On 2017-5-19 at 06:22, Rustynuts said:

It may be the same as a variable service, but it's part of the fixed service regime and is carried out every other service with a minor service in between. Nothing in the small print implies anything other than it's a fixed service regime with two defined alternating service requirements. You saying it's a variable service doesn't make it so. 

 

This is why threads like this will always be around. A service is a service. Whatever Skoda tell you over the phone, print in their manuals or advertise on their website the servicing of their cars is as simple and as basic as it gets.

 

Whether it is done at 10,000 miles / 12 months or 20,000 miles / 2 years or anywhere between is the owners choice.

 

Minor / fixed = 10,000 miles or 12 months, whichever is reached first.

Major / variable / longlife = Up to 20,000 miles or 2 years depending on when the car decides for itself it needs servicing.

 

This is what a service consists of, nothing more...

 

Oil

Oil filter

Air filter

Pollen filter

Fuel filter (diesel)

Spark plugs (petrol)

Brake fluid at 3 years from new then every 2 years (at extra cost). 

 

And that's it. Sure you get some basic tyre, lighting and visual checks whilst the car is on the ramps, they might even top up the washer fluid and Ad Blue for you if they're feeling generous but these are all carried out regardless of which service they've convinced you the car needs.

 

Minor, major, fixed or variable, they are there to confuse us, to allow Skoda's franchised dealer network to justify higher prices.

 

The term 'variable service' is used to justify and charge customers the £269. Too often customers are charged £269 for a £149 oil and filter change. Always ask what the dealer will change during the service, if it is indeed all the items above then the £269 is almost reasonable, if they are only doing the oil and filter change then ask them what you are getting for the extra £120. Zip, nadda, nowt, nothing. Some dealers still try to fool customers into thinking the variable service uses different / better quality oil. On a diesel this is rubbish, they always get VW 507.00 as this grade is needed for all cars with a DPF i.e. every Skoda diesel engine on sale in the UK today.

 

I have a 2016 Octavia on a 2 year / 16,000 mile PCH. It is set to variable and will probably flag for a service later this year. If I was to ring a local dealer they'd tell me it will need a £269 'variable' service. It doesn't, it needs a £149 oil and filter change and that's what it will get.

 

Edited 20 May, 20179 yr by silver1011

I can't understand why you see it that way.

If the car is set for time and distance then the first service at 10k or first year is a minor service, and the second service at 20k or the second year is a major service. Then it repeats again and again along those lines. The oil sensors are disabled and the car simply uses time and distance to generate a service warning.

 

If the car is set for variable service then it monitors all the conditions it needs to and generates a service warning as and when required. At that point the car gets a major service.

21 minutes ago, Rustynuts said:

If the car is set for time and distance then the first service at 10k or first year is a minor service, and the second service at 20k or the second year is a major service. Then it repeats again and again along those lines. The oil sensors are disabled and the car simply uses time and distance to generate a service warning

 

Agree but would have put it slightly different

 

23 minutes ago, Rustynuts said:

If the car is set for variable service then it monitors all the conditions it needs to and generates a service warning as and when required. At that point the car gets a major service.

 

it will measure the oil quality and will indicate a service up to 20k when the oil has lost its lubricating properties, it also measures the number of starts the car makes in determining the oil quality. Lets say someone is on variable and does a lot of local driving the car can generate a service from any point (ive seen this as low as 8k) if this is the case the car will receive a oil change and fluid check/top up if necessary only not items you would see in a major service such as filter changes etc.

The fixed and variable services are completely different and cannot be confused with each other.

 

IMO variable servicing was set up for the fleet/lease industry doing long mainly motorway type journeys where the car is run in optimum conditions and anybody that cares about the car or intend to keep it long term should go fixed annual servicing (10k or x miles which ever is sooner)

 

Motability cars should be set to fixed as most owners carry out local journeys with a lot of start stopping and ive never known Motability to decline a oil change service regardless whether the car is set to fixed or variable

The point I'm trying to get across is it doesn't matter what the car is set to, it'll never go beyond 20,000 miles without the need for a service.

 

Whether you opt for a fixed, minor, major or variable service the only thing that changes is what Skoda call it and what the dealer will charge you.

 

All it will involve is fresh oil and an oil filter.

1. This just confirms my thoughts about steering clear of 2-3 year old cars run on variable schedules. 

2. Motability are obviously cutting costs against manufacturers advice and common sense. Skoda would be the first to deny a warranty claim of it prived you'd ignored the service warning.

3. My fixed 10000 mile/12 month routine uses the same oil as variable according to the service desk. It appears expensive until you have to pay for a new engine/turbo. Penny-wise pound foolish. 

9 minutes ago, Redboy said:

1. This just confirms my thoughts about steering clear of 2-3 year old cars run on variable schedules. 

2. Motability are obviously cutting costs against manufacturers advice and common sense. Skoda would be the first to deny a warranty claim of it prived you'd ignored the service warning.

3. My fixed 10000 mile/12 month routine uses the same oil as variable according to the service desk. It appears expensive until you have to pay for a new engine/turbo. Penny-wise pound foolish. 

 

While I agree wholeheartedly with your principle, you've gotten it back to front. It's Skoda (dealership and SUK) who said ignore and reset the service light. Motability actually agreed with me and you and said no, get it serviced.

7 minutes ago, Redboy said:

This just confirms my thoughts about steering clear of 2-3 year old cars run on variable schedules

 

depends a high millage car run in optimal conditions on a variable service can be a good buy

a low millage car that's never  being run at optimal conditions can result in more engine wear due to the ngine not having time fully lubricate all the internals regardless of service regimes likewise a locally driven car with the odd long run set on a variable could get its oil changed after 8k intervals

catch 22 when buying used lol

24 minutes ago, silver1011 said:

The point I'm trying to get across is it doesn't matter what the car is set to, it'll never go beyond 20,000 miles without the need for a service.

 

Whether you opt for a fixed, minor, major or variable service the only thing that changes is what Skoda call it and what the dealer will charge you.

 

All it will involve is fresh oil and an oil filter.

Clearly you either haven't looked at the service schedule, or you're not understanding the writing.

I'm not sure which bit your not grasping.

 

From 0 to 20,000 miles the only service items required is oil and an oil filter.

 

All other service items (fuel, air and pollen filters and brake fluid) won't be required.

25 minutes ago, silver1011 said:

The point I'm trying to get across is it doesn't matter what the car is set to, it'll never go beyond 20,000 miles without the need for a service

agree but I wiouldnt want to buy a car that'is not driven under optimal conditions and not been serviced for 20k, which regardless of the service regime would not see this millage in car driven this way, unless of course the dealer does not understand the manufacturers brands  recommendats that they are selling 

Exactly right, which is why I aren't surprised Skoda UK together with one or more of their franchised dealers are giving out duff information and worse still sticking by it despite the evidence to the contrary.

 

A car set to variable which is prompting for a service before 20,000 miles / 2 years should not be ignored. 

49 minutes ago, Rainmaker said:

 

While I agree wholeheartedly with your principle, you've gotten it back to front. It's Skoda (dealership and SUK) who said ignore and reset the service light. Motability actually agreed with me and you and said no, get it serviced.

 

Oops, even worse then. I thought as the oil degraded it reduced the mileage to the next service. My MkII was on variable but never made it past 12000-13000 miles due to my short 10 mile rural commute, i.e. The engine oil was just warmed up as I arrived at work. An oil change at 20000 miles is in ideal conditions, up and down motorways. 20000 miles of stop-start urban driving is not good as Kezwald pointed out. 

16 minutes ago, Redboy said:

I thought as the oil degraded it reduced the mileage to the next service. My MkII was on variable but never made it past 12000-13000 miles

correct

The other way of looking at it could be that its perfectly fine for modern engines with modern oil to go to 20,000miles (or more without an oil changes ) and that oil changes mandated every 10,000 are merely there to fleece the private motorist?

 

Interesting articles here - the first one is about tests that amsoil did running diesel cars to 90,000 miles with no oil issues - the second is a link to their web site where they sell 25,000mile service oil (which still gives them a margin of x3) and the third is a scientific American article is about the US myth of changing oil every 3000 miles being needed...

http://www.dnr.louisiana.gov/assets/TAD/education/ECEP/diesel/a/a.htm

http://www.amsoil.com/shop/by-category/25000-mile-oil-change/

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/oil-change-truths/

 

BTW - I have a leased vehicle from Skoda France - the service on it is every 30,000 KM (18,641.1miles) so there does seem to be quite a bit of arbitrary maths going on here - if there was a mechanical reason why 20,000 miles was right then surely my service would be every 32,000km - but its clear that they are picking mileage limits based upon round figures.

 

I would therefore suggest the most likely think is that the oil can probably go for 90,000 miles, but is sold to VW as 25,000 mile oil and they then build a further safety margin in calling you in around 20,000 miles or nearest round figure... and that more frequent oil changes are just to fleece the innocent private motorist or make their service plans look better value for money...

 

Edited 22 May, 20179 yr by FRSkoda

My company car Ford Mondeo did 20000 between services in 2001.

Motability and VWFS (amongst other leasing companies) have their cars set to variable servicing and won't pay for services before the mileage has been reached. 

 

We used to be inundated with people booking in for services at 10k only for the request to be rejected by motab or VWFS and we were told to just reset the light and give it back. 

13 minutes ago, James@Pentagon_Seat said:

Motability and VWFS (amongst other leasing companies) have their cars set to variable servicing and won't pay for services before the mileage has been reached. 

 

We used to be inundated with people booking in for services at 10k only for the request to be rejected by motab or VWFS and we were told to just reset the light and give it back. 

 

That's terrible mate. I actually said to SUK that this practice certainly teaches that a second hand Skoda is a very bad idea. She made notes and quoted it back to me. Dunno why or who for, and tbh there are a few more important matters they need to address if they're going to start taking notes from customers haha. 

 

Luckily for me Motability had no issues authorising a service / oil change. 

 

I have hit another sticky wicket in that a warranty job was supposedly carried out on the chrome window trim by my previous dealer. They didn't actually do it but have charged Skoda for it. My new dealer reckons they now can't do the work as Skoda won't pay. I just told them that's not my problem so sort it amongst yourselves. It gives yet more poor impressions of the brand. I love the engine but I don't think I'll be getting another VAG car. 

On ‎22‎/‎05‎/‎2017 at 21:26, Rainmaker said:

I have hit another sticky wicket in that a warranty job was supposedly carried out on the chrome window trim by my previous dealer. They didn't actually do it but have charged Skoda for it. My new dealer reckons they now can't do the work as Skoda won't pay. I just told them that's not my problem so sort it amongst yourselves

 

Not having much luck are you mate in the way of unnecessary stress/hassle, So basically the other dealer made a fraudulent claim on something they did not fit maybe another phone call to Motability/Skoda U.K stating the word fraudulent or better still in writing.

Did you just not go back to the other dealer to have it fitted when you changed dealers ? even so if you did and the other dealer has it in stock it they can transfer a warranty claim to a new dealer.

1 minute ago, kezwald said:

 

Not having much luck are you mate in the way of unnecessary stress/hassle, So basically the other dealer made a fraudulent claim on something they did not fit maybe another phone call to Motability/Skoda U.K stating the word fraudulent or better still in writing.

Did you just not go back to the other dealer to have it fitted when you changed dealers ? even so if you did and the other dealer has it in stock it they can transfer a warranty claim to a new dealer.

 

No mate their failing to do the work despite charging Skoda was one of the main reasons I decided to switch dealers to begin with. They had the car about seven hours, then handed it back with the trim still bent and hanging off the car! It took a complaint to the service manager to even get a reply, and that was simply 'They glued it back on' (not the official fix). I pointed out that the trim was still hanging off, and had absolutely no adhesive reside on either it or in the channel it sits in, so she said oh bring it back in a month or so and we'll try again... Having so much trouble with my health atm and the dealer being half an hour away added to the issue, so I gave up on them and asked Motability to switch me to a closer dealership who may be more trustworthy.

 

It's a bit convoluted but basically dealer A are handy at selling cars. They're prompt, helpful and bend over backwards to get the order. That makes extended test drives (essential for someone with disabilities) easier. Their service stinks though. Dealer B are woeful at selling cars, never returns calls, don't arrange test drives and are generally useless. Their service isn't so bad though!... Hence I bought from one but decided to switch to the other for servicing. In these modern times it's a shame one can't just go to 'a' dealer and have good service throughout. This pattern as borne out more than once over the last few years I've had Skoda cars, so nothing's new under the sun. The car is in this morning for its oil done (or perhaps they'll reset the light and just tell me it was done?). We'll see what gets said about the trim while I'm there I suppose.

I feel sorry for you especially having a Motability car and giving it the care of your own car (few and far between) these days imo

Its not worth making yourself bad for just in form Motability re any issues you have that don't get fixed  better to write with recorded delivery and in can never come back to/on you at the end of 3 years. It takes somebody that has cared for their car for years to neglect a car, its the principle regardless of whos car it is. At the end of the day once informing Motability of the issues and they still don't give a **** you can hold your head up high knowing you have done everything in your power. the main thing Keep your health and just think "if you cant beat them join them"  

I had this discussion regarding our Rapid .. Regardless of mileage, the car is set up for long life and therefore thats factored into the costs for the owner ie the lease company. As much as I disagree with this and want to make sure the car remains in good health... Theres nothing I can do about it.

 

The joys of fully maintained cars.

58 minutes ago, RickTT said:

I had this discussion regarding our Rapid .. Regardless of mileage, the car is set up for long life and therefore thats factored into the costs for the owner ie the lease company. As much as I disagree with this and want to make sure the car remains in good health... Theres nothing I can do about it.

 

The joys of fully maintained cars.

 

As we both know though, the 20k is a maximum not a fixed interval. As such the finance companies concerned have done their maths wrong, and would have been better served setting their vehicles to fixed interval servicing and working costings based on that. 

 

My car is in the dealership and and they were very nice to be fair. He said they've a real battle on their hands regarding the trim and he doesn't know how it's going to pan out. He did point out that's their problem not mine however, so to just leave it with them. 

Yeah.. 20k max.. However as with my Rapid.. Its on a 2 year lease with less than 20k miles on the projected mileage.. And therefore when the car is returned it will have less than 20k and the next owner needs to service it .