My experience with Skoda-Autobahn (as promised)

[Ardy]

Originally Posted by navin

1. My car has drive about 28K

2. I was expecting a bit in the 50K range given that a clutch and brake job were on line. That the clutch had gotten so hard after only 30K is sad, my OHC clutch lasted 80K before needing replacement.

3. About 20K of the bill is due to the AC coil. Apparently the AC coil was leaking and needed replacement. So 13.5K for the new coil, 2.5K for the AC expansion valve and 4.2K for the charging was due to that. 50K + 20K = 70K.

I love my skoda's too. Makes me a bit insure seeing all the threads bashing up Skoda and A.S.S.

Luckily, I have really not had any incidental expenses on both my Skoda's so far other than regular servicing, oil & filter changes; barring the intercooler being changed on my Octavia as it was damaged but bad roads. The highest service cost was 24K when the intercooler was replaced (Intercooler costing 13K) and was during my last service at 52K. Touch wood.

My Octivia has clocked 54K and RS has clocked 18K.

[GTO]

Skoda / Auto Bahn would be foolish to mess with your car, considering recent developments.

Originally Posted by navin

If someone has comparitive parts of a Accord, Civic, Corolla, Camry we'd know for sure.

Mercedes parts are even more expensive.

Mercedes may be more expensive, but they obviously last longer as well. My Merc's clutch needed an overhaul at 55,000 kms. I haven't heard of any Civic, Accord, Corolla, Camry or Benz that required a clutch job at 30,000 kms as your vRS. My Vtec's clutch @ nearly 70,000 kms is still healthy. Healthy enough for another 20,000 clicks (guessing).

Hondas & Toyotas generally go anywhere between 75,000 - 1,00,000 kms on the clutch. But c'mon, we all know that Japs are more durable & cheaper to maintain as well.

Next time you want to service / repair your car, drop a call. I'll get you in touch with a Euro specialist from near your house. Outstanding quality of work & costs a third of authorised centers.

[normally_crazy]

I replaced my fuel filter, oil filter, pollen filter, changed the engine oil (flushing included), changed gear oil - all inclusive for 500 Rs.

Before any one jumps to conclusions - this was ONLY the labour cost. I got the consumables myself.

Just read GTO's post about the clutch life - I got my car with 21000 on the odo, at 27000 I had to replace the clutch assembly. It cost me 26000 Rs. Now my vRS has crossed 73000 kms - the clutch still feels like its got another 25000 kms to go . Depends a lot on the way the car is driven too.

But in Navin's case - clutch replacement at 28000 ?

[navin]

Originally Posted by Steeroid

the full kit including bearings cost me approx Rs.12k. Thats two sets of everything including hi-performance chains

The Skoda parrts cost about Rs. 5000 per set so Skoda parts (bought at the dealer) are more costly than Jag! Wow!

[Steeroid]

Originally Posted by GTO

Mercedes may be more expensive, but they obviously last longer as well. My Merc's clutch needed an overhaul at 55,000 kms. I haven't heard of any Civic, Accord, Corolla, Camry or Benz that required a clutch job at 30,000 kms as your vRS.

Clutch & Timing Kit - both at 30k???

navin - now you know why the first two services were 'free' - "We'll get you at the next one!"

Yes, your parts list made me feel good about my Jag! BTW the 'R' engines (supercharged) have probably the most expensive Jag components, so regular Jag parts will probably be much cheaper than the Skoda.

[navin]

Originally Posted by normally_crazy

I replaced my fuel filter, oil filter, pollen filter, changed the engine oil (flushing included), changed gear oil - all inclusive for 500 Rs.

What engine oil did you get for Rs. 500?

Skoda charges Rs. 150+417 for just a fuel filter change and another 481 for the dust and pollen filter.

Originally Posted by GTO

Skoda / Auto Bahn would be foolish to mess with your car, considering recent developments.

I haven't heard of any Civic, Accord, Corolla, Camry or Benz that required a clutch job at 30,000 kms as your vRS. Hondas & Toyotas generally go anywhere between 75,000 - 1,00,000 kms on the clutch.

Next time you want to service / repair your car, drop a call. I'll get you in touch with a Euro specialist from near your house. Outstanding quality of work & costs a third of authorised centers.

I hope Skoda - Autobahn are not foolish

Yes I know my OHC clutch was ok till about 80K. I could have carried on with my old clutch for another 10K or more but still even 40K or 50K is too young for a clutch.

Are you talking about Swadi at Nana Chowk? I was thinking of trying him out.

[normally_crazy]

Originally Posted by navin

What engine oil did you get for Rs. 500?

Skoda charges Rs. 150+417 for just a fuel filter change and another 481 for the dust and pollen filter.

Navin,

I guess you did not read my edited post.

I got the Pollen Filter, Oil Filter and Fuel Filter for 1400 Rs including VAT from the open market. All original Bosch stuff that Audi/VW/Skoda uses.

[navin]

Originally Posted by normally_crazy

I got the Pollen Filter, Oil Filter and Fuel Filter for 1400 Rs including VAT from the open market. All original Bosch stuff that Audi/VW/Skoda uses.

I paid Rs. 481+417 for the fuel and pollen filter. So assuming the Oil filter costs about Rs. 400 the pricing is about the same.

Originally Posted by normally_crazy

Just read GTO's post about the clutch life - I got my car with 21000 on the odo, at 27000 I had to replace the clutch assembly. It cost me 26000 Rs. Now my vRS has crossed 73000 kms - the clutch still feels like its got another 25000 kms to go . Depends a lot on the way the car is driven too.

But in Navin's case - clutch replacement at 28000 ?

I know my car is not driven that hard. Like I said I could have driven about 10 or 20K more with my existing clutch. My chauffer was not complaining but on the few occasions I drove the car I found it too hard. I loved the original clutch. It needed just a tap.

[esteem_lover]

Were you having any cooling problems when you gave the car for service ?

[vijaythacker]

well though your expenses occured to be on higher side, but autobhan surely didnt messed up with your vrs, still 28k is shorter period for clutch change as compared to others.Keep updating and ride safe.

[navin]

Originally Posted by esteem_lover

Were you having any cooling problems when you gave the car for service ?

A bit especially in the day time. the cooling was not as good as when the car was new.

[Perakath]

Navin,

Interesting review. I think the important things in the context of the two 'Harish' threads are that:

(a) You got your car back in time
(b) You don't seem to have issues with spurious parts or parts being replaced without authorisation

Everyone is harping on about the price of the service, but I'm sure you're smart enough to have known what you were getting into. As you said you expected a bill of 50k and the a/c was what pushed it above that. I'm sure most people on T-BHP are well aware that A.S.S.'s of any car brand are masters of high charges. If you were aiming to keep costs low you would have got most of the work done outside, I'm sure.

So, overall, would you rate yourself "satisfied"?

Edit: By the way, kudos for deliberately putting your money where everyone's mouth is.

[abhinav.gupta88]

The bill is expensive but i guess its fine considering its 5 years old.
I heard the A/C fan requires changing every 2-3 years in Indian conditions.

If the service is good , its well worth than having to spend a year in customer court

[vinayvtec]

Originally Posted by navin

Today (April 2nd) I got my bill from Skoda (along with my car)

The bill......

Labour Charges
Front Brake Disc Skimming Charges Rs. 800
--------------
Total Rs. 43486
Vat @12.5% on 43486 Rs. 5435.76
Total Rs. 65,246

Oh boy, for this budget I could have got my VTEC upgrade to stage 2 camshaft and also the springs, If I had added another 10G then the ECU with racing breaks.

Note from the Team-BHP Support Team: Please avoid quoting an entire large post. It inconveniences our small screen & mobile readers.

Thanks.

[Steeroid]

Originally Posted by Perakath

I'm sure most people on T-BHP are well aware that A.S.S.'s of any car brand are masters of high charges.

I'm not sure where you draw that conclusion from, but I think most people here know what brand charges low, what charges a reasonable amount and what brand specifically runs an extortion racket.

Originally Posted by Perakath

Edit: By the way, kudos for deliberately putting your money where everyone's mouth is.

BTW, EVERYONE here puts their money exactly where their mouth is. This is a forum of vehicle enthusiasts that actually own and maintain vehicles.

Talk may be cheap elsewhere, but out here people speak from their own experiences therefore you might want to reconsider that statement.