Team-BHP (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/)

-   The Indian Car Scene (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/indian-car-scene/)

-   -   Skoda Laura TSi Classic launched at Rs.12.25Lakh (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/indian-car-scene/95167-skoda-laura-tsi-classic-launched-rs-12-25lakh-2.html)

The Classic comes with Height adjustment for driver seat (not passenger seat) and
Skoda "Blues" audio player. The front armrest and fog lamps available as accessories and the parking sensors can be added. But the rest you have no way of adding.

Well this makes the laura ambient tsi owners feel like they don't have the entry level of the petrol laura now, isn't this better for the resale value of the ambient version lol:

Seems Skoda still has some premium brand image left in India. How else would you explain someone being willing to forego so many features for just a Lakh and get hold of a car, mainly for the brand? Reminds one of the stripped down versions of German legends.

Yes thats correct, skoda is still seen as a premium brand here in india,
many european brands have come & gone but skdoa have always been there, eg- opel etc, Skoda have made a reputation since 2001 that their cars are like baby tankers which is true to a certain extent, if you can live with the after sales of skoda, nothign comes close to the VFM for their cars..

cheers..

i doubt people are buying because of the Skoda brand. if anything, people are buying it in spite of skoda brand - mostly because they know it is essentially a VW product and technology at a lower price point - in this case the main reason would be the TSI engine.

Its the TSI which I think is setting the sales up if not any thing. The intro price was a steal at the launch.
What to watch: New Jetta coming on heals with the same engine!

^^I don't think people buy Laura for TSI technology or petrol engine. In spite the brilliant piece of engineering of petrol and reduced prices (ever increasing fuel prices are another matter though), its the diesel which sell in hordes and the same is reflected in the monthly sales figures as well. I am sure the Laura sales includes 95% diesel and 5% petrol.

Only people who buy Laura TSI are either members of Team-bhp or enthusiasts or both. The general perception and knowledge about TSI is not much at least in India.

I am fed up with telling people why I bought petrol Laura than diesel, everyone feels I must have stretched the budget that small little more and settled with diesel.:Frustrati

P.S.: Last month I filled Speed 97 petrol for the price of regular fuel now.:Shockked:

@v.anand
I am sure attendants at the petrol bunks would be eager to fill diesel if they see a Laura :)

@ Mods - There is no official "team-BHP" style review for the Laura/Superb 1.8 TSi... any plans?

Not really, things have changed since the launch of the new superb, the new superb has sold much more in petrol numbers so the petrol bunks now know skoda also make petrol cars :D

cheers..

@androdev, I had a funny experience at a BP bunk. Wanted to fill speed 97 and asked for it. The owner of the bunk himself came and attended to me and told me it was the first time somebody was filling petrol to Laura and whether I was sure. :uncontrol

Then I had to answer the typical question of fuel efficiency which he was impressed for a car of its size but was wondering why not diesel which was so much more cheaper to run.

I told him its Audi engine, funny thing is even diesel is.lol:

well here in mumbai its different, as there are so many superbs and 90% are the petrol ones the bunks here know skoda make petrol cars, so if u take a laura / superb to the bunk & say fill petrol they dont react weird :D

cheers..

I feel the Classic is a bit too basic for the price it asks for. Ambient is the lowest spec one should go to. I do feel that they need a bit of a price revision to match the competition, but skimping on features is not the way to go.

It is hard to imagine a customer paying close to 14-15L for a car and not get alloys, parking sensors, fogs etc. They are cutting down on essentials in the classic.

Can understand, powerseats, power xnenons, sunroof, rear curtain going missing but, if one buys the TSI just for the engine, then it's like riding a horse without the saddle.

ACI says the car is available for as low as 11.99 ex showroom Delhi. I am sure there are healthy discounts too.

BTW, the base CIVIC costs 12.23 ex showroom Delhi. When was the last time you saw a Euro start at lower base price than a Jap.

PS: They should come up with similar version for TDI too

Guys I am not sure if classis is really offering any great pricing compared with Ambient.

I was in touch with Skoda dealer in Mumbai last month and they offered me discount of 1L on the car and the offer is still there...its just that I have not made up my mind.

Here is pricing in Mumbai -
Ambient - Exshowroom (without Octroi) - ~12.9L
After discount it comes to 11.9L

Now Classic is advertised as 11.49 exshowroom (without octroi) in Mumbai.
So for the price dofference of 50K you loose a lot ...specially Alloys and rear AC vents.

Unless dealers are offering discounts on Classic as well, I don't see this as great deal at all.