Let's be clear here. This is not 100% the owners fault.

The owner, reasonably, contacted the recovery service provided as part of the overall warrantee. The recovery service apparently insisted the car could be driven. Clearly from what the OP has said this proved not to be the case.

Now, should the owner have booked the car in at the first sign of a clutch slip, -yes! Should it have been driven with a known slipping clutch, - No. Should the car have been sold with a clutch that was on it's last legs as Skoda Approved, - No!

The fact that Skoda UK have apparently involved themselves should tell you everything you need to know. The fact that "goodwill" payments have been mentioned also gives a big clue.

Was the £300 discount GOODWILL! offered just because the £450 to investigate was a pith take if the OP was to get the job done after strip done.

@Aldfort What is the procedure for a Pre Sale check of a 4 or 5 year old car with 32,000 miles to assess if the clutch is on it,s last legs or only good for 4,000 miles?

?

If you go to sell or trade in your car and you are told there is only 4,000 miles of clutch life left will you accept less of a trade in value for your car?

If SKODA UK have actually become involved and a Resolutions Manager or Communications manager gets someplace with the Dealership then good.

If these are still the first and current line of contact, then they say and do some things and if they achieve getting any actions taken then fantastic.

Edited 24 April, 20251 yr by Ootohere

@Ootohere

Why do you need to be quite so belligerent in your posts?

I offer opinions here, as you do. I don't find the need to constantly question the opinions that others offer unless they are patently wrong or constitute bad or unsafe advice.

IF you really don't know how to tell if a clutch is on it's last legs after driving for as many years as you have then perhaps asking would be better? 😃

@Aldfort I served my time as a mechanic & worked as a sprayer but having one leg for 5 decades it is a long time since i drove a manual.

Bought and sold plenty though over that time.

The OP or their partner seemed to have missed the clutch was on it,s way out for 4,000 miles / 6 months.

Edited 25 April, 20251 yr by Ootohere

2 minutes ago, Ootohere said:

@Aldfort I served my time as a mechanic & worked as a sprayer but having one leg for 5 decades it is a long time since i drove a manual.

Bought and sold plenty though over that time.

The OP or their partner seemed to have missed the clutch was on it,s way out for 4,000 miles.

Which leads me to think, given the OPs description of the circumstances of the original failure, that the clutch diaphragm failed suddenly - if this was proved to be the case, this would (could) be classed as a mechanical failure - not driver abuse, and perhaps should be covered by the warranty.

The subsequent damage to the clutch lining and flywheel caused by the extremely ill advised recommendation by the contracted warranty recovery agent would be, I consider, be a strong case for recovery of, at the very least, a significant part of the damages.

Skoda UK and Skoda Assist now haggling over who pays what. Hoping for a good outcome however car remains in bits at the dealership and there's no timescale plus may still be a charge to be paid.

Well, that appears to be more promising, appreciate it if you keep this updated on final outcome.

Glad that There will be some contribution from the Skoda side.

The back and forth continues.

Skoda Assist (aka the AA) say i can't prove they made the damage worse, Skoda still won't assess things like the diaphragm, and the car still isn't repaired or near a resolution. Skoda are slow to respond to calls etc and constantly contradict themselves.

@robs87 Is there a named person from the Skoda / VW UK Executive team involved. A Resolution Manager or a Communications Officer and anything in writing from them?

Is there a named person even from TTEC?

Edited 5 May, 20251 yr by Ootohere

1 minute ago, Ootohere said:

@robs87 Is there a named person from the Skoda / VW UK Executive team involved. A Resolution Manager or a Communications Officer and anything in writing from them?

Yes we have a customer care manager who we are communicating with but she's contradicting herself. Have now emailed ceo/execs.

Edited 5 May, 20251 yr by robs87

They have had some real beauts over the past decade. (spelling)

No Engineering or mechanical knowledge, and no memories & must Hot Desk and clear data at the end of shifts.

They take the pith.

The last 5 Brand Directors / CEO,s are just as bad. Some even worked in the VW After Sales or Warranties. Muppets.

Edited 5 May, 20251 yr by Ootohere

Apparently if the AA won't go halves with skoda, the dealership, skoda and us should go thirds.

So we only pay nothing if it comes from the AA?! It doesn't make sense.

No point paying for an Engineers Report via the AA then.

Unbelievable that the drive wheels were not put on the Dolly and the car recovered.

16 hours ago, Ootohere said:

No point paying for an Engineers Report via the AA then.

Unbelievable that the drive wheels were not put on the Dolly and the car recovered.

It's now with the executive office! Thanks for the additional ideas.

I can't understand why it wouldn't go into gear with a burnt out clutch, if the friction material is gone there is no drive through to the gearbox hence won't go up hill so there is nothing to stop it going into gear.

In 49 years as a mechanic the last 33 my own business I have towed in many cars with a burnt out clutch and not seen one that wouldn't go into gear.

incidentally I have have just part exed my 1.2 tsi Rapid Sport which I bought at one year old with 4.5k on it, it now has just over 120k on it with the original clutch.

Edited 1 September, 20251 Sep by sharpest