No more Skoda dealers in WA

[mrx]

Yeah, I've seen the ads on the bus shelters too. Seems strange they would start advertising just as the brand disappears? I wouldn't be surprised if another dealership pops up in the near future.

I wonder if Skoda Australia know Osb. Park has pulled the pin?! They still list them as a dealer on the website.

[davidh]

I phoned Skoda's Australian headquarters after frustrations with the Osborne Park dealership, and they said they were trying to open up a new dealership in June/July, which will hopefully coincide with the Superb.
Various "Skoda" salesmen at VW Osborne Park over the past month have told me:
1. They will only sell 2008 models, not 2009
2. I am wasting my time looking at Skoda because they have poor resale value
3. Skoda should only ever have imported the Fabia to Australia
4. I should be looking at a Jetta or Passat
5. They hate dealing with Skoda headquarters because they get no support or information

They did not tell me the dealership was being dropped. I found that out separately. And the local newspapers are advertising the new 7speed DSG Octavia (2009) even though they refuse to sell it.

I don't agree with anything the dealer has said, but as someone wanting to buy a Skoda in the next few months, it is making my life difficult and worrying.

[brad]

Various "Skoda" salesmen at VW Osborne Park over the past month have told me:
1. They will only sell 2008 models, not 2009
2. I am wasting my time looking at Skoda because they have poor resale value
3. Skoda should only ever have imported the Fabia to Australia
4. I should be looking at a Jetta or Passat
5. They hate dealing with Skoda headquarters because they get no support or information

.

1) Stock situation seems all over the shop.
2) How would anyone know? The number that have been bought & subsequently sold would be statistically unreliable.
3) Maybe
4) Well, maybe if you want a sedan or a substantially bigger wagon. If you want a Golf with a bigger hatch area & full size spare..... Octavia!
5) That's probably a fair comment. I get the same feedback consistenly & experienced the same thing myself. Head Office are hopeless.

[davidh]

1) Stock situation seems all over the shop.
2) How would anyone know? The number that have been bought & subsequently sold would be statistically unreliable.
3) Maybe
4) Well, maybe if you want a sedan or a substantially bigger wagon. If you want a Golf with a bigger hatch area & full size spare..... Octavia!
5) That's probably a fair comment. I get the same feedback consistenly & experienced the same thing myself. Head Office are hopeless.

I recognise points 1 and 5 are realistic pain points, which is part of my concern. I think point 2 is a ridiculous comment given there are hardly any 2nd hand ones on the market and they are all priced quite close to new ones. The salesman was trying to put me off Skoda, and believed based on the first year of stats that you would have to keep it for 10 years.

On points 3 and 4, I am waiting for the Superb, which is as far from a Fabia as you can get.