Well.... Had a call tonight from Jon at Gordon Lamb Chesterfield ( who has been great by the way ) with some VERY bad news.

I had ordered the Lyra 16" wheels with my Elegance Estate because I was not keen on the Vega wheels that came as standard.

The Lyra wheel was a replacement for the Sirrius 16" wheel and the brochure said it was an option for the Elegance.

Jon placed my order last Saturday but has been called by Skoda to say we cant have the Lyra wheel unless we have the luxury pack with leather seats etc !!

Get the 17" peg's instead! Much nicer

Get the 17" peg's instead! Much nicer

I would if I had the extra cash ....

Reading the brochure again it's very missleading. It says the Lyra are included with the luxury pack but nowhere does it say it's not an option bu itself ..... If on the option page it said 'Only available with luxury pack' then that would be black and white.

It does not. It just says option.

Even the Dealer thought it could be ordered as an option !! to just replace the Vegas.

I wonder if Skoda are prepared to lose a customer who has purchased 2 cars in the past and would be a loyal customer in the future ?

I know for a fact that if they don't sort this out I will buy another estate and this Fabia will be our last Skoda ....

Were you hoping for these for free, or as a paid extra.

My thoughts are free as an instead of the vega - which isnt happening. The Lyra aren't listed on the skoda site for the elegance except as a dealer option or in the luxury pack.

They are listed as an option for Classic and Ambiente only @

Were you hoping for these for free, or as a paid extra.

My thoughts are free as an instead of the vega - which isnt happening. The Lyra aren't listed on the skoda site for the elegance except as a dealer option or in the luxury pack.

They are listed as an option for Classic and Ambiente only @

http://www.skoda.co.uk/skoda3g/content/showroom/new_octavia_quickv1.pdf

Look on the options pricing page (shows as 12 (7of13) in adobe).

Clearly shows it's part of the options pack. Could try Skoda UK and you might get lucky. But I'd also scream at the clearly unknowledgable sales muppet who set your hopes up.

I can't find a picture of these Lyra wheels anywhere. :(

P2 - http://www.skoda.co.nz/showroom/octavia/Octavia_Specs_May_2007.pdf

TBH I can't see much difference. In fact they look worse to me than the vega's!

Glad I opted for the 17" now.

Hmmm, I think given the choice I'd take the Lyras over the Vegas...

See what can be done, but its not the end of the world - its not like its specifically listed as a "no cost" option... :P

It's a bit of a catch 22.....

We dont like the covered centre on the Vegas.... It's unusual for the missus to say she does not like something, especially when a cars concerned......

As a have a 21 month old I wanted the 16" inch wheels to provide the best ride quality. I've read posts here about the 17's giving a harsher ride.

I would certaintly consider the 17's if given the option of them or losing the car but would I be able to have them and pay the difference between the 17's and the 16's ?

We certaintly cannot afford the extra

Tell the dealer you'd like the 17s but not the sport suspension - put a price on the table and see what he can do.

Have you already got a heft discount?

The 17s and sport suspension is quite a firm combination - but should be ok with just the wheels imho.

I agree with you, its the covered centres on the Vegas that let them down I think - quite a boring design.

Tell the dealer you'd like the 17s but not the sport suspension - put a price on the table and see what he can do.

Have you already got a heft discount?

The 17s and sport suspension is quite a firm combination - but should be ok with just the wheels imho.

I agree with you, its the covered centres on the Vegas that let them down I think - quite a boring design.

Thanks Tom. Yes that sounds reasonable. I don't expect something for nothing. Jon is going to call me back Friday to let me know if he has sorted anything.

I'll keep you posted.

Yup; 17s on their own with 'standard' suspension will be OK; a mite firmer than with 16s but nothing intolerable.

Good luck in your 'negotiations' tomorrow.

Yup; 17s on their own with 'standard' suspension will be OK; a mite firmer than with 16s but nothing intolerable.

Good luck in your 'negotiations' tomorrow.

I tried to get this but the leasing company couldn't cope, they just kept quoting for Pegasus alloys with the sports suspension which I didn't want 'cos it would have been too much for the poor dog :(

Having ended up with the standard Vega alloys however, I have to say they look very smart and I think the covered centre looks more up-market than the exposed wheel nuts of other designs. Generally, exposed wheel nuts give a more sporty look (e.g. Jaguar) whereas covered centres a more luxurious one (e.g. Daimler).

I agree with you, its the covered centres on the Vegas that let them down I think - quite a boring design.

Not really a lot to say on this. Sorry to hear you might lose the car.

Personally, I like the Vega wheels because of the centre cover :eek:

I've re-read the posts on this just now and I have sympathy for your situation.

On balance, I don't think Skoda UK are at 'fault'; your dealer is. Remember the salesperson you have been dealing with is one of a team representing the dealer.

Initially, you should speak to the salesperson with the line that 'you have allowed me to place an order that cannot be delivered and it it up to you, the dealer, to sort it out to my satisfaction. i.e. provide the car as ordered at the price agreed! If he can't provide a resolution then escalate the matter to the Sales Director/Manager.

To my mind, it should not be a case of you cancelling your order, it is for the Dealer to supply the car as ordered. If the car cannot be built to the spec you have ordered then the dealer should go to his parts bin and get the parts (Lyra wheels) that you want, for the price as ordered (even if this means that it will eat into his profit margin).

By way of trying to reach a settlement, you do I think perhaps have two options;

1. Get the dealer to supply the Lyra wheels at no cost to you. This is logistically complex and leaves the dealer with a set of Vega wheels he probably doesn't want OR

2. Tick the box to order the option of Lyra wheels with Luxury Pack and agree to pay maybe a third or half of the price.

If your dealer won't play ball, then escalate the matter to Skoda UK, for them to help you sort it out by applying pressure or help to the dealer.

As before - good luck

Another consideration is the spare.

You'll get 5 vega's, yet go for the lyra, and you'll be needing a steel spare to replace the supplied alloy as well!

TBH the spare doesn't really matter all that much, as long as you've got one.

Thanks everyone. All good points. I've printed out bahnstormer's reply and will use it as my blueprint !

I agree. The more I think about it the more I'm determined to at least try to resolve the problem.

I DO want the car after all. It just seems like such a small thing for Skoda to fit the wheels instead of the Vegas.....

The moer I look at the 17's though the more I like 'em !! But could I have them without the suspension pack ? Could I just pay the difference between the Vegas and the 17's ?

Still we don't know what Jon may come up with yet. Apart from this hickup I was very happy with Gordon Lambs and how the deal was done.

Not good

Just spoke to Jon. He says he has talked to the sales manager and these are the options :

1) They are unable to supply the 17" wheels without the sports suspension due to setup, speedo calibration etc at the factory.

2) They are unable to supply the Lyra wheel

The only option left would be for us to purchase a full set of Apollon wheels. They would then swap the tyres over when the car arrives and we would have to sell the Vegas on ebay.

That was the dealers suggestion. Comments ?

Nonsense. The Pegasus wheels have the same rolling radius - no calibration is necessary - thats a cop out. However, they may not be available without the suspension.

They could supply the Lyra wheel if they wanted to, it may cost them, but they could supply it.

Not being funny Nick, sounds like you're being a bit of a pushover! :P

Not good

Just spoke to Jon. He says he has talked to the sales manager and these are the options :

1) They are unable to supply the 17" wheels without the sports suspension due to setup, speedo calibration etc at the factory.

Fair enough

2) They are unable to supply the Lyra wheel

WHY? There are on the list of dealer fit accessories aren't they?

3) The only option left would be for us to purchase a full set of Apollon wheels. They would then swap the tyres over when the car arrives and we would have to sell the Vegas on ebay.

A workable proposition perhaps; but your dealer should do all this for you and sell the wheels or whatever themselves

That was the dealers suggestion. Comments ?

Your dealer does not seem to be trying hard enough to keep this together.

Personnaly, I'd find a couple of hundred quid and do a deal to get the car with 17s and sports suspension; but what happened to the Lyras with Luxury pack (on the same principal). If though your

Dont worry i'll stand firm :-)

I've just spoken to Chris at Skoda UK. They will get back to me later. Fingers crossed they can pull some strings.

1 is rubbish as the 16" with the 205/55 and the 17" with the 225/45 tyres have the same rolling radius so they are effectively interchangeable as far as function is concerned.

Basically the 17" has 1" extra wheel and 1" less tyre compared to the 16"

Comments?

Ask for your deposit back and state you will take your business elsewhere. This will either make the dealer give you a better option or give you a chance to look around. Obviously you have to be willing to go through with this.

The dealer is not being helpful and the contract you signed is something they can't deliver so you are entitled to your deposit back in full IMHO.

Look at drive the deal as you might be able to get the car with the luxo pack for same price as your dealer is offering the standard one.

Speak to another dealership - tell them exactly what you want, get it priced up and discounted accordingly, confirm they can supply, cancel your original order and move it to them. Do it soon though - the longer you leave it the harder it'll be.

In the past I've found dealers (within the same car brand) to be pretty keen to steal business from one another especially towards the end of the financial quarter to meet their sales targets which buys them significant cash bonuses from the car importer (ie Skoda UK). Taking delivery by end of September should be the target! I've done it twice; once with a Mondeo for March delivery for my sister - one dealer refused discount, the second took just under