Should i be worried?

[Inego]

I suppose the issue with Skoda is the example of SEAT which, even though it was mainly sold by VW dealers, was canned, impacting resale. Still VW hardware, service still available, but why would you want one second hand if that wasn't clear.

Skoda has its 4 dealers in Sydney, of which only the two in the outer suburbs are also VW dealers. Hence my occasional sleepless nights.

[K1W1]

From memory SEAT was imported into Australia by Inchcape not by VW. There is a huge difference between a factory backed effort such as exists with VW and Skoda now and a private UK based company who is essentially a reseller. As far as I know Inchcape in Australia now mainly concern themselves with importing and retailing Subarus.

[Pietra]

What is the initialisation issue with the SD card?

just the time to start up discussed in other threads - i timed start up at 2 min 20 seconds with the card containing 6.65 GB of songs

i thought it was worth asking the service department if they had come across the problem before or if it was part of the general check

i was wrong ...

next option is a faster card - maybe a class 4 SDHC card

Nup I'd say its not most Skoda dealers, but most other makes certainly do it. My 6 and before that the 323 had the 1500 or 2k check with oil change and Mazda still do, but Skodas don't have them. I'd be surprised if any VAG group cars do really so I think it might just be a habit thing your dealer is doing, its certainly not part of the warranty like it is for some makes.

Steve Jarvin at Burwood - other marques include Nissan, Mitsu etc so you maybe onto something - nothing was ticked off in the service manual - simply stated it was a 1500km check - took 40 minutes and included a vaccuum of the carpets

I get the feeling most people are concerned with resale Vs ongoing servicing and support

[Jake02]

RSWag -

I just looked at a review on themotorreport.com.au for the Superb Wagon, not that i can afford it but was just interested as i have my RS on order. The article has me feeling all warm and fuzzy then i scroll down to the comments which are by in large quite negative, very negative in fact.

You would've noticed I commented on there, along with Thomas79 (who defends Skodas even more than I do, and I don't think he even owns one...). These people you've seen are the people who are completely anti-Skoda, where they have nothing good to say about them, despite obviously not experiencing them in any way possible. If you look at all the car review websites (in particular, CarAdvice) with anything Skoda it's the select few who fall into the same boat (and it's actually the same people) whereas the rest of us know what being positive is, and are much nicer

Pietra -

Steve Jarvin at Burwood - other marques include Nissan, Mitsu etc so you maybe onto something - nothing was ticked off in the service manual - simply stated it was a 1500km check - took 40 minutes and included a vaccuum of the carpets

Couldn't agree more. Not sure about the 1500km service, but one 'service' I know my Vladimir wasn't serviced at all. the air-con went very crappy about a month afterwards (due to a lack of air-con coolant in the bottle) and after they completely failed to notice the bald rear tyres (the car was hit from the back very slightly, which knocked the camber, meaning it rubbed on the tyres making them wear much faster) we took the RS back and pretty much demanded it have a full service. $600 later (including the new camber part flown in) and the RS was like new. Issedpay Offay...

[Pietra]

it's the select few who fall into the same boat (and it's actually the same people)

Who are these people - i found some of the comments on car advice entertaining, in the same way i find funniest home videos entertaining but i still can't understand how someone with no experience with the marque or the vehicle itself can sprout such BS

boredom?

[Calais]

The way I see Skodas brand image and representation through dealers is like this.

(I am tried and tested candidate for this because I have been through the exact same problem after buying my last new car, a 2007 Fiat Punto Sport JTD)

1) The last time Skoda sold new cars in this country, bogans were still boasting about the syncro first gear in their dads Holden, Fords front suspension still cracked away from the firewall, and Skoda at the time was a soviet bloc shopping trolley (and a quirky one at that).

2) Skoda now, is in the maturing stage of their re-entry into the Australian market, and must now do their best to protect the customers, who their very reputation rests upon. (In this case, not do as Ateco did with Fiat, and allow the brand to rest on it's laurels)

3) In protecting their customers, the dealer network must back up the brand with as robust a service as they can possibly provide. (and not do the brand a dis-service through crappy customer service, and lack of interest in the brand, as certain dealers have already done by removing the brand from their business). Fiat has suffered greatly with the lack of dealer interest.

4) Appropriately market their product, and being backed by VAG, I would expect a greater range of media being used to push the product.

5) Either by corporate strategy or by other means, guarantee the resale values of the vehicles they have sold. This being done by creating a good brand image through product reliability and durability. And showcased in the media as highlighted earlier. (considering the strength of the VW brand which Skoda is so closely aligned with, it shouldn't be too hard to build a similar reputation...... anyone who owns a Skoda would agree the cars prove their worth).

After having washed my hands of my beloved Fiat, and the sh*thouse after sales service that ensued. I am very happy so far with the Skoda product and the aftersales service. I get a phone call once a fortnight to check how my car is going from the Dealer, and from Skoda Aus I have recieved mail and questionnaires to check on my the entire Skoda buying experience.

So far so good, I am happy owner, and sleep easy knowing my car wont have the best resale, not because the Brand hasn't backed me, but because of the massive kms I am going to enjoy putting on my vRS!

[aslsw]

A couple of issues that swayed my purchase...

Firstly, companies can do all the advertising that they like but if it's not backed up by the dealer on the ground then it's pointless. In my case, I went to VW to find a busy dealership but not so busy that one salesman couldn't find time to eat a hamburger in full view of waiting (potential) customers - I gave up. Mazda dealership - no-one bothered to show up. Ford - showed no interest once I made it clear I did not want to be sold up to another car. Honda - pretty good actually. But at Skoda - we took the car for a drive, then took it overnight, another whole day, test drove a Superb too, put me in contact with another RS owner so that I could see what his reactions were and have a private drive. In other words, our experience with Skoda has been positive from the moment we first set foot in their yard.

Secondly, I worry less about resale values. It might be because I have a bit more money these days, but I have realised that I buy assets to use not just to resell in the future. I want a car that I will love to drive today, not a boring one that might squeeze out a few extra dollars on resale.

Thirdly, servicing does worry me as it directly affects the owning experience. Checking out the overseas reports reassured me that Skoda was high in the quality stakes. I admit to being worried as there is only one dealer in Canberra, but I assume servicing can be done by VW or Audi (or one of the specialist VW mechanics at a pinch?). Even more of a worry is travelling long distances interstate.

But then I figure, why take away driving pleasure today for what might (or might not) happen in the future?

[Inego]

Re. the 1500km, I have to admit that I hadn't even checked my service schedule. But I noticed the windscreen sticker last night showing a 1500km (Steve Jarvin Burwood).

As for service, the sale staff have been helpful in the matchbox sized showroom, and have taken on board my advice in the couple fo time since. It was a small worry (in one sense) when one of them commented that most of the people who came into the showroom knew more about the cars than they did.

There is no Skoda advertising here in Sydney at the moment, I assume because there is little stock....

[Antiplastix]

In the worse case senerio, Skoda pulls out, VW would still be obliged to honour warranty work on Skoda products. Even GMH covered Daewoo warranties when they folded. As for servicing I have had 4 new cars (VW & Mazdas) in the last 12 years and none of them have been serviced by dealers ( I dont trust 17y.o apprentices working on my cars) and have never had an issue with a warranty item yet with the log books stamped by a quailified mechanic.

[K1W1]

As for servicing I have had 4 new cars (VW & Mazdas) in the last 12 years and none of them have been serviced by dealers and have never had an issue with a warranty item yet with the log books stamped by a quailified mechanic.

Legally no manufacturer can insist that service work is done in their workshops as a condition of a warranty. All they can do is insist that the recommended service intervals and procedures are followed.
Where the problem occurs these days is in the electronics. Many third party service centres whilst technically competent do not have access to manufacturers specialist diagnostic and reporting equipment for the latest generation of vehicles. Often they buy diagnostics for vehicles as they come out of warranty on the assumption that people will take cars to dealers during the warranty period. Because of this here can be a grey area about whether factory procedures have actually been followed and manufacturers tend to be more obliging and willing to open their pockets for borderline or out of warranty work when there is a history for the vehicle at their franchised workshops. One other advantage of going to a franchise dealer is that they should be aware of any recalls or in service updates that the manufacturer has initiated and that work should be done without question. Third parties often don't know about these.
Overall you take your chances one way or the other. Independents generally cost less and in my experience if you find a good one they do an excellent job. Franchise outlets are more expensive but can be expected to be more up to date with their knowledge of new vehicles and generally have much stronger warranties on the work they perform although it can take several tries to get the job done properly.