On 06/08/2018 at 15:06, Skodaboy1983 said:

Ceed or Rio for me, if you said to me a few years ago I would be driving a Kia I would have laughed, same applies for the Skoda, I would have laughed, I went on a recommendation on getting my first one back in 2007, and at that time Skoda Dealers or one I went to actually treated you like a customer, knew who I was when I walked in, had the car ready for a test drive and after the drive knew I wanted it. Now having to buy off dealer chains I feel I am just a sales figure.

 

Davy

Totally agree, I bought my Superb some 5 years ago from an independent dealer in East London, (now long gone....) we were treated decently, test drives offered without 

any restrictions, &. like yourself, after finally driving the "right" car for me, I bought it!

 

I'm intending to keep it for a few more years, but I can't imagine replacing it with another Skoda, unless an AWD petrol vRS is offered in the near future.

 

DC

Re this whole brand snobbery thing,

I always found it easy to understand that quality costs, and that not everyone even needs "the ultimate" quality, or indeed performance.

and that one simply picked from the brand/cost/quality/age spectrum according to ones needs,

but only after assessing the engineering integrity of the likely contenders which best "fit" ones percieved requirements.

No different from buying any other machine, or engine oil, or tyres.

Why do people get hung up on brands?

I associate the slavish following of brands to the "fur coat and no knickers" brigade, i.e. all about appearances over substance.

Though many good brands do produce better products, but not always.

And any brand is capable of producing a hubris induced "dog"

Like I was always a sucker for most Sony products, and probably still am,

but I only own one, a compact camera that I have owned for about 20 years and still use for all my reasonable photographic needs.

Regards.

marcus

How Skoda deal with a owner with an issue like this in the Briskoda thread in the link is what really matters and Skoda need to realise that, as do Skoda Official Dealerships and staff.

Penny / Euro pinching and not getting sorted properly the corrosion problems that poor component manufacturing and paint / coatings applications is inexcusable for manufacturers that have been doing it for over a century.

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/453897-evidence-of-rust-already 

My experience with Skoda official repair shops: see them just twice in 10 year.

They too expensive for usual maintenance (the first touch) and absolutely vague for other issue (the second one) when I faced an issue with the windows.
So, I moved forward to a hibryd  Toyota auris that run very well, run with the same gas mileage of my diesel roomster (1.9 tdi) and it is very - very - very much comfortable.

 

But may the biggest threat for Skoda is to get "old" (previous generation) diesel engines and also be an expendable branch of vw group.

Well, the second choice could even be a plus...

Being this my 3rd Fabia, one would assume this was my first option. No, it was not. I was actually really close to purchasing a 2016 Hyundai i20 1.1 CRDI Comfort 6 speed with 43000km on the clock. I actually even payed for it in cash, but when I went to get it they made me sign a paper which states that I agree I take the car "AS IS" without any kind of warranty and that I accept it might have mechanical problems - this after the car being advertised with 3 years warranty! I told them I like the car and I want it but with the originally advertised 3 years warranty. They didn't like that and I got my money back but no car.

 

The other option was to buy a brand new i20, but the most powerful engine was the 1.25 liter 84BHP and the basic trim would have no cruise control. Problem was I had a maximum budget of 10 000 euro but the 84BHP engine plus the Comfort+ trim + color that was around 10900 euro - without cruise control, heated seats or automatic AC.

 

Because I got burned on my last Fabia, MK3, 1.4 TDI 90, 5 speed manual - problems after problems after more problems - turbo error at 4000km and 2 months, water pump changed at 22000KM and 1 year, flywheel changed at 43000km and 2 years just to name a few, a new Fabia was out of the question. Even more important, that 1.4 TDI engine is a dud IMO because it drives worse than the old 1.6 TDI if you have a manual gearbox.

 

After the issue with the i20 I checked a 2012 Fabia MK2 Facelift Combi with 1.2 TDI 75 Greenline, it was a beautiful car, did not liked the 3 cylinder engine. It had 230 000km on the clock, Climatronic, but the standard green lit intrument cluster.

 

After all this, I checked my current Fabia MK2 Facelift Combi (Estate), with 1.6 TDI 90, climatronic, 178000km, Maxi Dot (this includes the white dashboard), heated seats and washers nozzeles, auxiliary heating, ESP, chilled glovebox, towbar, 15inch wheels, disk breaks on the rear and heavy duty rear axle. I liked it a lot an bought it.

When i wanted something to replace the mk2 Octy VRS (still for sale by the way!) my shopping list was :

 

Not brand new but as close as possible

Petrol

4 wheel drive

automatic gearbox

heated windscreen

android auto / decent sat nav

a bit of entertainment

not too heartbreaking to run (tax / insurance / fuel).

Space.

 

I thought i was buying either a 320i xdrive, a 540i xdrive (few years old of course), a Golf R (possibly estate), an Audi S/RS3 or S4 or a Volvo S60 or most likely, aVW aerton.

 

But the design of the Superb mk3 kept me coming back to it. So i thought, lets bring Audi A6 into the mix too.

 

When all the numbers were crunched and the equation was balanced the 320i wasn't big or exciting enough. The 540i couldn't be had for the right money at a decent age, the Golf is simply too small for my liking, same for S/RS3 and the only volvo was the polestar which was rare and pricey.

 

I couldnt get an aerton for within my budget either

 

Then i discovered that for within my budget, i got my shopping list in a mk3 superb. It was 6 months old, mileage was very low, someone else took the initial depreciation hit and although its massive, it feels just right and the natural successor to the vrs. For all the alternatives out there, Skoda for me trumped themselves.

Is the latest Dacia Duster worth consideration?.

6 hours ago, Ryeman said:

Is the latest Dacia Duster worth consideration?.

 

If you’re a differing old godger that drives everywhere at 20mph, randomly brakes for reason and uses the force to park then it’s certainly an option :)

1 minute ago, CWARD said:

 

If you’re a differing old godger that drives everywhere at 20mph, randomly brakes for reason and uses the force to park then it’s certainly an option

Then the 2018 version must have been a disaster.

6 hours ago, Ryeman said:

Is the latest Dacia Duster worth consideration?.

No. Just no  If you are considering one, please do a drive test previous to buying one. It's really unrefined and not that inexpensive if you spec it right.

More proof it might be VW -

http://europe.autonews.com/article/20181126/ANE/181129815/vw-skoda-dispute-leadership-of-new-eastern-european-plant?cciid=email-ane-daily

I'm replacing a Skoda with a VW, so it must be VW! 

I did mine with a Volvo. Stood in a Skoda dealer now for thirty mins and no one free.

 

Still made my own coffee, tidied some brochures up.

 

Maybe I'll go to the Volvo garage again.

 

I still have my citigo but for how long...

When the owner of Briskoda is thinking of jumping ship then Skoda really need to sort themselves out. Again it’s the dealers rather than the cars. 

VW HQ holding back Skoda by not offering owners such as myself (been buying them since 2003) something exciting to look forward to purchasing. You have to source the parts, get them fitted and sod the warranty if you want it to go as fast as an Audi (S3) or VW (Golf R). Ford will sell you a Fiesta ST or Focus ST/RS then offer you even more power with a 3 year warranty and Mountune goodies depending on your budget.

2 hours ago, CWARD said:

When the owner of Briskoda is thinking of jumping ship then Skoda really need to sort themselves out. Again it’s the dealers rather than the cars. 

I firmly believe it is both the dealers, and the lack of engineering integrity in the cars engines(the 1.6TDI in particular) and transmissions(in respect of the DQ200) and the software associated with both in respect of design, construction and usability, such cost cutting is simply not acceptable from what is supposed to be a reputable brand.

Marcus

2 minutes ago, marcusthehat said:

I firmly believe it is both the dealers, and the lack of engineering integrity in the cars engines(the 1.6TDI in particular) and transmissions(in respect of the DQ200) and the software associated with both in respect of design, construction and usability, such cost cutting is simply not acceptable from what is supposed to be a reputable brand.

Marcus

 

Agree with you with cost cutting and dealers. My issues were mainly down to cost cutting such as squeaky panels due to metal on metal clips were as VW have a plastic plug that the metal clip fits into to prevent squeaking. Poor seals creating excessive condensation in car which plagues various models and electrical issues that have been passed from one model to the next. You go to the dealers and they’re not interested so you have to fight for warranty work to be done. 

It all adds up and doesn’t make for a pleasant ownership experience. 

1 hour ago, marcusthehat said:

I firmly believe it is both the dealers, and the lack of engineering integrity in the cars engines(the 1.6TDI in particular) and transmissions(in respect of the DQ200) and the software associated with both in respect of design, construction and usability, such cost cutting is simply not acceptable from what is supposed to be a reputable brand.

Marcus

If all the mechanical components come out of a VW box, why bother swapping.............or is the ‘proven’ stuff not so proven after all?.

5 hours ago, shyVRS245 said:

VW HQ holding back Skoda by not offering owners such as myself (been buying them since 2003) something exciting to look forward to purchasing. You have to source the parts, get them fitted and sod the warranty if you want it to go as fast as an Audi (S3) or VW (Golf R). Ford will sell you a Fiesta ST or Focus ST/RS then offer you even more power with a 3 year warranty and Mountune goodies depending on your budget.

Can't agree more, if Skoda were allowed to build a 4WD vRS Octavia, with 280/290 ps then I'd be a happy buyer. nothing wrong with the Superb 3 but it's too big for my garage!

 

I'm still running my Superb 2 'cos it ticks all my boxes, except when "departing rapidly". The Golf R is a great hot hatchback, but it's too small to, carry passengers & luggage.

A SEAT Leon Cupra ST should work for me, but it's a bit to cramped in the driver's seat to be a replacement for the ancient Superb.

ISTR that the new Passat will have a 4WD 2.0 TSi as an option, & it's a little bit shorter than the Superb 3, an Arteon is even bigger. 

6 minutes ago, old newbie2 said:

Can't agree more, if Skoda were allowed to build a 4WD vRS Octavia, with 280/290 ps then I'd be a happy buyer. nothing wrong with the Superb 3 but it's too big for my garage!

 

I'm still running my Superb 2 'cos it ticks all my boxes, except when "departing rapidly". The Golf R is a great hot hatchback, but it's too small to, carry passengers & luggage.

A SEAT Leon Cupra ST should work for me, but it's a bit to cramped in the driver's seat to be a replacement for the ancient Superb.

ISTR that the new Passat will have a 4WD 2.0 TSi as an option, & it's a little bit shorter than the Superb 3, an Arteon is even bigger. 

Auto Express this week sums it up nicely. SEAT Ateca Cupra (I know they've dropped the SEAT badge) £37,000 and 0-60mph in 4.7seconds and 153mph. Against Audi SQ2 (both 296bhp, 7speed DSG 4WD) £37,000 and 0-60mph in 4.5seconds and 155mph.Where is the hot Skoda compact SUV (Kodiaq 237bhp diesel £43,000 too big and too slow).

ROD McLEOD head of SKODA UK, and the head of VW UK, & VW & SKODA need to read the likes of this.  Then get a grip.

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/465534-skoda-karoq-sel

 

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/465468-skoda-manufacturing-capacity-restricts-sales

 

 

 

Edited 11 April, 20197 yr by Skoffski

21 hours ago, shyVRS245 said:

Auto Express this week sums it up nicely. SEAT Ateca Cupra (I know they've dropped the SEAT badge) £37,000 and 0-60mph in 4.7seconds and 153mph. Against Audi SQ2 (both 296bhp, 7speed DSG 4WD) £37,000 and 0-60mph in 4.5seconds and 155mph.Where is the hot Skoda compact SUV (Kodiaq 237bhp diesel £43,000 too big and too slow).

The kodiaq is anything but compact! VW has to make sure Skoda is the 'budget' option with a sprinkling of some warm models so that's where we are. 

Think that's the point being made. That the Kodiaq vRS is the only attempt at a performance/warm SUV in the lineup, which is too big and too expensive for many buyers.

 

A Karoq with the Tiguan's 2.0T 230PS unit would be a start.... 

Who in the UK buys a Skoda Kodiaq at £42k list, thereby paying stupid VED rate £465 per year for 5 years, bet that'll do its residuals no end of good.

 

BIK rate at 37% of £42k (£15,570)  for a Skoda.

 

Maybe a market elsewhere in the world.

8 hours ago, xman said:

Who in the UK buys a Skoda Kodiaq at £42k list, thereby paying stupid VED rate £465 per year for 5 years, bet that'll do its residuals no end of good.

 

BIK rate at 37% of £42k (£15,570)  for a Skoda.

 

Maybe a market elsewhere in the world.

Might buy one for the wife when it's worth nothing in 5 years time.