The dealer has 14% margin in the car to start off with I think. This is not 14% of the OTR price, so all these people calculating their discounts from the OTR price are getting it wrong.

The 14% margin is in the list price of the car and options ex VAT; before VAT, Delivery Charge and VED are added.

So, to work out what discount level you should be going for, take the ex VAT price, deduct 6%, add VAT, add delivery charge and then add VED. This is not the same as deducting 6% from the OTR price.

If you are trading in, your car will be valued at a trade price, i.e. what it is worth at the auctions to the trade. If you are getting any more than trade for it, then the difference has come out of the 14% margin that the dealer has.

So, with a trade in you normally pay full list and get more than trade for yours, or get a discount and get trade for your swapper.

The 0% finance costs the dealer 6% of that margin to start off with, so there is only 8% left to play with, and most dealers will want to retain 2.5-3% of that. They are a business after all!

Aim for 6% discount and 0% finance, and you have as good a deal as you are going to get really.

Do your sums first - on an Elegance 2.0TDi Hatch with a list of £21,990 the ex VAT price is £17,854.17.

6% of this is £1,071.25, add VAT to this you get £1,285.50, so expect a good deal to be £20,704.50 on the 0% with 3 years servicing.

On the face of it, that looks like a discount of 5.85% from the OTR, but the delivery charge and VED are out of the dealers hands.

Well said.

I dont drive the hardest of bargains myself, there are a few Skoda dealers in reasonable proximity to where I live but I tend to deal with my local dealer as they are very courteous and over the past three years we have built a good relationship and I feel they do all they can within reason (aftersales too) to look after me.

Theres alot to be said about dealer experience and frankly whilst I could probably get a better deal elsewhere I cant guarantee another dealer would look after me any better.

I tend to find my dealer gives me some discount at the backend of the deal, I pay list for the new car minus marketing discounts but they always give me strong money for my car (either bang on trade money or a bit more) usually equating to me having a nice bit of cash to put into a new one, again perhaps slightly a false economy as the equity tends to get used to refund a deposit on the new car but Im not technically re-dipping my hand in my pocket to throw more money in and depleting my reserves.

Some dealers might offer a stonking deal on a new car but then offer you weak money for your trade-in.....a front end loaded deal and plenty of those go on.

Alot of it boils down to this.....when you walk into a dealers you are either there to browse or buy, there is usually not an in-between. A good salesman can tell the difference v quickly and steer conversations as appropriate and mostly a car will sell itself providing a reasonable deal is on the table because you want the car otherwise you walk away and try again down the line. But the fact remains they are there to turn as bigger profit as they can, whether they do well out of the new car, part ex or both is their call really but unless they are simply desperate to sell something you'll get reasonably clobbered somewhere, otherwise why sell you a car at all?

Well I never did get a response from the manager. I never pushed anything, and just accepted I'd allowed myself to get shafted.

Howeverdid pick the new car up today.

I'll learn one day. Next time will ensure i shaft the dealer (can be done if you do your home work).

Well I never did get a response from the manager. I never pushed anything, and just accepted I'd allowed myself to get shafted.

Howeverdid pick the new car up today.

I'll learn one day. Next time will ensure i shaft the dealer (can be done if you do your home work).

Congrats and enjoy the new motor! Hopefully soon all thoughts of shafting will be gone from your mind lol

Congrats and enjoy the new motor! Hopefully soon all thoughts of shafting will be gone from your mind lol

Yep. They are all gone. I just learn from my mistakes.

Still missing the old Focus Saloon though. It had character (more so than a normal Focus), and the Focus really is a joy to drive. Very reliable as well.

The Octy will never match the character and be as much fun to drive (even though the Octy does have more oomph). Even driving slowly the Focus was a pleasure to drive.

But she was nearly 8yrs old and the Octy is nicer inside. Not to mention kinder on the expensive stuff.

Initial impression of the Octy. Smart looking, but big!!! Very smooth steering wheel. It slides effortlessly through your hands. Very forgiving gear changes. No jolting or anything. Something i often got in the Focus at low speed (1st to 2nd)
A lot stiffer suspension wise than the Focus, but its only really felt on things like humps, where it is very obvious. Pot holes dont feel any worse, and despite the stiffer suspension it cushions small bumps very well at low speed. 
The kicking in of the turbo is less obvious than on the 1.6TDI. Got to get used to the low revving of the diesel, because i still sometimes try and change up too soon. But leave it a while and really let the turbo kick in, and you really do get a kick up the backside acceleration wise.
Very smooth acceleration. When the turbo kicks in you dont get a sudden massive kick. The kick arrives gradually leading to a smooth acceleration. Much better than 1.6 in this respect.
Doesnt have the low down acceleration of the Focus, but then again, low down with a diesel is lower than a petrol. What it does have is acceleration if you let the revs build up normally.

As i get used to driving it, and get some decent weather, i will be able to concentrate more on what its like to drive.

My dad has just seen it for the first time (he never knew id ordered a new car!). His initial reaction-
"I thought you'd get something smaller this time. Its like a tank"

Looking forward to seeing what its like as a motorway cruiser. I think its going to be quiet. Certainly with the 1.6 it was very easy to hit 80 without knowing it.
 

Looking forward to seeing what its like as a motorway cruiser. I think its going to be quiet. Certainly with the 1.6 it was very easy to hit 80 without knowing it.

 

 

They're great! Only on day 2 of mine and just had fairly short motorway stretches with 60 mph limits but it seems as though they're completely at home there. So too the dual carriage ways at higher speeds. Hmmmmmm lovely. Safe, comfortable and quiet. There's nothing not to love. Enjoy. Merry Christmas all.

After a short motorway hop. They produce less wind noise than my good ol' Focus, but there is more engine noise, and road noise is about the same i think. Overall a think a little bit quieter. Probably not as good as i thought it may be.

Which focus did you have James? I like everything on mine except the audio which sounds tinny and very, very cheap.

Which focus did you have James? I like everything on mine except the audio which sounds tinny and very, very cheap.

Focus Saloon, Ghia. '06 plate.

 

Audio was good. I never found it tinny at all. Very simple to use as well unlike my touchscreen Octy!! Simple to increase the Bass on it if need be.

The sound on the Octy is probably worse than on my Focus. Not by much, but a bit. Got to see if i can increase the bass on it a bit.

Sorry to jump in on this a bit late, but don't worry too much about getting shafted. I've been to three dealers locally and with two it was full price only on 0%. I guess they had hit their sales figures already and as the cars are getting such good reviews they are selling themselves!

About to enter into negotiations with a third, so I'll let you know how that goes.

Oh, and if you look at the Whatcar target price, it's 100% of the value.

Sorry to jump in on this a bit late, but don't worry too much about getting shafted. I've been to three dealers locally and with two it was full price only on 0%. I guess they had hit their sales figures already and as the cars are getting such good reviews they are selling themselves!

About to enter into negotiations with a third, so I'll let you know how that goes.

Oh, and if you look at the Whatcar target price, it's 100% of the value.

 

 

Carfile can get you 14% off RRP if you don't take the 0% credit.

Edited 26 December, 201312 yr by lfc4me

Oh, and if you look at the Whatcar target price, it's 100% of the value.

Hadnt noticed that. They are obviously struggling as well. Cheers. Makes me feel slightly better!

 

On a different note. More driving around with the car. Very smooth and quiet on the motorway. Took my dad out today, and once up to speed on the motorway, he was about to tell me to get a move on! Lovely on the motorway. I dont feel too bad about not being able to afford a Jag now!

 

Something else which ive noticed. Dont know if its diesels in general or not. There is no chance of starting away in 2nd gear, even at low speed. Whereas at very low speed, you'd be ok on a petrol if applying more revs and bringing the clutch up slowly, there is zero chance in the Octy diesel. The car stalls straight away as soon as the clutch is up (and it stalls quite loudly, and with a sudden stop). Ive done it about 2 or 3 times just today. Funny thing though, is that as long as the clutch is depressed (which i normally do straight away when it stalls), it will re start automatically. Which is a bit like the start stop system. Its not by any chance the start stop system making it stall like that is it? Or have I just failed to grasp the low revving engine of a diesel?

Im guessing ive just failed to grasp how low revving diesels are, and then the start stop system kicks in to restart the car.

 

Must remember from now on, if at walking speed, do not try getting going in 2nd gear. Always 1st. Thats my lines for today!!!    

Hadnt noticed that. They are obviously struggling as well. Cheers. Makes me feel slightly better!

 

On a different note. More driving around with the car. Very smooth and quiet on the motorway. Took my dad out today, and once up to speed on the motorway, he was about to tell me to get a move on! Lovely on the motorway. I dont feel too bad about not being able to afford a Jag now!

 

Something else which ive noticed. Dont know if its diesels in general or not. There is no chance of starting away in 2nd gear, even at low speed. Whereas at very low speed, you'd be ok on a petrol if applying more revs and bringing the clutch up slowly, there is zero chance in the Octy diesel. The car stalls straight away as soon as the clutch is up (and it stalls quite loudly, and with a sudden stop). Ive done it about 2 or 3 times just today. Funny thing though, is that as long as the clutch is depressed (which i normally do straight away when it stalls), it will re start automatically. Which is a bit like the start stop system. Its not by any chance the start stop system making it stall like that is it? Or have I just failed to grasp the low revving engine of a diesel?

Im guessing ive just failed to grasp how low revving diesels are, and then the start stop system kicks in to restart the car.

 

Must remember from now on, if at walking speed, do not try getting going in 2nd gear. Always 1st. Thats my lines for today!!!

I had exactly the same issue with mine the first few weeks and I came from a Superb II 170CR diesel, but it seems to be less of an issue now the clutch has bedded in, or I have just got used to giving it a few more beans if moving off in 2nd, but only if on flat or down hill otherwise still need 1st gear. It is the stop start system that re-starts it when you stall it though, at least that's one benefit of the system, which imo is more of a pain in crawling traffic coming up on roundabouts, better at traffic lights though.

I had exactly the same issue with mine the first few weeks and I came from a Superb II 170CR diesel, but it seems to be less of an issue now the clutch has bedded in, or I have just got used to giving it a few more beans if moving off in 2nd, but only if on flat or down hill otherwise still need 1st gear. It is the stop start system that re-starts it when you stall it though, at least that's one benefit of the system, which imo is more of a pain in crawling traffic coming up on roundabouts, better at traffic lights though.

 

 

Hadnt noticed that. They are obviously struggling as well. Cheers. Makes me feel slightly better!

 

On a different note. More driving around with the car. Very smooth and quiet on the motorway. Took my dad out today, and once up to speed on the motorway, he was about to tell me to get a move on! Lovely on the motorway. I dont feel too bad about not being able to afford a Jag now!

 

Something else which ive noticed. Dont know if its diesels in general or not. There is no chance of starting away in 2nd gear, even at low speed. Whereas at very low speed, you'd be ok on a petrol if applying more revs and bringing the clutch up slowly, there is zero chance in the Octy diesel. The car stalls straight away as soon as the clutch is up (and it stalls quite loudly, and with a sudden stop). Ive done it about 2 or 3 times just today. Funny thing though, is that as long as the clutch is depressed (which i normally do straight away when it stalls), it will re start automatically. Which is a bit like the start stop system. Its not by any chance the start stop system making it stall like that is it? Or have I just failed to grasp the low revving engine of a diesel?

Im guessing ive just failed to grasp how low revving diesels are, and then the start stop system kicks in to restart the car.

 

Must remember from now on, if at walking speed, do not try getting going in 2nd gear. Always 1st. Thats my lines for today!!!    

 

I had the same issue when i got a leon fr cr 170, very easy to stall, must of done it 3x on the 5 mile trip home from the dealer, i recall being able to pull away in 2nd easily though after i'd gathered a few miles, not sure as said above, if my feel for the car improved or it was the clutch/engine loosening up?

Cheers guys. Must remember to treat her better whilst she's still new.

Well she's got a 250 mile trip tomorrow, followed by another one back on Sunday.

That should do her the world of good. Really loosen the engine up and get her used to motorway speeds.

 

Another thing i forgot to mention, which worried me a little bit today. Parking up in Dover, and the fan kept running after shutting her down. Immediately made me think she was trying to do a regen (which seemed a bit soon). Started her up again to see if she idled at high revs, but it was about normal (750rpm??). Switched off again, and all was back to normal. No more fans. So perhaps it was something else that caused the fans to keep running. 

Cheers guys. Must remember to treat her better whilst she's still new.

Well she's got a 250 mile trip tomorrow, followed by another one back on Sunday.

That should do her the world of good. Really loosen the engine up and get her used to motorway speeds.

 

Another thing i forgot to mention, which worried me a little bit today. Parking up in Dover, and the fan kept running after shutting her down. Immediately made me think she was trying to do a regen (which seemed a bit soon). Started her up again to see if she idled at high revs, but it was about normal (750rpm??). Switched off again, and all was back to normal. No more fans. So perhaps it was something else that caused the fans to keep running.

Fans after switch off will definitely be a regen, they seem to be quite common in the first few weeks, mine did 4 or 5 in the first couple of weeks but probably only noticed 2 or 3 since but I do about 500 miles a week and got 13k on the clock now so seems my miles are keeping the regens at bay!

Fans after switch off will definitely be a regen, they seem to be quite common in the first few weeks, mine did 4 or 5 in the first couple of weeks but probably only noticed 2 or 3 since but I do about 500 miles a week and got 13k on the clock now so seems my miles are keeping the regens at bay!

Odd how it was fine when I started up again. Revs at normal. They were before as well i believe. Usually expect revs to be higher as well. Oh well, theres been no alarms popping up, so no problem.

Tends to revert to normal if you restart after a regen. Our Yeti also has a bad habit of doing a lot of regens in the winter despite commutes of 36 miles on open A roads, believe the engine is not getting warm enough to burn the soot off normally. Also there might be additional sooting associated with winter diesel fuel.

 

Anyway managed to reduce the winter regens by blanking up the lower front grill with a cover.

 

 

TP

 

Tends to revert to normal if you restart after a regen. Our Yeti also has a bad habit of doing a lot of regens in the winter despite commutes of 36 miles on open A roads, believe the engine is not getting warm enough to burn the soot off normally. Also there might be additional sooting associated with winter diesel fuel.

 

Anyway managed to reduce the winter regens by blanking up the lower front grill with a cover.

 

 

TP

 

I started it up again in the middle of the regen! If thats what it was. Everything normal. Anyway, all seems fine, and got a nice long motorway run tomorrow, so that'll clear anything it may want to clear.

Moving on to something else. Ive been warned not to shut down straigt away after a long journey, and to let the engine idle for a minute to allow the turbo and oil to cool down (otherwise oil carbonises within turbo). Heard that from 2 sources. So something struck me. What about the stop start system. If you have just been travelling for a long time, then come to some traffic lights and the stop start shuts the engine down straight away. Is that going to cause the same problems? Or will the fact it will only be a brief shut down be OK, as the oil probably wont have time to cause problems? Im assuming perhaps you only need to let engine idle for a minute if its going to be the end of your journey, and not used again for some hours.

The RAC Skoda Assistance said that to me when the turbo on my Superb II went pop after 80k, it was the induction section that failed so not the full turbo but he said letting it idle for a minute or two would help especially if you live at the top of a hill or if you have been giving it some beans just before the end of ur journey

Sent from my RM-885_eu_euro1_271 using Tapatalk

Moving on to something else. Ive been warned not to shut down straigt away after a long journey, and to let the engine idle for a minute to allow the turbo and oil to cool down (otherwise oil carbonises within turbo). Heard that from 2 sources. So something struck me. What about the stop start system. If you have just been travelling for a long time, then come to some traffic lights and the stop start shuts the engine down straight away. Is that going to cause the same problems? Or will the fact it will only be a brief shut down be OK, as the oil probably wont have time to cause problems? Im assuming perhaps you only need to let engine idle for a minute if its going to be the end of your journey, and not used again for some hours.

The cooling time for turbo is true and a must if You wish to have Your engine for a long time. The SS has some rules that won't allow it to stop the engine (battery low, engine not warm enough, defogging the windshield using climatronic on max etc.) and within these rules there should be one saying "turbo hot"

Not bad practice but I am sure its not entirely essential on modern turbo cars.

I know my old Fabia vRS had a secondary oil pump that continued to pump oil through the turbo bearings for a good 5-10 mins once turned off, I wouldnt be entirely surprised if the diesels have something similar.

After all a 2013 TDi vs a 2003 TDi is going to benefit from 10 years of continual engine development, particularly reliability surrounding things like turbos etc.

The cooling time for turbo is true and a must if You wish to have Your engine for a long time. The SS has some rules that won't allow it to stop the engine (battery low, engine not warm enough, defogging the windshield using climatronic on max etc.) and within these rules there should be one saying "turbo hot"

I think just for safety sake, I may disable the stop start if on a long journey (which normally consists of constant 70mph running). A short hop into town wont be a problem though.

A very brief shutting down of the engine shouldnt be a problem for a hot turbo (afterall, it'll only be brief), but I will err on the side of caution.  

Well after slating my dealer a bit over charging me full wack for my Octy, I thought I would report something which i wasnt expecting, and is a little different.

 

After purchasing the new car, my dad told me he would have purchased my old one off of me. I never realised this, and so never actually asked him. He never knew i was purchasing a new car.

Anyway, after realising he was deadly serious, I emailed the dealers yesterday to ask if the car was still with them, or if they had sent it off to auction yet. Also asked how much they would be willing to pass it onto my dad for. Expecting them to add a little bit on. I mean, thats what they do!!

Got a response today. Obviously they havent fully completed whatever transactions they do their end (as it was Xmas), and the chap I was dealing with at the dealer said I could have the old Ford back if I could pay them the £1600 (part ex price) before close of business on Monday.

Now they could easily have turned round and added a couple of hundred on or something. Made themselves a quick and easy £200, but no. I say thats quite fair.

 

Anyway, good news is, on Monday I go in with £1600 of my parents money, and come back driving my old Focus

I may like my new Octy, but the worst bit about it, was having to walk away from my Focus. May not be mine anymore, but im so glad she will be back in the family. Dont know how easy it will be to see her back in the parents drive, and not hop in the drivers seat and drive off! But at least she will be back.

I'll no doubt still refer to it as my car!

Just noticed this thread where you have ended up with same car as me and off the stocklist.

I wouldn't worry about getting shafted, the 0% deal is very good with the 3 years servicing whether you manage to haggle them down or not. I bought a new vauxhall zafira about 7 years ago on exactly the same deal and never thought id see it again.

Most of my haggling was done on the part exchange price they offered for my old car and when we settled on a price per month on the pcp I managed to get them to take off another 10 quid. I guess it is partly down to experience as I know I got done quite severely when I bought my first new car back in 1994. Trouble once you've dipped your foot in and bought a new car you struggle to consider second hand ever again. Cost me thousands over the years but you cant beat the smell and feel of a new car and knowing no one has inflicted their driving style on.

I notice that you found the octy estate to be quite big, im a bit the opposite as with my last car being a chevy captiva it feels quite small, but in terms of drive ability and mpg there is no comparison and im really pleased I made the switch.

I will certainly look out for your posts over the coming months to see how ypu are getting on as it will be a useful comparison.

Edited 28 December, 201312 yr by jonnybgood