Just found out that our new Octavia has been set to fixed servicing intervals by the dealer without consulting me. The reason given is 'we don't like our customers cars to go more than a year without us carrying out checks on brakes etc.' It's interesting that the literature with the car states quite clearly that modern cars can go for considerable time/distance without annual checks.

I'm visiting them tomorrow to get the servicing put back to variable. I presume that it's possible to set the coding back to the factory setting of variable but are they going to try to blind me with science?

Depends on what oil was used in the engine.

Depends on what oil was used in the engine.

The boot sticker shows QG1 (Variable servicing) and the literature shows Shell Helix Ultra X 0W-30 LongLife Oil (VW Spec 504.00). Also, quote 'All new Skoda cars are now manufactured with the Variable Service regime.....'.

So the car definitely left the factory set up for variable servicing.

Ahh so it hasnt had a service yet then.

Servicing scedule is your choice and a dealer cant dictate to you which one you should have. Your car has all the required brake pad wear sensors etc that should your pads run down inbetween servicing you get plenty of notice.

I too would be a little disappointed if the dealer made a change like this without discussing it. It may be that the Fixed Servicing would work better for you, depending on your driving habits, but I'd expect to be educated on the differences and provided a recommendation rather than the dealer making a unilateral decision for you. Maybe they would have ordered you a different colour car too if they didnt like your choice ;-)

Thanks for replies. The car is only a week old and yes I was a bit cheesed off that the dealer didn't even discuss the matter! The car literature suggests that initially it should be left on variable servicing and then a decision made on the subsequent regime after the first service.

Do you have to use that dealer? Id recommend Alex Lawrie over the water if you can use another.

Do you have to use that dealer? Id recommend Alex Lawrie over the water if you can use another.

Depending on how this resolved I will certainly consider another dealer in future.

What has led you to believe the regime has been changed to fixed?

What has led you to believe the regime has been changed to fixed?

Sticker on car plus entry in service book stating next service due in 1 year/10,000 miles. Been to dealer this morning and they tell me that they have now changed the coding back to variable servicing.

I took delivery of my vRS last week and the day before my dealer rang and asked me which Sevicing Regime I wanted to use. As I do 16-18,000 miles pa we agreed to leave it on the variable setting.

Seems like your dealer was keen to keep their Service dept busy.

This could all be an interesting scenario in 4-5 years time when the current new cars are, perhaps, on their 2nd or 3rd owner with different driving habits to the first owner. Will the servicing regime get re-set correctly?

I'm pretty sure my car has been set to the fixed schedule for servicing as I got the first 3 years free servicing with my car offer.

Would it be wise to go with that, or ask them to change it to the variable?

Cheers

I'm pretty sure my car has been set to the fixed schedule for servicing as I got the first 3 years free servicing with my car offer.

Would it be wise to go with that, or ask them to change it to the variable?

Cheers

Aye, I asked about that too and it's because it's 3 years or 30'000 miles. So they set it to 10k fixed for the duration of the deal and will return it to variable once it's over. So my dealer told me anyway...

If my Fabia was delivered with variable servicing I would have gone mental at the dealers.

I do 15-20k a year, and even so my Fabia will have an oil change every 5000.

Aye, I asked about that too and it's because it's 3 years or 30'000 miles. So they set it to 10k fixed for the duration of the deal and will return it to variable once it's over. So my dealer told me anyway...

If my Fabia was delivered with variable servicing I would have gone mental at the dealers.

I do 15-20k a year, and even so my Fabia will have an oil change every 5000.

It cant, Fabias dont run variable servicing.

Quote:

Originally Posted by CTR2FABvRS View Post

Aye, I asked about that too and it's because it's 3 years or 30'000 miles. So they set it to 10k fixed for the duration of the deal and will return it to variable once it's over. So my dealer told me anyway...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Babs View Post

If my Fabia was delivered with variable servicing I would have gone mental at the dealers.

I do 15-20k a year, and even so my Fabia will have an oil change every 5000.

It cant, Fabias dont run variable servicing.

Aye ok, I should really change my login name, or at least update my profile... I've got an Octy now

My octi 2 came set at fixed which I left it on because our mildred was going to use the car so I thought that would be ok for a year anyway 3 months later I'd done 10k in it so took it to dealers for service and asked for it to be put back on variable which they did (allegedly) and billed me for a variable service. Anyway three months later and 9k miles later the service light came on so I took it in to have it reset and they said it needed a service. Imagine my suprise having been charged for a variable service that only lasted 9k "gosh my language was very restranied" so I presented them with the previous bill for a variable service and watched them squirm and having asked a few people on hear who said the minimum I they have seen was 14-15k they said that 9k for a variable service was unheard of. I have my own theory on whether they actually carried out a service or not ? but all I would say is make sure that if the dealer (those reputable chaps!!!!!) does swap it to variable make sure you have some evidence of this

My Octavia is set up for variable but I got the 3 year free service thing and Sparshatts told me that when 10,000 mile service due, just book in with my local dealer as normal and ask them to reset it accordingly afterwards.

Just taken delivery of my vRS TDi and it's on variable servicing. Dealer didn't ask so this was their standard.