Dear All,

Just a quick word of warning to all those who are awaiting the arrival of their new Fabia Elegance. We picked up my wife's new car from the dealer last week, having ordered it in April. It's a 1.2 Tsi DSG.

At the time of order, the dealer provided us with the Fabia brochure showing that the car come with reverse sensors as standard. However, when we picked up the car we noticed soon afterwards that there were no sensors fitted to the car. Not Happy....

I contacted the dealer and was informed that the specification had been changed by the factory in between the time of us placing the order and receiving the car. I remember a similar shambles when I was buying my new Octavia last year as Skoda pulled a similar trick with electric folding door mirrors on the elegance model of that car, making it an extra cost option. A number of people rejected their new cars on the basis of this whilst others were given compensation. There are threads on this very site relating to the ensuing problems.

The dealer agreed straight away to retrofit reverse sensors onto the car, although they will be audible only. I'm not sure if the factory fitted ones have a visual display in the stereo anyway, perhaps someone else can comment.

As we have already been waiting 7 months for the car, my wife has agreed to this, but it really leaves a bad taste in my mouth. I can see why you would have to check whatever extra options you have ordered,when you take delivery, but don't expect to have to go over the standard equipment list to see if they have taken anything out in the meantime.

So, to all you customers eagerly awaiting the arrival of your new cars - check and re-check what the exact equipment your car will have.

Having discussed this with a friend in the industry, he advised that in future I should include the standard spec of the car together with any options on the contract when I place the order. Seems like sound advice.

Not impressed Skoda, expected better...

Your dealer has screwed the order.

All MY11 cars had to be re-entered onto the system before the MY12 changeover. For Elegance orders the dealer should have selected optional rear parking sensors for no cost.

The factory sensors are audio and visual.

Cheers

Lee

Yeah mine are audio visual, my11 cars should have parking sensors, but my12 has been deleted but it does say in the small print "specification can change" shame your visual will not show :(

Yeah mine are audio visual, my11 cars should have parking sensors, but my12 has been deleted but it does say in the small print "specification can change" shame your visual will not show :(

Yep but if you ordered during MY11 but the car was not delivered until MY12 the dealers were under instruction to manualy spec the cars on the system as described in the MY11 brochure.

We ordered an Elegance in Feb 2011, after MY12 changeover we received a print out and the dealer had re-entered the car showing parking sensors added as a cost option but discounted off the vehicle price.

The dealer has slipped up here.

Cheers

Lee

Visual is a gimmic. I never used it once in the 50k miles I had one with it. Still tell the dealer you are really gutted and try and get front snesors out if them as well!

Visual is a gimmic. I never used it once in the 50k miles I had one with it. Still tell the dealer you are really gutted and try and get front snesors out if them as well!

I have the satnav so it's a bit more glossy I use it all the time, no point having the fronts try get something else thrown in polish and seal?, spare wheel? I wouldn't be happy

I dont get why Skoda charge £250 for the reverse sensors anyway when VW and Seat both charge under half that!

I dont get why Skoda charge £250 for the reverse sensors anyway when VW and Seat both charge under half that!

They would be the same sensors, I had them as standard as I had the satnav, £250 you should be able to get front & rear for that price, however fabia is a fair bit cheaper that the polo to initially purchase

Can't say I see the problem if they are fitting a kit FoC anyway.

As said the visual is pointless, although it is quite neat the way a picture of a trailer appears when something is hooked up to the tow bar

Can't say I see the problem if they are fitting a kit FoC anyway.

As said the visual is pointless, although it is quite neat the way a picture of a trailer appears when something is hooked up to the tow bar

What?? Towbar sorry is this sarcasm you telling me that this happens or pulling our chain ??

This is in the Roomster with factory-fit removable towbar and parking sensors. When something is attached (the new 13-pin euro plugs have a loop-back in them, so the car can tell if there is something connected) in reverse the car still pops up on the stereo like normal, except there's a little graphic of a trailer behind it.

Well it make me smile anyway - as someone has thought about that.

A now I need to fit a towbar and buy a trailer just to see it

Visual is a gimmic. I never used it once in the 50k miles I had one with it. Still tell the dealer you are really gutted and try and get front snesors out if them as well!

I disagree, it shows you where you are close to something behind you and on which side etc. I find it quite useful actually.

I disagree, it shows you where you are close to something behind you and on which side etc. I find it quite useful actually.

would you rely on it or would you still look back to see how close your car is

I disagree, it shows you where you are close to something behind you and on which side etc. I find it quite useful actually.

+1

would you rely on it or would you still look back to see how close your car is

No because it is a driver AID, it does not replace your concentration, but what it does do it tell you where the obstruction is.

I would personally not let the dealer fit the after-market kit which are probably Cobra sensors - these are very good but only if you want bulkier looking sensors that do not integrate with the radio

The car is capable of having sensors that have full integration with the radio, this is exactly what I would want them to fit!

They can fit an OE kit that will plug into the car's loom giving you full functionality plus the sensors are IMO neater.

They can fit an OE kit that will plug into the car's loom giving you full functionality plus the sensors are IMO neater.

According to the brouchure the dealer fit is "accoustic" whereaas the factory fit is accoustic and visual.

+1

No because it is a driver AID, it does not replace your

concentration, but what it does do it tell you where the obstruction is.

I would personally not let the dealer fit the after-market kit which are probably Cobra sensors - these are very good but only if you want bulkier looking sensors that do not integrate with the radio

The car is capable of having sensors that have full integration with the radio, this is exactly what I would want them to fit!

They can fit an OE kit that will plug into the car's loom giving you full functionality plus the sensors are IMO neater.

+1

According to the brouchure the dealer fit is "accoustic" whereaas the factory fit is accoustic and visual.

Correct, this is because they do not use a genuine kit,

I have a genuine kit that plugs directly into the OE loom, the sensors are just like the factory fit ones as well (a bracket sticks to the inside of the bumper and the sensors are fitted to this bracket from the inside, rather than push through from the outside like aftermarket kits)

I have a genuine kit that plugs directly into the OE loom, the sensors are just like the factory fit ones as well

OK, so if that is the case then why don't the dealers have access to that?

Do you have these kits for sale?

The dealers would have access to them, but what you are effectively doing is asking 'a garage' to retro fit something, which is exactly what they are offering to do. A genuine Skoda kit will also be much more expensive than an aftermarket kit which is I imagine why they will not offer to do this initially as it is both dearer for the kit and will possibly take longer to fit them.

The kit I have is just a genuine Skoda kit I bought.

I recently tried to code a Yeti with a "dealer fit" towbar, it later turned out that the dealer had simply scotch-locked the wiring loom into the car rather than fit the correct wiring loom to the car! they also said that it was fitted to Skoda's approved instructions!!

I mean, scotch-locks FFS!!

I'm not following completely - the dealer fit option is in the accessories book with a Skoda part number (and price) but clearly states it's accoustic only. What am I missing here?

I dont get why Skoda charge £250 for the reverse sensors anyway when VW and Seat both charge under half that!

£440 for the option for my Golf estate (front and rears, mind)... Too much for me but I do miss them... Ebay have basic sound ones for £30!!

I have the dealer fitted Skoda reversing sensors. There is a speaker attached to the headliner in the rear of the car -it has a red LED on it which comes on when the sensors detect something, the beeps also differ depending on if something is at the side or the rear of the car. The sensors themselves are the push-through type they are colour-coded but have a black rubber grommet holding them in, they're not as neat as the factory fit option but I'm happy with them. They are NOT connected to the stereo so the volume doesn't alter and there is no display.

Can post pictures later for those interested.

I'm not following completely - the dealer fit option is in the accessories book with a Skoda part number (and price) but clearly states it's accoustic only. What am I missing here?

Cos the sensors arn't factory fitted they won't integrate with headunit not maxi- dot either

Since the dealer fit sensors will not be the same specification as factory fit IMO the dealer should be offering you something else to make up. If they have not you sadly you will need to ask. Front sensors are one thought as I find it is no easier to judge where the front of the Fabia is than the back.