I have not signed up to a service package with our new Octavia II, mainly because we have a bad credit record (due to our sons racing exploits some years ago).

The salesman was pretty intense about the need for 'plugging in' these newer vehicles to the diagnostics. I have been quoted about £150 for the first service at the Skoda dealer and then about £220-230 for the next one.

Our Fabia was treated to new oil and filter a couple of times (over 40,000 miles) and we never had a bit of a problem with it.

Is there any way that I can get plugged in to the diagnostics, without going to the dealer and their, in my opinion, inflated charges.

I have always used premium oil brands, with no detrimental effects.

Im sure there are a couple of local people on here that should be able to help.......

You won't need diagnostics during a simple service, even the service interval timer can be set using maxidot.

 

 Only problem I can see is that if you do not go to a qualified dealer or independent using genuine parts you run the risk of warranty issues, you will also miss out any software updates that a main dealer will do automatically.

Thanks for your help lads.

My wife, who is the main user of the car, has said that with 10,000 miles/1 year, service intervals, we can afford for it to go to a main dealer for the duration of the warranty and I don't dare argue!!!

Will review situation after that.

With the national pricing plan personally on balance I think it's worth getting it dealer serviced. Even after the warrenty has expired I'm still going to use mine (providing I still have it) just in case anything gies wrong as Skoda tend to look more favourably if you have a common failure outside of the warrenty period if you have a full dealer service history and you won't save much over an indy ( though for non-sevice stuff it may pay to use one). HTH

Thanks littleade, maybe with all the new technology, I should re-think my strategy with this one.

At least if it's dealer serviced, there is the peace of mind that goes with it.

We're both pensioners now, so this car will probably see us out. I can't see us clocking the 200,000 miles, that I know these engines are capable of regularly.

My thoughts too on the dealer front- might be a bit more expensive but worth the extra IMO. If you're a loyal customer SUK tend to contribute towards any major problems outside of the warrenty. I'm thinking about extending my warrenty when the 3 years are up unless I can get the go ahead for a mkIII vRS ( though I think that would have to be with the dealer). All the best.

Thanks for your help lads.

My wife, who is the main user of the car, has said that with 10,000 miles/1 year, service intervals, we can afford for it to go to a main dealer for the duration of the warranty and I don't dare argue!!!

Will review situation after that.

If you're doing 10k you could go on variable services instead.

Thanks for that gadgetman.

I was reading through all the paperwork/owners manual last night and according to the manual this car/engine is on Q16 variable services. How do I check and what do I need to do?

It's all so much of a minefield.

Q16 is 30,000km (18,641 miles) or 2 years variable service intervals, whichever comes first.

Q16 is 30,000km (18,641 miles) or 2 years variable service intervals, whichever comes first.

Thanks DGW. Sounds great. Saving me money all the time.

What needs doing and when is listed in the Service Schedule booklet for your car. Most service items are mileage based and will tie in with variable service intervals but a few are based on time, eg brake fluid at 3 years then 2 yearly thereafter. You will need to keep tabs on these because dealers may need reminding that they need doing.

Ive also found that unless your going to be keeping the car long term, the extra cost in servicing the car by a dealer really helps when coming to selling the car. 

 

Obviously the older the car gets then it will make much less difference and if you can show a good history of self service this is often just as good but with a more expensive car the general public still like to see dealer stamps

Thanks lads for your help.

My wife has already said that we are going to get it dealer serviced, but no need doing it more often than is necessary.

I don't drive a car hard. I'm more MPG man than MPH man, so it won't have a hard life.