And incidentally I've never had to show my licence at the skoda dealer.

That was for the place in Winchester. I think I just had to sign the form for the one in Soton, but I was given the option to waive the huge excess with a refundable

Just to add the two dealers closest to me (irvines in bridgwater and loders in yeovil) have both been excellent with very friendly staff and swift responses to any faults.

Now the BMW / mercedes dealerships we went in when my dad was looking at changing his A3 were appauling. Extremely rude and arrogant.

Mind you As I havn't been in all the dealerships in the country I can't comment on the overall picture.

That was for the place in Winchester. I think I just had to sign the form for the one in Soton, but I was given the option to waive the huge excess with a refundable

The dealer I use in Halifax is the best I have ever come across.

If they don't have a loan car they will pick me up or take me home.

If I didn't think they were up to it I we would not have bought 4 cars

in the last 18 months.

Took my car in for some warrenty work on thursday.

Booked it in about 4weeks ago, 4 week wait as i needed a courtesy car to get back to sixthfrom.

Work to be carried out:

- Finding and resolving the noise from the engine when changing from 2nd to 3rd.

- Replacing the flaking vRS and Fabia badge on rear.

- Fixing the intermittant problem with the rear offside light. (tap it and it comes on)

So i pick up the car in the morning, a 1.2 fabia estate (brill i throught), 'we will give you a call when its ready', i was already told they had ordered the replacement badges which would take about 30mins to change, replace the light cluster would take the same, just depends on the engine noise.

Get a phone call at 4pm 'its ready sir'.

Pick car the car up after a whole day in repair, work carried out:

- replaced one bulb

excuses:

- "Couldn't locate the noise"

My thoughts: 'yes the noise has pritty much gone, whatever was making the noise has worn away, so i want to know what has worn away and what your going to do about it, i came in and reported the problem about the noise 4 weeks ago but you said there was no-one who could come test drive it with me to hear it, your problem not mine'.

excuses:

- "We forgot to order the badges"

My thoughts: 'is that new fabia vRS outside sold? no? ok well that has a vRS badge on it, take that one off, and put it on mine eh?'

Got into the car that night, has the light cluster issue been fixed? no.

What p1sses me off more, is that the courtesy car had absolutly no fuel in it, so i had to put

One of the reasons I'm considering putting a focus on the drive to replace this octy rather than a new octy.

Oh dear, don't rely on Hendy's then - You'll be begging to go back to Skoda.

In all honesty we all have good an bad experiances with our dealers and I don't think it is entirely related to the badge on the bonnet.

I have had good service from BMW and Skoda, I've had mediocre service from BMW, Skoda and Subaru. I've never had good service from Renault, Citroen or Peugeot and pretty poor experiance with Fords.

It's unfair to tarnish all dealers with the same brush, and even then sometimes you'll have a good experience with one dealer and then a bad one with the same dealer.

Don't forget to add your constructive comments to the Dealer Review pages.

I think its down to what type of dealership they are , are they part of a big national chain , or a family run local dealer?...its usually the former that give poor service , especially if you live in a large town or a city. I get great service from Tweedmouth Skoda/Mitsubishi (now a Skoda delaer for servicing and warranty only unfortunately) , they are a family run business and i have a a lot of friends there , so I always get looked after well , and I have never had to pay or sign for a courtesy car ever! I never get the Evo demonstrator tho.....:( lol!

re: CIVI

Ahh.... Yes i know Micheal, very very friendly guy, and will go along way to help you out best he can. Dont know the name of the guy i was dealing with, but it probably was his temp replacment.

All fairness to Capitol Skoda, they have redeemed theirselves on the 10k service. Usually stuff done, but they cleaned the outside of the car (it was cleaner when it went in though :p) but they saved me a massive job in giving the inside a quick clean. The day before i took the car in i was driving along the a48 at night, cut a long story short a full open packet of dorritos on the back seat unloaded itself all over the passanger side of the car when i discovered the car infront didn't have any working breaklights. Cheesey crisps mess everywhere. So big thanks for the cleaning service.

Good to hear Micheal is back, Hope all is well now.

I shall be trying a new dealer when it comes to services time (despite lifetime 10% discount on services/parts/accessories at my local dealer) but my previous experience makes me want to use an independant VAG specialist for anything except warranty work (which I hope there's no more of!).

By way of an update - CAMBELT AND WATERPUMP CHANGE

Sure enough I was not dissapointed with the service team at 'Capitol Skoda'. Dropped car off in the morning. Received a call around 4.30pm confirmimg collection time. Picked car up 5.30pm all work completed, car cleaned inside and out!! well done Capitol.

If there was any slight disapointment it would have to be that the courtesy car had very little fuel (almost in the red but displayed 110 mile remaining). Spoke with Michael that night who admitted not having the time that day to fill the tank up prior to me picking up the car. Usually Capitol fill the tanks up prior to loaning out the courtesy cars, this is far better than having to guess how much fuel you expect to use while you have the car. You only pay for what you use. Sensible unlike some other dealers I could mention near the capitol.

Almost forgot the prices were as follows:

Cambelt and Tensioner replacement =

Took my SDi into Benfield in Newcastle to get a noise sorted under warranty.

was given a Octavia TDi as a courtesy car with the fuel light on when i was given it.

put

Oh dear, don't rely on Hendy's then - You'll be begging to go back to Skoda.

I had excellent service on all my dealings with Hendy in Winchester. Less impressed by Hendys in Chandlers Ford Still not bad enough for me to go back to Skoda

Chris

Took my SDi into Benfield in Newcastle to get a noise sorted under warranty.

was given a Octavia TDi as a courtesy car with the fuel light on when i was given it.

put

Took my SDi into Benfield in Newcastle to get a noise sorted under warranty.

was given a Octavia TDi as a courtesy car with the fuel light on when i was given it.

put

Never used Silbury Skoda so couldn't comment on their service department.

Wasn't given a reciept when i put the fuel into the car.

Not my responsibility to prove i did not put petrol into the car. it's their responsibility to prove that i was responsible so not too bothered about trying to remember which garage i put the fuel in at and also try to remember what time i put the fuel into the car.

If they want to pursue it they can via solicitors.

I know this may look like an admission of guilty but it is not. like i said in my previous post, i know the difference between a diesel pump and a petrol pump!!!

:iagree:

One of the reasons I got rid of mine - Skoda's are good cars but the service is appaling.

You've obviously not been to Bickertons in Sheffield, apart from sometimes having to wait a while for a courtesy car to become available,their service is second to none when it comes to warranty work!

Wasn't given a reciept when i put the fuel into the car.

aahh.. it was only a thought

Not my responsibility to prove i did not put petrol into the car. it's their responsibility to prove that i was responsible so not too bothered about trying to remember which garage i put the fuel in at and also try to remember what time i put the fuel into the car.

If they want to pursue it they can via solicitors.

aahh... sounds like they where hoping you wouldn't argue and pay up then. :thumbdwn:

I know this may look like an admission of guilty but it is not. like i said in my previous post' date=' i know the difference between a diesel pump and a petrol pump!!![/quote']

Oh I don't doubt you for a second

I was always under the impression the dealers would bend over backswards

Customers are the ones who bend over, taking it up corn hole with a huge strap on ****!

Anyone in the north east with a 1.9DSi had a cambelt and waterpump changed??

Looking into getting this done as SUK still have not replyed to my last message i sent them :thumbdwn:

And before anyone asks NO i won't be using Benfield for any more work.

Just want to try and work out who would be cheapest for doing the work - cars out of warrenty now so no need to use main stealers for the work

mikec.... you could try Sedgefield Motor Co... I got my furby from them and had it serviced there. They are the best value I've had yet. I know that a couple of the guys have had bad experiences with them... but mine are all good.

I'll see how much they quote then!! cheers:thumbup: