Hello Everyone,

I recently purchased my first skoda car which is an octavia vrs. It seemed like a good deal with the discounts they were offering. The dealer told me it would be available within 3 weeks as it is on its way to the UK. I placed the order on 5th November thinking I would be getting a new car by the end of the month. 

I recently asked for an update and it seems to be sat at Emden port in Germany and has been there since the 5th. 

I contacted skoda online and they cannot say when it will be likely to leave Germany. They have no way of tracking it and just said that usually it's 15 days wait for a ship. The dealer is saying they expect it in December but cannot provide any more information.

I was just wondering whether anyone else is currently going through the same thing as me?

I'm guessing it will be arriving through Grimsby as this is the closest port but there doesn't seem to be any scheduled journeys to Grimsby any time soon. At this rate it could be January!

Hi @JGee

 

Good choice on your first Skoda! There is a mega thread regarding delivery times, but I don't think it's been active for a while: 

 

I am also waiting on an order, with my car sat in Emden for roughly the last week or so (also likely aiming for Grimsby). There are probably too many variables to give you an accurate prediction whilst your car is chilling with mine at Emden; there is a lot of cars there being shipped out across the world (have a look on Google map view if you haven't already). Once assigned a ship, it will probably be a lot more predictable from then onwards. I'm getting a lease this time around, with the lease guy suggesting mid-December for delivery. The time quoted by your dealer sounds pretty quick tbh; 3 weeks from order to you collecting feels a bit unheard of, unless it's a cancelled order. 

Thank you! I drove the mk4 at the start of November and loved the way it drove. Its quite a large car from the a class I am driving now  but it certainly didn't feel like it. I know some people knock the light steering feel but I thought it was quite well balanced. The upgraded infotainment system and reverse camera as standard made me think that buying new would be better. I'm not a big believer in new cars because they loose loads of money into he first few years but the vrs's seem to retain the money quite well.

I did think the dealer might be stringing me along a bit. They way he was talking at the time, he made it sound like the boat was already here. It does amaze me in this day and age that they don't really know what is happening until like you said it lands here.

I have been looking at ships leaving Emden hoping that mine was on one of them. There was one yesterday that arrived (Grimsby) but I'm guessing it was full of VW's. I passed the car transporter today on the A46 and it was full of ID7's going towards the A1. I was thinking to myself that maybe they are having to bring in lots of EV's because of the fines they get for not selling them. So because its coming up the the end of year they are flooding them through. 

I have been looking on a few different forums about delivery but it seems to be from years ago and you would think things have gotten better since then but maybe not haha.

It's really hard waiting for it to arrive with the excitement and anticipation. I kinda picked a spec with some extras I wasn't fussed about having. I really wanted canton because I knew the speaker system is poor in the mk4 but I couldn't get it because there weren't any available. The dealer suggested to me that he couldn't pass on the autumn discounts if it was a factory order, so I went with one that had already been built. Plus I thought it would be faster as they quoted me 5 months!

 

 

When they get to the UK they're in a VAG compound and wait for a transporter (in order of VAG hierarchy according to my dealer!) However I seemed to get lucky and mine was on its way almost immediately.

I think that was Felixstowe or Sheerness though, so could be completely different.

 

Certainly weeks and not months from Emden though (based on my limited knowledge of two purchases!)

Enjoy your new car 🙂

Edited 26 November, 20241 yr by dan245

Thank you! That would be the icing on the cake! Waiting for 2 weeks in a compound, once it arrives in England after waiting a month in Emden. I just hope my dealer being 40 minutes from the port will mean I get a faster delivery to the dealer once it arrives. 

I'm guessing that Skoda tends to use the port closet to the dealer?

Emden to Immingham is common.

 

Looking for one  ( your ) car to load from their car park in Emden can take some time. 😉

 

Look here and count the cars you can see.

Note how the cars are parked nose to tail.

You will need to zoom in a bit:-

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Emden,+Germany/@53.3461752,7.1615142,3040m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m6!3m5!1s0x47b639c08bb2e6a9:0x528ec46574ad913f!8m2!3d53.3594029!4d7.2060095!16zL20vMDE5eTgx?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI0MTEyNC4xIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D

 

Thanks. AG Falco

Edited 26 November, 20241 yr by AGFalco
added nose to tail bit

Hopefully it's not too much more of a wait for you then @JGee! This is my 4th vRS ordered from new, and info can appear a little vague until your car has a ship assigned. A lot of the VAG type transporters tend to end in the name Highway; e.g. Thames Highway, Elbe Highway, Schelde Highway (which left Grimsby this morning). It can be addictive look at random boats and guessing which one your car might be on! We sold our previous vRS last week as the prices being paid was too much to pass on, now hoping there isn't too long to wait as doing Christmas/family trips/kids sporting activities in a 16 year old mini cooper S isn't always ideal! 

Hopefully 🤞 I just need to be patient but it's hard haha.

How have you got on with them? I suppose that's a silly question to ask if you're on your 4th! 

Yeah you're right! It definitely keeps you guessing that's for sure. I swear I was right last time but I think I'm gonna admit defeat and just wait. Tbh I haven't really been hassling my dealer compared to some customers probably would. 

 

I spoke to a good friend that used to deal in importing cars and she said its one of 3 things.

1st is the dealer has too many cars on the books this month and will have to wait until December (a new month) or some kind of dealer error of some sort.

2nd it is missing parts or has a software issue. She said audi often send cars to port that need certain small parts fitting while at the port.

3rd it hasn't been fully built yet still leaving factory etc...

 

I know its been built because the VIN says it was made on the 23rd October. I'm guessing it's the 1st 

 

I have a feeling that they may appear on the same ship.

 

That's one thing I would think that would be hard to adapt to considering how big the boot is on the octavia. Its massive!

A ship (Thames Highway) is currently docked in Grimsby, due back in Emden tomorrow morning; could be that @JGee! 🚢

 

https://www.marinetraffic.com/en/ais/details/ships/shipid:376403/mmsi:311996000/imo:9316294/vessel:THAMES_HIGHWAY 

I hope so @Aarond 🤞There are a few heading to Emden now. The Danube Highway, EMS Highway and like you said the Thames Highway. One of these has got to go to Grimsby, it has to!

At least some people on this forum have been receiving their cars. It's a bit more reassuring knowing they do arrive eventually.

I passed another transporter this morning from Grimsby full of VW ID7's again, apart from one skoda. It looked like a kodiaq or something that size. The skoda was the only one that wasn't in it's protective wrapping.

Hopefully we should be getting some good news soon.

 

Hi guys, new member also awaiting delivery of my vRS (lease). I ordered it  on 29/11/24 and after chasing them up, (according to my ‘customer account’ itinerary,  it’s still and always has been showing as: ‘Your Vehicle has left the factory & is on its way to the UK/ Port’),

I’ve now been told it’s ‘still at sea.’

Any updates on yours as you both ordered before me? 😩 @JGee @Aarond

Edited 21 December, 20241 yr by BazGee
Tag members + correct date

Hello! Congratulations on you order they are definitely worth the wait! I know exactly what the waiting is like!

I ordered mine on the 5th on November. My car was one already waiting at the Emden port. I waited 4 weeks to get a ship and then 10 days to get to my dealer. Christmas is coming up so I guess that might add a little to the delivery time. 

They do seem to be very vague with delivery updates, but from my experience you don't really hear anything until it lands in the UK. 

How long has it been "still at sea"?

If you were to base it on my experience I would probably guess that it would be the 2nd or 3rd week of January.

 

Thanks, I was told it would be a December delivery but on ‘my account’ it’s always said January😩

 

I was sure that on one of the documents I received early on it said vehicle must be delivered in December but now for the life of me I can’t find where it said that! 😞

I’ve been without my car (Audi A5 sportback) since late November and having to borrow wife’s and kids’ cars isn’t floating my boat! ( pardon the pun😂)

I  said it would have been quicker for me to go to the Czech Republic and drive it back myself (would have been quite fun I think!)

Here’s hoping…

Yeah it sounds familiar, I was told 3 weeks and that 'it's literally on the ship' as I placed the order. Which is one reason why I said yes!. This wasn't the case though.

I think VW as a brand are trying to get the EV's through rather than ICE. I live about 40 minutes from Grimsby and see the transporters with cars on all the time full of EV's

Ah that's not good! Well hopefully for your sake it arrives as soon as possible 🤞 January is a quiet time for car dealers so maybe yours will arrive even sooner. 

With mine, I hated the fact no one could give me E.T.A. especially with the tech we have around nowadays. You can track and trace any parcel but a car seems different 🤔 

Yeah 😂 I said the same to my mate and unfortunately VW group seem pay KESS shipping to handle the deliveries so I don't think they even know when it will land. I was tracking ships into Grimsby all the time at one point ☺️ but I can definitely assure you it's worth the wait. I'm still breaking mine in but the car is amazing, it's everything I wanted it to be. She's a bit thirsty but that should settle down a bit it's still adjusting.

 

Good choice @BazGee! I'd given an update on my delivery in the other vRS thread here, but will repeat the same here: had an email on Thursday to say it's been shipped, and will be delivered to me early/mid-January. I'm also leasing, and ordered a car that had already been built. Also with the very clear message from supplying dealer that car has to be registered before 31st December. 

 

This is my 4th vRS and well invested in the hype train 🚂 From reading other car make forums (please take with a pinch of salt), when cars arrive at Emden they are handed over from Skoda (or whoever) to the distribution companies that manage the ports and shipping firms. Due to the shear amount of vehicles landing in Emden everyday, this can lead to chaos: my car sat there since early November until today, but also know that other vRS orders had arrived after this and shipped to UK (when dealer checked why it was delayed, Skoda kind of said we don't know and can't give an ETA). Estimated delivery times seem to be way more accurate once it lands in the UK (when it comes back into care if Skoda/whoever). 

 

Typing this message out on mobile so can't get links at the mo, but if you Google KESS shipping company you can easily find the shipping itinerary and see which ships are due in and when. There are other KESS ships that ship to the UK not on the most recent itinerary, such as (I think) Danube Highway. There are several marine traffic apps/websites you can geek out to check on shopping traffic. 

 

I'm also driving my partners car, although I always love that car as it drives like a go-cart (old mini cooper s clubman). However, we've had to turn a week-long Christmas trip to in-laws into a train ride home for me and the kids, and partner drive back with the mini full of Santa's stuff🎅

Our circumstances re the leasing sound very similar, I’m going through Select Car Leasing who I’ve used before, what about you? I got a Black Friday deal and financially I’m very happy with the figures, I just need the car! I was told it was in stock so I couldn’t change the spec or colour (racing blue) which definitely wouldn’t have been my first choice. 
I also have use of a couple of Minis, my daughter in law’s 64 plate cooper diesel and my wife’s Mini Electric Cooper S.

I really like the electric one! I was disappointed when the electric mini came out as I expected the 0-60 to be much faster than it is, but it feels faster than it is! Great fun. 

Please keep me posted with any updates!

I ordered my lease on the 15th November and asked for an update first week of December. I was told it would likely be delivered to me the second week of January as it was still awaiting transport to the UK. 

Previously had PCP, this will be my first lease, with Arbury. There were some very good deals a month or so ago wasn't there. Ordered hyper green 💚 also with no options. It comes with loads anyway, although I will miss DCC I had on previous cars. I ordered some new car wash bits too, proper looking forward to giving it a detail and drive

1 minute ago, Aarond said:

Previously had PCP, this will be my first lease, with Arbury. There were some very good deals a month or so ago wasn't there. Ordered hyper green 💚 also with no options. It comes with loads anyway, although I will miss DCC I had on previous cars. I ordered some new car wash bits too, proper looking forward to giving it a detail and drive

I've gone with arbury too after having PCP's. I couldn't get a deal on PCP that was anywhere close.

I’ve had an update on my account, it now says, ‘Your Vehicle has arrived in the UK/ Port, it is awaiting inspection for release’

😊

I’d checked the KESS shipping itineraries and they had a ship dock at Grimsby on the 29th of December so it was possibly on board that one. 🤞🏻

Now, just need an inspection before it goes to the dealer and they can contact me for a delivery date…or am I just getting my hopes up? 🤣

Happy New Year by the way…

Mine arrived at the UK port on December 19th, but I’m still waiting for it to arrive at the dealership! Not sure what effect the Christmas holidays are having on delivery times.

I’ve got a delivery date! This Thursday (the day before my birthday)! 
Can’t wait! 😛 

Nice one @BazGee! Happy birthday present to yourself then innit. I also had a message to say mine will be delivered next Tuesday, so exciting times all round

Great stuff. Hopefully everyone who was expecting a delivery like us will soon be getting good news. 😊

Dealership rang today and they have the car. Picking it up Friday morning!