Skoda Sales

[2009fsi]

VW Australia own Skoda Australia, as a result, they decide what models, the pricing, servicing and the marketing strategy for Skoda.
VW Australia will not aggressively promote the Skoda brand when they have their own to sell.
Everywhere else (worldwide), Skoda does their own thing, governed by VWaG.
Here, Skoda can't do their own thing. They do as per VW Aus.
As long as this is the case, don't expect to see Skoda up there with strong sales in Australia.

Thanks for that explanation dArK5HaD0w, it explains a lot. I thought Skoda ran the operation here as they do elsewhere in the world. If VWag calls the shots 100%, then you can bet executive KPIs & annual bonuses will not be served well by selling more Skodas. That would also explain why one doesn't see a single Skoda in vicinity of the Chullora HQ anymore.
If one remembers the history, Czechs & Germans have not exactly been the best of mates through the last century. My impression in deciding to buy my Superb was the Czechs nationally & Skoda are striving to recapture their pre 1940s reputation for high quality engineering & innovative design; the very reason old Adolph invaded them first.

Various have made the comment that people who notice their Superb or sit in it are always impressed. I've had the same response. Numerous people have approached me around shops or in carparks, to ask about the car when they see the boot/hatch transition used. (BMW are introducing similar in new models) Without exception the sedan boot space amazes everyone. They look at the car from the outside & presume the boot must be tiny.

People who actually sit in the car are amazed by the ease of access. Not braining ones self on the roof or pilar when getting in, for starters. The quality of finish impresses some, including a Automotive trimmer I know who was very interesed in how Skoda had engineered aircon outlets through out the car & the standard of the stitching of the leather upholstery. When one goes over the two, the Superb gains a huge amount over the Passat on only a small increase in Chassis length. Far be it for me to suggest VWAG ought to rebadged the Superb as a "Passat" & drop the current Passat, they might sell a damned sight more cars in the Medium/Family market. I see no sense in having two cars in the same stable competing against each other. Mind you, I wouldn't buy a current model Passat, because they are cramped compared with Superb. Both really only seat 4 adults, but at least the Superb has room enough for comfort. Sadly, I think VWAG's likely action before long might be quite partisan & bury Superb.

Cheers to all.

PS: I don't know if I'm the one to upset someone by starting this particular thread, but my post as I saw it was all in the context of Superb, a great car, lost in the wildreness.

[brad]

it's a good thread but i think it isn't just relevant to Superb.

I often recomend Skoda (new or used) to my friends. They know I've had fantastic service from mine but I may as well tell them to shove a cucumber up their date because their reaction & response is quite similar. They just think I own some weird, quirky, low volume, niche vehicle that was made in a dilapidated Eastern Block factory by a bunch of Vodka influenced comrades.

One of my mates wants to buy a 2nd hand mazda3. I suggested a 118TSI Octavia because for the same age & mileage they are about $3k cheaper. It's like piddling into a strong Southerly.

[BluChris]

Can you blame them Brad? As a now ex-Skoda Octavia owner I freely admit that while I thought of Skoda in the European context when I bought - a proud, long-existing manufacturer that went to the dogs under communist rule and successfully resurrected itself when conditions improved in the Czech Republic and VW injected money, in reality VAG positions Skoda as a weird, quirky, low volume niche brand here. The stagnant sales and lack of push from VAG is testament to that.

I could live with the fringe nature of the product, but very many people in Australia fear being seen as non-conformist. They need the approval that comes with mainstream acceptance. Even enthusiast friends thought I was resonably insane to risk a Skoda.

I couldn't live with the inconvenient and ridiculously expensive dealer servicing, (expensive) misdiagnosis of simple problems, (expensive) regular minor issues my car seemed to develop at 4 years old but with low K's, frustrating uncertainty about what servicing needed to be done when and endless repeat visits to (not) resolve said minor issues.

My resale was acceptable, but there are plenty who feel they have been burnt (largely with the more expensive variants it seems).

You have to ask - for most people, why would you buy a Skoda? if you want this kind of product VW seems a safer bet in terms of recognition, resale, dealer network etc.

Otherwise, like me, you go mainstream and steer clear of all VAG products. A real pity because I still like Skoda but the downside is too great and I'm no fan of VW servicing either...

[brad]

No, I can't blame them.

I'll be keeping my Octy until it is no longer an economic repair. Why? Because it's worth <$10k if the similar 118tsi's on carsales are any indication (2007/2008 models with 80,000km - 100,000km). Normally this would annoy me but the timing is right as my eldest is about to start driving so i'll transition ownership to her over the next couple of years & make it the family hand-me down for the 2 kids.

Would I buy another? maybe I'll consider either a used Superb wagon or a Roomster if the depreciation is similar to my car. Otherwise I might get a WRX or maybe a used Renault Megane or a SAAB (may as well get a really marginalised/niche vehicle)