Is it worth it buying a Skoda anymore?

amit · 31st January 2006, 09:24

Quote:

Our local dealer here refuses to service a Skoda which is not bought from him

Looks like a moron to me. Dealers make more money servicing cars then selling them. Why would he refuse such a easy way to make money?

Quote:

DSG box is giving some problems to the owners of Audis and VWs worldwide !

Give us the source. We have sold a bunch of Tdi DSG Jetta's and none has had any problems so far. Owners can't stop raving over the DSG and no one has made any complaints about it.

I see a lot of exgeratated statements here. Don't get ridiculous with your hatred for Skoda.

MrBoombastic · 31st January 2006, 10:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mpower

L'il off topic, what is the the price of regular manual Laura ??

Mpower, the manual Laura is priced around a lakh cheaper than the AT (DSG) Laura which is priced at 18.85L OTR Chennai.

Beeman · 31st January 2006, 10:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by amit

Looks like a moron to me. Dealers make more money servicing cars then selling them. Why would he refuse such a easy way to make money?

Well dude i hope you aren't trying to doubt my statement cause it is a FACT. Actually at one point of time other skoda dealers in other states where giving discounts so people prefered to buy their car out of state, hence the reason that this dealer tried to take the out of state Skoda buyers on. My friend drove down his skoda from Bombay (when it just began) and then he was refused service, eventually he got it done in Delhi.

tsk1979 · 31st January 2006, 11:08

@Beemer, The points you made are very valid.
But skoda is a 12L car. If a 22L car has a service cost of 20000, its acceptable, but not for a 12L car!
Lets say I get a perfect skoda without any problems. After 2 years and 55000kms later I take it to service. The normal maintainace like brake pads, seals etc., which have to be replaced will cost me 25K+
Also I would have spent something like 1rs/km on maintainace.
Skoda has the advantage of being the only car in that segment except for elantra which actually costs 3 lakh less, but if you look at the money taken out of your pocket, a petrol corolla will cost you the same.

MrBoombastic · 31st January 2006, 11:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by tsk1979

Lets say I get a perfect skoda without any problems. After 2 years and 55000kms later I take it to service. The normal maintainace like brake pads, seals etc., which have to be replaced will cost me 25K+

tsk bhai, I asked all these questions to a known guy who is a technical person with Skoda here yesterday and you are right. Also, he said that the brake pads would need a change at 25000-30000kms. and not 50000kms., which further strengthens what you've just said.

I'm so sure someone will say these are not a must, but then, those are the kind that don't have well-maintained/ reliable cars.

Rtech · 31st January 2006, 11:28

Last service I did - NOT at an Authorised Skoda dealer. (all figures out of memory, hence approx.!)
Air filter: Rs.2,800/- THis is a reusable Pipercross foam filter, so I won't have this expense again for a long time.
Fuel Filter: Rs. 1,200
Oil Filter:Rs. 750/-
Motul Fully Synthetic oil: Rs.3,125/-
Labour: Rs.1,000/-
Total: Rs.7,875.

Is that out of the ordinary? No. So if you're not hung up on the "Authorised" stamp, the Skoda costs as much as any other car to service.

tsk1979 · 31st January 2006, 11:33

Thats something which is known. Parts which cost 50K in authorised workshop are available outside for 20000. And this is something which makes it worse. Skoda deliberately tries to make servicing etc., expensive so that dealers can earn a lot and therefore dealer margin can be kept lower.
Moreover in many cities finding a non authorised good workshop for cars like skoda etc., is difficult. So such people cant go anywhere else.

Rtech · 31st January 2006, 11:45

The thing is, once the new insurance regulations come into force, the premium on a Skoda is going to skyrocket. That will mean a drop in sales for Skoda. So, if they are thinking straight, it would make business sense for them to reduce the prices of parts.

Beeman · 31st January 2006, 11:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by tsk1979

Thats something which is known. Parts which cost 50K in authorised workshop are available outside for 20000. And this is something which makes it worse. Skoda deliberately tries to make servicing etc., expensive so that dealers can earn a lot and therefore dealer margin can be kept lower.
Moreover in many cities finding a non authorised good workshop for cars like skoda etc., is difficult. So such people cant go anywhere else.

Very very true! i would never dare take mine to a non-authorised dealer. First things since they usually dont regularly open up skoda's they end up wrecking more things than the fix.
Case in point they might take out some nut/screw or moulding and them=n fix it the wrong way. Has happened to me on other cars. But i guess as the model becomes a bit older and more and more people start getting work done from outside , their skill increases and so will my confidence. But in my city "not yet thanks"

Rtech · 31st January 2006, 12:02

The main thing about private workshops is to know the guy who is running the place. I would much prefer giving my car to someone who I trust will actually change the oil. I've heard far too many stories about dealers (doesn't matter which company, as they are all the smae in this regard) who charge for oil changes but don't actually do any work!

And changing oil/filters is not exactly brain surgery! Ofcourse, for more specialised work, it would be the dealership.

DRC · 31st January 2006, 12:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrBoombastic

OFF TOPIC, KINDLY EXCUSE! Is it so obvious, v1p3r? Everytime I mention the Laura, MotorMom says I'm stupid and that she knows I want to buy it... Then, while discussing two other cars in PM, Steerman, told me the same without saying the stupid bit LOL... BTW, gang, I drove the manual Laura today (secret: No telling MotorMom hehehe!)... Yes, the manual Laura is out. I know you all will say that I love the DSG, but I feel the DSG deserves a better engine for the super duper thingie it is!

Hey Boom,
Ask skoda for how much they sell the DSG for, you can try plonking into other cars you buy... We all know all you love in loura is the DSG..

PS: DSG may cost as much as a CIVIC

Only jokes..no offence

MrBoombastic · 31st January 2006, 12:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by DRC

Hey Boom,
Ask skoda for how much they sell the DSG for, you can try plonking into other cars you buy... We all know all you love in loura is the DSG..

PS: DSG may cost as much as a CIVIC

Only jokes..no offence

LOL... Everybody makes fun of me with the DSG, so, no offence taken... At least you didn't call me a parrot who knows only one word "DSG" like MotorMom did a while ago. Good one, buddy!

adya33 · 31st January 2006, 17:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rtech

The main thing about private workshops is to know the guy who is running the place. I would much prefer giving my car to someone who I trust will actually change the oil. I've heard far too many stories about dealers (doesn't matter which company, as they are all the smae in this regard) who charge for oil changes but don't actually do any work!

And changing oil/filters is not exactly brain surgery! Ofcourse, for more specialised work, it would be the dealership.

so you expect people to buy skoda & then go on searching through city to find good mechanic ?

Rtech · 31st January 2006, 17:55

Read the post again. It applies for ALL Authorised dealers. I don't trust a single one of them.

Remember though, there are good and bad dealers for all companies. E.G. Navin has only great things to say for Autobahn, while Mad Monkey has the opposite. GTO had a terrible experience with Ichibaan Honda when he bought his pre-owned car. Another member (can't remember which one) has only great things to say about a Fiat dealer in Mumbai.

It's just that I much prefer giving my cars to a guy I've known for a long time. Ashdeen of Speed Demon is who I trust with my cars.

adya33 · 31st January 2006, 18:06

RTech
the first point you made was

Quote:

Is that out of the ordinary? No. So if you're not hung up on the "Authorised" stamp, the Skoda costs as much as any other car to service.

meaning giving SKoda car servicing costs same.
I said

Quote:

so you expect people to buy skoda & then go on searching through city to find good mechanic ?

as for service stations, in Pune my experience with Honda dealership is quite positive so is with one of Opel Dealer.

PS: I quoted the wrong post last time. Sorry

View Poll Results: Is a Skoda worth buying anymore?
Yes - The strengths of the product outweigh the ownership headaches	67	23.51%
No - Service and Support matter to me as much as the car	218	76.49%
Voters: 285. You may not vote on this poll

31st January 2006, 11:08	#49
tsk1979 Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 23,717 Thanked: 22,790 Times View My Garage	@Beemer, The points you made are very valid. But skoda is a 12L car. If a 22L car has a service cost of 20000, its acceptable, but not for a 12L car! Lets say I get a perfect skoda without any problems. After 2 years and 55000kms later I take it to service. The normal maintainace like brake pads, seals etc., which have to be replaced will cost me 25K+ Also I would have spent something like 1rs/km on maintainace. Skoda has the advantage of being the only car in that segment except for elantra which actually costs 3 lakh less, but if you look at the money taken out of your pocket, a petrol corolla will cost you the same.
	() Thanks

31st January 2006, 11:28	#51
Rtech Team-BHP Support Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 5,770 Thanked: 359 Times View My Garage	Last service I did - NOT at an Authorised Skoda dealer. (all figures out of memory, hence approx.!) Air filter: Rs.2,800/- THis is a reusable Pipercross foam filter, so I won't have this expense again for a long time. Fuel Filter: Rs. 1,200 Oil Filter:Rs. 750/- Motul Fully Synthetic oil: Rs.3,125/- Labour: Rs.1,000/- Total: Rs.7,875. Is that out of the ordinary? No. So if you're not hung up on the "Authorised" stamp, the Skoda costs as much as any other car to service.
	() Thanks

31st January 2006, 11:33	#52
tsk1979 Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 23,717 Thanked: 22,790 Times View My Garage	Thats something which is known. Parts which cost 50K in authorised workshop are available outside for 20000. And this is something which makes it worse. Skoda deliberately tries to make servicing etc., expensive so that dealers can earn a lot and therefore dealer margin can be kept lower. Moreover in many cities finding a non authorised good workshop for cars like skoda etc., is difficult. So such people cant go anywhere else.
	() Thanks

31st January 2006, 11:45	#53
Rtech Team-BHP Support Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 5,770 Thanked: 359 Times View My Garage	The thing is, once the new insurance regulations come into force, the premium on a Skoda is going to skyrocket. That will mean a drop in sales for Skoda. So, if they are thinking straight, it would make business sense for them to reduce the prices of parts.
	() Thanks

31st January 2006, 12:02	#55
Rtech Team-BHP Support Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 5,770 Thanked: 359 Times View My Garage	The main thing about private workshops is to know the guy who is running the place. I would much prefer giving my car to someone who I trust will actually change the oil. I've heard far too many stories about dealers (doesn't matter which company, as they are all the smae in this regard) who charge for oil changes but don't actually do any work! And changing oil/filters is not exactly brain surgery! Ofcourse, for more specialised work, it would be the dealership.
	() Thanks

31st January 2006, 17:55	#59
Rtech Team-BHP Support Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 5,770 Thanked: 359 Times View My Garage	Read the post again. It applies for ALL Authorised dealers. I don't trust a single one of them. Remember though, there are good and bad dealers for all companies. E.G. Navin has only great things to say for Autobahn, while Mad Monkey has the opposite. GTO had a terrible experience with Ichibaan Honda when he bought his pre-owned car. Another member (can't remember which one) has only great things to say about a Fiat dealer in Mumbai. It's just that I much prefer giving my cars to a guy I've known for a long time. Ashdeen of Speed Demon is who I trust with my cars.
	() Thanks

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