Hi All

 

I've been intending to order and fit the Skoda supplied -30mm Eibach's to my newly purchased Rapid Spaceback Black Ed.

 

A problem I'm having is with my local dealer.. a multi-franchise operation that I will refrain from naming (and shaming) at this precise moment (but if you live in Jersey you will know exactly who they are), who whilst using the tag line 'Driving down the cost of motoring' in their advertising, want to charge me £200.00 for the springs and £400 to fit them.

 

As a regular (daily) follower of the Rapid forum I've come to notice several threads posted by those who have been quoted, have or will shortly be having the Skoda supplied Eibach's fitted to their Sport's or Spaceback's, in virtually every case for massively less (at around £200-250) than the rip-off price (£600) my dealer is trying to charge.

 

At the time of purchasing my Octavia III vRS a few months ago, I had the -40mm H&R's I had purchased elsewhere (for €157) fitted by this dealer at a cost of £400, which was a 'special deal' they did for me, their original quoted price being £600 (and remember this is for fitting only as I supplied the springs), and I've since found numerous posts on the Octavia III forum by other owners who have had the same springs fitted for considerably less (at between £80-150 labour).  

 

I've bought 3 brand new cars from this dealer in the past 5 months (the aforementioned Octavia III vRS 2.0 TDi DSG estate and Rapid Spaceback 1.2TSi Black Ed., together with the Fabia II 1.2 TSi DSG I purchased for my parents), spending over £57K in the process, and I'm starting to feel like they're taking the pi** and ripping me off.

 

So… I intend to take the dealer (and specifically their workshops) to task over the matter, and therefore have a request of my fellow Briskoda followers/Rapid owners.

 

Whilst I've compiled a basic list of those who have posted the costs of having their Eibach's supplied and fitted, could I ask all those who have gone down this road to post to this particular thread as I intend to confront the dealer armed with as much evidence of other peoples costs/experiences as possible!

 

Thanks.

That's shocking [emoji15]

I wish you luck and hope you sort this out [emoji106]

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My local Skoda dealer offered £230 all in including parts and fitting. And assured me this wouldn't void warranty. My friend and local mechanic asked for £50 labour for fitting if I sourced the springs myself which are around £200. So yes you are being massively ripped off.

Ok not a Skoda but a Mazda. I bought my MX-5 from a local specialist and he supplied and fitted lowering springs for £250. He also threw in a 4 wheel alignment in that price.

 

Is there not another dealer/garage(s) you can get quotes from?

Edited 14 December, 201411 yr by MickA

Skoda supplied and fitted for just over £211 by local Skoda dealer to my Rapid Sport.  That is a disgusting price you're being quoted!

Thanks to all for your responses so far… will update further once I've attacked my stealer with the info!

My local dealer quoted me £257 all in.

Simpson Skoda in Preston even advertise their fully fitted price online inc VAT £367.88

 

http://www.simpsonsskodaparts.co.uk/product/Eibach_Lowering_Springs_EIBACH-OLOCTAVIA

 

Show them that then ask them to show you the Skoda fixed prices they must adhere to or report them to Skoda UK.

Thanks for that DarrellGB... all this info just gives me more ammo to fire at the robbing bas£&@?s.

Thanks for that DarrellGB... all this info just gives me more ammo to fire at the robbing bas£&@?s.

 

is your location still VAT free - that should be 16% off the VAT included prix as well

is your location still VAT free - that should be 16% off the VAT included prix as well

 

That's what I was thinking when this post came up, surely it should be cheaper than mainland UK prices.

Yes VAT free, but thanks to our wonderful government's continual record of failing to control public spending and plan for the future, we now have a local sales tax (GST - Goods & Services Tax) which is 5%.

 

An ongoing problem over here is that many companies continue to charge the UK VAT inclusive price (which in many cases is either pre-printed on the packaging or the published/list price) , their excuse being shipping costs, plus the 5% GST - so goods can in many cases be considerably more expensive over here.

Yet companies can ship stuff from C I at sometimes a good deal cheaper than buying on the UK mainland due to tax, we've all done it and still do I guess.

Oh yes, a lot special offer Amazon stuff is shipped from a warehouse just around the corner from my old house in Jersey and the discounts are often around 16% (no VAT).

 

Jersey retailers are robbers, I encourage my family to travel up to the UK to shop - electrical goods, furniture, cars, the lot.

Yet companies can ship stuff from C I at sometimes a good deal cheaper than buying on the UK mainland due to tax, we've all done it and still do I guess.

This used to be the case until the UK government changed things in the 2011 budget when, from 1st November that year to 31st March 2012 they reduced the LVCR (low value consignment relief) level at which goods could be shipped VAT free from the CI to the UK from £18 to £15, and then from 1st April 2012 scrapped it completely.

Since then the Islands fulfilment industry has collapsed with Play.com moving out, Flying Flowers (I believe) going tits-up and Amazon partners like Indigo Lighthouse all but shut down.

Unfortunately, the Jersey government, having no balls, didn't see fit to strike back at the UK government's destruction of its fulfilment industry by retrospectively (or legally) trying to mandatorily prevent any UK company present (trading) in the Island or delivering to it from outside from charging VAT inclusive prices, and it's at their discretion. Thankfully a lot of companies like Amazon are good as they will ship to us VAT free, but for those items we can't buy online (including services such as getting springs fitted to your car) we're stuck with local suppliers, and as camelspyyder said, a lot of Jersey retailers are robbers!

Another major annoyance is that, for example, anything that Skoda UK offer, like 0% finance, doesn't apply to us over here as Jersey being autonomous requires that companies like Skoda finance (who back these offers) must first be registered with the Jersey Financial Services Commission, which they are not, so we seem get screwed every which way we turn!

Anyway... going off-topic a bit now!

Thanks again to all for their posts so far, time to take the battle to my local stealer.

Thanks for the heads up, always good to get another's view on these matters.

Edited 22 December, 201411 yr by MickA

Has anybody in Lincolnshire put Eibach shorter springs on a Rapid / Toledo?

 

If so:

 

Who fitted them?

Are you happy with the work done (and the car subsequently)?

Could you let me know how much they charge?

 

PM me if you don't want to put details on the forum.

 

Ta.

Or H&R's -35mm ones

Hi, when I went to pick up my nearly new Rapid Sport last Wed from Wayside Skoda Watford, I was offered a set of lowering springs fitted by them for £250 inc fitting and VAT. I had previously mentioned to the salesman that it sat too high and they had a set in stock. They fitted them in 2-3hrs before I took it home and it made it look just right, it's not really low but looks like it should have in the first place. It also corners better, it's not too hard but stiffer. Since then it's developed 2 unrelated faults which have ruined my enjoyment of the car but lowering springs are great!!!! They lowered it by 30 mil, they are approved by Skoda, covered by a separate warranty and they don't affect the cars warranty.

Ta for that.

The Skoda ones are incorrect as its 20mm higher at the front than the rear. They use the diesel springs for the 1.2tsi which are wrong and Skoda only list one kit whereas Eibach list 2 kits. The 1.2tsi use softer springs on the front than the 1.4 and diesel model which are stiffer and sit higher if fitted to a 1.2tsi.

The Skoda ones are incorrect as its 20mm higher at the front than the rear. They use the diesel springs for the 1.2tsi which are wrong and Skoda only list one kit whereas Eibach list 2 kits. The 1.2tsi use softer springs on the front than the 1.4 and diesel model which are stiffer and sit higher if fitted to a 1.2tsi.

 

Hey mate I've never seen a picture of one lowered (apart from yours) where the front gap was bigger.  Are you telling us your dealer cocked it up again?

 

Eibach's website is quite clear on the parts to use - they list the exact same part numbers for the Toledo - even though SEAT don't offer them!

All I can say is mine used to look awful before Skoda lowered it, the springs they used have lowered it evenly front and back, it's not too stiff but nicely firm into corners, it's approved by Skoda and most importantly it doesn't affect the cars warranty.

I may be the only one here to actually like riding a bit higher. Maybe in the UK you don't have so many road irregularities!

I do find the suspension stiff though, I wish I could soften it a bit.

Hey mate I've never seen a picture of one lowered (apart from yours) where the front gap was bigger. Are you telling us your dealer cocked it up again?

Eibach's website is quite clear on the parts to use - they list the exact same part numbers for the Toledo - even though SEAT don't offer them!