[Andypandy TFSI]

I called Ingrams Skoda today for a quote for fitting a towbar to my 2006 Oct VRS hatch.

The guy was quite funny and asked if I was sittiong down first.....He quoted £700...Is this not hugely excessive?

I was quoted £290 from a indepenent towbar specialist only 5 miles or so from the dealer.

[bill2]

just have a good laugh and think your self lucky that you can go to a independent instead of skoda.

bill

[Stoofa]

To be fair a quote like this can usually mean that they don't want the work - that is is just more hassle than its worth. They won't say this of course.

You pay them £700, they take it to the place that charges £250 - profit.

[FUBAR]

My main dealer quoted around £400 fitted with single electric socket. They got price of bits (detachable one) then went asked their master mech how long it would take and added that on in labour no messing about and not out sourced like many.

[countryboy]

Go to an independant if I were you, much cheaper and they know what they are doing. You don't say what it is for but it might be worth going to one which has the autologic coding machine to enable the bulb check, rear parking sensor disable, trailer stability control enable to be turned on as part of the installation.

Ian

[Prof Yaffle]

All I can add is

(1) I had a dealer-fit non-Skoda towbar on my last Octavia - played havoc with the rear sensors, but only with the towball cover on!

(2) watch for any body/corrosion warranty, having someone welding/drilling around your chassis may not look good (recommended to me by a lease company last week - they'd decline any claims for non-dealer modifications)

(3) warranty - if anything does go wrong, you may be stuck with the supplying dealer/fitter versus being able to take it to any franchised garage

My local VW garage is quoting around £600-£700 for one at the moment (VAG or third party), which is comparable to the VW factory-fit. I can't remember about Skoda.

Of course, all dependent on age etc. of your car.

[Optimist]

I pick up my Superb Elegance 2.0TDi 4x4 on Thursday. Was bought from the showroom so bought as seen specs. I asked about a retro-fit detachable towbar and was quoted £1000....... Ha b********y ha! Having it done by a specialist company at end of March BUT still £650 cause the car hasn't had the towball prep package and there's a lot of work involved if you want it to "talk properly" to the on board computer thingamajig.

I have been assured the cars warranty will not be invalidated and they will provide the relevant guarantee. Have used them for two previous cars and know they are v good.

I firmly believe you get what you pay for but the Skoda quote is a joke!

John

[mellyboy]

Indespension did mine for £270 caravan twin electrics, I know that my local stealer uses a independent .

[silver1011]

Detachable Witter fitted to my Scout by an independant for £350 inc. VAT...

[Andypandy TFSI]

Detachable Witter fitted to my Scout by an independant for £350 inc. VAT...

looks like a very good job, not sure what the independent will fit to mine regarding make of towbar but I;m guessing it's one of the well known brands as it's their bread and butter business and they should know what's the best gear to use

[blackspaven]

Indespension did mine for £270 caravan twin electrics, I know that my local stealer uses a independent .

Indespension in Reading do all Berkshire Fire & Rescue's towing eye work for the water rescue & fireboat trailer, and they're very good.

[Niall]

For all you getting it done for £270, £350 etc.

Which wiring type are you using? The basic wiring butchers version, or the canbus compatible car needs coding one?

I'm guessing the former when the CAN loom is around £100 on it's own!

I have the Witter Detachable too. It was around £350 plus fitting, the extra £250 which saw it cost £600 was due to the fancy loom and a bit more labour. You need to make sure you're comparing apples with apples.

The CAN loom certainly adds to the cost, but what cost wishing you had a trailer ESP programme enabled when things go wrong? Automatic disabling of the reverse sensors is nice too. Though it is maybe the one area where the good ladies Grand Scenic and french laziness beats the German efficiency of doing things properly!

VAG: We must use the computer of the car to know when something is connected to disable the reverse sensors. It is seamless and efficient (and expensive)

Renault: Why don't we just fit a button that turns off the sensors as standard? Short press for that journey, long press for permanent. Simple!!

Niall

Edited 8 March, 2012 by Niall

[Web Ferret]

I've a fixed whitter al-ko with twin electrics, proper canbus wiring, data download to control bulb warning, parking sensors, fog lights etc. An extra cable run was run through the car from the engine fusebox to power the fridge.

Never had a problem with it. £ 400 from an independant specialist. I could have had a cheaper bar for £ 350 but went with the whitter.

[Dolla]

Detachable Witter fitted to my Scout by an independant for £350 inc. VAT...

The pic of that tow bar looks a bit rude,you know what i'm saying. 700 hundred..Bargain. :$$$:

Edited 8 March, 2012 by Dolla