Hi

I am taking delivery of a new Fabia vRS next week - cruise control - Ipod adaptor - Magic Black.

The dealer has spoken about a fixed cost maintenance/servicing plan.

Based on an annual mileage of 15k he has come up with the following figures over 2 years & 3 years

Servicing only 24 x

Sounds like a bargin for me!,

See the AA's Basic Diesel Car Running Costs table at -

Running Cost Tables - The AA

I've worked this out for Tyres, Maintainance and Servicing, and it looks like you are getting a bargain.

if you don't hammer the car , i wouldn't think you'll need to change the brake pads , the brake problem that may occur is rear disc corrosion due to lack of use

Thanks guys !

Has anyone actually taken out one of these contracts before???

Anyone?????

first service not due til 20k miles on 06 Fabias, so you'd be paying 24x15 for two services, or 36x15 for 3 services...which is about right for skoda service prices but more money than it would cost at a competent independent VAG garage (i.e. an ex VW technician who has set up shop himself - besides which this type of garage does tend to look after you better IMHO). You'll not invalidate your warranty as long as he or she follows the correct service schedule which is in your handbook.

You shouldnt need battery, brakes (unless you drive like a nutter), clutch nor exhaust before 3 years 45k and besides which if my clutch or exhaust went within the warranty period I would be looking to Skoda to replace it free under a 'not fit for purpose' claim. Case in point: Mums old 52 plate Laguna needed a clutch at 40k, just out of warranty. She had the work done and refused to pay due to the mileage of the car. They haven't taken action against her...

Wipers are 20 quid should you need them and can be fitted yourself quite easily!

This is why a lot of cars get sold at three years old - all these things are more likely to need attention thereafter.

Doesnt sound like such a great deal to me. Put 24x£15 or 36x£15 in a high interest account and save that for servicing, you'll make 7% interest on it while it is in that account. You are effectively paying £15 a month in advance in the dealers bank account (so he gains the interest as well as having the benefit of what is called 'positive cashflow') for a service that wont be due for 15-18 months...so why not pay £15 a month into a high interest savings account? :confused:

You will need tyres, but check mytyres.co.uk - Tyres for PASSENGER CARs cheap, bargains, look + save prices (delivery included) and budget £40 on top for fitting. Or, ask your local Kwik Fit / National for a price of a set fitted. Usually much cheaper than main dealer prices.

first service not due til 20k miles on 06 Fabias, so you'd be paying 24x15 for two services, or 36x15 for 3 services...

You shouldnt need battery brakes clutch or exhaust before 3 years 45k and besides which if my clutch went within the warranty period I would be looking to Skoda to replace it free.

Wipers are 20 quid!

Doesnt sound like such a great deal to me. Put 24x

See above, I edited it to advise about tyres.

Check your manual buddy, first service 20k, then 10k intervals thereafter IIRC!

Can't check the manual - I havent got the car yet !!!

Thanks for your help

First service on my '03 vrs was 10000 mile!

^Maybe it was on the older models

Just looked in my service schedule booklet, PDI stamp dated April 06...they (Skoda technicians) have written next service is due April 08 or 20000 miles whichever comes sooner.

I bought a new fabia vrs about three weeks ago and took out a service/maintenance/tyres agreement and was told by the dealer Turners of Erlestoke that the servicing is every 10k miles. I part exchanged a vw bora tdi which i had from new and was under the same contract over three years but was on a long service regime which was required when it told you so the minor at 17k and the major at 35k. In that time also needed to full sets of tyres and front brake pads. I dont think it was that good value for money although it did give you two more years breakdown cover as vw only give you 1 year and believe me with a vw you definately need it. But with the fabia needing a service every 10k and the cost of tyres being somewhat more than the bora I decided to take it out again. Interestingly the office for the skoda agreement is the same office as the vw at milton keynes. I suppose at the end of the day it is how you drive it but with more servicing required every 10k on the average miles done, i think it is worth it.

NOw I'm totally confused - is the service interval 10k or 20k for a brand new vRS ?

Can someone please clarify for a confused newbie !!

Cheers

Nothing confusing

Well I will have to check with Hayselden Skoda in Doncaster where I got my VRS from.

It definately says 20000 miles or April 2008 for the first service, then every 10000 miles thereafter

I am tempted to take a pic of the book and post it up here!

Regardless of what it says or doesnt say in the book though I shall get the oil changed at 10000 miles anyway, which will probably be in about January based upon the mileage I am doing at the moment. Just at a cheap oil change place (the place that I used to put tyres on my Octy 17 alloys and fit my ARB) and supply my own PD oil - cost will be £25 plus the cost of the oil and filter.

By the way, is AMSoil available in the UK? It is US brand... Anyone?

It's 10,000 miles, or 1 year, Whichever one come's first.

It's 10,000 miles, or 1 year, Whichever one come's first.

Spot on! Thats what it is on my 56plate.

With regards toi these service contracts i wouldn't do it.... what if when it come to servicing the dealer is crap? Can you cancel the aggrement? I was offered this with mine and turned it down. One thing i did notice is that if you have the wear and tear one then you have to have what ever tyres they give you so if you wanted different tyres you'd have to pay yourself....

Doesnt the service light come on to tell you when it's due regardless of what Hayselden Skoda wrote in my book?

Doesnt the service light come on to tell you when it's due regardless of what Hayselden Skoda wrote in my book?

Sounds like they seem to think your car is on variable.

It isnt.

It IS 10k or a year.

Doesnt the service light come on to tell you when it's due regardless of what Hayselden Skoda wrote in my book?

The service light should come on just before 10k miles or 12months.

You need an annual service on the Fabia regardless of how few miles you do. If you do high miles like me, you can have the lube service (oil change) at 10K and then the 20K service becomes the annual service. Ok for me as I do 10K every 6 months......

Re the fixed cost servicing - I had the same question as Neily03 - what if the dealer is poor? As I do more miles, the monthly deal for me was something like £35 per month for 3 years.

I intend to keep this VRS (1 month old now - 1800 miles) in the family for a decade or so. On that basis, I'm considering letting my local garage (the only one I've ever trusted totally) do all the servicing. He's fully up to speed with all the issues re using manufacturers parts, following the schedules etc - so no warranty issues. At the end of the day, it's a VAG 1.9 diesel - they work on them every day. It will be cheaper, closer and I know the job will get done properly - and when I sell it nobody will care that it doesn't have a full Skoda main dealer history.

You can choose the dealer you want as long they are Skoda approved - I live in Swindon and my experiences of both the VW dealer and the Skoda dealer now are not good so will choose to have the servicing under the agreement done elsewhere. Variable servicing for the VRS i have been told is not available and if anything like when I had a polo from new then at the 10000 miles then an Oil message will come up on your desplay saying it needs the 10K when you put the ignition on which is a minor one with oil and air filter change for what it is worth.

I agree with the message about tyres. I expect they will not replace bridgestone for bridgestone - most probably whatever they have at the time or the best deal for them from suppliers at that time.