Quote:Autowipers: It's rained pretty much non-stop since I got my Octy (two weeks ago) and the auto-wipers work well and much less annoying than a fixed-interval intermittent wipe which wipes when the screen's dry.

Give it time. They will soon get on your T*Ts I have had them for 4 years now and hate them.

I had this feature in my last car, the Peugeot 307 SW SE which I had for four years and it never annoyed me - I always liked it.

Quote:Auto-lights: The scenario you suggest never happened once in the four years I used this feature in a Peugeot 307 SW SE.

Then I would suggest they don't work correctly. They should come on in low light.

You will get low light in a car park under a wide bridge or a very overcast day.

You misunderstand me, the auto-lights function worked perfectly (unlike many aspects of the 307 but that's another story). What never happened was the incident involving a large, surly gent in a car park confrontation!

I've only just realised the free spec upgrade applies to 2007MY only. Would I lose anything worthwhile compared to 2008MY?

I've only just realised the free spec upgrade applies to 2007MY only. Would I lose anything worthwhile compared to 2008MY?

I don't believe that to be the case. I was told by a dealer that it applied to factory orders too.

If you order a factory order now it will be a 2008MY car. I'm pretty sure the offer applies on cars registered before 30th September.

My dealer didn't put an end date on the offer.

Will check this out tomorrow.

My dealer didn't put an end date on the offer.

That may be so but he will be bound by Skoda Uk's terms. That said he may have enough margin in the selling price to you to cover the cost if he gets his fingers burnt.

It's also possible SUK will extend the offer again.

I went into my dealer on Friday to give them insurance details for my new 170 VRS, which I was supposed to be picking up next Saturday, I asked to have a sneaky peak of the car, and you can imagine how gutted I was when NONE of the free upgrade bits are fitted to the car!!! :mad: :mad:

I ordered the car in June and the free upgrades deal was around then (the dealer virtually wet himself telling me about it.)!

Any one got any suggestions??:confused: :confused: :confused: :confused:

Can the parts be retro fitted or should I hang out for another 12 weeks for the right car???

I'm looking to buy a new VRS and have spoken to 3 dealers who have all consulted the national computer based ordering system to check availability of 'free upgrade' stock ie. vehicles already built, in the UK, fitted with the upgrade items and usually also fitted with rear parking sensors and cruise control. Two out of three dealers have offered me a 'free upgrade' car at the basic OTR price less about

When I ordered SWMBO's vRS there was no badgering about stock cars as the spec list was rather long.

The car also came with the free upgrade items, however the dealer could not guarantee the car would be fitted with them so I ordered them with the car and if necessary they could be haggled over when the time came, that way the extras are guaranteed to be there and it's much easier to fight over them if they are fitted than if they are not!

My life would not have been worth living if the car arrived without them!

Can I ask why you don't want any of the upgrade items??

In other words, it's not a free upgrade ( on the VRS at any rate ), it's a promotion aimed at encouraging sales by offering cars from stock with pre-fitted optional extras ( which Skoda will be making a greater than normal profit on ).

As I have explained to you before, I think you mis understand the concept of the offer. The items are included in the cost of the OTR price of the new car. So if for instance you had ordered a vRS TDi with no options it would cost you

In other words, it's not a free upgrade ( on the VRS at any rate ), it's a promotion aimed at encouraging sales by offering cars from stock with pre-fitted optional extras ( which Skoda will be making a greater than normal profit on ).

Nope. No stock in the UK when I ordered. Mine was a factory build.

I emailed Skoda UK last week to ask them to clear up the free kit offer situation as my local dealer had said I could no longer place a factory order that would qualify for the freebies.

They phoned me Friday afternoon. The offer applies to any vRS ordered and tagged by the end of September. In other words if you walk into a dealer on 28th September, order a factory build to arrive (at a guess) mid December, then providing they complete the paperwork and get your order onto the system by the last day of September you will get the

Nope. No stock in the UK when I ordered. Mine was a factory build.

The offer also applies to factory build cars ordered before end of September, according to the dealers I contacted. For those who don't want to wait for a factory built car there are several cars fitted with the upgrade options already in the UK. In the case of the model I was looking for the only cars immediately available had the upgrade items fitted - not so surprising as the eye-catching 'free upgrade' would need a strong element of availability for it to be effective ( effective = selling more cars ).

I chose not to have all of the extras and took additional discount in lieu of the upgrade items I didn't want. I wasn't offered this, I had to ask for it, but having asked both dealers admitted they had the flexibility to offer discount in exchange for upgrade items. So, I'm happy and nobody is being ripped off. But 'free upgrade' ? I would argue that for the offer to live up to its title it should be possible to agree a lowest price ( and I do a mean the lowest price possible ) with a dealer, for a basic car, then ask for the upgrade offer items for free - not so, based on my experience with two separate dealers. If you are in the market for a basic VRS and a dealer gives you his lowest price, then tells you there is currently an upgrade offer which means you get the 18" wheels and the plus pack for free, you will know the dealer hasn't given you his lowest price.

Let me clarify

I wanted the car straight away, (not too worried about whether it was an 07 or 57) but there were none in the country with my spec, I only wanted cruise and zenons as extras.

I was told it was a factory order of 10-12 weeks, so it was ordered on June 8th, for delivery on 1st September.

The car has been delivered, and I had a peek at it, but it does not have one of the free upgrade bits on it!

I am sorely tempted to tell the dealer to stick the car where the sun don't shine. But am I shooting myself in the foot, can the extras be retrospectively fitted?

Mine, to be collected Sept 1st, has most of the upgrade bits on it apart from 18 inch wheels, but mine has cruise and is a bit cheaper! It came from Skoda stock and at that point, a couple of weeks ago, there were plenty with the option pack as long as you weren't too fussy about colour. That could have changed by now obviously.

Let me clarify

I wanted the car straight away, (not too worried about whether it was an 07 or 57) but there were none in the country with my spec, I only wanted cruise and zenons as extras.

I was told it was a factory order of 10-12 weeks, so it was ordered on June 8th, for delivery on 1st September.

The car has been delivered, and I had a peek at it, but it does not have one of the free upgrade bits on it!

I am sorely tempted to tell the dealer to stick the car where the sun don't shine. But am I shooting myself in the foot, can the extras be retrospectively fitted?

I wouldn't take it if it's not what you ordered. Thinking in resale terms due to the higher number of cars that are fitted with the desirable upgrades yours will probably be worth less.

OK, just got off of the phone to the dealer, who I am not going to name at the moment...

He reckons that the VRS upgrade was not available to business customers (which is bull as it is advertised in the business section of the Skoda website)

Conveniently the manager is away for a week so I am told (I ask you, what dealer principle is away from the dealership on one their busiest fortnights???):confused:

I have suggested he contact Skoda UK, or I will !

I have confirmed through another couple of dealers that the upgrade is available until 31st September, (and possibly beyond although none can confirm that) and has been available for the last 6 months. Unfortunately if I have to order another car it will be 8 weeks, and I will have to pay for what I should have got free!!!

What to do???

I'll keep you updated!

if they dont come back to you id play holy hell to skoda uk. i wouldnt want a car thats missing over a thousand pounds worth of free extras when it looks like the dealership has cocked up. (plus i couldnt live without the climate)

Yes, i'd bypass the dealer and go to Skoda direct. The dealer obviously feels he has done his bit, although, it does state this on the VRS page on the Skoda website:

Offer applies to all new Octavia (A5) vRS models. Subject to availability. Equipment upgrade contains; 18" Zenith alloy wheels, Rear electric windows, Dual zone air conditioning and Jumbo box. Jumbo box includes air-conditioned storage compartment with an adjustable armrest between the front seats and 3.5mm jack socket (model year 07 vehicles only - from week commencing 29/06/06). Model shown is New Octavia vRS Hatchback 2.0 FSI 200bhp at

I would certainly make sure you have appraised SUK of the situation.

I would certainly make sure you have appraised SUK of the situation.

This is like a mini saga...

I have just got off of the phone to SUK, who are very helpful, (and scarily cheerful) they have confirmed to me that the deal is also for business users, and has run for the last 6 months.

They also confirmed that when I tell my current dealer to poke his car, that as long as the replacement is ordered and the paperwork is sorted by 30th September then I will still qualify for the free upgrade bits.

My only concern is why did Skoda build it without the bits, do you think the dealer has done the dirty on me and not ticked all the boxes because our transport manager screwed him through the floor to get a good price???

It can be a **** up in the ordering system. I know a dealer that has a car without the Jumbo and Dual Zone. The items, although included, still have to be ordered AFAIK.

It can be a **** up in the ordering system. I know a dealer that has a car without the Jumbo and Dual Zone. The items, although included, still have to be ordered AFAIK.

A **** up in the dealership is the official version, they reckon that anyone ordering a skoda through a business in the first 2 weeks of Q3 will not get the upgrades, apparantly there was an amendment which added them back on after the 2 weeks???

I personally reckon I am being spun a very long line, I have offered to accept the car if the can retro fit the wheels, climate and jumbo box, and add on my dog guard, boot mat and a towbar as goodwill:thumbup:

They are getting back to me tomorrow, so here's hoping!

Little birdy just told me that if the upgrade pack is not ordered with the car then the dealership gets a bonus...

Email confirmation from Skoda UK:

I was delighted to learn of your interest in the Octavia vRS.

I can confirm that the vRS upgrade offer is valid on all retail factory build orders that are placed and tagged by the Approved Skoda retailer before the end of quarter 3, 30 September 2007.

I shall contact the Sales Manager at Xxxxxxx to ensure the Sales team is aware of this. Please accept my apologies for any in inconvenience you may have been caused.

Thank you for bringing this matter to our attention and I trust I have been able to clarify this matter.