New Models

[SkoTech Qld]

I was speaking with the head of Skoda Australia a couple of weeks ago.
Im looking foward to whats coming.
The Scout will be here soon along with the Superb, the Ocatvia II is getting a facelift but they are going to hold off on the RS, rumor has it the the 1.8T will be optioned with a 7spd DSG. The RS diesel may be here by the end of the year and it will definately have the DSG.
The Fabia is a while off yet as they are working hard at getting the price right.

[gregozedobe]

Sounds about right. Did he/she say when we are getting the CR diesels in Oz ? They already have them in the UK (along with DSG vRS diesels).

Skoda need to sharpen their prices if they want to get the sales volumes they were hoping for, and particularly with the Fabia. It's a pity the $AU wasn't as high against the Euro as it is against the $US.

[bbcrowdog]

Sounds about right. Did he/she say when we are getting the CR diesels in Oz ? They already have them in the UK (along with DSG vRS diesels).

I was told October for the vRS diesel (by a saleslady)

[MJKooLio]

Same, Diesel vRS October!

7spd DSG.... big possibility.. as Audi have had one for yonks... its Skoda's turn! (Slight confirmation from Skoda insider) :p

[brad]

Skoda need to sharpen their prices if they want to get the sales volumes they were hoping for, and particularly with the Fabia. It's a pity the $AU wasn't as high against the Euro as it is against the $US.

I think my Skoda was great value for money - initially it seemed expensive until they realised I was serious & suddenly the trade-in was really good & the cost of the car came way down. The more I drive it, the more I think what great value for money it is.

[gregozedobe]

I didn't say they weren't good value for money - I've bought one, and with my own money (and I'm very happy with it) !

But if they want to sell as many as they said they plan to, I think they need to drop their prices. For example, VW Golfs are a known brand, yet they are being discounted more than Skodas, which have very little real presence with the more average car buyer in Australia (as opposed to the enthusiasts you find on sites like this one).

[brad]

So they need to restructure their initial pricing to get the punters onto the forecourt.

I paid $30452 drive-away for my Nov07 build 1.8T Elegance liftback (no accessories or options). To top it off I got $11750 trade-in for my Mk3.5 Golf Cabrio (paid $13700 private 2 years earlier) which 2 VW dealers offered me $7000 as a trade-in on a GTI / GT Sport Golf.


edit: VW seem to be targetting the fleet market in Australia. Skoda claim to be targetting retail buyers. In Europe, Skoda is the fleet car (so I was told by SWMBOs cousin in Austria).

[mrx]

Revised pricing wont make any difference if people still don't know what it is. Nearly everybody that has seen my (wifes) car is very impressed with it, but none of them have ever heard of Skoda before. The only people I have met who actually know what it is are VW drivers or people who have lived in the UK.

In my opinion the advertising should be focussing on the features of the car. Rather than telling us how clever it is, tell us why! If people realise that they can carry two kids in the back, two dogs in the boot (wagon), go around corners without the car falling over, and still get to 100km/hr in a little over 7 seconds in comfort & style they might be more interested.