I also am quite suprised to see that Skoda only change the fuel filter every 40K miles :think: . With my last car, a Ford Mondeo 2.0TDCi, I used to change them every year, as fuel problems and the dreaded flashing glow plug light of death would appear.

Thanks for everyones input. Previously with my other cars, I would get the annual services done when the car was in Warranty, then revert to either do it myself, or my local indy garage who always uses dealer filters etc if I didnt have the time. I also sometimes used to do an oil change every 6 months depending on where I was working,( 2miles to work and back).

For the last couple of years, I have been doing 50 miles daily(motorway/ 'A' roads) average speed 50mph with very few stop start driving. so this I think would suit the variable it appears. I said 1000 miles a month but it will be probably 14 to 15k mile per year with holidays etc.

Historically, I would prefer the fixed service, but I was given no option, the sticker in the car and the service book states variable as per display, but the car is on PCP hire so someone states above that it must be on the fixed service regime.

The car is now overdue a fixed service (12.5k miles currently). I usually think the dealer service costs are expensive for basically an oil/ filter change and a quick look around the brakes, and a top up of the washer fluid.

Best ring the dealer to see what they suggest.

Cheers

Make sure you ask for their 'best price'. They nearly always budge. Then ring round 3 different dealers near you and get the cheapest quote.

On my 2011 2.0TSi I paid -

£112 for my 1st variable service

£180 for the 2nd variable service (inc all filters etc)

I went to Dennis Horton in Lincoln & received top service for the best price. They even give you a courtesy car with no insurance admin charge like a lot do now.

My advice shop around and bargain hard

'Confusion - its comes as no big surprise' as Jeff Lynne sang in 1979.

Phoned the dealer.

Service man - Yes you are on variable service, come in when the car tells you.

Me - OK, but I have a service plan

Service Man - Ah! then you must get it done every year, did no-one tell you?

Me - Obviously not.

Then I phoned the place I would like to get it done at, because they pick the car up and are closer to work. These lot say that if its well past the 10k mileage, then Skoda wont pay!

Phoned Skoda Customer services - Your car is on Variable service so get it done when the car tells you, but I'll put you through to Skoda Finance who deal with the service plans to check.

and thats where my phone died waiting for them to answer.

Now going to lie down a bit and phone the dealer back after lunch.

999pooch, - thanks for the info but the car is on a service plan so I dont pay. (hopefully)

Edited 24 January, 201313 yr by ianbenny

Its here

From another Forum :- I know the North Star engine as used in many Cadillacs had a 100,000 mile interval for first service (they also claimed you could drive a fair distance with no water in the system and some distance with no oil!). The North Star V8 is otherwise quite unsophisticated

My 2001 Ford Focus diesel could run on no coolant for a short while. The engine shuts down 2 alternating cylinders and just pumps air through them for cooling whilst the others run as normal. I never had to use that particular 'feature'.

My car came with the free servicing offer from Skoda but they'd cocked up and left it on variable. I got one free variable service rather than the 3 fixed. Switched to fixed after the warranty ended.

Edited 24 January, 201313 yr by Aspman

I don't think it's just a question of fleet firms driving down costs, but you have to wonder why a small minority of manufacturers including Ford cling onto such rigid intervals.

Their reliability stats don't eclipse those running longer intervals like Vag, BMW etc and in some cases are worse.

Oils and reliability have moved on, and I don't see loads of dead 4yr+ vehicles dying en mass because they were on variable.

I wonder how many that have suffered issues and been on variable are simply because they broke the 'rules' for choosing variable?

'Confusion - its comes as no big surprise' as Jeff Lynne sang in 1979.

Phoned the dealer.

Service man - Yes you are on variable service, come in when the car tells you.

Me - OK, but I have a service plan

Service Man - Ah! then you must get it done every year, did no-one tell you?

Me - Obviously not.

Then I phoned the place I would like to get it done at, because they pick the car up and are closer to work. These lot say that if its well past the 10k mileage, then Skoda wont pay!

Phoned Skoda Customer services - Your car is on Variable service so get it done when the car tells you, but I'll put you through to Skoda Finance who deal with the service plans to check.

and thats where my phone died waiting for them to answer.

Now going to lie down a bit and phone the dealer back after lunch.

999pooch, - thanks for the info but the car is on a service plan so I dont pay. (hopefully)

If you got the three year 30k free servicing then your car should have been set to fixed intervals and the car should tell you when the year/10k is up. Three free services later you should get it set up for 2 year 20k variable servicing; particularly if you are doing reasonable mileage and want to save some money.

If you got the three year 30k free servicing then your car should have been set to fixed intervals and the car should tell you when the year/10k is up. Three free services later you should get it set up for 2 year 20k variable servicing; particularly if you are doing reasonable mileage and want to save some money.

But aren't you limited to 30k on the finance offer anyway?

But aren't you limited to 30k on the finance offer anyway?

Theres an agreed mileage limit on a solutions PCP but you can go over if youre prepared to pay some excess mileage; though you only pay excess mileage of you hand the car back to VWFS. If you sell/part ex the car then the you dont pay it. Only problem is if the cars value reduces to a value considerably less than what you owe on finance at any point then you could still owe money; unlikely though unless you do really heavy mileage and or dont look after your car.

Edited 24 January, 201313 yr by pipsyp

But aren't you limited to 30k on the finance offer anyway?

I took out normal finance to get my free servicing- not a PCP. The free servicing was 30k or 3 years which ever came 1st when I took mine out. I chose fixed servicing because I won't do more than 10K a year but don't know what the offer(s) are at the moment

Still trying to get through to Skoda Finance....after 6 atempts!

Anyway this is where I think I am at.

1. My car came with the free 3 yr/30K service package. No other information was supplied by the salesman other than the car will tell you when it needs a service.

2. My car is on a variable service regime which it should not be as I have the service package above. Dealer made a mistake.

3. Car is now at 12.5K miles, 2.5K above the recomended fixed service milage. (Skoda Finance may decline to pay for this service, according to another garage, as it is too far over the mileage limit)

According to VW website, my car is suitable for variable service due to the type of driving I do so no problem there, and I do not really care as long as the services are doneand I would prefer an oil change anually, but even the sevice plan only gives you 2 changes in the 3 yr period.

My 2001 Ford Focus diesel could run on no coolant for a short while. The engine shuts down 2 alternating cylinders and just pumps air through them for cooling whilst the others run as normal. I never had to use that particular 'feature'.

My car came with the free servicing offer from Skoda but they'd cocked up and left it on variable. I got one free variable service rather than the 3 fixed. Switched to fixed after the warranty ended.

I suspect this will happen to me.

What I dont want to happen is I get the car serviced then presented with a bill because Skoda will not cough up the cash.

If you haven't done so already I would take photographic evidence to show your car is on the variable setting and (depending on what response you get from the dealer) either present them with a copy of the photos showing them the current position or write to the service manager via recorded delivery if they get stroppy (before they have the car) . As you say it's the dealer's fault. If you get no joy book it in and tell the dealer either THEY sort it out with Skoda finance or THEY bear the cost of your service. There should be no danger to your car as it came with oil in already set up for variable, it'll just mean the next service is only 7.5k away. Alternatively is there another dealer you can use to confirm it's on variable to Skoda finance/possibly do the service

Common sense has prevailed, and after getting through to Skoda Finance, they have agreed to let the car get serviced now, then again at 20K miles and get the dealer to set the car to Fixed service intervals.

So, car booked in for tommorow. Thanks for all your replies.

I've just picked up my new blackline, on the PCP deal with 3yr/30k service deal. Car has been set to Variable Servicing, and got told even on the Service Plan its 20k....needless to say, it will be back in at 10k to make sure Skoda pay! Plus can't service too often can you? especially if you arent footing the bill!

I'm pretty sure your stealers get paid for servicing your car by Skoda Finance so it makes sense for them to do it avery 10k while its covered by the plan. Regardless of what your car is set to. They probably set them all to variable as a habit.