Skoda brand image

**VAG newbie** · 04-08-2011, 03:19 PM

After I ordered my Superb, I have been asked many times by families, friends and colleagues "what car did you get?". When I told them Skoda, I had all kinds of weird facial expressions and comments:

"Why did you get a Skoda? Isn't that Russian?" Says one person.

"No it's not Russian. It's actually from Czechslovakia!" Says another

When I took my parents for a test drive with the Superb. Before they saw the car, they thought I was getting a scooter (In Japanese, scooter is pronounces "sukuta", very similar to Skoda). When they sat in the car they reckon it was German. But as soon as I told them it's from Czech Republic, their reaction was "What, Communist country?"

I have to give these people lots of history and geography lesson that Czech Republic is not Russia, there is no more Czechslovakia, Czech Republic is not a communist country now, and it is considered by world bank as a developed country in 2007!

Anyway, on odd occasions, I do have some knowledgeable people that knows Skodas are good cars, but is a bit afraid to commit to an unknown brand, and is just waiting to see my car with curiosity. Most of these people are from UK or Europe.

According to Matthew Wiesner, he reckons Skoda Aus has given Skoda enough exposures here to make the brand widely known. But from my experience, it is certainly not the case. Skoda Aus still has a lot of work to do. In Taiwan, the Swire group who imports Skodas, they use the slogan "German technology, Bohemian art, 100 years of craft" instead of "simply clever". It seen to work quite well as many people there have considered Skoda as a German car, and they've been selling more than 1000 cars there this year so far, yet the brand only came in 2009!

I am curious to know how everyone's experiences have been. Mainly positive or negative? How do all your friends, relatives and colleague react to you buying a skoda? How have they perceive the brand?

**Jake02** · 04-08-2011, 04:16 PM

All my friends are car people, so they know that Skoda represents stunning value for money and fantastic cars that are built to a very high standard. For all the people who don't know, I just explain them as a Volkswagen that's actually European-made, with higher quality/practicality levels and a cheaper price. For most people, they really love the car and don't care who makes it and for me, unless it's a Hyundai, Kia, Great Wall, Renault or Chery, I totally agree.

I also agree that they're not doing enough to promote the brand. Yes I know that if they advertised everywhere it'd mean that more people will go onto lists of cars that take too long to arrive but they really have to get some balls because a lack of Skodas on the road is really pissing me off. Some people like the slow approach and that's fine, but I've experienced it for 3 and a bit years and I think that's long enough. Thank God the Yeti and Fabia arrive soon otherwise I really would start having doubts about the brand's longevity in Australia. I don't want them to be forever a Citroen or Peugeot in the Australian market, I want them to sell in big numbers and prove that you can have a European car for Japanese money.

I want sales, and brand image isn't much of a problem for me, it's the lack of advertising that annoys me.

**Gti Dave** · 04-08-2011, 05:05 PM

Yeah I agree with jake02. So far in the limited months I've had my Skoda, the responses of the majority of the people who talk to me or ask me about my car all agree that its incredible value for money (looks and brand aside). Sometimes, at the lights I get people staring up and down, side to side scratching their heads with a perplexed look on their faces giving away the question "what car is that?"

Skoda's doing fairly well I guess seeing that they are still anew brad. Recently noticed they are expanding their dealer network and just opened up their latest one in Bendigo last week.

**dArK5HaD0w** · 04-08-2011, 09:38 PM

i usually get this quite often:-

them - "what car do u have?"
me - "an octavia"
them - "huh?"
me - "an octavia vrs...."
them - "wats that?"
me - "a skoda"
them - "huh"
me - "a skoda octavia"
them - "oh ok. wat is it like?"
me - "its basically a mix of vw & audi"
them - "ah....i see"

**brad** · 05-08-2011, 11:36 AM

Originally Posted by VAG newbie

I am curious to know how everyone's experiences have been. Mainly positive or negative? How do all your friends, relatives and colleague react to you buying a skoda? How have they perceive the brand?

I bought mine 3 years back. Since then, my Sister & BIL decided to buy a VW EOS - not because i had a Skoda but based (partly) on the 1998 Golf Cabrio I had. When they weren't sure about the VW, I offered them a drive of the Octavia & they didn't understand the link between the two brands & still don't.

Then one of my best friends bought a Tiguan and was shocked when i helped her set up all the door locks, etc & showed her a few of the features that were just like my Skoda.

People just don't listen or think you are talking crap when you tell them a Skoda is a VW with a different body.

In short, if you aren't into cars (or maybe cycling) then Skoda isn't on the radar.

**onyertod** · 05-08-2011, 03:48 PM

Anyone who has been in my Octavia and is remotely interested in cars has come out impressed.

Half an hour searching Google will tell you all you need to know about Skoda (or any other maker for that matter).

Most people just don't care enough - about anything.

When I am looking to spend upwards of $30k, I sure as hell am going to do some research.

As for those who cannot be arsed, well it's their loss.

Max.

**VAG newbie** · 05-08-2011, 04:07 PM

Just another classic reaction today:

"Skoda? Too expensive for a car that comes from Croatia!"

Yeah, only people who know cars wil appreciate the true beauty of Skoda. But that's the problem. We represent a very small percentage of the population. All the people that made those comments aren't uneducated blondes. I work in a hospital and these are professionals!

This just goes to show how much more work Skoda need to put into advertising their cars. At the moment, I think it depends on us to spread the word. Croatia is not Czech Republic!!

**hmoon101** · 05-08-2011, 08:41 PM

Another one a while ago:

"You bought what? You shouldn't have bought a Chinese car, I saw a lot of them in China last year. Mate, you are putting your and your family's life in danger. You should've bought an Aussie car, like Ford Mondeo or Focus."

**Gti Dave** · 05-08-2011, 09:41 PM

Originally Posted by hmoon101

Another one a while ago:

"You bought what? You shouldn't have bought a Chinese car, I saw a lot of them in China last year. Mate, you are putting your and your family's life in danger. You should've bought an Aussie car, like Ford Mondeo or Focus."

Wow that definitely trumps everything else.