1st Service - 15k on the Octavia and Octavia RS!

[zach]

Hi All,

My Octavia is due for first service in a couple weeks so been ringing around for availability and prices. Below is summary which I appreciate advice as I don't want to swap and change every year especially if I go with an indenpendant.

I don't intend to start a thread dealer v independants so please refrain from comments about sticking with dealer, etc.

I live in Western suburbs but need to travel regardless although heard a new VW opening up in Braybook'ish area.

Volkwerke $280
Geelong Skoda $350
Richmond Skoda $360
Volkshome $295
Volkspower $300 APPROX - PROVIDED IN OCT09. CLOSED TIL 17TH
Cox Auto $330
Bayford Skoda $390
Audvolks STILL TO PHONE

Cheers

[barrenjoey owl]

Hi All,

My Octavia is due for first service in a couple weeks so been ringing around for availability and prices. Below is summary which I appreciate advice as I don't want to swap and change every year especially if I go with an indenpendant.

I don't intend to start a thread dealer v independants so please refrain from comments about sticking with dealer, etc.

I live in Western suburbs but need to travel regardless although heard a new VW opening up in Braybook'ish area.

Volkwerke $280
Geelong Skoda $350
Richmond Skoda $360
Volkshome $295
Volkspower $300 APPROX - PROVIDED IN OCT09. CLOSED TIL 17TH
Cox Auto $330
Bayford Skoda $390
Audvolks STILL TO PHONE

Cheers

What advice are you looking for? the search function of this forum is your friend.

[zach]

sorry I should clarify.

I've heard/read a lot about Volkspower on this forum but not much about others except that they exist and I may have missed some as well.

so am after general advice/experiences about servicing in relation to above shops (atm specifically Volkwerke) or others that may be better. even better still someone may know someone closer to home (western burbs)

[woofy]

Did you try Mentone....surprised that Bayford are so expensive.

[zach]

actually no forgot about them. will give them a call

[BlackOctaviaRS]

Did you try Mentone....surprised that Bayford are so expensive.

Mentone are pretty good, our Octavia RS cost about $320 or so for it's 15k service.

[VRS-Vic]

i found Mentone to be the cheapest out of the 3 major dealers in Melbourne, with richmond being the most expensive

[zach]

$330 at Mentone. Guy that answered phone didn't know much about Skoda's, scary!

[CanberravRS]

$330 at Mentone. Guy that answered phone didn't know much about Skoda's, scary!

Honestly guys, your never going to speak with the skilled tech unless you dealing with a small VW/Skoda/SEAT specialists mechanic.

Service Managers at dealerships are no longer retired mechanics.. they are simply admin staff.

DO NOT EXPECT A DEALER SERVICE MANAGER TO ANSWER A TECHNICAL QUESTION...

They are there for customer service for the general customer, and no one will have minor or major technical skills in vehicles..
I'm lucky with my VW/Skoda dealership as they have highly skilled mechanics and look after a large number of vehicles in Canberra.

Have you heard in the press about bad service with VW/Skoda in the last 4-5 years??? No, as there are many specialised dealerships and localised mechanics to support the growing numbers of these vehicles.

Try the dealership if you have more than one bad experience then go elsewhere to a local VW/Skoda specialist, its your choice. But from experience having more than one service account in your service book isn't a good look at resale unless you move around a lot.

[dazag]

Honestly guys, your never going to speak with the skilled tech unless you dealing with a small VW/Skoda/SEAT specialists mechanic.

Service Managers at dealerships are no longer retired mechanics.. they are simply admin staff.

DO NOT EXPECT A DEALER SERVICE MANAGER TO ANSWER A TECHNICAL QUESTION...

I must be lucky to score a service manager at an Audi dealership that knows a fair bit of the technical side of Skoda's ( or at least can sprout exactly what the service techs are telling him) and isn't afraid to smooth talk Skoda Oz in favour of the customer either.
But was talking about suspension geometry and VCDS coding and also some other non OEM mods for Skoda's with him and to me he came across very knowledgeable both mechanically & technically on the Skoda. So much so I'm happy to keep taking my Skoda RS back to them each time it needs to.