Are we going to see a turnaround in Skoda/VW servicing?

[woofy]

Wai, that issue with reversing isn't a fault as such but just the way it is. I encountered it a lot with rental Skodas and is why I have a manual. The always on 12V port is a very very good feature, it was something implemented on purpose as people want to be able to charge things when the car is off. The way to perhaps improve it is to provide a switch that depresses when something is in it though.

Something for you to consider BluChris and I keep forgetting about it is statutory warranty. Basically the more expensive and premium something is marketed the more onus on the company to honour things, especially out of warranty if its a defect. Skoda make no bones (and charge for it as well) about how they are a premium car here in Oz (not so much in the UK) and they charge accordingly for services etc. Because of that it would be well within reason for them to cough up the cost of repairs within a year or so out of warranty. I've had 14mth old mobile phones that you need only hint at that warranty to get it fixed free, it should be moreso effective with a 40k car.

[BluChris]

Thanks Woofy, it did cross my mind at the time. I didn't because I figured it would be hard to get agreement to cover these issues and I also felt I was prepared to wear the cost on the basis that if I had a big issue - DSG, turbo etc I would push hard then, hopefully not having exhausted any goodwill. I definitely agree that goodwill repairs or contribution out of warranty should be a part of the deal, for all manufacturers really when there is premature failure not related to driver abuse.

[K1W1]

I have never had a problem getting things done out of warranty either for free or at least at substantially discounted rates. If you want to ensure this happens the best thing you can do unfortunately is pay the excessive service costs at the dealership during the warranty period. Manufacturers always take the vehicles service history (i.e. whether it has been serviced at one of their dealers) into account when making ex gratia subsides after the warranty expires.

[PassatB6]

The other is the delay in the reverse clutch engaging. Stop on a hill facing down. Press the brake to engage hill hold. Engage reverse and then try to reverse up. As soon as the system senses a change in accelerator position, hill hold is released, but the transmission takes almost 1 second before the clutch engages. You roll downhill until the clutch engages and launches you backwards. You press the brake and it all happens again. The manual says that the release of the brake is supposed to be gradual, but it is instantaneous.

Handbrake?

[wai]

Handbrake?

Yes, that is what I have to do on mine, only problem is a conventional handbrake is not provided on all models in the range and so you have no way of using a handbrake to control it. When I demonstrated this to the sales rep who was told to "take care of me", he said that it should not operate that way, but then the CSR refused to pass it on to VW.

The transmission is effectively sold as an "automatic", and no automatic I know of does this. A work colleague has an Eos with a DSG, and it is so bad there that both he and his wife have to take this into consideration when they park. In one instance he said they had to leave the car where it was, take a taxi home and come back in their other car when there were no cars parked in the front or rear. It is a major problem that can be easily fixed, however the CSR's simply refuse to do anything about it. It involves altering the delay between accelerator position detection and clutch engagement to something like what happens in D rather than the 1 second it takes in reverse..

As I said, it will take something major to happen before anything is done. VW can easily avoid this, but they are either not being told about it, or choose not to do anything about it, just as with the cigarette lighter issue.

[Inego]

As I updated in the other thread, Trivett Alexandria provided great servie and the faulty exhaust pressure sensor was replaced under warranty.

I wonder whether VW's thoughts about fixed price servicing are hastened by Opel's announcement of same?

[BluChris]

To wrap this up, I heard from VAG today. The young woman I spoke with was focused on 'your car has an issue perhaps we can help', then realised I had sold it so was then at a loss. She didn't quite seem to get why the survey company had suggested they should hear about my experiences. It didn't give me much confidence that they are looking at the big picture, though I accept she would have been a junior staff member. Probably not at the right level for the type of conversation needed.

One thing she did confirm for all you diesel owners - the timing belt is definitely an inspection at 60k, replace if necessary or otherwise 7 years/105k.

Interestingly the dealer I traded the Octy to has put it on their lot with what I'd see as an ambitious price. They were worried being a VAG product that there was something wrong with it that might bite them, but I reassured them there was nothing major. Most worried about the DSG, unsurprisingly.

Enjoying the Focus, a lovely car for anyone looking at a well priced (with factory campaigns) non-VAG car.

Best wishes to you all.

[woofy]

Richmond Skoda have always said there was an inspection at 60k, but also said by the time someone got to the point where you could properly inspect it you may as well replace. Someone else here though piped up and said it was very minor to inspect. I don't know...