Those of you that have read my "It's here" thread (http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/289139-its-here/) will be pretty familiar with the paint/finishing issues I have with my car.

 

This week has been pretty quiet on the communications front so I call Skoda yesterday and they eventually got round to calling me back today only to tell me that the matter is solely in the hands of the dealership as they have agreed to change the car. Well thats fair enough I thought but I still questioned them about their involvement as the car was meant to be getting its build date pushed forward - ah yes, we can request that but it will only maybe be a few weeks or so and the build times are still 5 to 6 months due to demand.

 

Well a wee conversation followed that especially after he mentioned that the issues could've been repaired (yes possibly but by respraying nearly the whole damn car) and I pointed out that although I have a (fairly) shiny new car sitting outside my house which I'm obviously paying for it may as well be a hire car. I neither care about or want it as I know it's not mine.

 

So, basically, the question is this - Do I hand the car back, get the trade in value back (I bet minus a "wear and tear" amount) and lose deposit and payments so far and walk away??

 

I'm really disheartened by all this and despite there being nothing else out there to fill the niche of a quick tdi estate that doesn't cost £30k plus I think I'd rather get a cheap car to knock about in and look again once I've cheered up and things have settled down.

 

Christ knows what I'll get for £4k though!

Despite everything, I think I'd keep it!

 

PS: And I'd ask for a really generous good will offer from the dealership...

If you want free (or low-cost) legal advice as to where exactly what your rights are or where you stand in law, try Citizen's Advice (or the Which? legal service).

However if your issue is more one of trying to make up your mind as to what you actually want, then I guess only you can decide which of the remedies being offered is the one you prefer. 

Well the only remedy that has been offered is for me to keep the car I have (as I'm paying for it) and it will be swapped when the new one is built. There was a mention of a possible goodwill from Skoda but the dealership said they wouldn't know until the order is accepted which I find a bit odd.

 

Even if between the Dealership and Skoda they got together and offered me £X off/goodwill (even just covering the monthly payments until the new is built - especially as going by some posts on here I got a crap deal in the first place!) to keep me in the car I'm driving about in and make sure I took delivery of the new one then I'd be happier.

 

It just seems like Skoda/the dealership think they are doing me a favour by exchanging the car at all. 

 

The other problem I have is that the dealership told me Skoda had agreed to swap the car and Skoda are telling me it was the dealership. So, with nothing in writing (as yet, despite asking for it) I can just imagine the hassle down the road.

I would probably be saying unless I get it in writing who made the offer to replace the car, and what you will be getting in goodwill you will be returning the faulty car and cancelling everything. I know that'll leave you slightly out of pocket in terms of what you've paid thus far. Or maybe look to escalate things with Skoda UK by emailing / writing to the CEO? Maybe a polite kick up the a** would get things moving?

Ensure that you get something in writing, and then just use it and abuse the current car until the replacement arrives. Even if it takes 6 months you'll have a new car to look forward to with 6 months extra warranty & tyres for free.

This is a pretty poor effort by Skoda, but whatever you do, I believe you must not let your heart rule your head.

It is always very tempting to say "stuff it", but it is not always the best long term response.

Good luck with whatever course of action you eventually you choose.

Personaly I think I would write to the dealership and copy in Skoda outlining the issues and what you think has been agreed (dropping in that you are thinking of taking legal advice which I think you should) and requesting them to give you a firm offer of what they intend to do in writing. Only then should you make a decision because if it is all verbal it would very easy for, shall we say, misunderstandings to happen. I would not agree anything unless there is a clear record of it (written or email).

 

Perhaps you could contact something like the WhatCar helpline - they seem to get some decent results for people too.

Ill give you £50 for it?

Ensure that you get something in writing, and then just use it and abuse the current car until the replacement arrives. Even if it takes 6 months you'll have a new car to look forward to with 6 months extra warranty & tyres for free.

I asked for things in writing last week but not a peep.

 

Also the fact that Skoda have said the dealership are replacing the car and the dealership say Skoda are makes it hard to pin down someone to cough up.

 

I know folk keep saying abuse the car but A) I don't do that (very often) anyway and Knowing my luck it'd end up in a hedge and that would be a whole other can of paint.

 

I could use the car EVERY time one of us needs to go somewhere but the mileage will be way over what they are expecting and would no doubt cause problems come exchange time.

 

Bear in mind a few of the issues were pointed out before I drove off the forecourt (My first HUGE mistake and I should've known better but I wanted my new car!) and the rest were pointed out to them when I went in the next day so they can't say I haven't been prompt.

 

 

Ah, god knows what I will do.

 

If it really will be 6 months I'd almost rather give it back, buy a smoker and run it for 6 months until my new one is ready. It'd more of an occasion that way!

Ill give you £50 for it?

If it ends up in a hedge it's yours

If it ends up in a hedge it's yours

 

It won't be driveable as the bushes will be shot. 

Mike999vrs,

Sorry too hear about your on going issues with Skoda /dealership.

My experience tells me always go in writing and chase up a written reply for documented history if you need to get legal later.

That being said, perhaps you friends on Briskoda should lobby on your behalf Skoda UK CEO via emails acting in your support to get urgent actions too resolve you problem and get you that replacement motor. might even be a Skoda management car in Uk that they can get their hands on for you !

What do you think Octavia vRS MK3 OWNERS OR THOSE HAVING PLACED ORDERS! Lets help a friend in need!!

Mike,

Draft a standard letter (Do a Martin Lewis job)directed to Skoda UK CEO and you're dealer. (who is it?)

Brief history of contacts and verbal commitments to you.

Who owns your problem- suggest it is ultimately Skoda UK AS THEY IMPORTED THE SLOPPY WORKMANSHIP!!

However, THE DEALER should act in agreement with their Customer IN THIS INSTANCE.

unfortunately not many have the balls to do so.

I know someone who had a build issue with a mk2 pre facelift. Skoda decided to exchange the vehicle for him and the build delay meant he got a facelift model. As far as I know it cost him nothing to exchange all he did was start a new solutions plan. The dealer and Skoda fought over who took the hit with depreciation on the returned vehicle.

That's the thing. As I understand it I won't even be starting a new PCP deal. They are planning on just swapping the finance over to the new car. Hence why I want it in writing!

Although I'd be a tad peeved if I was in your situation, I have to admit to being a little bemused by your deliberations.

Yes the car is substandard, but it works just fine.

Yes you will be paying for it until the new car arrives, but it's not like you will be expected to make the balloon payment.

The way I see it, you aren't really losing anything, in fact you'll get another 6 months of (relative) stress free motoring, will hand the car back and it will be someone else's problem.

You'll probably lose out more if you were to cut and run.

Skoda have agreed to replace the car, so realistically they have done everything that is required, if you get some form of goodwill then all the better.

Place your new order, don't pay any order fees etc. when you do, and in the mean time "drive it like you stole it".

Twenty three years ago I rejected an XR3i but had to contribute a small amount of usage depreciation, as at the time the XR had gone out of production with a change from MkIV to V and therefore they could only give me a refund. The car itself was taken back by Ford I was lead to believe.

 

3 months later someone rang me up having bought it at an auction, only to discover Ford had stripped the car of all warranty and they couldn't get the faults repaired; not much I could do but tell them that sadly they'd bought a lemon :S

 

 

TP

I suppose I should be thankful it's "only" problems with the paint and if I get things in writing so everyone knows where they stand it won't be so bad. If it really is as I've been led to believe and the existing finance will simply swap to the replacement car then I guess I'll be quids in too come change time.

 

I really don't like waiting and there were a few things I wanted to do to the car but no point if it's not staying with me!

 

I really wasn't having a good day yesterday and probably came over slightly too grumpy! Besides, come next year the gloss black gemini wheels might be available! 

Odd situation - on the plus side, when your PCP comes to an end, the vehicle you have in your possession will be newer than it otherwise would have been, and will undoubtedly have less mileage.  You should still have the same balloon payment, so you'd be buying a newer car at a discount price.

 

That said, being in a state of limbo and using a car that you won't be keeping is an unusual situation.  As said on here, I would insist on everything being in writing before agreeing to any further action. 

Mike did you buy the car from tha dealership in Halbeath, seems they are under different ownwership since i bought mine there. I still use them for my servicing when im down visiting the family in Dunfermline. Some of the storys i've heard since they have been taken over are a bit worrying.

Mike did you buy the car from tha dealership in Halbeath, seems they are under different ownwership since i bought mine there. I still use them for my servicing when im down visiting the family in Dunfermline. Some of the storys i've heard since they have been taken over are a bit worrying.

I did, but I looked at the feedback on here for their main dealership and it was all pretty good.

 

The guys weren't pushy at all and in all fairness haven't hung about getting things sorted (build delays aside) and always rang me back and taken calls where they could've put me off and called back hours/days later like some dealerships have done in the past.

 

I was having a crap day yesterday and was miffed Skoda hadn't bothered calling at all since I first raised the case but they didn't realise I wasn't aware the dealership was taking it on rather than pursue it through Skoda. Still, a wee call from the manufacturers would've been nice eh?

 

Ah at the end of the day I chose the car as I wanted a vRS, if I'd had waited for a factory build I'd still be in my X-type and cursing having to tax and MOT it when the new car would be a few months away. 

 

We shall see what gets put in writing and if it's as I hope (or was told) then I reckon I'll be staying in the fold.

 

...  As said on here, I would insist on everything being in writing before agreeing to any further action. 

.

Agree.  As has been advised, (1) get your complaint and their response in writing  (2) get legal advice, which is available free or at low cost.  Cars cost a lot of money.  If you are like most of us, you probably can't afford to get this wrong.

Experience shows that complainers who lose out worst are those who haven't done their homework, haven't taken expert advice, haven't kept a proper, detailed record and haven't explained (or even decided) what remedy they are seeking or are prepared to accept. 

Edited 18 October, 201312 yr by Stuarted

Well I'm off to see the Dealership next week to have a chat and get stuff in writing. I think the chap at Skoda may have passed on the wrong impression or info from our conversation as the dealership seem to think I'm under the impression that the order for the new car hasn't been placed - something I never said. Czech must be the new China   

I'm really disheartened by all this and despite there being nothing else out there to fill the niche of a quick tdi estate that doesn't cost £30k plus I think I'd rather get a cheap car to knock about in and look again once I've cheered up and things have settled down.

 

Seat Leon ST with the 184 diesel in FR spec should do the job   

 

http://www.seat.co.uk/content/uk/brand/en/models/leon-st/discover.html