As you might know my vRS was off the road awaiting a new coil pack from late december until only yesterday. The problem I've got is that I'm a sneeky so and so and as I left the car I reset the 2nd memory on the computer and that now shows 184 miles at 24mpg av!!!!!!!!!!!!

I've already called the service manager and calmly explained my findings, he's got the mileage booked in at 50something miles over 20K it now reads 20,250 odd miles which clearly fits with my computer reading!

The service manager is now "taking up the matter with the manager and the sales staff"......this could be interesting!!!!!!

What do you think they'll do? and waht do you think I should ask for?

At a guess, I reckon they'll claim it's a thorough test-drive to make sure

the new coil works, and that you should be grateful! :roll:

Not sure quite what you could blag - free servicing would look a bit

strange what with complaining about how they look after the car! Maybe

some free merchandise? Or fuel to replace that which they used?

If it were me, I'd probably just whine to my friends for a bit and get

on with it - it's the British way

Rob.

Not just me that resets the trip then?

I'd jump up and down, explaining that not only have they been driving it, but that going from the MPG they have clearly been driving it "briskly" - look for free servicing or something from the accessories brochure..

..simply state if it is not resolved a letter will be going to Skoda UK regarding this dealer.

What was the average speed for the 184 miles :?: See if that fits with the description of the test drive :shock:

Paul

At the very least I'd ask for a complete tank of fuel.

And I always reset the trip too

already reset the memory.....should've noted the average speed really but I think I've got them on the run somewhat.

I'll be happy with a big apology, a full tank of juice, a wash and valet and the rear wiper blade I've asked for...........sound reasonable?

bloody ridiculous. makes me so angry that they take liberties with your property, it's disgusting.

if it was me , i would demand what you have mentioned, [i:6bebcd7f12]complain to skoda uk anyway as it's inexcusable[/i:6bebcd7f12] and never entrust the barstewards with your pride and joy again.

I have to presume that Skoda has a set of standard procedures for various maintenance/repair tasks. At the end of each procedure must be some sort of validation process, a check to see that the procedure was effective. This may or may not involve running the engine and or driving the car. There must be published minimum standards for these validations tests. It would be interesting to find what Skoda advise/require for validation following a coil pack replacement. The dealer could then be challenged to explain his departure from the manufacturers procedures.(unless of course a 180 mile test drive is specified!)

Perhaps the lesson here for us all is to establish with the dealer how he will validate the work we ask him to carry out, will this involve a test drive? if so how far? who will drive the car? how is the dealer going test our satisfaction of the work he carries out? will he be expecting feedback from us the customer once we have driven the car ourselves?

Without compelling evidence to the contrary a 180-mile test drive seems excess, I suppose the concern we all share is that it may just have been a

Ahh !

Another dodgy dealer!

If it was my car i would want to find out WHO had driven it ,and dont let them fob you off with crap about a llllllong test drive.

I wonder ? how it was driven?

Why so many miles?{weekend blast around the local A-roads maybe}

Sorry but my view of dealers is very tainted.

IMHO they are all W**kers trying to get your money and if your gullible/quite by nature they'll p*ss all over you.

If you place your car in your dealers hands you do so out of trust.

If this trust is broken ,i.e they clock up 180+ miles and cant explain why

then how far are you prepared to go?

If it was my car i would want more than a poxy tank of gas.

Best of luck.............. and remember.......you dont get unless you ask...

Steve the experienced

In my opinion that sort of excess mileage is totally unreasonable. No test dive over a few miles is acceptable the VAG com will state if alls well, when a new Octavia car leaves the factory it undergoes a drive atound a short circuit with humps bumps etc to ceck for rattles and leaks but no endurance test!! so why should a car with a coil pack change????

Personally I would if I could not use a dealership like this that obviously has no respect for customers cars, how may scuffs and door dings etc could have been recieved in this period? I am very particular who drives my car and like to know that any mark on the car was causd by me and not by anyone else.

I dont use my local dealer as they havn't given the right "vibes" in the past but drive well out of my way for good service at Winner Garage Cinderford , its not convenient but it gives me piece of mind.

Best of luck with an apoligy, it should at least mean your car and you will be looked after in the future.

Sorry but my view of dealers is very tainted.

IMHO they are all W**kers trying to get your money and if your gullible/quite by nature they'll p*ss all over you.[/quote:070b3b5be1]

Chatting with Gary yesterday (local service manager) he was quite shocked about this, their standard is that any more than 5miles round the block is an "extended road test" and they would ring the customer to inform \ check that is ok. They would also top up the fuel afterwards.

</warmandfuzzy>

But when I tried to negotiate a full tank of fuel when buying my car they

said they couldn't fill cars up as they didn't have an account with a petrol

station! :?

Which struck me as a bit strange at the time...

Rob.

To be fair, that is kinda true.....

They have an "arrangement" with the petrol station at the bottom of the road, but for security (both of horners own cars, and the petrol station not being owed a huge amount) they can only fill 10litres per car.

This means horners own cars never have much fuel in them, and when the bill arrives from the station Gary does not have a heart attack. They could not have filled the tank, but could have thrown in 10litres??? (little I know)

My car came from (a now ex) Skoda dealer in Towcester, full tank of fuel is always the beginnings of my negotiation

Ah, I'm sure they could do a full tank if they really wanted to clinch

a deal!

I did manage to negotiate 6 months road tax though...ooh, I'd better

check when that expires, as that would make it this month...

Rob.

I think 5 miles is more than enough for a test when a new coil packs been fitted, most dealers don't let you test drive that far when your buying a new car from them. If they don't give you a very very good reason then I think you should name them on the web, so people can boycott the garage.

Just my 2P's worth, Good Luck.

Paul J

Yes Mr BMW Driver that was a SKODA that just passed you !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Strange how they managed to do 180 miles+ in it when you thought they were waiting for a coil pack, surely they should have notified you it was ready as soon as they had completed the repair, lets be honest to knock up that sort of mileage during a normal day on this country's roads is going to be at least 3 hours and if the staff have been out to play then they wouldn't just flogged up and down the motorway would they, sounds like somebody may have been using it as their company car for a weekend or something, well out of order.

As for what to get out of them, well threaten them with letter to Skoda Uk and Autoexpress to get them all wrong footed. Insist that you are given a wear and tear mileage rate, say 20p per mile, for each mile above 5 miles. Also that they replace the petrol used at a per mile rate that suits the MPG you recorded say 20p again ? So far that' sroughly 180 miles * 40p which puts

The service manager rang me on my moblie last Monday to tell me the car was ready, I was on holiday at the time and my hire car was parked in Manchester airport so they had the vRS in full working order for an entire week!

Just called the dealer and the service manager is off sick today, Stress (!) (?).

So far nothing has been offered or strongly hinted at but as for "threats" of letters....etc that might come in the future. The dealer is well aware that I'm calm, collected and in a very strong position.

I'm not going to loose my rag at all and I'm sympathetic towards the service manager because he's a nice guy who's severely embarrassed.

More updates to follow...........

The service manager rang me on my moblie last Monday to tell me the car was ready, I was on holiday at the time and my hire car was parked in Manchester airport so they had the vRS in full working order for an entire week!

[/quote:dcc878e49b]

That explains it, guess they've been doing the breakfast run in it, and the mid morning one, and lunchtime butty run and......

Paul - dont want to alarm you, but were there any trackdays nearby when they had the car? Checked the tyres for scrubbing? Will the VAG com system tell you what revs have been used - if it can do this get the dlr to run a print -could be interesting. You may wish for an independent dlr to do this. If you find the car has been abused -by them (not you!) then you have a bit more of a case to be compensated very fairly.

Steve W

Another coil pack failure again this morning :( :!: How pleased the dealership staff will be to see me stride into the premises this morning: :!: :?: :evil:

Definately watch this space.......

.....to be continued

This matter is now concluded:-

Four new coil packs fitted.

Next time the car is in for service it will also have:

Full wash, wax and internal valet, a full tank of fuel, a new rear wash wiper and a full set of heavy duty plastic floor mats (vRS ones are fraying and the drivers mat has a hole in it from my right heel)

Everyone in that dealership knows who I am and what my complaint has been. The service manager has made a full apology and has suggested that one of the sales staff might have "used" the car when the workshop staff were not there ( weekends or evenings ). I should think that any temptation to skip service items or poorly prepare my car in future trips to this dealer will be avoided at all cost, we shall see...........

Four new coil packs fitted. [/quote:42cc57c63b]

Impressive! The J version or an even later one (if such a thing exists)?

I think I would have been happy with what the dealer is now doing to sort out what must have been a very embarrassing incident involving them.