owning for just over 3 months and I have changed to variable but thats because I do 40k a year usually and now I will have 2 services instead of 4 which if I go to a stealer is a £400+ a year saving for me. I had a 55 ambiente estate as a company car and the services were at 23k, 45k and around 70k and 90kon variable service and that was in 2 years so if you want to cut cost its the best way. But I might get my air filter changer interim.

If length of ownership is a factor tend to keep motors for 3 years, although if i really get to like a motor could be longer.

Had my bmw coupe for six years as it was a cracking car and it was bulletproof. So in terms of how long i will keep it

all depends on how much i like the car.

I would go on fixed on that mileage - the savings are not massive between the two as the most expensive bit is the oil!

If you are thinking of a variable with interim oil and filter you may as well be on fixed.