Hello All

Thought I would add my experiences to the melting pot. I don't have a Skoda (yet) - I did sort of buy one a few months back but the sale fell through (that's another story...).

I currently own a BMW 320D from new (and yes, i did order it with optional indicators ). After 3 years and 70K miles, time to think about a change. I assumed it would be another (new model) 3 series but drove one for a couple of hours and hated it. There were squeaks and rattles, the interior seems more design than function and...so on. Other vehicles on the list were Toyota RAV 4 (that made both me and my wife feel vert car sick on the test drive) and a VW Passat (well put together). The Octavia was not even on the list but I popped along to a Skoda dealer just to take a look. Two test drives later (including a weekend) of a 2.0 TDI convinced me that it would be a better car than a Passat or a 3 series BMW. Neither cars I test drove had any squeaks or rattles (one had done about 7 K miles, the same as the BMW test car). I then did a lot of research on the web and if you read any forums relating to cars, you will read a lot of comments about problems.

The peaches or lemoms site was useful: Consumer comments and reviews of new & used cars in the UK as was What Car used car reviews. In fact, the new Audi A4 has been struck from the list of possibles after reading comments on the WHat Car site about noisy air con.

Whenever I buy a car, I expect there to be problems - as another poster has said, these are complex mechanical and electrical machines. It's the way in which the problems are dealt with that makes the difference IMHO.

I once bought a new Ford Fiesta and it went back to the dealers 7 times in as many months, including the day we picked it up from the dealer because the dashboard was peeling! That problem alone took 3 visits to sort, one just so they could photograph the problem to send to Ford.

We've had Fords, BMWs, Vauxhalls and, in my earlier days, Skoda Estelles. None have been perfect but it has been specific garages that seem to make the difference whether the ownership experience is good or not.

From reading many, many posts on here, the main theme is that once a fault is identified and traced to its root cause, a fix is available which seems, in many cases, to be effective as a cure. Also don't forget that forums such as this are provide a wealth of knowledge and experience to help make owning your car a great experience.

Hope this helps.

Thanks for the comments. I pick up the new car on Thursday so I'm looking forward to getting used to it. I guess I have been spoiled in that my current car ( X reg Ford Focus) has been very reliable but I just don't like the new Ford Focus hence the change to Skoda.

Remember, it's the dissatisfied who post their complaints. I'd rather go with the JD Power survey of customer satisfaction, where the Skoda Octavia won the Bronze Award. I quote from the "What Car" website:

BRONZE AWARD

Skoda drops one place from 2005, but still does enough to pick up the bronze award. There are just two models listed in this year's survey. Although neither the Fabia supermini nor the Octavia family car wins its class, both come close and post impressive scores in most areas of assessment.

Skoda dealers clearly know a thing or two about customer service, while low running costs also help Skoda towards the top of the table.

As Skoda owners will tell you, very little ever goes wrong with these cars. Mechanical parts are robust, and there are few niggles inside the cabins. Strong scores for the way the cars drive also help to push Skoda well clear of some of motoring's bigger names in this year's survey.

Go ahead and buy one - our L&L 2.0TDi DSG estate has never given us a moment's worry and returns 41.mpg.

That just goes to show how inacurate the JD power survey can be though, I dont doubt the reliability of the Honda S2000 for example, but it's a very low production volume vehicle, so they cannot collate as much information, nor do I doubt the placing of Skoda in the survey, but to say Skoda dealers 'know a thing or two about customer service' is the single biggest joke I've ever heard!

The facts speak for themselves, Skoda dealers are closing all over the country, we've lost 3 in a 25 mile radius where I live, its because the customer service is simply appauling, If you treat people like **** they will go elsewhere, and eventually you wont have any customers left, and that is what is happening to Skoda.

I also believe people who buy Skoda's have lower expectations of how relible a car should be, I know i'll get shot down for saying that but it's true, (one member on here even suggested that having a faulty turbo replaced was a 'minor issue'?)

and this helps warp the results too, take Mercedes for example, theres a reason why their dealerships are all very modern and posh, because most of their new vehicle buyers are too, they have the money to buy the best, they expect to get the best. (although I have to say I was going to buy an E-Class a few months ago, but didn't simply because the dealer never got back to me, If someone says there going to call me I expect them too).

i see the 'what car' test octy vRS isnt doing that well in its reliability.

comments were 'sick of the car being at the dealers'

:(

Trouble is, what is true one year isn't always true the next! I heard for instance that Merc had changed their assembly methods and build checking, and that as a result the last few years' cars were nowhere near as good. True or not???

The thing about the 3 Skoda dealers closing in South-east, all were the same group and word has it that something fishy was going on at director level, unconnected with the car quality or customer service. True or not???

Finally, my last (new) car before my first (new) Skoda was a Primera GT. Great reputation for build, reliability etc. yet I had plenty go wrong in the first year. But I still liked the car when it was put right - and the particular Nissan dealer, Barnard & Brough at Wivelsfield Green, were very good I must say - even once took parts off new car in showroom to do my repair on the spot.

The biggest flaw with the JD Power survey is that it's based on opinions! For example when asked to rate performance or handling out of 5 is so subjective to be meaningless! If you want to find something based on claim data, look at the Warranty Direct stats but even then, you're not going to get a complete picture....

I have to say the Skoda dealers I dealt with seemed to have ok customer service, but no better or worse than the Ford or Subaru dealers I've used

Chris

This thread and the "Regret" thread just go to show - nowadays all cars are pretty good. There are no longer rustbuckets nor cars that come out the factory with handling so bad it's dangerous. There are still lemons across all makes.

Choose a car that fits your needs and wants, that you can afford, and comes in a colour you like. If that happens to be a Skoda then welcome to Briskoda

take Mercedes for example, theres a reason why their dealerships are all very modern and posh, because most of their new vehicle buyers are too, they have the money to buy the best, they expect to get the best. (although I have to say I was going to buy an E-Class a few months ago, but didn't simply because the dealer never got back to me, If someone says there going to call me I expect them too)

So although they *looked* the part, the service just wasn't there. A big problem in todays day and age...

O/T, but a "friend of a friend" used to always buy Mercedes (corporate high flier type, regular new cars). A couple of years back he was in a dealership with his wife, dressed in a manner becoming of a lazy Sunday. Because they didn't look the part, they got dealt with poorly. They immediately dropped Mercedes and headed to BMW.

Mistaking flash for quality is a pet peeve.

The thing about the 3 Skoda dealers closing in South-east, all were the same group and word has it that something fishy was going on at director level, unconnected with the car quality or customer service. True or not???

2 of the dealers were the same group, 1 was not, but it's not only here they are closing, its happening all over the country.

So although they *looked* the part, the service just wasn't there. A big problem in todays day and age...

O/T, but a "friend of a friend" used to always buy Mercedes (corporate high flier type, regular new cars). A couple of years back he was in a dealership with his wife, dressed in a manner becoming of a lazy Sunday. Because they didn't look the part, they got dealt with poorly. They immediately dropped Mercedes and headed to BMW.

Mistaking flash for quality is a pet peeve.

Indeed, but a Mercedes owner will also have higher expectations from the vehicle they buy, where a Skoda owner might think of a rattling/squeaking dash as a minor fault (but still expect it to be fixed under warranty), a Mercedes owner would think of it as a major problem and 'mercedes dont build them like they used to' all of a sudden.

The only way you'd ever really get the truth about cars reliability is if the manufacturers detailed every warranty claim for every vehicle and submited them to an independant body, however this would obviously be open to massive corruption and indeed I suspect all the Italian cars would all of a sudden be the most reliable on the road!

To be fair

I have an Octy2 2.0 Pdi Elegance atm. Best car I have ever owned. However I may have to sell it soon due to a house purchase - Though hopefully I will have another Octy2 or furby when the sale of my other house is through.

Nothing has gone wrong with it.

Comments about dealers are true VW are killing Skoda - so Skoda will become a cheap production plant for Golfs - Please don't shoot me this is just my personal opinion.

That said the downfall is happening to all car dealers. SWMBO (Vikki-VRS) had so many troubles trying to get a test drive in a Astra or a Focus - Dealers simply did not want to let her test drive one. She ended up with a Mazda 3. She also tried getting an Octy 2 but one dealer wanted a 4 figure deposit for a cheap trim model. Another dealer claimed you couldn't get one on motability - absolute rubbish.

What is needed IMHO

1. Car sales to be offered by supermarket operations with multi franchise. Survival of the fittest maybe but this would stop people having to go to specific dealers for servicing

2. Servicing to be handled by recognised independents. The OFT basically should take manufacturers to task about waranty issues as well.

OK some people WILL disagree BUT this is the only way forward.

Going back on topic my experience of Skoda's is as following

1. Old Days - Quality wasn't that good but dealers were fantastic

2. VW Skoda (Late 90's early 00's) Prices were still keen but one or 2 bad apples from the VW network dealer appeared.

3. NOW VW have/are trying to get rid of all the decent dealers, putting in place inferior ones who charge crazy prices. Result loyalty goes but those who made fun of the Skoda badge are flocking.

Just my opinion but Skoda did make decent cars before the Fabia...

...Skoda dealers are closing all over the country, we've lost 3 in a 25 mile radius where I live, its because the customer service is simply appauling, .....

My understanding id that VW are insisting that dealers spend a large amount of money on refurbishing their showrooms. Some of them just can't afford to do so and are either switching to a different franchise or are closing down.

I'd cancel your Order!!!!!

CANT WAIT TO GET RID OF MINE!!!

got more rattles than any car ive ever had! think now skoda are popular they are just throwing them together.

Next week i collect a TVR t350c Cant wait! dont want any **** takes about TVR'S.

another thing about my octy mks Vrs is the Headlights are like 2 F***king Candles on the front Bumper!!!

PILE OF ****!!!!!:thumbdwn:

There is no such thing as the perfect car, they all have their faults, try some sites dedicated to other makes, say Toyota or Lexus which are very high in the reliability stakes, and you will see that even they have plenty of faults, and they cost a lot more than a skoda!

There is no such thing as the perfect car, they all have their faults, try some sites dedicated to other makes, say Toyota or Lexus which are very high in the reliability stakes, and you will see that even they have plenty of faults, and they cost a lot more than a skoda!

Indeed all manufacturers have cars with faults, but it's how the dealer handles these problems that is the most important factor, Skoda have proved time and time again that they simply do not give a t*ss.

Indeed all manufacturers have cars with faults, but it's how the dealer handles these problems that is the most important factor, Skoda have proved time and time again that they simply do not give a t*ss.

In what way do they not give a t*ss? Skoda or your cruddy ex-dealer?

My understanding id that VW are insisting that dealers spend a large amount of money on refurbishing their showrooms

I hope this isn't true. I'd much rather pay for quality workmanship than a shiny facade. The world of today...

2 of the dealers were the same group, 1 was not, but it's not only here they are closing, its happening all over the country.

If we are talking about Saltdean, Ballamy's and Citygates, I was told they were all the same group [Citygates] and that they were also connected to, or part of, Saunders Abbott?

Re: Spending on dealers premises, again I was told by Clarion Cars at West Worthing that was one reason they ceased to be a main dealer and became a specialist dealer. I have found them very good, both on purchase deal, servicing and attitude, but of course they cannot do warranty work.

By the way, the guy at Clarion suggested I apply Vaseline to my noisy door seals and, guess what, all the rattles have gone!!!

Ian, congrats on the TVR purchase, but the warranty side of things could be interesting now TVR have gone into liquidation.

On another note, I am happy to report that in the 4 months and 8,000 miles I have done in my TDi Octy nothing has gone wrong, no rattles, nothing.

.......I was told by Clarion Cars at West Worthing that was one reason they ceased to be a main dealer and became a specialist dealer. I have found them very good, both on purchase deal, servicing and attitude, but of course they cannot do warranty work.....

Same applies to Welham Green Cars in Hertfordshire.

Both my Ocky's bought from them. Small, friendly and good dealership. They even raided a showroom car for a critical part for my MK2 so that I could stay on the road.

I have found them very good, both on purchase deal, servicing and attitude, but of course they cannot do warranty work.

That is where you are wrong. As long as Skoda parts are used IIRC you are fine.

As for TVR ask one of our bosses. His set fire to his garage destroying not only the car but part of the house as well.

He's now running round in his wife's Fiat Punto :eek:

That is where you are wrong. As long as Skoda parts are used IIRC you are fine.

That'll keep the warranty in tact, but warranty work itself must still be carried out by a Skoda-approved place

Chris

Yes, the car's warranty would stay okay but you have to pay for at least the labour and possibly the parts too. They made it very clear to me that they could NOT undertake free warranty work but also that I could not be refused free warranty work by any main dealer of my choice. Also, they made it clear that any perks going at time of purchase [e.g. the

Surely the problem with having the servicing done by Clarion is that if anything crops up which is covered by the warranty the car then needs to be driven up to Crawley Down or to another dealer to be sorted out - ok I guess if you are retired but if your working then thats at least another half a day's travelling back and forth (lost holiday) assuming you can get hold of a courtesy car as well.

Going back to the Saunders Abbot & CityGates connection as I understand it they were due to merge or SA was to take over CG just before CG went into receivership but it suddenly fell through at an advanced stage as SA had their website altered up to include Saltdean Garage. Before the merger discussions I don't think they were connected but haven't seen any company information on the two groups to form an opinion either way.

Hopefully a dealership will open in the Brighton area in the not too distant future to fill the huge void in the Sussex area.

I guess that is so, but I feel that most urgent problems would make themselves known to me at the time, so I would get that fixed under warranty at the main dealer first, but still have my major service done afterwards at Clarion.

Latest thing to fail on my Octavia is the windscreen that has a fault where it has been laminated on the base of the screen causing a milky line. This is the last straw, I will be part exchanging it for a Mazda 6, the car I should of bought in the first place. Too many

niggles to stand for a nealy new car, what a let down !!!

:thumbdwn: