Towbar and wiring

[aslsw]

Colin from Lennock has always told me that if I have any problems with the service I should talk to him. He knows that his ability to sell me my third Skoda depends on my experience over the life of the car. Luckily, I've always had a good response from the service team there and services have tended to come in under the budget - my only gripe is that warranty work needs approval and therefore another appointment booked in.

[parisfrance]

I'll be in Perth in the new year operating as a mobile mechanic, and can sort all those issues easily.

You've just made my wife scream with excitement! She is so frustrated and disappointed with the servicing we have received under warranty from Skoda here in Perth that she was begging me to take it to Audi or even our former Honda dealership where the service was flawless. Snail Style I expect to me in touch and I will also mention you to my colleague with the Yeti. There aren't many Skodas here in Perth but plenty of Audi's and VW's so you won't be short of business.

[joel0407]

If you have a service manual, most of the services are ridiculously easy. 15K, 30K and 45K are little more than a oil and filter change. i think one includes a cabin filter from memory. The price dealers charge is nothing short of a scam.

The 60k on my Yeti includes a DSG oil change and although the dealers schedule doesn't list it, the manual has the Haladex oil change as well. The DSG needs special tools so I had to go to the dealer here in Darwin. One they are know to be expensive but they also have a reputation for pretty rubbish work her in Darwin. First I went in for a quote which was over $900 from memory. I took the quote home and crossed all the things on the list I didn't want them to do. Things listed were check windscreen washer bottle, check tyre pressures then further down the list, fill windscreen washer bottle. Funny they had check oil on the first page then change oil on the second page. They make it look like they are doing a lot to justify their charges. When I went bask with a list of only about 5 or 6 things I wanted down, they told me the labour wuldn't be capped at Skoda limit of $120 and they would charge $175. They then calculated just the things I wanted done and the price came back the same.

I ended up providing all my own oil and filters and just got them to do the DSG and Haladex oil change. I can't remember now but I think I ended up under $500 having the oil change done at my normal Mech and just the things he couldn't do at the dealer.

I'm happy for those people that can't or don't want to do things like check the washer bottle but for some one like myself, I rotate my own tyres, I check the tyre pressures weekly, adding a little soapy water to the washer bottle is thwe least of my worries when I'm getting my vehicle serviced.

I'm also not a famn of these free loan cars. Nothing is free and the cost is just shared by the company as a whole. So that means everyones service cost is higher so a few can have free loan car. the problem with that is these companies don't give discounts to those who don't want or need a loan car.

[Skooter]

Haven't been on the forum for some time ... no probs with the 2010 Scout! Servicing was a real bugbear for me when I bought the car - Richmond Skoda just couldn't convince me where the money went, so I did my 60,000km service myself and have been doing them ever since (now close to 105,000km). Not only did they want $950 for what cost me about $300 in oil and all parts and about 3 hours of my slow labour (included Haldex fluid change), but I discovered they'd double-filled the sump (when the PO had them service it) when I drained the oil. I had this confirmed via VAG Aus who sent me to an alternative dealer (now defunct preston Skoda ) who ran at least 3 drain and weigh cycles on it.

Computer checks aren't necessary unless a light comes on on the dash, IMHO.

As for towbars - Richmond quoted me $1800 - I had to laugh! I sourced an approved towbar and elec kit from Ironbull - bit of work to fit, but no dramas - once i sorted the wiring!