In the dealers today getting the Monte it's first service and while there had a poke around a newly arrived Octavia III Elegance Estate. Found in the handbook pack a small card wallet instead of a service book for keeping service print off's in.

 

Turns out cars from November production will now have service work recorded on a central Skoda database and instead of a stamp in a book you can have a print off of the work done to keep in the wallet if you so wish.

 

Cars built prior to this date will keep the old book system.

 

 

TP

how will they register cars serviced legitimately at independent garages?

Will used car buyers be able to access service history?, as I have some doubts if certain dealers will readily make info available.

Will used car buyers be able to access service history?, as I have some doubts if certain dealers will readily make info available.

 

I'm sure buyers would be able to access it... probably at a price. I guess it may make a private sale more difficult as buyers do seem to like flicking through the record.

I think the idea is they dont want you to.

It's just another lever to keep you spending your money within the dealer network.

Sounds good to me

Sounds good to me

how is forcing people to use a main dealer 'good'. What about customer choice? What about a free market that encourages competition? What if the nearest main deal is 90 odd miles away?

how is forcing people to use a main dealer 'good'. What about customer choice? What about a free market that encourages competition? What if the nearest main deal is 90 odd miles away?

I fail to see how digitised service records forces people to use main dealers? Indie garages will just need use a similar system. Computerised MOT's didnt change anything and neither will this

The MX5 I sold had the exact same setup and that was a 2007 car.

They're probably all going to be at it before too long.

and what happens if Skoda can't access a separate database and vice-versa? How will service records be verified then? It'll be chaos, anarchy and doom. The end of mankind :(

Whenever I've had a car serviced I've been given an invoice show what was done and all the details of the car, whether it be a main dealer or independent so I really can't see what the problem is.

Sounds good to me

 

Why ?

My Mercedes does not have a service record book its all on line and each  service / repair is logged on there. It is accessible on the website once you have registered as the owner and dealers can access it at any time. Also means that the inclusive breakdown/assistance service is renewed after each dealer service. If you want to go independent  for service etc then suppose you will have to keep copies of receipts, which I do any way

Its pretty simple really Keep all of the invoices (Main Dealer and/or 3rd Party Dealer) and then you maintain Full Service History. Just ensure that the invoices list mileage and work completed. I will prefer to see the real receipts over a stamped book or a plastic card any day.

 

Sure, this is a money grab by SUK who are attempting to deter buyers from using lesser (cheaper) workshops, but the choice is still there for people prepared to keep receipts. I use Main Dealers and stick to their service schedule to maintain warranty, but then I usually move them on before the warranty expires. If I was to keep the car for longer than 3 years I would seriously consider 3rd Party because my nearest Skoda Dealership is a 45 minute away in daytime traffic.

 

Skoda Dealerships are pretty competetive pricing wise compared to BMW's I have owned. With Skodas fixed pricing there is little money to save on regular servicing, so for me it would be for convenience if I went elsewhere.

Edited 7 December, 201312 yr by Orville

I learnt about the absence of a Service Book last week (when ordering a new O3).  The fact was presented as a 'good thing' by the dealer.  However, I will probably have my car serviced by the local independent that has looked after my cars for years (within walking distance, cf 45 mins drive to dealership), and, because our cars each cover only 5 - 6k miles per year, I keep a spreadsheet of work-done and work-to-be-done at specific intervals.  So . . . my question to the forum is: does anybody have a breakdown of the service schedule for a 1.4TSi DSG that details what should be replaced/serviced and at what time/mileage?  I know about the Cam belt, and I would have an engine oil replacement and flush every year regardless, but there will undoubtedly be stipulations w.r.t. the warranty that I would need to follow.  The main items would be fluids and filters.

I learnt about the absence of a Service Book last week (when ordering a new O3). The fact was presented as a 'good thing' by the dealer. However, I will probably have my car serviced by the local independent that has looked after my cars for years (within walking distance, cf 45 mins drive to dealership), and, because our cars each cover only 5 - 6k miles per year, I keep a spreadsheet of work-done and work-to-be-done at specific intervals. So . . . my question to the forum is: does anybody have a breakdown of the service schedule for a 1.4TSi DSG that details what should be replaced/serviced and at what time/mileage? I know about the Cam belt, and I would have an engine oil replacement and flush every year regardless, but there will undoubtedly be stipulations w.r.t. the warranty that I would need to follow. The main items would be fluids and filters.

Aren't they still including 3 free services?

Not for cash purchasers; finance buyers maybe.

 

Question still stands anyway for years ahead.

Buy on finance, pay off the next day then. You can do it regardless of what the dealer tells you.

Why would you not buy on interest free finance? That's certainly what I would have done but mine is an early car when interest free wasn't on offer.

Why would you not buy on interest free finance? That's certainly what I would have done but mine is an early car when interest free wasn't on offer.

I agree. Why use your own money when you can use someone else's, for free!

Buy on finance, pay off the next day then. You can do it regardless of what the dealer tells you.

Again, if it's interest free as it currently is there is no point in paying off the next day, might as well run finance for full term...

annnnnnnd there's the trouble with this country. Use someone else's money, it's free. Everything on tick or the never never. (tongue in cheek) :p

the late BMW's are the same, the service light is reset then on the Idrive system it shows the service schedule although its not comprehensive. The data is also saved on central computer system. The owners handbook is also omitted as that is also on the Idrive system!!

 

Another way of cutting costs.

It's not on topic, but since some of you have wondered: I reckoned that the discount I negotiated outweighed any finance option (whether cancelled early or run to term)/free servicing offer.  In any case, I could change my mind depending on the offer-of-the-quarter in which I take delivery.

 

So, back to my question: does anybody know the appropriate schedule for service items?