Where are the SKODAS?

[rym]

Geez... this thread has taken a BIG detour from "where are the Skodas" to "Life After Oil Crash". Posts about the car doomsday scenarios would be better posted on the petrol guzzling V8 forums to get them thinking about efficiency.

Posting such on a forum where the cars are already the leading bunch when it comes to Engine Efficiency and kerb weight footprint that is on the low side... is like preaching to the converted.

Tax the SUVs and V8s like the Tobacco tax I'd say...

Now, where were we? Getting my Skoda this week!

I will sure feel like "The only Skoda in the village" when I do get it! Still have not seen a single Skoda anywhere in the wild. Dealer show room and parking lot doesn't count.

I think VGA ought to be a lot more ambitious and sell more cars... a volume target of 2k to 3k annually seems like just... testing water, which could make potential buyers nervous about making the commitment. You could argue that it's a big commitment just to bring it here but VGA ought to put on the buyer's shoe and look at it from this perspective. Obviously, a different target with the relevant pricing for such target may have done wonders and you start hearing the noun "hot cakes" in the same sentence with Skoda.

[rym]

I thought I should update this thread...

Having not seen a Skoda in the wild for the best part of 7~8 months now since Skoda was launched here.

On the weekend, I saw two in the same day! A black vRS sedhatch and a blue TDi wagon.

Been driving the folks around lately, I think the old man is keen on one of these.

[mrx]

I've seen a few more lately too. Keep seeing a silver diesel wagon on Beaufort St., anyone from here?

[anthony]

Since launch I have been looking ,and have now seen a total of 5 Skodas in and around Melbourne.
An Octavia wagon,white with NSW plates.
A Octavia sedan Red
An Octavia sedan Silver
A Roomster Grey
A Roomster silver.
All the Skoda fans must be very disapointed with no presence on the roads at all,in complete contrast to the current VW range.

[gregozedobe]

All the Skoda fans must be very disapointed with no presence on the roads at all,in complete contrast to the current VW range.

Ahh, feeling bored so you are back again to do some more Skoda enthusiast baiting, ehh Ant ?

I wonder how many VWs there were on the road in Australia 6 months after the beetle was first released ? Some people wouldn't buy anything made by the germans back then, as it wasn't so long since WW2.

Maybe Melburnians aren't so discerning in their vehicle choices, so aren't buying Skodas yet ? Or maybe your very own private campaign is getting results in Melbourne at least.

So tell me, when is the Golf/Jetta wagon finally going to be available in Oz ? How much more will it cost (than an Octy RS) when fitted with the 2.0 TFSI motor and manual gearbox ? And how much less does it hold than an Octavia wagon ?

[XXX-1.8T]

I wonder how many VWs there were on the road in Australia 6 months after the beetle was first released ? Some people wouldn't buy anything made by the germans back then, as it wasn't so long since WW2.

Just FYI here are some import & production numbers:

Regent Motors Melbourne imported their first Beetle 11/10/1953, by years end they had imported 31 vehicles.

In June 1954 CKD packs arrived & were assembled at Martin & King under contract to Regent Motors. In the first year 1385 vehicles were produced with a further 360 sedans & 300 type 2's were imported giving VW 1.2% of the sedan market & 0.5% of the commercial market in Australia.

Even back when a family having a car was a luxury vs today of families owning 2 cars VW sales figures are kicking Skoda's.

The point is the Skoda's are over priced for a new brand in a very competitive auto industry.

Im glad i bought my Jetta 2.0T over a Skoda RS. If i have some more kids and need more room ill buy a RS Wagon as i dont think resale will be any good. I reckon in 2 years you'd be able to buy a RS for $25K to $28K which will be a bargain.

Lets hope Skoda dealers sharpen their pencils as its better to see Skoda's on the road than on a yard.

[gregozedobe]

Lets hope Skoda dealers sharpen their pencils as its better to see Skoda's on the road than on a yard.

I agree with much of what you say. I think the decision needs to be made at the importer (Skoda Australia), the dealers won't have that much room to move on price. I think the idea was to sell them as (yet another) premium priced euro brand, but there simply isn't enough awareness in the mind of joe public. In europe they are well known AND positioned significantly below VW price-wise, but here in Oz they are much closer to VW's prices, despite being hardly known at all.

If resale value was important to me I don't think I would buy a new Skoda at the moment. Happily I keep my vehicles for a long time, so resale values don't matter. If you are like me and looking for a roomy wagon with a bit of get up and go, reasonable fuel economy at a reasonable price point and fun to drive, then there isn't much around to compete with an Octy RS wagon. That's why I've got one on order (it has just left South Africa according to the ship tracking site).

Being realistic, if Skoda sales continue at the current levels the brand simply won't succeed - look at SEAT for a recent example of what could happen.

[Guy_H]

Our new one just arrived, and I think the pricing is spot on, and the product is excellent value for the price.

VRS Vs Jetta is a bit of a tough comparison, the VRS is more the GTI with more space, the Jetta is very non sporting compared to these two.

Time will tell, we see a new one or two at our place every week, so as far as we are concerned - they are selling well!

[zz2]

Our new one just arrived, and I think the pricing is spot on, and the product is excellent value for the price.

VRS Vs Jetta is a bit of a tough comparison, the VRS is more the GTI with more space, the Jetta is very non sporting compared to these two.

Time will tell, we see a new one or two at our place every week, so as far as we are concerned - they are selling well!

so is that yours Guy? looks great in white!
if it is yours i think you should make those massive OCTAVIA letters 'fall off' from the boot.... MrX's ones also mysteriously fell off too

[Guy_H]

so is that yours Guy? looks great in white!
if it is yours i think you should make those massive OCTAVIA letters 'fall off' from the boot.... MrX's ones also mysteriously fell off too

lol, hey Mark, then I might get mistaken for an AU falcon????

There will be an APR tuned one on shortly.

White is the new black they tell me (wife chose white this time, it will sign write up well though!)