Afternoon all, 

 

I've been trying to test drive the new VRS for the best part of 5 weeks now and not one Skoda garage is able to give me even the courtesy of a call back!

 

I've been in contact with the 4 garages closest to myself and not one of them has got back in touch after saying they would see if the cars are out, on loan, test drives free etc etc. I wouldn't be irritated if maybe it was one garage but its flipping 4 all doing the same! 

 

Whereas when I went to test the new Mk7 GTI first garage got me booked in for a drive within 2 days. Called me back twice to double check I was coming as well!

 

Has anyone else had any issues with trying to get one sorted? Its a 30 minute drive to the nearest dealer and I really don't fancy going over there if i'll just get fobbed off like I have on the phone. Certainly putting me off wanting to order one. 

I went through the Skoda website and filled in the form to request a test drive. My local dealer phoned within a day to arrange a test drive (albeit I wasn't after a VRS). I eventually had to test drive a VRS because the Elegance 1.6 TDi was out. Nice car but DSG not for me. Anyway Skoa phoned back last week to say how did you get on with your test drive etc. So I would recommend that route.

I didn't even have to arrange, I just walked into a dealership told them I wasn't interested and they offered me a test drive, just gave me the keys and let me an the missus take it out on our own.

They did photocopy the card portion of my driving license though.

I didn't even have to arrange, I just walked into a dealership told them I wasn't interested and they offered me a test drive, just gave me the keys and let me an the missus take it out on our own.

They did photocopy the card portion of my driving license though.

 

Judging by your location, was that Mitchell Skoda at Chesire Oaks?

I went through the Skoda website and filled in the form to request a test drive. My local dealer phoned within a day to arrange a test drive (albeit I wasn't after a VRS). I eventually had to test drive a VRS because the Elegance 1.6 TDi was out. Nice car but DSG not for me. Anyway Skoa phoned back last week to say how did you get on with your test drive etc. So I would recommend that route.

 

I've submitted requests to all the 5 dealerships closest to me on the Skoda website. Not one phone call back from that either! Sounds like I've just got the luck of the drawer with **** dealers. 

I didn't even have to arrange, I just walked into a dealership told them I wasn't interested and they offered me a test drive, just gave me the keys and let me an the missus take it out on our own.

They did photocopy the card portion of my driving license though.

 

Its not that easy for me to just walk into one though, it'll take me 30 mins to go to one and i'm inclined not to for being ignored for so long. As if I can't get in one straight away it's going to be the promise of a call back that won't come! 

 

Sounds like i'll just have to waste a ton of fuel visiting all of them. 

Judging by your location, was that Mitchell Skoda at Chesire Oaks?

Oh god no! It was Claybank Motors in Eccles.

Oh god no! It was Claybank Motors in Eccles.

 

Interesting, sounds like you've had a bad experience?!

Walking in is always the best choice, they can speak to you face to face and not some random person on the other end of a computer or phone.  it is annoying that you have contacted 4 different garages with no joy. Send a very strongly worded E-mail to skoda uk and see what they say.

I'd walk in and show in person that your keen. Although I did that recently with both Vauxhall and Renault wanting to test an Astra VXR and RenaultSport Megane 265. Neither had one in stock but was due to come back in within the week. Both took my details but neither have got back to me. I would contact them myself but I made the effort to see them myself and yet they can't pick up a phone? Neither dealer filled me with confidence before and I won't buy either now unless I found one cheap then serviced it elsewhere.

 

Skoda have always been good for drives, even letting me have a go for a Fabia vRS just because it was there knowing full well I couldn't have bought then but a year later, another drive I did. So long term it worked for them. But I haven't pushed for one for the Octy vRS because it doesn't interest me. 

I just went to my local dealer with my wife to get her a Citigo (wife all smiles), salesman caught me looking at the VRS and said "nice isn't it" and I said "yeah, go and get the keys I want to drive it", job done but wife frowning in the background (imagine Marge Simpson when Homer impulsively buys things, as she knew I'd buy one lol)

I'm not far from you pal and I've had a similar problem.

Simpsons in Preston have, however, been very good. I've test driven both a diesel and petrol vRS there and Doug has been very good dealing with me.

I'm not far from you pal and I've had a similar problem.

Simpsons in Preston have, however, been very good. I've test driven both a diesel and petrol vRS there and Doug has been very good dealing with me.

Just goes to show not all customers get the same treatment. Bought my Octy II from their Colne branch & got in touch about buying an Octy III - that was several weeks ago & still waiting for sales manager to get back to me. They must have customers queuing at the door!!!!

Edited 20 August, 201312 yr by kalpat

Either walk in or phone Skoda customer services and tell them.

Bet you get some callbacks then!

I have a Blackline just had a email from Paul at Simpsons at Preston offering a Mk3 VRS test drive without asking.

Neither dealer by me (Edinburgh) have a deisel vrs available for test drive.

To be fair West End did arrange a test drive in an 1.4 octavia today but if I'd have had a drive in the diesel vrs manual (surely not too difficult as its the most likely to be driven) I would have signed on the line TODAY. They have a diesel but I couldn't drive it as its in the showroom and not taxed etc.

I'm away to Wales on Friday and staying in the midlands next week. If they happen to have on they might get the dealer. A few hours driving to get the car I want is neither here nor there when I'm spending 25k+.

Neither dealer by me (Edinburgh) have a deisel vrs available for test drive.

To be fair West End did arrange a test drive in an 1.4 octavia today but if I'd have had a drive in the diesel vrs manual (surely not too difficult as its the most likely to be driven) I would have signed on the line TODAY. They have a diesel but I couldn't drive it as its in the showroom and not taxed etc.

I'm away to Wales on Friday and staying in the midlands next week. If they happen to have on they might get the dealer. A few hours driving to get the car I want is neither here nor there when I'm spending 25k+.

Doesn't need taxing, just trade plates.

Doesn't need taxing, just trade plates.

To be fair they didn't say tax. It still had the suspension blocks in and not been "pdi'd"

To be fair they didn't say tax. It still had the suspension blocks in and not been "pdi'd"

Tell them to pull the blocks, let you test, and have an order form ready for when you get back.

I'm not far from you pal and I've had a similar problem.

Simpsons in Preston have, however, been very good. I've test driven both a diesel and petrol vRS there and Doug has been very good dealing with me.

 

Preston is just too far out of my way to be economical, is an 2 hours both ways. Is a shame as could do with finding a good one. 

Just goes to show not all customers get the same treatment. Bought my Octy II from their Colne branch & got in touch about buying an Octy III - that was several weeks ago & still waiting for sales manager to get back to me. They must have customers queuing at the door!!!!

 

I've sent Simpsons in Colne 1 email request and rang them twice as they're the closest to me. Both times got jack all even though I was promised a response as my days off are very specific. If I treated potential customers like that in my business I wouldn't be doing as well as I am! 

 

Either walk in or phone Skoda customer services and tell them.

Bet you get some callbacks then!

 

I think I might do. Its jocular though that you can't even get a response when wanting to test drive a car. They want to sell a car, you've got to drive the flipping thing. 

Edited 20 August, 201312 yr by Jonneh

Interesting, sounds like you've had a bad experience?!

Yes 2, first one was buying their demo vRS in 2011 and being told it had never been damaged or repaired only to find the whole rear quarter had been repaired after some sort of damage, while in their care, which they had on file. Ended up rejecting it and havin to wait a month for them to find a replacement.

Second was doin the deal on a new one a couple weeks back, filling in all the forms and about to give the deposit when the salesman decides he's got his figures wrong and wants another £80 more a month, which was also £80 more a month than the deal I got from Claybank.

Afternoon all,

I've been trying to test drive the new VRS for the best part of 5 weeks now and not one Skoda garage is able to give me even the courtesy of a call back!

I've been in contact with the 4 garages closest to myself and not one of them has got back in touch after saying they would see if the cars are out, on loan, test drives free etc etc. I wouldn't be irritated if maybe it was one garage but its flipping 4 all doing the same!

Whereas when I went to test the new Mk7 GTI first garage got me booked in for a drive within 2 days. Called me back twice to double check I was coming as well!

Has anyone else had any issues with trying to get one sorted? Its a 30 minute drive to the nearest dealer and I really don't fancy going over there if i'll just get fobbed off like I have on the phone. Certainly putting me off wanting to order one.

Yeh, it's disappointing but to be expected unfortunately with a budget brand like Skoda. My experience of Vw and Skoda has been the same over the years. At the end of the day it's your money so spend it where you're most satisfied. I certainly wouldn't spend Vw Money on a Hyundai looking Skoda imitation. ;-)

Well a happy story (so far) as far as I'm concerned, after a number of dealers and then phoning Skoda UK for a list of dealers with Diesels (the person with that info was out apparently) I started looking on the dealer register on this forums and spoke to SImpsons in Preston.

 

On the phone the dealers have been very helpful but they just don't have many diesels out there.  Simpsons are happy to let me drive their Diesel when it's conveniant for me.

 

Only 3, 1/2 hours drive each way so not too bad - I once took a train from Edinburgh to Reading to buy a car because the dealer were the only ones in the country that had the specific spec I wanted.  Driving back was a bit of a chore mind.

 

If Skoda UK ever get back to me regarding the list I'll make it availible on the demo register.

Edited 21 August, 201312 yr by gullyg

My local dealer don't really seem that bothered either. They never call me back, I have to chase them which I refuse to do given that I'm buying a fairly expensive car and they are making a fair profit from it.

 

Planning to a little further afield but don't really have the time at the moment, crazy that dealers are not interested, I guess business must be better than I'm giving them credit for!

I wasted x2 weeks  at Listers Skoda Coventry. They took me for a fool, trying to tell me that, doing only 5k year in a diesel vRS would not have any effect on the gfv after x3 years (amongst other rubbish!). Waltzed into Sandicliffe Skoda Leicester  and they agreed with my figures within x5 minutes. Matched my p/ex figure and shook hands. I have to say, the sales people ( I won't name names) at Listers were pathetic, especially considering that, I'd just placed an order for the missus' new Yaris at their sister branch. The bloke at Listers Toyota was fantastic, friendly and chatty. The guys at Listers Skoda seemed more interested in their appearance than customers buying a £27k+ car!!

To be fair to my local dealer they have 2 on the road demo's a Petrol DSG and a Diesel Manual, have driven both with no trouble what so ever.

Even got offered a 24 hour test drive for the petrol when I went back to talk figures