I called my dealer for an update on my Superb estate that arrived in Sheerness last Wednesday only to be told it hasn't yet been released and has been marked as "damaged". At the time they were unable (or unwilling?) to tell me more, but apparently it could be anything from a scuffed alloy, broken mirror, right through to falling off the ramp whilst unloading... Has anyone else had this type of call? Hopefully I'll know more tomorrow, but would be interested in others views & experiences. Cheers!

Really sorry to hear about your Superb. Hopefully it's only being held back whilst they do some paperwork before releasing it to the dealer for repair. Fingers crossed...!!

Is that how it works, then? I was under the impression from the dealer that the port won't release the car until it's fully fit & signed off? I'm gutted, I was so hoping to have the car this weekend - there seem to be loads of others whose cars were built in week 14 who are now receiving theirs!

Hi

ouch I feel for you , mine was in Sheerness on 26th, now safely at dealers ready for Fridays collection, hope its just a minor problem like a mirror or a window.

if it's not minor and requires paint, then i would be rejecting the car.

You can always tell a car's had paintwork, no matter how good it's been done! - but on a brand new, £25k+ car... no thanks...!

Al.

If the car is repaired well, there should be no cause for concern and certainly no justification for rejection. It could equally have been subject to rectification in the factory and you would be none the wiser. Assuming it has not become a hazard to navigation in the Thames estuary, I would be finding out what the damage was and making a very thorough check, in good light, at the handover.

I agree with Cruiser, I would reject it now infact, especially as they won't tell you what it is, you could call a bluff as well, ring and say that you will be bringing someone with a paint depth measurement tool to inspect it at delivery, this should sort it out if it's something like a bit of glass or not, if they are all willing then you know it's not paint, if they still won't say then you know it is paint, in the end it's down to you, and the best test is late at night under a street lamp, this shows out any new paint like a plum trying to be an orange in the orange crate.

You will be surprised at just how many brand new cars are damaged in transit and repaired before the first registered keeper gets them, damaged on the boat, at the port, on the transporter and so on. Although as a percentage of new cars the number is small, it equates to a lot of cars. There are many owners (proberbly some on here) driving around in brand new damage repaired cars totally unaware of what has been damaged/fixed.

They proberbly cannot tell you what the damage is because they dont know themselves.

You will be surprised at just how many brand new cars are damaged in transit and repaired before the first registered keeper gets them, damaged on the boat, at the port, on the transporter and so on. Although as a percentage of new cars the number is small, it equates to a lot of cars. There are many owners (proberbly some on here) driving around in brand new damage repaired cars totally unaware of what has been damaged/fixed.

They proberbly cannot tell you what the damage is because they dont know themselves.

And that is the difference, what the eye didn't see the heart can't grieve, they should've just said it missed the ferry but it's been booked to come over in a few weeks time, dock worker's striking or similar, not knowing is less on the mind than knowing and wondering, you are right though, I put a brand new LT van into the compound wall one day when I misjudged the length of her backing it up, manager wasn't happy, and some black Polo coupe's had to have paint as the paint was cutting up into circles when polished.

I worked in car transport for a few years and as said before a very small percentage of cars do get damaged from production to customer some times our drivers were rejecting or notifying the staff at the factory holding area. Unfortunatly it is a fact of life cars can get damaged on route when there's thousands of cars in the camponds parked close together, driven up and down ramps on ships and then on the road transporters, (if you want to scare yourself try driving or backing a car up the top deck of a car transporter!) at least the dealer has been honest with you. there will be a record of what the damage is, so I personly would find that out and then make the desision whether to accept or reject the car

Many cars even get damaged at the factory , i bought my E class brand new and only later did i discover the roof had been repainted , although without a paint thickness gauge you would never had known

Thanks for your input guys, it's great to get other's opinions on these things. I had an amazingly lucky trip down the M2 this morning… I missed the exit I usually take so proceeded to J5, which is the exit from the Isle of Sheppey & Sheerness. As I reached the roundabout at the bottom of the slip road a transporter passed me on the roundabout carrying, amongst others, a Mocca Superb Estate. Knowing there aren't many Mocca ones about I swiftly changed plans & followed it down the motorway, very anxiously & excitedly. I'm thrilled to report that the only damage is to the OSR side window glass, so no need to worry unnecessarily.

I must commend my dealer who have been excellent in keeping me informed and have to be praised on taking the honest route. It would have been so easy for them to fob me off with a load of blarney, but fair play the did the right thing & told me! All I need now is for SUK to release the car to the dealer so they can wipe it down & let me have it!

:yes: Excellent news! : :yes:

Mine's already had a windscreen (as half of it didnt heat!) so glass is nothing!

Hope you get it soon! - and enjoy!

Al.

Great news. Hopefully won't be too long now

Could have been much worse. I have a mate who imported a mint Skyline GTR from Japan only to hear than as the ship left the dock ....it sunk or at least keeled over wrecking all the cargo his car included

Also many years ago when I was in the RAF it was common for serving personnel to get their tax free cars flown back from Cyprus to the UK , unfortunately on one trip the Hercules had engine trouble and was forced to dump some of the cargo so two people lost their brand new cars to the briny and they were just pushed out of the back mid flight :)

Well, unfortunately I've now been told that I won't be having the car that arrived in England on 27th April - apparently the damage was too great for Skoda to allow the dealer to sell the car as new. It's gutting, but commendable that there are such stringent checks in place, meaning I won't be palmed off with a repaired car. The downside is I start the waiting process again... I wonder if UK dealers know much about the MY12 changes yet - will the new build get the new badge? I'm tempted to ask the dealer if I can go to the factory and bring the car back myself this time!

Well, unfortunately I've now been told that I won't be having the car that arrived in England on 27th April - apparently the damage was too great for Skoda to allow the dealer to sell the car as new. It's gutting, but commendable that there are such stringent checks in place, meaning I won't be palmed off with a repaired car. The downside is I start the waiting process again... I wonder if UK dealers know much about the MY12 changes yet - will the new build get the new badge? I'm tempted to ask the dealer if I can go to the factory and bring the car back myself this time!

You'd think they would offer you the car at a discount... and be clear about the damage

Well that either wasn't your car on the transporter, or a cat had thrown a brick through the window so it could have a pee without other cats looking.

I think they are bluffing you, I don't think the car ever arrived myself and they are buying time so you don't cancel.

Well that either wasn't your car on the transporter, or a cat had thrown a brick through the window so it could have a pee without other cats looking.

I think they are bluffing you, I don't think the car ever arrived myself and they are buying time so you don't cancel.

I tend to agree, Skoda will sell the car in the end (assuming it has arrived) to someone else who has not been told of the damage. To start the waiting game again will mean that you could be waiting a long time with the current 6 month lead time on new orders. MY12 has I believe removed a number of previously standard items as part of VW groups attempt to downclass the superb and differentiate it from the Passat which has been losing sales to the superb.

Superbia, why do you think they're bluffing? Why such cynicsm? It was "my " car I'd seen on the transporter, but the damage was such that Skoda would not repair the car and then sell it as new. I have no doubt that the dealer is being truthful, their actions throughout the process have been faultless and I can only commend them for their honesty & integrity.

The car had a broken OSR side window but also deep scratches to the OSR door, OSR panel, tailgate & roof. This is the reason they're not prepared to sell as new. I think the whole process is highly commendable - how many other manufacturers & their dealers would have the honesty to tell the truth & risk losing a customer. I've had a long conversation with the dealer's Brand Manager who has given me lots of assurances & I will be re-ordering a replacement car in the coming days. The only thing I'm not sure on is what the MY12 changes will actually be...

I don't doubt the car will be repaired & sold. I don't believe, however, that it will be sold as a new vehicle. I'd imagine a Skoda employee will have a Mocca Superb Estate as a company car for a while before it's sold as used - there's a big difference between new & used cars.

Still sounds as if the old rules are still in place then!!! I ordered a new VW Polo back in 1996 with extras....was supposed to be 9week wait turned into 18week wait!!! Then when it arrived it had been damaged...the dealer didn't tell me..but I had a funny feeling about it as I had been at dealers about 2 weeks before I collected my car and there was "my" car with paint overspray on the passenger side window glass!!! About 3 weeks after collecting my car I noticed that the front bumper felt like orange peel and didn't come up right after washing it. So I went to the dealers and complained about the bumper and my suspicions over the passenger side door (was fixed properly by them). He came clean and said that it is common policy (VAG) not to tell the customer that the car is damaged if less than 3 panels are damaged!!! Looks like you had four panels and a broken glass window.....that car will be repaired and sold as second hand within SUK...or as a fleet car!!!

Superbia, Why such cynicsm? It was "my " car I'd seen on the transporter, but the damage was such that Skoda would not repair the car and then sell it as new.

The car had a broken OSR side window but also deep scratches to the OSR door, OSR panel, tailgate & roof. This is the reason they're not prepared to sell as new. I think the whole process is highly commendable - how many other manufacturers & their dealers would have the honesty to tell the truth & risk losing a customer. I've had a long conversation with the dealer's Brand Manager who has given me lots of assurances & I will be re-ordering a replacement car in the coming days. The only thing I'm not sure on is what the MY12 changes will actually be...

Did you mention that last time? NO, you said the window was broken, a broken window won't cause a dealer to say we can't sell that as new, with 3/4 of the car needing a re-spray I fully understand why they won't let you have it, but that was not the impression you left in your last reply was it?