Just went today to pick up my 1.6 at the only Skoda dealership at the country. Just when I was about to sign recievership I noticed some things about the car:

1. The right side, rear door had a ding on it. Could probably have been cuased at storage when the car arrived.

2. The floor in the interior was full of mud.

3. Interior panels were scratched as were the door sills.

4. It had 85 kilometers on the clock even though the dealer ships them from the port by truck to the dealership.

I immediatly asked the car to be changed and was shown another 1.6 in the same color I had ordered. Problem is that the car has light pain blemishes on the bonnet. The dealer told me that he would switch bonnets with the other silver model (mentioned above) so I could get a perfect car. Do you guys think this is an acceptable fix?

Also my RS won't be arrving on August 16 as they had told me. Instead it will arrive on the 30th. Thank god I still haven't put down the deposit.

Sorry for the long rant

85 kms is a lot for a new car, when I picked up my RS it had less than 15kms (9 Miles) on the clock. Sounds like it was driven from the port to the dealer. How many kms has the other 1.6 done.

Manny, the other only shows the same as your RS (15km). It's pretty wierd since the port is only 5 minutes and less than 12 kilometers away from the dealer. If it were only have been driven from the port it still would not show that much mileage. Someone told me that they saw the car recently at a local auto show so that's probably were the mileage and dirt/ding came from.

From the description of the damage to the first car, it does sound as if lots of people have been inside it. Assuming the damage is superficial, you could ask for a discount. I wouldn't be happy having a new car with a bonnet off another car since there could be slight differences in paint colour unless both cars came down the production line at the same time. And can the dealer get a perfect fit with the bonnet switch? A tricky situation.

Originally posted by Hellraiser in this post

Do you guys think this is an acceptable fix?

Sounds OK and I guess they could have done this before you went to pick it up and you would never have known.

I would personally be more concerned that they'd tried to get me to sign for/accept a car that they must have known was in a bit of a state and hadn't even bothered to clean properly.

My car had nearly 100 miles on the clock when I picked it up. I think it had been used as a test vehicle by the dealer, as there were no other TDIs on their fore-court. I couldn't be bothered to query the mileage, but I did check the car for damage, and it was in an impeccable condition. It wasn't on the way home however, because something the size of a golden eagle dumped on my screen. You can guess what I did when I got home!

DGW: Both came in the same shipment form the factory and are identically equipped so I guess both were made at the same time. I wouldn't mind a price reduction if the car was only dirty but I really don't see myself buying a new car that has already been dinged. I do agree of being concerned about the fitment of one bonnet on the other car. They'll be doing it this week and if I do not like the results I guess I'll just have to get another car.

JaneC: I was also distraught at the fact that they would sell me a vehicle like that. I'll be honest and say that the salesman did not know the vehicle I had ordered had been used before. In fact he was the one who suggested changing the bonnets on the first place.

Jason: I wouldn't mind if they'd admit the car as a demonstration vehicle and lower the price, but truth be told, they won't. So I guess I'll see how the bonnet change turns out. On a different note, I wish they would bring the TDi Fabia here. Instead we just get the SDi.

I'll try to take some pics tomorrow of both cars so everyone can see what I am talking about. Also do you guys think $14,500 dollars is a reasonable price for the Octy I am getting? Is $24,000 the right price for an RS?

tell them to shove the car where the sun dont shine...

i wouldnt accept any car i wasnt 100% happy with...

Are we talking USD or another type of $

$24,000? Well, the current rate for US$ (was when i got my racquet from Brooklyn) 1.61$ to the

ffelan: Me neither that's why I won't pay until I see how the bonnet ends up.

Manny: Yes we are talking about USD $.

Jason: I used XE.com to calculate the price for both in Pounds. The 1.6 would be 8,936.65 while the RS will be 14,791.75. Are they overpriced? Don't get me wrong, I think the RS is an extremely good value for the money so I don't have any problems paying that price for one but I am worried about the price on the 1.6.

Is the GLXi model still used in the rest of the world? My dealer shows my car as being a 2003 Skoda Octavia 1.6 GLXi Ambiente. Is this correct?

Ambiente 1.6 Hatch 173 C

Our models designations changed with the 2001 facelift.

L = Classic

GLX = Ambiente

SLX = Elegance

So your GLXi Ambiente would seem to be ok. The RS price seems good when you compared to the UK but I don't have any idea what the prices a like in your country so, unfortunately can't really give a good view.

The price for the 1.6 seems good though regardless.

I'd get your delaer to do a full valet of the interior if you're ok with bonnet after it's been replace. I'd also ask for a free service as you don't know how the cars been driven for those miles/km.

Jane: Thanks I will be careful though the car is brand new. It's probably just a nomenclature change for Central America/Caribbean.

Skodi: The price for a Subbie WRX here is 17,869.40 so the RS does seem a bargain for its performance potential combined with its high level of equipment. The 1.6 I am being offered now only has 15kms but the dealer will perform a full valet and I am being given free servicing (though I can't remember if it's for the first one or two services). My salesman is also trying to get me the rear Octavia trunk cargo mat for free.