Just had a phone call from Sparshatts Botley, Southampton to say that my car has arrived there this morning. It's currently in a locked up compound and will be delivered to their garage on Tuesday. So after work on Tuesday I'll go in, give the car a thorough once over - particularly the door seals - make sure I get the luggage net, sat nav SD card etc. Collection will be PM Friday 7th hopefully - after another inspection to ensure that it has not collected any scratches or dents in the meantime! Pictures to follow of course...

Thanks to everyone here on things to look for, much appreciated and I now look forward to my first Skoda!! :sun:

Edited 30 May, 201313 yr by Timoctav

Nice! Fingers crossed all is ok with the door seals

don't think luggage nets are supplied with elegance AS STANDARD despite what early editions of the brochure say.

don't think luggage nets are supplied with elegance AS STANDARD despite what early editions of the brochure say.

If ordered before 24th of June 2013 Skoda are honouring the misprint and supplying nets to dealers to forward on to customers. After that date just an apology.

Next thing is to have the car detailed. Sparshatts automatically added Autoglym Lifeshine at a cost of some £300 but we had this done on my wife's Honda and it is a complete waste of money, it didn't last more than a couple of months, so I have asked him to remove that from the order. I have an excellent local professional detailer who will spend the whole day washing, claying, pre waxing ,waxing and valeting using Zymol products for far less money. I've used him several times before - he even does JK's car collection amongst others so that's good enough for me! And his work lasts at least a year, just an occasional top up with a wax treatment is all that is needed.

Edited 30 May, 201313 yr by Timoctav

If ordered before 24th of June 2013 Skoda are honouring the misprint and supplying nets to dealers to forward on to customers. After that date just an apology.

I emailed my dealer earlier today and had a response to confirm that their parts dep't are on the case ordering the nets for lucky Elegance early birds!

Next thing is to have the car detailed. Sparshatts automatically added Autoglym Lifeshine at a cost of some £300 but we had this done on my wife's Honda and it is a complete waste of money, it didn't last more than a couple of months, so I have asked him to remove that from the order. I have an excellent local professional detailer who will spend the whole day washing, claying, pre waxing ,waxing and valeting using Zymol products for far less money. I've used him several times before - he even does JK's car collection amongst others so that's good enough for me! And his work lasts at least a year, just an occasional top up with a wax treatment is all that is needed.

Are you going to get this done straight away or wait a few weeks for the paint to harden off?

I might leave it a few weeks if only to recover from the financial shock of shelling out for a new car! Maybe July time after Festival of Speed at which he exhibits (www.johnswax.co.uk). He recommends doing it sooner rather than later to get the protection on.

Edited 31 May, 201313 yr by Timoctav

Timoctav,

Nice, I ordered my Octavia Estate from Sparshatt just last week and also removed the lifeshine extra. I was going to do it myself, but I have a look at your recommendation Can I ask when you do ordered your car, and how long Sparshatts quoted til delivery, just so I gauge how long I will have to wait.

Timoctav,

Nice, I ordered my Octavia Estate from Sparshatt just last week and also removed the lifeshine extra. I was going to do it myself, but I have a look at your recommendation Can I ask when you do ordered your car, and how long Sparshatts quoted til delivery, just so I gauge how long I will have to wait.

Hi spitzie

Car was ordered Saturday 23rd March, quoted 8 - 10 weeks by Lee Diment, car arrived there yesterday. Going in after work next Tuesday to give it the once over and sort out the paperwork, plan to collect Friday 7th or Saturday 8th June.

Regarding detailing, I cannot recommend John Drake highly enough, lives just outside Lymington, a real perfectionist. If you are going to Supercar Sunday at Goodwood this weekend he's got a stand there.

Do you know what sort of money that John charges for a day's local work?

Do you know what sort of money that John charges for a day's local work?

Around £300 - £350. Sounds expensive but it is a full days job and John uses expensive Zymol products. Around the same dealers try and charge for Autoglym Lifeshine that lasts about half as long. The only after treatment that needs doing is the occasional application of Zymol Field Glaze after washing and drying this involves a very light spray and polish off after a few seconds. It takes around 15 minutes to do the whole car.

Edited 1 June, 201313 yr by Timoctav