Okay, so here's the definitive word from SUK head office, high in the echelons of power on the stuff in the headline!

After the chat on the Blackline delivery thread where I was pretty appalled about the following issue, I wrote an email to SUK asking just why the curtain airbags weren't an option on this model, the only model in the range not to have it, especially when safety should be a paramount issue (from the view of someone working in the emergency services), and this afternoon I got a phone call from one of the big honchos to clarify all the facts and figures on that and other stuff which I managed to shoehorn in.

So. The Blackline doesn't have curtain airbags because they are indeed only making 500 models, no more, no less, and they're all being made EXACTLY THE SAME, the colour choice being the only 'option'. They're all being made in the factory, with NOTHING being added in the UK (unlike the last limited edition which had the leather seat stitching done over here), which is why the airbags aren't an option cos it's like they're being stamped out of a specific mold. He said they also don't want to affect the future resale values of this model which is why it's so specific as if it was specable with all sorts of stuff, it wouldn't be 'special'.

james_19742000 did say this on the 'octavia 3 is ready' thread, but the guy confirmed the new octy hatch is going to be released for sale March next year, the Estate in April, the vRS is to be released in June next year, and the NEW SCOUT MODEL is to be release about June 2014. Figured with the amount of people on here upset about it being discontinued and hard to get, this might be of some joy to them. He said a large reason why they've gone so quickly is because they sell a lot to paramedics and the like, and therefore the existing stock lines have run out.

Hope that's of interest.

Edited 11 September, 201213 yr by blackspaven

2014!

Makes me feel even better about picking up a used one to fill the gap.

Despite ordering a black line. Their justification for no side air bags is nonsensical. If they want to keep it consistent all should have them as standard.

Despite ordering a black line. Their justification for no side air bags is nonsensical. If they want to keep it consistent all should have them as standard.

That's what I said to him: felt that putting safety as a lower priority than having a tarty car was pretty appalling (he said that's why he called me up so quickly cos he'd read it and i'd worded my email VERY strongly to that effect, especially considering what I do for a job!). I think his gist was that it was an executive decision, kind of apologised, and understood where I was coming from. He made the obvious argument that with all the free extras, they can only put so much in for nothing, and I kind of understand that from a sales point of view, any car would more than likely shift quicker with a free super-duper satnav stereo than a safety feature.

Everyone has their own priorities as to what they'd want in a car. Such is life.

I would take side air bags over say dab, park sensors, black wheels... But satnav and leather made me sign the dotted line, at the time I didn't know it came without side bags.

Well no curtain airbags no order from me, Thats probably no big deal to skoda. they know they will sell all the 500 cars, as with the op my job means i have to deal with the aftermath off things like RTA's and have a small child, so in car safety is 1st on my list when it comes to cars.

I think they've pretty much sold them all judging by what he said. Might be b0ll0cks, but he said if they'd have done a run of 1,000 they probably would sell them at the pace they're going.

Different people have different priorities. I wouldn't touch one with a bargepole with that lack of safety feature, but it'll be of little significance to others, and that's their call.

Edited 11 September, 201213 yr by blackspaven

vRS will not be out before Golf GTI - I would put Monet on it.

vRS will not be out before Golf GTI - I would put Monet on it.

Along with Constable, Da Vinci and Van Gogh

Along with Constable, Da Vinci and Van Gogh

And to quote meatloaf you took the words right out of my mouth

Their Dealers should not be telling people that we won't see a new VRS until 2014. Ordered a Blackline but might have waited if I had known it might be June.

vRS will not be out before Golf GTI - I would put Monet on it.

Just passing on what I was told.

Was quite surprised that I even got a phone call, thought I might just get a drab, formulated email, but the guy did seem pretty concerned with my issues, or possibly more that I didn't start poo-pooing skoda because of it. I guess my 'complaint' came across stronger than I thought!

Blackspaven are you a policeman or fireman or paramedic buddy?

A lot of confusion here, all the octavias have front AND side airbags. What they don't have is curtain airbags, which is an extra on every model (apart from L&K), not just the blackline.

A lot of confusion here, all the octavias have front AND side airbags. What they don't have is curtain airbags, which is an extra on every model (apart from L&K), not just the blackline.

Thanks - can you enlighten me re side vs curtain?

Curtain airbags drop down on the side windows (like curtains) to protect the passengers head in a side impact. The side airbags are in the seat to protect the passengers body in a side impact. (I think!)

I think all information on "future models" has to be taken with a pinch of salt. Skoda don't want stock left of old models but at the same time they don't want people jumping ship to another brand as people tend not to buy new cars every year. BY prmising something early, then delaying - it can be a tactic. Sure people get "upset" when something fails to arrive at the time, but they then think "well I've waited this long".

I'll echo what has been said above, the vRS will not be seen before the GTI. VW won't let Skoda (whom they already see as stealing sales from VW, remember every Skoda sale is seen as a lost VW one) steal any thunder. Mk7 Golf before Rapid/Octy 3 and GTI before vRS.

OK, so we accept the vRS will come after the GTI, but when does the GTI come out?

Or skoda to test it golf with more bhp to get it right.

They did thst with the mk 1 fabia

A lot of confusion here, all the octavias have front AND side airbags. What they don't have is curtain airbags, which is an extra on every model (apart from L&K), not just the blackline.

Not entirely correct... Skoda are not offering ANY extras to be specced on the Blackline. Therefore, it's not possible to order a Blackline with this feature. THAT is where the concern lies.

Not entirely correct... Skoda are not offering ANY extras to be specced on the Blackline. Therefore, it's not possible to order a Blackline with this feature. THAT is where the concern lies.

Yes, they do make that very clear in all of their literature, which is why I specced up a standard VRS instead of Blackline.

It's a VERY, VERY rare option on octavias, so I'd bet most people wouldn't have ordered them even if they were able to, merely assuming it would come with them standard or not being bothered.

Yes, they do make that very clear in all of their literature, which is why I specced up a standard VRS instead of Blackline.

It's a VERY, VERY rare option on octavias, so I'd bet most people wouldn't have ordered them even if they were able to, merely assuming it would come with them standard or not being bothered.

Problem is you get no benefit for you extra money with curtain airbags untill you have a big crash then they suddenly become the best things since sliced bread. Safety features really shouldnt be an optional extra. The same money spent on some nice sat nav or leather gives rewards with every journey so therefore feels like better value. If you have a limited budget and could only specify one option i know where most peoples money would go. Tarty options sells cars. Boring safety options doesnt sadly. I haven't had a big crash for a long long long time so safety options are low on my priority list as the car is pretty safe anyway without them.

Safety options are low on my priority list as the car is pretty safe anyway without them.

I completely understand that, but with a little one, they're quite high on my list. I think it's a disgraceful decision not to fit them standard, probably made by vw uk and not skoda uk.

(remember every Skoda sale is seen as a lost VW one)

I'm not so sure.

If we hadn't bought our two Skoda's then I'm pretty sure we wouldn't now have two VW's instead.

The Audi, VW, Skoda and Seat partnership works very well, I think each brand appeals in different ways.

Sure, there will be some cannibilsation across the different brands but I suspect that its not as much as you may think.

I completely understand that, but with a little one, they're quite high on my list. I think it's a disgraceful decision not to fit them standard, probably made by vw uk and not skoda uk.

It's not like you can't have them, just pay more money and add them to your order!

If you want a Blackline with curtain airbags then just spec up a normal vRS instead and pay the extra.

If Skoda fitted every option to every car then they'd be alot more expensive and there would be a similar thread to this one with people complaining they were being forced to have / not have certain features.

They are giving you the option - based on your needs/thoughts/perceptions you are free to take it or leave it.