I've never owned a Skoda, driven one, and only very rarely been a passenger in one, but about to become the owner of a used Karoq

We live in Ireland (West Cork) and I've bought online from a Skoda dealer over 100 miles away, delivery expected this Saturday.

 

It's a 2018 1.0 TSI Style with 24k miles on the clock, Skoda approved with 24 months extended warranty, roadside assistance etc.

Owned from new by an elderly single gent who, it seems, was the only person ever in the car. The seats still had their garage protection covers on when he traded it back in (for another Skoda) and he'd even put some covering over the drivers door handle to keep it clean. The video and pics from the dealer show it as looking in excellent condition - fingers crossed!

 

Our criteria was something with a higher ride height, cheap to insure, tax, and put fuel in, comfort orientated before performance, easy to drive, decent brand reputation, hopefully reliable, and good for urban and rural travel (we're 60 miles away from the nearest motorway). In our early 60s I wasn't looking for a hot hatch! although until recently we were driving a red 2 door golf sport with low profiles, tints, black roof, and other boy racerish make-up on it Time to grow up maybe! Have had plenty of new company cars of all flavours over the years, but only ever bought old ones myself.

 

I'd narrowed our search down to either a Peugeot 3008, Mazda CX 5, possibly a Vitara, but in the end the Karoq won out. It ticked most of the boxes, well on paper anyway.

 

It's definitely strange to purchase a car without seeing it in the flesh, not to mind not taking a test drive, so it's a mixture of excited anticipation and a little trepidation!

I'll post back after we've had a chance to drive it, poke around in the corners, and generally get to know it - I have a sense of optimism on this one and am hoping we'll enjoy it for what it is.

 

Welcome, Mick.  I have happy memories (some time ago) of Cork - including an enterprising taxi driver who hired himself to me for the day and took me to the Blarney Woolen Mills where I spent (quite) a bit

 

One of our forum regulars ( @mac11irl) lives over in your neck of the woods and I'm sure he'll be along to says his own hellos.  He can probably give you pointers as to good Skoda service garages in the area, too.

Hello @Mick-Cork

 

im not a billion miles away alright.

though, Wesht Cork is a big auld area of brilliant and terrible roads...

roughly where in the west are you? and what dealer did you go with? 100miles away depends alot on where youre starting

 

im in Clonmel, for reference

Thanks for the welcome Mike, and nice to hear you have good memories of the place Ah, there's a fella like that around every corner here, they don't miss a beat!

 

I see mac11irl is from Tipp, that's the county the car is coming from so in all likelihood he's probably aware of the dealer. They seem to have a lot of good reviews and i'm hoping that bodes well. I'm wondering whether to buy a 2 or 3 year service plan, I'll probably ring one of the local dealers up and get a price for a one-off service as a comparison.

 

It's a change from how we've been operating over the last number of years with older cars - I'd pop down to the cousin, stick the car on his lift, and we'd just do whatever was req'd to get through an NCT (MOT). That occasionally included things like securing the bumper with tie-wraps, cutting brake guards out of old tin, and other various improvisations! Quite good fun in a way, especially when you'd get that wry smile from the tech at the test centre

Ah timing! Hi mac11 We're down near Ballydehob, west of Skibbereen and before Schull. Bantry to the north of us. Up in the hills and yep you can still swim in the pot holes

 

The dealer is in Clonmel! You'll probably guess which one as can't imagine there's more than one main dealer in the area? (Not sure if I should be mentioning names here yet?)

@Mick-Cork

no problem naming them - Ryan motor power..  ive bought 3 skodas off them

 

does your salesmans name start with O, or is it M?

 

@mac11irl

 

Small world, or maybe small country

 

Yep, and begins with O. He called this morning to confirm car being delivered down tomorrow lunchtime so we're looking forward big time

I've got to ask though, have you recently traded in a 1.0 Karoq in quartz grey, now that would be a head banger!

 

They've got a lot of good reviews and it sounds like you're happy with them as well so all very positive so far.

 

Here's a pic...

 

 

no, came close to buying one though... ive got 2 octy and a citigo from them. changed the citigo recently, but the only karoq they had was a manual and swmbo had a driven a dsg seat Arona before it, so that won out... 

cant fault the lads in RMP, i drove Olly a bit mad buyin the second octy off him, tempting him with wads of crispy fresh 50s from various pockets to gwt him down on the price 😂

and the service side is 100% too

@mac11irl Ha, we probably gave Olly a bit of an easy time on the cash side, but to be fair the car was a decent price before we started anyway.

 

Arrived today as planned, and any lingering doubts totally melted away. It's a 3 year old car but if you didn't know you'd swear it was brand new. Must be a combination of one very careful owner and some good prep by RMP. Somehow it even still had that new smell about it, everything perfect inside and out. Seriously impressed.

 

Took it for a couple of spins locally and any reservations about the small 1.0 engine vanquished. It'll be perfect for our driving needs. Pulls fine around local urban and rural roads. Looking forward to a longer 130 mile round journey tomorrow over the Cork Kerry hills and back.

 

Long and short of it - I'm liking Skoda! :)