Skoda's kicking it in the Wheels Gold Star Car Awards!

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Originally Posted by TuNeS

I bet your glad you bought the Skoda! Peugeot.........say no more.

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Too right. A $39k on-road quote for a 308 hatch XSE 2.0HDi manual with only the panoramic roof was a little unsettling, as was the four-month wait, all because dad (I'm 15 remember) wanted a manual! Bit pathetic really...as well as a completely anal salesman who tried to sell us the $5k more model because we couldn't get a manual within a short time. Ridiculous!

Add to that Peugeot's LAST place (as opposed to Skoda's FIRST/second places) in all the surveys and the Skoda is a much better option. And I haven't even got to the cars themselves!

I was looking at a 307 not a 308-my budget wouldn't extend to a new pug. I was looking at all options for a small wagon but really wanted euro rather than japenese. I was dissapointed with the small wagons on sale from all manufacturers in my range-none had any flair or character. Enter a bright yellow RS! I had to stretch the budget a couple of grand but it was worth it-and still close to what I would have paid for a later model 307. Other options were a Suby impreza rs (uncomfortable), mazda 6 (would also have been a stretch) Hyundai I30 (seriously considered this-not a bad car-just a boring one) and a few others.
At the last Melbourne Motor Show I sat in every wagon that was on display-from Kia to Audi (A4, S3 and A3) and even with an unlimited budget I still would have gone for the RS.

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Originally Posted by Transporter

How about 4motion with DSG in Octavia or DSG in Scout4x4?

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Absolutely, we probably really needed this at the start of this year to make some in roads against the likes of subaru, having the auto diesel as a point of difference. They have given us an attentive date of July 2010 with a rather destinct MAYBE in front of it.

Like everyhting VW they keep things pretty close to the chest.

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Originally Posted by Sales @ Mentone Skoda

Although the vehicle has strong credentials when even comparing brochure specs to brochure specs to its competitors (subaru, honda, mazda etc) there is still an element of aprehension with Skoda. This award seemed to put those doubts aside for a lot of my current clients. One saw the A Current Affair report on the awards and that was enough to sway her to proceed with the purchase.

As much as i'm not a huge fan of motor write ups becuase of their tendancies for bias and a huge skew towards personal agenda's, (and no it's not lost on me that this is the main reason why people hate salesman) i must admit this has helped the brand emencely. It has silenced the doubter's and put some confidence into potential buyers and credibility to the brand.

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If skoda/dealers havent already, then they should be putting together information packs with as many car reviews from australian journos as possible to provide prospective clients.

Whist some reviewers may have agendas,that every review of the RS that I came across was fairly positive was enough to sway me to purchase when weighed up against a few other cars that I was interested in (golf 6 TDI, mazda 3 SP25 with all options, accord euro, mini, peugeot 308)

It was a close call though and tbh to say that the skoda dealership I eventually purchased from wasnt that great would be an understatement - an unwillingness to offer an overnight testdrive (ie I had to convince them that I didnt think a 15-30 minute testdrive in peak hour/crowded streets would tell me much, that I wanted to actually see the lights in action - never did get a testdrive as the promise to call me when a car became available for o/n testdrive never eventuated) - I eventually had a few drives in various octavias at a different dealership though they were all 10-15 minute drives (never did get an overnight option). When it eventually came to a purchase decision they quoted $2k more for an RS than what they had advertised online (was confirmed to be the same car!). Guys were friendly and all but not professional enough imo. Got a good deal in the end so thats that.

As for the other cars
Golf 6 TDI - loved the car, dealer was useless (barlow world) - told me that skodas were unreliable/crap, and that minis were crap/had poor resale values (dealers should spend time selling THEIR car rather than bagging other brands) + couldnt/wouldnt give me the exact spec of the TDI (was fully loaded with every option under the sun from what I can gather) that I test drove or a price over the phone or online unless I came in again (drive to otherside of town on a sunday).
mazda - spent 20 minutes in a showroom and had to ask for help. Struggled to even get a brochure.
mini(s) - loved the cars but couldnt quite justify getting one given the cost vs practicality/equipment levels.
308 - when compared to the RS was a fair way behind in my book (with the exception of the massive sun/moonroof thingy (the octavia sunroof is too small).
accord euro - nice car+reliable but having had an accord in the family for 10+ yrs (from new) was after something a bit different.

Back on the RS, the criticisms in the reviews are all fairly minor imho - ie brand awareness/potential resale value, not as drivable as a GTI (I'm a 'normal' driver), when compared to the positives in the reviews ie build quality, equipment list, value for money etc.

For mine the RS needs a couple of extra things to make it a real winner - bi-xenon headlamps with cornering as standard + the option of a large moonsun/roof for the wagon.

Which SKoda dealer were you dealing with. Barloworld VW are unreliable in themselves, in the last 4 years, twice the manager there (Sth African guy) has promised to call me when a certain model came in, never got the call, looked elsewhere. Sounds like they are having sour grapes since their half assed Skoda dealership shut after not really starting. They were terrible out at FT Gully, and wouldn't let you test drive any Skodas at all.

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Originally Posted by woofy

Which SKoda dealer were you dealing with.

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Prefer not to bag a skoda dealer on here particularly given that others seem to have had good experiences with them so I've PM'd the details/experiences :)

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Originally Posted by Transporter

How about 4motion with DSG in Octavia or DSG in Scout4x4?

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I would have paid full retail price + $2,000 for an RS wagon with AWD and bi-Xenons (just so long as it also had a 2.0 TFSI engine and 6 speed manual gearbox) !!!!

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Originally Posted by woofy

They were terrible out at FT Gully, and wouldn't let you test drive any Skodas at all.

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They have two of what I presume were their demo vehicles in the used car yard there at the moment. One is a yellow wagon (VR I think) and the other is a silver hatch. Both pre facelift of course. They may be getting desperate enough to offer somebody a bargain deal to get rid of the by now.

I will never forget them telling friends of mine who live there that they can't demo the RS they had as the accountant had it for a week. I saw it that very day down at Knox with what I presume was the accountants daughter doing laps and hanging out with some bogans outside JB Hifi. Yep looks like they clearly had their priorities right, I'm guessing the accountant didn't know that his daughter shouldn't be driving it with the p plates she had either.

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Originally Posted by K1W1

They have two of what I presume were their demo vehicles in the used car yard there at the moment. One is a yellow wagon (VR I think) and the other is a silver hatch. Both pre facelift of course. They may be getting desperate enough to offer somebody a bargain deal to get rid of the by now.

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Pretty sure the yellow was only available on the vRS so that could be a bargain for someone.

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Originally Posted by woofy

I will never forget them telling friends of mine who live there that they can't demo the RS they had as the accountant had it for a week. I saw it that very day down at Knox with what I presume was the accountants daughter doing laps and hanging out with some bogans outside JB Hifi. Yep looks like they clearly had their priorities right, I'm guessing the accountant didn't know that his daughter shouldn't be driving it with the p plates she had either.

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Depends when she got her P's-if it was before the current laws then she can drive it as it falls beneath the old power to weight figure. My 20 year old daughter falls into this group as well. Does anyone else think it odd that a p plater can't legally drive a petrol RS but can drive the diesel? Turbo Diesels are ok apparently.