1997- A big blunder from Skoda Auto

kiku007 · 26th November 2009, 01:30

1. Common, magazines create hype. We all know that. Someone from the manufacturer giving an interview also should be taken with loads of salt!

2. Blunder for Skoda? Think again. I've been reading that, Skoda is much more premium than VW for some Indians. Beat that

P.S: The yearly "New cars for the next year edition from ACI" is the most hyped up/incorrect one. Not their fault enitrely. But ones like Hyundai Sante Fe or Toyota Prius are highly doubtful!

karthik247 · 26th November 2009, 07:21

If you think about it, its not the cars that are a joke, its the after sales service. And about pricing the Octy at around 6L, yeah right.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jigbarai

What was the launch price of the Octavia in India ?

The range started at a little over 11L and the top of the line was around ~13.5L (im talking about diesel models)

Mpower · 26th November 2009, 07:29

It launched at 10.5...same price for petrol and diesel. They took out ABS from diesel to equivalise the price.

It was considered good vfm at the time for what it offered considering that a Opel Astra diesel fully loaded was going for 11.5 L....and believe me that car was a piece of junk.

jigbarai · 26th November 2009, 09:20

Irrespective of what that magazine says, I think it has preserved and delivered its 'value'.

Different variants have come and gone, however the model is still selling decently, after like a good 9/10 years, without any radical change to the overall build / design - not many cars across segments can manage do that.

And for what it offered at that point of time (the economical Diesel Luxury, if we can call it) at that price point - it was indeed VFM.

Carwale still quotes a value of close to 2.8 L for a Jan 2001 Diesel Octavia, done about 100000 Kms, in Mumbai.

YVES · 26th November 2009, 09:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by jigbarai

Irrespective of what that magazine says, I think it has preserved and delivered its 'value'.

Different variants have come and gone, however the model is still selling decently, after like a good 9/10 years, without any radical change to the overall build / design - not many cars across segments can manage do that.

Agree , How many cars other than octy have that much shelf value in terms of product life cycle , nearest to my mind is Esteem from erstwhile maruti , rest have died faster.

Trapezio · 26th November 2009, 10:02

Are we not a little unfair on Skoda?

What Osamu Suzuki has said in the last twenty years is enough to run another forum.

The point is that none is perfect. Everybody learn and move forward.

diffsoft · 26th November 2009, 10:15

Why should we call it a blunder? I am sure they did their homework but there are just too many factors between the cup and the lip that can go wrong.

Maybe 6 lakhs was in "crowns" or "EMU", maybe they did not know our byzantine laws - whatever. It was said in 1997 and they launched in 2001.

What can one then say about one industry doyen who said "I think there is a world market for maybe five computers"

ganesh_evo75 · 26th November 2009, 10:24

Ya, wisely said @ trapezio, if at all Skoda would have launched Octy at @6 lac, it would'nt have been the same Octy for what we swear by for solid build, luxurious, Diesel economy plus Power.

One thing is sure, if one skoda is good, it is good for whole its life, and you will swear by it and if something is wrong in one model it will remain and trouble you for whole of its life. skoda cant solve its problems

GTO · 26th November 2009, 17:18

Guys, lets cut 'em some slack. If we have to go by what was stated in the 90's, Maruti had super-strong lobbying against diesel engines (how things change), Peugeot was to become a top 5 car maker in India, Mercedes would sell E Class' at 22 lakhs only, Toyota's 3 lakh rupee small car would already be here, BMW would have started with the E39 5 series etc. etc. etc.

This thread = closed.

26th November 2009, 01:30	#16
kiku007 Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: AU Posts: 2,323 Thanked: 7,197 Times	1. Common, magazines create hype. We all know that. Someone from the manufacturer giving an interview also should be taken with loads of salt! 2. Blunder for Skoda? Think again. I've been reading that, Skoda is much more premium than VW for some Indians. Beat that P.S: The yearly "New cars for the next year edition from ACI" is the most hyped up/incorrect one. Not their fault enitrely. But ones like Hyundai Sante Fe or Toyota Prius are highly doubtful!
	() Thanks

26th November 2009, 07:29	#18
Mpower Senior - BHPian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Bangalore Posts: 10,409 Thanked: 1,730 Times View My Garage	It launched at 10.5...same price for petrol and diesel. They took out ABS from diesel to equivalise the price. It was considered good vfm at the time for what it offered considering that a Opel Astra diesel fully loaded was going for 11.5 L....and believe me that car was a piece of junk.
	() Thanks

26th November 2009, 09:20	#19
jigbarai BHPian Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Mumbai Posts: 554 Thanked: 29 Times	Irrespective of what that magazine says, I think it has preserved and delivered its 'value'. Different variants have come and gone, however the model is still selling decently, after like a good 9/10 years, without any radical change to the overall build / design - not many cars across segments can manage do that. And for what it offered at that point of time (the economical Diesel Luxury, if we can call it) at that price point - it was indeed VFM. Carwale still quotes a value of close to 2.8 L for a Jan 2001 Diesel Octavia, done about 100000 Kms, in Mumbai.
	() Thanks

26th November 2009, 10:02	#21
Trapezio BHPian Join Date: May 2007 Location: Kerala Posts: 640 Thanked: 63 Times	Are we not a little unfair on Skoda? What Osamu Suzuki has said in the last twenty years is enough to run another forum. The point is that none is perfect. Everybody learn and move forward.
	() Thanks

26th November 2009, 10:15	#22
diffsoft BHPian Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Bangalore Posts: 773 Thanked: 404 Times	Why should we call it a blunder? I am sure they did their homework but there are just too many factors between the cup and the lip that can go wrong. Maybe 6 lakhs was in "crowns" or "EMU", maybe they did not know our byzantine laws - whatever. It was said in 1997 and they launched in 2001. What can one then say about one industry doyen who said "I think there is a world market for maybe five computers"
	() Thanks

26th November 2009, 10:24	#23
ganesh_evo75 BHPian Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Aurangabad (maharashtra) Posts: 80 Thanked: 7 Times	Ya, wisely said @ trapezio, if at all Skoda would have launched Octy at @6 lac, it would'nt have been the same Octy for what we swear by for solid build, luxurious, Diesel economy plus Power. One thing is sure, if one skoda is good, it is good for whole its life, and you will swear by it and if something is wrong in one model it will remain and trouble you for whole of its life. skoda cant solve its problems Last edited by Jaggu : 26th November 2009 at 10:52. Reason: Please avoid sms language. Thanks
	() Thanks

26th November 2009, 17:18	#24
GTO Team-BHP Support Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 70,546 Thanked: 300,788 Times View My Garage	Guys, lets cut 'em some slack. If we have to go by what was stated in the 90's, Maruti had super-strong lobbying against diesel engines (how things change), Peugeot was to become a top 5 car maker in India, Mercedes would sell E Class' at 22 lakhs only, Toyota's 3 lakh rupee small car would already be here, BMW would have started with the E39 5 series etc. etc. etc. This thread = closed.
	() Thanks