Its not an "accessory" though is it.

Shifty, I think you should come clean and tell the world how you're full of **** and you're so poor that you could never afford to have the car remapped - the video was fiddled to make the car look faster and you're just trying to impress your mates.

My first skoda VRS was modded, remap, lowering springs and a Miltek exhaust, having sold the car to a non franchise dealer when the vehicle was just over 12 months old (I got a WRX) he then sold it on to a Skoda dealer, who after selling the car on contacted me some 3 months afterwards wondering if the car had been modded. The dealer had no problem with this but his customer had contacted Skoda UK who then said the warranty was now void on everything, not just the modified parts.

This just shows that certain dealers have no probs with mods, infact the dealer who i purchased my VRS from, (bought it new) told me before i drove it off the forecourt that he could have it remapped with no implication with the warranty.

So come on Skoda, you were once a laughing stock, you now have several superb cars which give their owners many hours of driving pleasure.

We all know the rules and regs regarding modding new cars (especially Skoda's) and the implications on the warranty. If the risk is too much, why take it?

Do we complain when the Police arrest possible criminals after observations or stake-outs?

What about when we get caught speeding?, we all know we shouldn't speed and may even get agrieved at the sneaky roadside camera/gun, but we still know the rules and regs.

I've had 2 instances where I believe Skoda (or a delaer) has read this site. the first was a couple of years ago when I slated a dealer for appauling service on 2 previous visits then stated clearly on here that I hoped to get better service and even said when the car was going back in. When it went back in they diddnt charge me (even though it was out of warranty :eek:) and washed, polished and hoovered the car.

Second instance was relating to my review of a dealer recently, where a different dealer from the area PM'd me saying he'd happily help out next time - and he was a freedom member.

It is my understanding that warranty is there for manufacturing defects too.

If a part fails due to this and it is proved that this has failed due to a manufacturing defect , then this should surly be covered under warranty.

If Skoda lurk on here can I ask...do you do you solve some of the issues that some menbers have?

Sarah

Its not an "accessory" though is it.

Yes, it's an option, which is covered under their warranty.

We have other dealers on here (oil, various tuning companys and so on ) who read and answer posts and both sides get a lot out of this freedom of information,

So is it Possible that we have not invited Skoda UK to play an active role on this site? could Skoda get in touch with one of the mods or the "boss" Colin and see if this can be got working....or can someone get in touch with them.

I am sure relationships would be much better and can only see good coming out of a free exchange of ideas and information between the biggest and best Skoda forum and Skoda UK ......we are not ashamed to drive your cars we love them and this forum is probably responsible for at least a quarter of all your sales and 99% responsible for the top gear survey ratings

Skoda or mods, please contact one another and lets get this partnership going.

It could be great

I would be very disappointed if SkodaUK's technical, marketing and customer care staff did not visit Briskoda regularly to gain feedback on how they can improve their product and service. Likewise I would hope that dealers take an interest in any relevant feedback posted on this site.

The way I see it, SUK have acted entirely properly in this case.

Their contract is with the dealer, not with Dave. They suspect that he has modified his car and have given him the chance to disprove that assumption; seems fair to me.

They are a business and, like Denis, I would be surprised if they did not monitor forums. I'm sure most other marques do the same.

When I had a big claim, my warranty was voided even though it was unrelated to the mods. Fair enough. I then provided them with a list of all the mods done to my car, right down to the air freshener I had Never had any warranty claims refused after that point (gearbox, seats etc).

I really don't understand why your are so upset about it Dave, I really just don't get it.

You have, alledgedly, been naughty, got caught (by whatever means) and have been given a chance to defend your position. Or am I missing something? :confused:

As for demanding what type of car you get as a loaner and that they buy your car back - laughable! Why should they? Is it unmerchantable? Not fit for purpose? Cobblers!

I think people need to grow up - would you like the police to stop acting on "information received"?

If you mod your car, you are taking a risk. If you brag, for example, that you have a BlueFlame or Miltek exhaust, or that you've had a REVO remap, or you car can hit 20mph above the manufacturers figures etc etc on a public forum - what do you realistically expect

< rant over>

< dons flameproof outfit and climbs into a nuclear bunker>

This just shows that certain dealers have no probs with mods, infact the dealer who i purchased my VRS from, (bought it new) told me before i drove it off the forecourt that he could have it remapped with no implication with the warranty.

Trouble is before they can do any warranty work, they have to get authorisation from Skoda UK. If your dealer goes bust or the service manager changes to one who takes the Skoda warranty literally (ie any modification will result in the whole warranty being null and void) then you're in trouble.

At the end of the day, the warranty contract you sign is very clear and if you can't pay to get things fixed when they break then you shouldn't mod the car - simple as!

Chris

Removed - don't want to be involved in this thread any longer!

I stated this earlier, but I'll say the same again...

If you mod your car, sure invalidate the bits that the mod relates to, however I think telling the dealer wasn't the best way to do this. They should have either had a skoda tech asess the car at the next service/visit to a dealer or asked the dealer to write a letter saying what is what, how the were not taking any action and reserved their right blah blah, and could he please bring the car in for an inspection at a dealer of his choosing (where a skoda uk tech could look over it) or provide skoda with a list of mods so they know which parts of the warenty will be affected.

It's common courtesy to be polite to your customer, this approach to customer care appears to be a bit like the recording and film industries. Treat your customer as if they are a criminal to protect against the minority that are. That hasn't worked for them and it won't on cars, just being polite would probably have avoided this situation completely.

When I had a big claim' date=' my warranty was voided even though it was unrelated to the mods. Fair enough. I then provided them with a list of all the mods done to my car, right down to the air freshener I had Never had any warranty claims refused after that point (gearbox, seats etc).

I really don't understand why your are so upset about it Dave, I really just don't get it.

[/quote']

Jon - I can understand both viewpoints and its fair enough to void warranty with mods. I think the difference here is that they have acted very rapidly on voiding a warranty on complete hearsay - surely it would have been easier to log it and then bring it out into the open when any warranty claim was initiated (as in your case)?

This all seems a little stupid. If I were in Shifty's shoes, I would be pi**ed off... granted.

However, we all have to realise something very basic: everything we state on this forum, we are making a public record. Therefore, if we state something which we know is a breach of some regulation or other (be it true or otherwise), in my opinion we lose the right to complain if others draw conclusions, or react to what we stated. In this case, Skoda UK seem to have had reason to suspect that modifications may have been carried out to the car. They could have dealt with this information in a few different ways, but how they did seems logical to me: Skoda UK's contract is with the dealer; the dealers contract is with the customer; the dealer is an agent for Skoda UK for warranty and sales.

I do sympathise, but it's not as if you were shopped.... you shopped yourself.

could he please bring the car in for an inspection at a dealer of his choosing (where a skoda uk tech could look over it) or provide skoda with a list of mods so they know which parts of the warenty will be affected.

But that will cost Skoda money - they would need to get a Tech to take the time (and possibly travel) to look over the car. The terms of the warranty state that it will be invalidated *in it's entirety* if modifications are performed - not just "areas affected by modifications". Besides which, how to you prove/disprove is something is related to a modification...realistically, it's not an easy/quick task, so rather than being bogged down with lots of messy claims that take a lot of investigation, they have a single, clear-cut, easy to follow rule.

Why would they voluntarily invest time and effort picking over someone's car when they have it in black and white and legally-cleared that the warranty is invalid anyway?

Ultimately it's the customers overall who will be picking up the tab for any extra cost involved...

Rob.

- surely it would have been easier to log it and then bring it out into the open when any warranty claim was initiated (as in your case)?

But this way Dave knows where he stands. If they would have logged it Dave would of continued thinking he had a warranty they somthing happens and it yes sir we've been monitoring your car I we think its time to tell you your warranty is vioded. :eek:

This way Dave finds out straight away which to me is much better. Dave can now decide what he wants to do...

Been reading this thread with interest and can see both sides (reminds be to find my Phil Colins CD ) The way Dave tells it is Skoda UK phoned his dealer to say all warranty has been cancel. Maybe they should of informed the dealer they believe Dave's car to had been "Mod'd" and feel and inspection is needed.

Either way I understand where Skoda UK are coming from and we all know "if you can't afford it then don't mod it"

But that will cost Skoda money - they would need to get a Tech to take the time (and possibly travel) to look over the car. The terms of the warranty state that it will be invalidated *in it's entirety* if modifications are performed - not just "areas affected by modifications". Besides which' date=' how to you prove/disprove is something is related to a modification...realistically, it's not an easy/quick task, so rather than being bogged down with lots of messy claims that take a lot of investigation, they have a single, clear-cut, easy to follow rule.

Why would they voluntarily invest time and effort picking over someone's car when they have it in black and white and legally-cleared that the warranty is invalid anyway?

Ultimately it's the customers overall who will be picking up the tab for any extra cost involved...

Rob.[/quote']

I'll give you the modified bit is effort i was thinking more of modded ECU, by by cover for anything that talks to it, but that is a bit simplistic probably. However dealers do say to you 'modding to uprated brakes' won't affect the warrenty on the rest of a car when you ask so a consitant approach would be better.

I don't see why it is any effort for them to have a tech they trust or even the dealer look over his car is just common courtesy if he disputes the claims they are making. If skoda wish to get out of the contract they need to prove the other party is in breach of it. This seems like the most polite and also lowest cost option relative to getting a legal team to get involved should it get that far.

It wouldnt be in VAG's interest for Skoda to offer a remap on the VRS. Why would they want even more customers choosing the cheaper Octavia over the Golf? The extra power would make it a far more attractive option to those who see the badge as an issue.

I agree - Skoda have already embarrassed VW significantly over the last few months, by consistantly outperforming them in just about every customer related area.

This sucks...do I have to tell them about this stealth mod I copied

http://www.engadget.com/2006/03/06/jet-powered-vw-bug-takes-to-the-street/

Official sports upgrades offered by Skoda would be a good idea though,even if some disagree.I see Seat offer a ridiculous new bodykit for their Leon and have hiked the price to £20k.

Must say,I have assumed that whatever is typed is monitered,be it Skoda,CIA or whoever.Nature of the net

I stated this earlier' date=' but I'll say the same again...

If you mod your car, sure invalidate the bits that the mod relates to, however I think telling the dealer wasn't the best way to do this. They should have either had a skoda tech asess the car at the next service/visit to a dealer or asked the dealer to write a letter saying what is what, how the were not taking any action and reserved their right blah blah, and could he please bring the car in for an inspection at a dealer of his choosing (where a skoda uk tech could look over it) or provide skoda with a list of mods so they know which parts of the warenty will be affected.

It's common courtesy to be polite to your customer, this approach to customer care appears to be a bit like the recording and film industries. Treat your customer as if they are a criminal to protect against the minority that are. That hasn't worked for them and it won't on cars, just being polite would probably have avoided this situation completely.[/quote']

Removed!

Think you have posbbily got it spot on there actually.

To be honest I just think that saying this without actual proof is a bit crap and that shifty should have been sent a letter offering options by the dealer. If skoda can't trust it's dealers then that is a worry, however at teh same time this dealer saying it is void is a bit of poor customer service. Don't forget that he is going in to prove the car has not been modded. Assuming he can do this then thats a lot of public egg on Skoda UK's face.

I'm just saying be nice to the customer as a company needs it's customers far more than the customer needs the company. Just look at what happened to rover, there are plenty of other makes for people to buy if you annoy your customers.

Jon - I can understand both viewpoints and its fair enough to void warranty with mods. I think the difference here is that they have acted very rapidly on voiding a warranty on complete hearsay - surely it would have been easier to log it and then bring it out into the open when any warranty claim was initiated (as in your case)?

Stu,

As has been pointed out, which would you rather have:

A. A phone call saying that your warranty is suspended until the car is checked (and if it is modded the chance to revert it to standard prior to the check)

B. Something goes bang (ie conrod through block), sorry warranty is void as it is modded (no chance, if you had modded it to revert it to standard) here's a bill for £2750. Oh and we've been waiting for this to happen but didn't think to tell you

I'm not complaining in my case, I knew it wasn't covered but I still tried with a claim just on the off chance

A 3year warranty is an agreement with the manufacturer and not a statory right. As with anything you buy you are entitled that the product you have purchased is fit for the purpose for which it was intended and that it will maintain this fitness for a given period (unfortunatley I can't rember how long that period is, 30days?). That is your statutory right and they can't touch that.

Modifcation, as everyone knows, voids this contract it is a condition of the 3 year warranty, we will honor this agreement on the condition that....regular service etc, remains unmodified etc etc. If they so wished they would have every legal right to viod the warranty completely on ALL components if they found a car to be modified. In practice most manufcaturers, and I assume sloda too, will simply void the warranty on the modified part and on any fault that they have be associated to developing as a direct result of the modification.

This should mean that if you stick new wheels on ya car then your body work warranty, electrical warranty, engine warranty will probably remain intact but they would probably turn down a claim due to worn out wheel bearings or CV joints or something else connected to that system.

As far as I am aware nearly all mass car manufacturers take this kind of stance.

I think what skoda should be doing though, and I don't want to get into whether or not they are in the wrong for trawling forums for modified vehicles, is listening to the buying public and sort out the stuff that causes people to modify in the first place. Ok most modifications are just due to taste, new wheels, more power etc, but some modifications are done purely because the standard factory fit item is simply crap. Look at the 312mm brake mod for the fabia vRS, look at how many people do it and most people do it because they find the standard brakes to be whoefully inadequate and I don't even mean for fast track driving we're talking normal A to B driving.

Surely it wouldn't cost much more just to stick 312mm brakes on the damn thing in the first place, they allready have the parts and I refuse to accept that they cost much more than the ones allready on the fab.

A 3year warranty is an agreement with the manufacturer and not a statory right. As with anything you buy you are entitled that the product you have purchased is fit for the purpose for which it was intended and that it will maintain this fitness for a given period (unfortunatley I can't rember how long that period is, 30days?). That is your statutory right and they can't touch that.

Think it's much longer than that possibly a year in the UK and also your car can be declared not fir for purpose for up to 6 years IIRC although you would have to have a really good case to get that one to work. Anyway you have legal rights regarding the 3 year warrenty as it formed part of the contract that was signed when you bought the car so unless they can prove you have broken your end of the contract they can not break their end without legal comeback.

Ok most modifications are just due to taste, new wheels, more power etc, but some modifications are done purely because the standard factory fit item is simply crap. Look at the 312mm brake mod for the fabia vRS, look at how many people do it and most people do it because they find the standard brakes to be whoefully inadequate and I don't even mean for fast track driving we're talking normal A to B driving.

Surely it wouldn't cost much more just to stick 312mm brakes on the damn thing in the first place, they allready have the parts and I refuse to accept that they cost much more than the ones allready on the fab.

Same goes for the ARBs on the Octy I. If i keep my Octy I, then this is an upgrade I would do when my car passes it's 3 years. The item is totally inadequate even for A road driving in my opinion.

I think a lot of this is not wanting to compete as a poor mans AUDI or VW.

The Seats are sportier but loose out in terms of build quality by the looks of their dashboards compared to a skoda.

What I want to know is how far does this go, I mean if I fit goodyear eagle F1s instead of the contis that the car came with when I need to change the tyres can that invalidate my warranty if say the tracking or CV joints or something steery related thing goes all doowhacky??

I mean ok I know it doesn't, or at least I don't think it does, but can you really honestly say that changing the tyres to a different brand is any less drastic than sticking in a foam panel air filter?? I mean the car is designed to use air, and it's designed to use no more air than it needs a foam filter simply allows a freer flow of air and without the need to replace it. Cars are also desgined to stick to the road, this is done primarily by the tyres, some tyres help it stick to the road better than the others, but unlike the air filter I don't believe any car manufacturer would do you for fitting a different brand of tyre so long as it met the minimum manufacturers requirement for that item. A panel filter however, I think, will invalidate your warranty. Just seems nuts to me to be honest.