Hi all,

not UK briskodian here, with an issue on an 10 days old Elegance.

 

I have been said by my dealer that the three spokes multifunction steering wheel I configured  (and payed) "should" have been "modified" by Skoda in the much duller (to me) 4 spokes model, since week 22.

 

Now, this seems to me a clear, plain lie, but does - eventually and remotely - anybody have some evidence of this assertion of such a dealer?

 

I'm pretending both excuses and some discount for the difference of value, but it seems I'll have to directly contact Skoda Italy.

 

Many thanks for any fedback,

Edited 3 September, 201411 yr by Genoa1893

I'm going to guess Google translate has been used!

Can you post in Italian? Maybe someone will be able to understand as Google has done a bad job!

No, I have to sleep more

 

I should have written "I have been said"... and "duller".

 

Hope it starts sounding a bit more clear... sorry and thanks for feedback anyway.

So let me understand.

You have a 4 spoke wheel.

You paid for the 3 spoke wheel.

The dealer says after week 22 all cars come with the 4 spoke wheel?

Is the dealer saying the 3 spoke is not available any more?

But you want some discount because you do not have what you ordered?

Let me know if I understand currently and then I will try and help!

Well, although my English was a mess, you got every point!

 

Yes, I specified 3 spokes steering wheel as a part of a package locally known as "Infotech". But, after many delays, the car arrived with a 4 spoke steering wheel.

 

To my question, the dealer wrote a note stating the 3 spoke is no more available from the factory.

 

For such reason he supposes I will accept such a situation, where - at least in Italy - the 3 spoke steering wheel has a higher price than the 4 spoke.

 

But I didn't find any evidence of this supposed unavailability of the 3 spoke on this, or other forum...

 

Hope I did slightly better now...

Well the options/packages/trim levels are different in the UK, but, for sure you can choose the 3 spoke on the SE and Elegance trim. On the base S trim and the Greenline trim it is 4 spoke only. On the vRS 3 spoke is standard.

So maybe the trim level you have is the Italian equivalent to S or Greenline so they are telling the truth?

I checked the Italian brochure. The 'Active' trim,

you cannot have the 4 spoke with that...

For Elegance it's OK though.

Edited 3 September, 201411 yr by josedebardi

Also, the INFOTECH pack clearly includes it still, this is the latest brochure. So I think they must be lying, or the brochure is wrong!

Thank you, my trim level is Elegance and the brochure states 3-spoke and the online car configurator states 3-spoke.

 

I agree, they must be lying since there is no other evidence apart from their statement.

 

I'll post my claim to Skoda Italia.

 

Somewhere I read something like "if only Skoda dealers were as good as Skoda cars..."

Yes, finding a good dealer is not easy!

 

I tried 2 that I did not like when ordering my Octavia. The 3rd one I actually found from a recommendation on this forum. There are some fantastic dealers out there - you just have to search for them

 

Good luck with your claim, I'm sure they will fix it for you once you talk to Skoda Italia. Let us know

Just wrote to Skoda Italia, while the dealer stubbornly keeps saying that since week 22 the steering wheel has changed.

 

I'll let you know, anyway.

 

Thanks a lot,

Just got a kind phone call from Skoda Italia, asking for the name of the dealer and promising a further update...

3 spoke is still available, you can even spec it on a L&K !

Sent from my HTC One_M8 using Tapatalk

Thank you Andy,

this has been agreed even by the kind operator of Skoda Italia.

 

Anyway tomorrow I'll be at the dealer because they also forgot to give me the SD card needed by the Amundsen unit and to check the operations of the Start&Stop which keeps not working.

 

Indeed a dealer quite "well inside" the PDI secrets...

 

My next Skoda will be very probably be bought elsewhere,

A quick update: the dealer keeps stating that since Skoda can always decide to alter the configuration of a pack (INFOTECH) I should shut up and keep my steering wheel.

 

Of course this is not reasonable, since I placed an order with the pack containing the 3 spokes sport steering wheel.

 

Absurdely following to the dealer's point, Skoda might well have the right to remove the Amundsen or even supply nothing under the INFOTECH pack...

 

I'm aware that UK and Italian body of laws are quite different, but what do you think? And, do you think this is an issue of Skoda Italia or belonging to Skoda manufacturer?

 

Thanks for sharing,

Edited 5 September, 201411 yr by Genoa1893

The dealer is a franchise - they mean NOTHING!

 

Skoda Italia should be the people you listen to... What do they say?

 

As you say, Italian/UK law do differ, and I'm sure in the small print your contract says that specifications can change at anytime, but, I am also sure that any court of law, in any country, would take your side...

I have seen many disputes like this with Audi/Skoda/BMW etc etc, and always, if you shout enough, the manufacturer does the right thing and fixes the car, or gives compensation...

 

Ignore the dealer, and talk to Skoda Italia only...

Surely if Skoda Italia say that the wheel spec has not changed then there's no chance the dealer can argue that Skoda no longer offer the 3spoke no matter how different the law is to the UK?

Surely if Skoda Italia say that the wheel spec has not changed then there's no chance the dealer can argue that Skoda no longer offer the 3spoke no matter how different the law is to the UK?

Skoda the manufacturer make all options available, and then each territory (UK, IT, ES etc), all pick from those what then want to offer and in what packages depending on what they think will sell in their country.

So your local country branch of Skoda is accountable for making sure that stays the case, and without reasonable notice or compensation from them your car should arrive as spec'd.

So a I say, the OP's argument is with Skoda Italia.

Edited 5 September, 201411 yr by josedebardi

Thank you all,

no news today from Skoda Italia.

 

I must say I'm starting getting a bit annoyed, but I remember somebody saying that advertisement is the soul of commerce...

If Skoda Italia are anything like Skoda UK  .  .  .

As an angry followup,

 

1) as jose said, the dealer means nothing. So you all guy know that - should anybody be wondering to buy a Skoda in Genoa - he'd better stay away from buying from Motor Genoa. On the other side their garage is good.

 

2) but Skoda Italia, too, means NOTHINK. They keep simply stating that the "manufacturer" decided that 2015MY's Infotech has 4 rather than 3spoke. Of course this is a lie, because the infotech is a pack defined locally in Italy and means nothing to you (UK).

 

So, here we go again, "if only Skoda dealers and Skoda national branches were as good as Skoda cars".

Edited 12 September, 201411 yr by Genoa1893

As an angry followup,

 

1) as jose said, the dealer means nothing. So you all guy know that - should anybody be wondering to buy a Skoda in Genoa - he'd better stay away from buying from Motor Genoa. On the other side their garage is good.

 

2) but Skoda Italia, too, means NOTHINK. They keep simply stating that the "manufacturer" decided that 2015MY's Infotech has 4 rather than 3spoke. Of course this is a lie, because the infotech is a pack defined locally in Italy and means nothing to you (UK).

 

So, here we go again, "if only Skoda dealers and Skoda national branches were as good as Skoda cars".

 

I dont understand! The current Skoda Italia brochure shows the infotech pack with the 3 spoke... Have you shown them the brochure? They have no argument about MY15 being 4 spoke because if you order now it says you get 3 spoke, and if you order now you get MY15!

Yes, I know. I don't understand as you say. There is nothing to understand, I fear.

 

They simply say the info on the brochure and even on the configurator are not part of the contract...!!!

 

Obviously I replied I will give a call to some lawyer, and I think that along the weekend I'll have some time to allocate for this informative campaign...

They are wrong and don't want to pay to fix it... I think if you keep the pressure they will eventually solve the problem! Good luck!

I also ordered the 3 spoke steering wheel - it is offered as an standalone option, in my home country, Romania. It has the option code "PLU" on the contract I have signed when placing the order for my Octavia. I guess it should be the same code for the Italian car configurator as well. I can assume you have it in your contract somewhere as well and if it's there and the factory accepted your order, then your dealer either sent the wrong config to the factory or maybe he did not inform you of any supply chain shortage of the 3 spoke steering wheel.

 

I have yet to take delivery of my car, but my dealer never mentioned any shortage of 3 spoke steering wheels since placing the order mid June. 

 

He did mention, at some point, that Skoda had a shortage of 3 spoke steering wheels and hence decided to increase the price for the option. 

Edited 12 September, 201411 yr by DemyanGlampah