My Kodiaq is on variable servicing and is due its first service now.  I was a bit surprised at the quoted cost of £279 from my local dealer, which is higher than the first and second service costs when on fixed intervals.  Is there some reason for this?

 

It doesn't help that variable service costs aren't listed on the Skoda booking website so I can't compare it with other dealers without ringing around.

Edited 8 January, 20206 yr by robk999
typo

Yep, Skoda are becoming increasingly obstructive when it comes to open and honest communications around their vehicle servicing requirements. If anyone from Skoda UK is reading this, then shame on you.

 

Their website used to include the variable service @ £289, but it has since disappeared...

 

https://www.skoda.co.uk/owners/servicing-maintenance-fixed-price

 

 

The really annoying thing?

 

If you pay the £289 for the variable service you won't be getting anything else done to your car than if it was in for the £179 fixed service.

 

All they will be doing is the oil, oil filter, and pollen filter if they're feeling generous. Accompanied of course by the normal cursory safety checks and visual inspections.

 

The air filter, fuel filter (diesel) and spark plugs (petrol) are never changed before 3 years / 60,000 miles, regardless of which service interval your car is set to.

 

I've done it before, but the dealer was very reluctant, I went in there armed with this information and asked for a variable service for £179. They then of course tried to justify why the variable service was more money but I was able to debunk all of it, and so in the end I got an electronic stamp on the cars service history to say it had had it's first variable service (basically an oil change), which was a requirement as it was a lease car (PCH), but importantly only had to pay £179.

 

It depends on if you're prepared to do your research and kick-up a stink when booking it in. I was, but most people aren't (and I don't blame them, Skoda go out of their way to make it difficult!) and just pay the extra £110.

 

Amazingly some dealers still pedal out the old crap of...

 

• "Variable servicing uses long life oil which is more expensive" - utter tosh. They use the same oil for both servicing intervals, petrol or diesel and have for several years, mainly since the introduction of Diesel Particulate Filters (DPF's).
• "We do more checks, including removing of the wheels for a better check of the brakes and suspension" - again rubbish. The dealers make their money on additional work, not basic servicing. Any opportunity to flag to the customer that their car needs more money spent on it and they're like a rat up a drain pipe. The same checks are performed regardless of service interval.

 

Saying that, £289 for a service every 20,000 miles / 2 years (£145 per year on a £30,000 car) isn't bad in the grand scheme of things. Take a look at how much the likes of Nissan and KIA charge, let alone BMW and Mercedes-Benz, and you soon realise with a Skoda we have it pretty good.

 

Edited 8 January, 20206 yr by silver1011

The "Extended Scope" @ £59 is interesting though, I've not seen this before...

 

 

 

 

 

Helpfully it doesn't tell us what the extended scope consists of, but if it is this...

 

 

...then this might in fact suggest that the variable service is actually £179 (fixed service) + £59 = £238, so £51 cheaper than the regular variable service. I doubt it though as all these extra items are listed and priced separately and far exceed £59. Perhaps it is a voluntary contribution to the dealers Christmas party fund? Or pays for the free WiFi and coffee.

 

It is worth noting that these prices (as detailed in the small print) are for vehicles 3 years old or older, and only at participating retailers.

 

My dealer (Pulman Skoda in Durham) will happily apply it to cars under three years old, and luckily do participate.

 

Again, as with everything from Skoda UK's marketing department, who knows!? Even their franchised dealer network get it wrong way too often. It's hardly surprising if their communications from Skoda UK are equally as encrypted as ours!

 

Edited 8 January, 20206 yr by silver1011

In January 2019, at 21 months old and 18,500 miles, my Kodiaq had its first (and only) variable service.

 

Cost £177.

 

Today at almost 28,000 miles I'm surprised by a dash message saying it needs an "Inspection" in 14 days.

 

In car settings the actual full message reads

 

Inspection in 10600 mi or 14 days

 

Oil change service in 9200 mi or 379 days

 

Seems to be nonsense.  I'm running at neither 20,000 miles per month, nor 9,500 miles per year.

 

I'll be kissing the car goodbye on 6 April and driving home in the replacement - and do not expect to service it before then.

 

As an aside - my wife's new VW has been offered a £296 service plan that only gives it 1 minor and 1 major service.  The minor is an oil and filter change. The major is an oil and filter change plus a pollen filter if required (well is it or isn't it?).  No other work is listed.  Only "Check and report on discs, pads" (minor) and report on "lights, instruments, bodywork, glass . . . . ." in major.

 

It's a total disgrace.

 

50 quids worth of good oil and a filter is all that it needs.  Everything else is a visual walk round that the apprentice will do.

 

Oh forgot - they reset the interval display.

Edited 8 January, 20206 yr by BoxerBoy

If you had checked the service indicator back in January 2019 when you collected from the service you might have seen it was not set correctly.

If it was left on variable though and just 'Inspection' left showing, no big deal.

When  they change it Variable to Fixed without permission or just fail to remove the Inspection message you can tell the Dealer Principal to suck it up and the Dealership can pay for the service now.

 

There is no Inspection Service anyway, Not separate from a Major when on Variable, so nothing to actually do, but for wasting your time to come in they can do a gesture, Inspection if you want it cleared so as not to annoy for months.

Body, Health Check etc.  & put in Fuel, or pay you for it.

Edited 8 January, 20206 yr by Roottootemblowinootsoot

Thanks for the replies.  From talking to another dealer it seems as if the long life service is just the oil and filter change and the pollen filter.  It's not the extended scope bit because that says:

 

 

So I don't know what the extra is meant to be for!  At least this other dealer is only asking £235 so there's not much in it.

The Brake Fluid Change is at 3 years then every 2.   Is that them doing that rather than the Brake Fluid for £60 at the time of a Service?

14 minutes ago, Roottootemblowinootsoot said:

The Brake Fluid Change is at 3 years then every 2.   Is that them doing that rather than the Brake Fluid for £60 at the time of a Service?

 

I don't think so, it doesn't say anything about brake fluid:

https://www.skoda.co.uk/owners/extended-scope

Cheers.

Interesting, because currently or up to the end 2019 a Major Service said 'Remove Wheels'  which often does not happen, and 'Check / adjust tension of Drive Belts; means 'Visible Belts'.

Haldex cars also have Diffs (this is not the Haldex oil) and this final drive has oil, that is not checked or replenished.

 

So if the take the Cash Money and charge VAT they need to be doing what is advertised and offered so making a Contract.

 

We will see how long before the wording is changed, it has mis-lead for more than a year. 

Edited 8 January, 20206 yr by Roottootemblowinootsoot

So 'Extended Scope' is simply visual checks.

 

Another absurdity.

 

Book it in and ask for a price, not for a fixed or variable service, but for oil, an oil filter, pollen filter and an entry on the electronic service record.

 

Nothing more, nothing less.

 

Edited 8 January, 20206 yr by silver1011

17 hours ago, BoxerBoy said:

In car settings the actual full message reads

 

Inspection in 10600 mi or 14 days

 

Oil change service in 9200 mi or 379 days

 

Seems to be nonsense.  I'm running at neither 20,000 miles per month, nor 9,500 miles per year.

 

You can ignore the 'Inspection', it is simply that, a quick walk around, look under the car and an unnecessary lightening of your wallet.

 

The oil change in 9,200 miles / 12 months will take you to the 20,000 mile / 2 year interval again i.e. variable.

 

Edited 9 January, 20206 yr by silver1011

Another VAG service related discussion and more confusion. It really shouldn't be like this but that's VAG's way it seems.

 

I've always ran my VAG cars on  a variable service routine and by phoning round, found it costs the same as the equivalant annual service. If you want to save money, ask for a price without the pollen filter because that usually reduces the price by £40. ( you can by a filter yourself for £10 and it takes less than 5min to replace ).

 

But when I say costs the same as annual service - the 2nd variable shouldn't cost the same as the first as more work needs done. Again, lots of confusion here. I note someone said a variable service was quoted at £279. Was that for 1st ( variable interim) or 2nd ( variable major ) service? And in the rare event you do see a variable service price quoted, is that for cars under or over 3yr old?  See what I mean - confusion reigns. 

 

If you Google VW or SEAT or VW or Audi together with either variable or longlife, you'll find a destinctive lack of official information. ( You'll find loads from armchair experts tho ). This is what causes the confusion. Specialist garage websites fair no better with many seemingly providing conflicting out-of-date information.

 

The biggest problem of all tho are us armchair experts. We have a tendancy to only believe what we want to believe and start arguing amongst ourselves citing each comment we make as the gospel truth and never let facts or the lack of facts get in the way of a good moan.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited 8 January, 20206 yr by Guest

If you google you get this.  Pretty clear.

 

http://volkswagen.co.uk/owners/servicing/regimes

http://volkswagen.co.uk/owners/servicing/what-we-check-and-why

 

http://seat.co.uk/owners/your-seat/servicing-maintenance/overview.html

 

http://audi.co.uk/owners-area/servicing.html

 

 

 

10 hours ago, Scot5 said:

...the 2nd variable shouldn't cost the same as the first as more work needs done.

 

Are you suggesting Skoda shouldn't charge the same for the 1st and 2nd variable services, or that customers shouldn't be paying the same?

Dealership staff, Service Desk or Sales could maybe be clearer and explain.

 

Brand new car at 2 year old, or 18,500 -20,000 miles do not get much at a Service. Might have same as at 1 year, other than a Pollen Filter.

It is just the same as the 'Interim' / minor / Oil-Service they might or might not have done, depending on what they want, or what the PDI had the car set to. 

 

Year 3, not much either really, but Brake Fluid is due a change, and in the UK the Warranty expires, and a MOT is due.

 

@ 4 years or sooner by mileage. 

That is the 2nd Major Service. or 2nd Service from being on Variable.  or it might be the 4th service if on fixed is different from what might get done at 2 years.

 

Edited 9 January, 20206 yr by Roottootemblowinootsoot

On 09/01/2020 at 09:59, silver1011 said:

 

 

Are you suggesting Skoda shouldn't charge the same for the 1st and 2nd variable services, or that customers shouldn't be paying the same?

The 2nd variable involves more work. Same as there's a difference in price between minor and major services.

Edited 10 January, 20206 yr by Guest

Yes, that is clear. The air filter, fuel filter (diesel) and spark plugs (petrol) are not changed until 3 years / 60,000 miles i.e during the 2nd variable service.

 

So you're suggesting Skoda should either charge the same or more for the 2nd variable, and/or less for the 1st variable service?

 

This is the point that most of us have been making for several years, Skoda are potentially charging customers for work not being done, so I was curious as to your armchair expert comment that you've made a few times recently, suggesting a lack of truth / facts.

On 09/01/2020 at 06:54, Roottootemblowinootsoot said:

If you google you get this.  Pretty clear.

 

http://volkswagen.co.uk/owners/servicing/regimes

http://volkswagen.co.uk/owners/servicing/what-we-check-and-why

 

http://seat.co.uk/owners/your-seat/servicing-maintenance/overview.html

 

http://audi.co.uk/owners-area/servicing.html

 

 

 

And how does that square with some franchised dealers who tell you that variable only applies to lease cars? 

 

VW - recommend fixed if you drive less than 10,000 a year. It then says they recommend variable if you drive more than 25 miles per day...  365 x 25 =  9125, so they're contradicting themselves straight away.  It's so vague you can interpret their rules in whatever way suits your arguement.  It also says technology is now advanced in that sensors can determine when a service is required - If that's the case then why even bother with fixed because 1st service is no more than oil + filter.

 

Exact same engines...  VW say up to 18,000, Audi say up to 19,000  SEAT and Skoda say it's 20,000  Or at least that's what the garages said because despite your link to SEAT it doesn't actaully say anything about flexible or longlife. In fact it give you a servicing link to cars over 1 year old and then another link to cars under 15year old.  So if you have a 3 year old car, which service link do I choose? As I said, as clear as mud.  Go to the actual franchised dealer websites and they'll contradict what the manufacturer says - some still say it's 4yr cambelt change!

 

here's the bottom line - I had a SEAT and when it required servicing I called around most dealers in central Scotland. Four of the dealers belonged to the same Arnold Clark franchise and all four of them provided conflictng information to each other.  If they can't get it right what chance has the punter?

 

 

 

 

@Scot5 Well you know the story then, and you should know about Arnold Clark Dealerships and other in the Arnold Clark Motor Group, 

or Parks, or John Clark Group, Henry's, Ingrams etc.

 No guide dogs for the stupid are available really.

 

You are one printing duff gen often when the variety of info is there to be read and understood or misunderstood.

 

You can not do much with idiots,

and if the Dealership pays peanuts you get monkeys.

 

Is that some Main Car Dealership staff that tell you it only applies to lease cars?   

The cars leave the factory set on Variable Servicing other than the Citigo.

 

So if some talk Sh!te, that is what they do.

 

VW Group are not great on Translation from German to Spanish, Czech, English, American English, so no idea what like to Chinese.

Hopeless at km to miles as well and rounding up.

 

Then when VW, Skoda, SEAT are 40,000 miles with DSG servicing, Audi are 38,000 miles with s-tronics.   Same boxes, different Service Schedule because

they screwed up in the USA once or several times.

Edited 10 January, 20206 yr by Roottootemblowinootsoot

14 minutes ago, silver1011 said:

Yes, that is clear. The air filter, fuel filter (diesel) and spark plugs (petrol) are not changed until 3 years / 60,000 miles i.e during the 2nd variable service.

 

So you're suggesting Skoda should either charge the same or more for the 2nd variable, and/or less for the 1st variable service?

 

This is the point that most of us have been making for several years, Skoda are potentially charging customers for work not being done, so I was curious as to your armchair expert comment that you've made a few times recently, suggesting a lack of truth / facts.

 

No wonder things are complicated.   How on earth can you interpret what I'm saying as the 2nd service should be the same?  Read what I've written. Only an armchair expert could ever interpret what I said as Skoda charging the same.

 

The 2nd variable service involves more work. The mechanic spends more time with the car and uses more parts to service it. The 2nd variable service is therefore more expensive than the 1st. It's not the same, not anywhere near the same.

 

My armchair expert comment is exactly that...  people make up arguments to suit themselves without any facts.  Rather than rely on heresay, can anyone show me where it states the prices of variable servicing? I've NEVER seen any of the VAG manufacturers produce a price for variable servicing. If one of the garages do, then they simply refer to it as ' variable service' but that in iteself means nothing - does it refer to the first variable or the 2nd or...   It's the complete lack of information thats the problem.   

 

 

13 minutes ago, Roottootemblowinootsoot said:

@Scot5 Well you know the story then, and you should know about Arnold Clark Dealerships and other in the Arnold Clark Motor Group, 

or Parks, or John Clark Group, Henry's, Ingrams etc.

 No guide dogs for the stupid are available really.

 

You are one printing duff gen often when the variety of info is there to be read and understood or misunderstood.

 

You can not do much with idiots,

and if the Dealership pays peanuts you get monkeys.

 

Is that some Main Car Dealership staff that tell you it only applies to lease cars?   

The cars leave the factory set on Variable Servicing other than the Citigo.

 

So if some talk Sh!te, that is what they do.

 

VW Group are not great on Translation from German to Spanish, Czech, English, American English, so no idea what like to Chinese.

Hopeless at km to miles as well and rounding up.

 

Then when VW, Skoda, SEAT are 40,000 miles with DSG servicing, Audi are 38,000 miles with s-tronics.   Same boxes, different Service Schedule because

they screwed up in the USA once or several times.

 

I find your posts very difficult to read. You seem to have an enormous chip on your shoulder root as almost everything you write is negative - the manufacturer is wrong, VAG is wrong, Arnold Clark is wrong, the servicing is wrong.   Just answer me one question...   Why did you buy a VAG product?

@Scot5

Don't read them then. 

Phone around and get your misinformation and then pass it on.

 

Actually i write positives as well but you maybe do not read those.  On this subject of Dealerships positives are difficult to find, but there are good dealerships and techs around,i know those.

 

One answer, do not buy the crappy stuff, buy the stuff that works &

i have had VW Group vehicles because i know the VW Group products that are good because i worked in the motor trade and meet people, and see who does what.

Also quite used to muppets that phone around, get told guff and then go off telling others the same guff.

 

The manufacturers are quite wrong often, and some sales staff and service desk / customer services are too stupid to know as they are not car enthusiasts

they just wanted a job, any job, and if a car comes as a perk good, no need to even open the bonnet or check the oil or coolant or windscreen wash,

just drive and hand over and gets a wash and handed on to someone else.

 

 

Edited 10 January, 20206 yr by Roottootemblowinootsoot

@Scot5  one question. What is you profession or job?

 

Re 2nd Major Service, be that the 2nd Major Service on Variable, or 2nd after 1 service at year one, a major year 2 and then another major without a interim is what makes things different.

 

A 2 year old cars major service, 24 ,month maybe 19,000 miles gets OIl & Filter maybe pollen and looking about / report & no extra parts.

Washer Fluid. 

2nd major service, the same, maybe a Fuel or Air Filter, maybe a pollen, point is, Maybe nothing because the Tech says not due until 60,000 miles.

 

The Wash & Vacuum can take as long as the Service, the Road test might be around the compound or no road test, the wheels are not coming off for a brake check.

They never came off at lots of dealerships when back brake drums were supposed to come off for a clean.

Cars can be many years old and wheels never off unless the tyres get changed.

Edited 10 January, 20206 yr by Roottootemblowinootsoot

3 hours ago, Scot5 said:

No wonder things are complicated.   How on earth can you interpret what I'm saying as the 2nd service should be the same?  Read what I've written. Only an armchair expert could ever interpret what I said as Skoda charging the same.

 

The 2nd variable service involves more work. The mechanic spends more time with the car and uses more parts to service it. The 2nd variable service is therefore more expensive than the 1st. It's not the same, not anywhere near the same.

 

That is because you are not reading what I have written properly.

 

I only suggested the 2nd service should be the same price IF the first service was less instead. The point I made that you missed was that there needs to be a difference between the two to reflect the difference in parts and labour. If you reduce the price of the 1st service, then it would be possible to keep the 2nd service the SAME price.

 

It would appear that you are the one causing confusion by not reading, or understanding what is written properly.

 

Oh, the irony.

 

3 hours ago, Scot5 said:

My armchair expert comment is exactly that...  people make up arguments to suit themselves without any facts.  Rather than rely on heresay, can anyone show me where it states the prices of variable servicing? I've NEVER seen any of the VAG manufacturers produce a price for variable servicing. If one of the garages do, then they simply refer to it as ' variable service' but that in iteself means nothing - does it refer to the first variable or the 2nd or...   It's the complete lack of information thats the problem.   

 

Skoda, over the years, have regularly changed what they call their variable service.

 

Here they call it a 'Major' service, and as you can see is clearly priced...

 

 

Edited 10 January, 20206 yr by silver1011

They were called in 2010

Minor Service / Inspection Service  and Major Service.

 

That was Fixed Servicing and was the 9,400 mile / 352 day interval.    The cars Body inspection was done at the Major Service & put in the Service book.

 

Then the Service Books went,  All models were 'Suitable for Variable Servicing other than the Citigo.  And the ba-lls up starts.

 

Calling a minor service an 'Interim' service and the next a Major.     Those really being for the 'Fleet Managers' satisfaction, 

or Customers wanting a car serviced annually or sooner, you could have an 'Interim'.