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Old 26th December 2024, 14:39   #2491
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Re: Skoda Slavia Review

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Originally Posted by ShreeUKale View Post
Hello Everyone,

Can someone help me out to know what are the latest features added in Slavia if any.

I have heard that now puddle lamps are available as an inbuilt feature.
Is this true or they are made available as a genuine accessory which can be fitted as per the customer’s wish!
From what I've heard, they are not available on all models.
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Old 27th December 2024, 20:42   #2492
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Re: Skoda Slavia Review

My experience of buying a Skoda Slavia: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

I took delivery of a Skoda Slavia Sportline 1.0 MT from EVM Skoda, Kochi on 26th Dec. I thought I will pen down my experience since I have not went through these many emotions within the span of a few weeks for so long.

The Good
On 4th of December, a scorching hot Wednesday afternoon we as a family dropped in at the Palarivattom outlet of EVM Skoda to enquire about the Slavia. We were greeted and welcomed warmly at the small but smart looking showroom. I had already made up my mind on the variant I want and enquired with the SA on the same. They informed me that few cars were in stock and another one is in transit which was luckily the colour that I had my eyes on. He took out his binder on the December offers and gave me a pretty good deal on the variant I enquired. I was also offered a test drive of the 1.0 AT and I was thoroughly impressed with the car as well as the interactions. Compared to the VW and Citroen showroom visits prior to this, Skoda was the better of the lot, mind you all these dealerships are run by EVM group. The price mentioned included 10k worth of "Essential Kit" accessories which I said I don't want and requested for handpicking from their brochure, which the SA said he would “check and let you know". I got a written quote for 1.0 Sportline MT and AT, shared my Tiago's details to get the exchange value and left the showroom.
Skoda Slavia Review-93ff0401c5774912942d3b6ffff81f34.jpeg

The Bad
Skoda-VW had made me really confused on which to finalise, Virtus GT Line or the Slavia Sportline due to the spread of colours, features and styling of both in such a way that many things I liked and preferred were exclusive to one or the other. If only there was on option of a custom specced Virtavia to buy!. Anyways after a few days of the initial visit, I informed VW and Skoda a day before that I would drop by the showroom to get test drive of 1.0 MT and would book the car post that. VW was first, good interaction, test drive and booking experience except for the fact that they were not fully committing to sourcing the GT line and suspiciously was giving me only back of the envelope calculations instead of a proper quote. Went straight to Skoda from there, the SA took me to the stockyard on request and showed me Carbon Steel, Tornado Red, Brilliant Silver and Candy White colours in either Sportline or Montecarlo trims which are almost identical from the exterior.
Skoda Slavia Review-yard-pics.png

Upon reaching back to the showroom the promised 1.0 MT test drive vehicle was no where to be found. I enquired about the status of the car in transit and was told it will reach the yard the next day, got the VIN as well and from the decoder thread came to know it was of Oct 24 manufacturing. After making up some excuses for not having the TD vehicle ready and wasting nearly 1 hour of my lunchtime, the SA apologised and promised a home TD for the next day. I paid the booking amount of 25k (VW asked me for only 11k), I left the showroom mulling over Candy White or Tornado Red to finalise. As promised the next day, on time, the SA showed up with a Carbon Steel TD vehicle which helped me take out Virtus out of contention.
Skoda Slavia Review-c912ff9918eb4ebf9fb5599d9b76e3a9.jpeg

The Ugly
On to the next week, PSU banks have improved a lot and I got my loan sanctioned in two days. Now started the dealership calls to release the payment from bank. But I had given strict instructions to bank to release upon my confirmation post seeing vehicle at yard and PDI. SA promised me Monday, 9th to see vehicle at the yard since it would arrive over the weekend. But on 9th the person was on leave. My father's cataract surgery was scheduled on 10th Dec and I said I can come on 11th for the yard visit. But upon their insistence I went to the dealership on the same day of the surgery. This is where the incompetence starts, when I took time out of an anyways tiring day, I would not have expected what happened next. "Sir, the vehicle is not at yard as Muvattupuzha showroom(50kms away) took the vehicle as their display car.” I did not create a scene there since at that time I was more worried about the car even existing at all let alone driven rashly by dealership staff or multiple people pulling and prodding at my car at a showroom somewhere. After leaving the showroom, I took my motorcycle and went to the Muvattupuzha showroom to see if their story ties back and to see the car in flesh?metal? myself. Felt relieved as there she was in all glory being an eye candy to the whole of Muvattupuzha.
Skoda Slavia Review-a9ed96329e314826b4ec9837c99e96d8.jpeg

Only saving grace was that I could do a detailed PDI under showroom lights and air-conditioning. Took my time with the check and found two issues. One was a chip in paint on rear right passenger door, which the showroom staff admitted happened when they were removing the covers. And another adhesive giving away at the same door. Odo stood at 55 kms, which matched the distance between yard to Muvattupuzha.
Skoda Slavia Review-pdi-findings.png

Displeased at the overall turn of events and car clocking unnecessary kms, but slight joy of seeing my car for the first time, I called the bank to release the funds. SA promised me that the car would be transported back to Kalamassery Service Centre the very next day and kept there till handed over to me.

Over the next week, I released the rest of the funds upon their requests and kept around 10k in abeyance to be paid on delivery day. During the registration processes I was shocked to see only 2,12,XXX as the road tax but they had collected 2,20,XXX from me, this higher amount was mentioned in the initial quote and booking form under road tax. They had included 8k of Value Added Services charges into the price which I was not made aware of till registration happened and after I raised my doubt. I asked them to remove that amount which was denied and whatever mail I had sent to Skoda Customer Care was rerouted back to the dealer. I had also mailed Skoda whether I can opt out of the "Essential Kit" which was also not addressed by Skoda and routed back to dealer again. I had to swallow the hard pill that I am paying nearly 20k for no choice of my own. Skoda needs to take ownership of such questions from customers instead of washing their hands clean and letting dealers continue with their dirty tactics to mint money.

When I thought things couldn't get any worse, delivery day shenanigans happened. I had requested for the last week of December as the tentative timeline for delivery. Till 17th SA said they were busy registering bookings made prior to mine which was okay with me. Since I had opted for a number of my choice, dealer completed the temporary registration on 19th and shared the documents. I reserved my number on the same day and got it allotted on 23rd Monday. I shared the allotment letter for them to place the order for HSRP so that I can pick up the car on 26th with HSRP fixed. I followed up on 24th with the SA to tell him about timing of delivery and family has fixed some auspicious time and he informed that order for HSRP is placed and we can take delivery on 26th as planned by 11.30 am. My in-laws were also planning to come on delivery day so informed them about the timings.

Words can't express how excited I was to get home my own Christmas gift. My in-laws got on a train at 6am to reach Kochi for the delivery. My family along with my parents and in-laws were about to leave for the dealership at 9.30am when the SA called. "Sir, your HSRP cannot be ordered due to a RTO issue, since number is allotted we cannot deliver on temp plates either, so delivery not possible." I was properly mad at the turn of events and asked them what can be done but the SA blamed me "Sir you did not complete the fancy number registration through our agent hence these things happened" I lost my cool and cut the call after hearing that load of BS at the 11th hour.

Called the Skoda CDM and informed of the predicament and told them I am not compromising on the time and date and is going to come to the showroom and taking delivery of the car come what may. In person, the CDM and the team was welcoming and after enquiring with some RTO officials it was decided taking delivery on temp plates was okay and hence that ended up happening. Since delivery was done the Aluva showroom, my SA was called there by the CDM to complete the rest of the paperwork.

The CDM and their team tried to ease the evident hostility that I was maintaining against the SA following the incidents in the morning. Cake cutting was arranged and the overall delivery in itself was great. We had wrapped a gift for the SA the day before and was in two minds to give it or not, but ended up gifting anyway as I did not want to bring it back home to us and be reminded of the incidents again. We left the showroom at 1.20pm, nearly 2 hrs after we arrived as they had to print the temp plates and they did not expect us to show up after the calls in the morning.

At the time of delivery odo read 96 km, a number which I was not comfortable with, which was also caused due to the coordination issue within dealership sending my car all over Ernakulam district. They even forgot to paste the Fastag on the windscreen after charging me freakin 900 rupees . By that time I had let my guard down and wanted to just drive off from there and did not notice. Try bringing four senior citizens and one toddler to a showroom and wait for 2 hours and you would know how I felt.

I forgot about all these incidents soon after I sat behind the wheel of my new steed and started the new chapter to our automotive life. Few trips are planned for the coming months and hoping to share my ownership experience after I clock some kms on the odo.

Is there a better Ad needed for IndianOil/XP95?
Skoda Slavia Review-164c53ec63204541a386ebd93771048b_1_105_c.jpeg
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Old 28th December 2024, 11:04   #2493
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Re: Skoda Slavia Review

Congratulations on your new car. The car looks stunning and i am sure you will enjoy the Slavia's driving dynamics. The delivery experience has a lot left to be desired and fully understand what you must have gone through.

One thing i noticed how the cars are parked in the open without any cover or protection. I hope these cars are to be delivered and not stored waiting to be bought.

Happy motoring!
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Old 28th December 2024, 11:52   #2494
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Quote:
Originally Posted by janakiram_m View Post
"Sir you did not complete the fancy number registration through our agent hence these things happened" I lost my cool and cut the call after hearing that load of BS at the 11th hour.
That is an unfortunate turn of incidents, but nonetheless, Congratulations on the car!
The Sportline looks smashing in Red, as well as the Monte Carlo

I have also done the fancy number registration myself for VW Virtus 1.0 Topline AT, and paid 10K online for it. The showroom folks have informed us that after registration they will share the forms as needed.

It is a bit tricky since my number is MH12, but I am taking delivery from a Thane dealer, so hoping all goes well

Quote:
Originally Posted by Katryks View Post
One thing I noticed how the cars are parked in the open without any cover or protection. I hope these cars are to be delivered and not stored waiting to be bought
Unfortunately, this is how the stockyards are. My cousin visited the stockyard near the Gujarat highway (near Fountain hotel) yesterday for the PDI of Virtus Topline that I have booked, and the Kushaq's, Slavia Sportline/Monte Carlo (especially the Red ones), Taigun's just gathering dust were plenty.

He was joking with me, "Why didn't you go for Skoda? You would have scored discounts more than 3-3.5 Lakh"
And even Virtus's were there, but they looked cleaner presumably because the delivery may happen shortly.

Skoda Slavia Review-whatsapp-image-20241227-17.42.35.jpeg

Though the dealer had promised Silver and blue in stock, by the time the discounts were finalized, only white and Red were left to choose.
Since my family was against red, I went with Candy White, looks royally smashing in this color as well.

Along with my car, there was a PDI for Lava Blue Virtus GT and Kushaq Sportline in progress nearby.

This is not reciprocated when you visit Skoda Pune showrooms, where they offer you 70-80K measly discounts.

This extra outstanding stock could be the case only in Mumbai, since in Pune all VW Showrooms are owned by a single entity, so they too do not budge on Virtus discounts, saying that cars are mostly by order, so pending stock is not much.

Last edited by Rudra Sen : 30th December 2024 at 19:06. Reason: Back to back posts merged
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Old 28th December 2024, 12:45   #2495
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Re: Skoda Slavia Review

Quote:
Originally Posted by janakiram_m View Post
My experience of buying a Skoda Slavia: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

I took delivery of a Skoda Slavia Sportline 1.0 MT from EVM Skoda, Kochi on 26th Dec. I thought I will pen down my experience since I have not went through these many emotions within the span of a few weeks for so long.
Congratulations on your new ride Car looks very elegant as well as sexy in red!. It is also disheartening to read the hardship you had experienced during this process and wish the ride will make you forget it. Wishing you safe miles ahead
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Old 28th December 2024, 16:44   #2496
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Re: Skoda Slavia Review

Congratulations on your new car, hope you clock lakhs of safe kilometers on your new steed.

We're strongly considering the Kylaq as a replacement for our Tiago next year and your experience at EVM Skoda, Palarivattom is making me rethink my decision to go for the Kylaq.

The final two contestants are the i20 N-Line and the Kylaq, so if you have any experience with Hyundai Service centers in Ernakulam, could you comment on how they compare to your Skoda experience so far?

Does EVM Skoda have a service center at Palarivatton or is it just a showroom?

Thanks in advance.
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Old 28th December 2024, 18:06   #2497
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Re: Skoda Slavia Review

Quote:
Originally Posted by janakiram_m View Post
My experience of buying a Skoda Slavia: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly
I took delivery of a Skoda Slavia Sportline 1.0 MT from EVM Skoda, Kochi on 26th Dec. I thought I will pen down my experience since I have not went through these many emotions within the span of a few weeks for so long.
Congratulations for adding a new beauty to your garage, I feel the Sportsline in red is the best & the most value for money variant one could ask for. It has all the features you need, projector, sunroof, 6 airbags, alloys etc. The reason why I love this variant over Monte Carlo is that it has black-beige interiors, all black seems claustrophobic to me, then it has the analogue dials, I just hate screens in place of mechanical dials and last but not the least, it looks identical from out side.

I was at Skoda recently and I happen to see a black Sportline & it looked so Mafia, just imagine this with tinted windows
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Skoda Slavia Review-20241226_140204.jpg  


Last edited by sachin_cs : 28th December 2024 at 18:11.
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Old 28th December 2024, 19:03   #2498
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Re: Skoda Slavia Review

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Originally Posted by TurboTales View Post
I assume Dampening will only reduce the engine sound.
Was this reading taken at Idle RPM ? The insulation may have different effectiveness at different RPM's/sound frequencies.

I have the bonnet insulation installed as well - based on an unscientific & subjective test that I did, I found the engine sound under load to be lesser, though not a night and day difference, but at idle RPMs I hadn't found much of a change.

Last edited by Game_of_Roads : 28th December 2024 at 19:05.
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Old 28th December 2024, 19:03   #2499
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Re: Skoda Slavia Review

Congratulations on that stunning new red slavia, i also was on lookout for a sedan and was confused between virtus and slavia but finally ended up buying tata safari due to family pressuring me to buy an SUV.
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Old 28th December 2024, 19:59   #2500
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Re: Skoda Slavia Review

Skoda and the dealers. The customer service was so much better when Zac Hollis was leading Skoda.

Exact incidence happened with me. I was given a quote of 1.52 lakhs for registration. When the car got registered 10 days after delivery by the dealer, I got a message of 93k only.

When I got in touch with the dealer, they said they have already given me a huge discount and started giving me unnecessary excuses. Zac Hollis was tagged in the email to Skoda and FB messenger. He promptly replied that he would look into this.

The next day, I am repeating myself, the very next day, the dealer was at my door with 58K cheque for the refund.

Last edited by Rudra Sen : 29th December 2024 at 08:38. Reason: edited
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Old 28th December 2024, 22:22   #2501
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Re: Skoda Slavia Review

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Originally Posted by Gamerk View Post
The final two contestants are the i20 N-Line and the Kylaq, so if you have any experience with Hyundai Service centers in Ernakulam, could you comment on how they compare to your Skoda experience so far?

Does EVM Skoda have a service center at Palarivatton or is it just a showroom?
I do not have an hands on experience on Hyundai in Ernakulam so don't have any insights on that. And on Kylaq, showrooms have not received even display models yet, but showroom folks at Aluva mentioned that Skoda is planning to display the car in a mall (don't remember which) in the second week of Jan. Going by the conversations I had there, Kylaq is getting substantial interest.

Palarivattom is like a satellite showroom of the Aluva one. We had to go to Aluva to take delivery as well. Service center is at Kalamassery around 3-4kms from Aluva showroom.

Quote:
Originally Posted by sachin_cs View Post
I feel the Sportsline in red is the best & the most value for money variant one could ask for. It has all the features you need, projector, sunroof, 6 airbags, alloys etc. The reason why I love this variant over Monte Carlo is that it has black-beige interiors, all black seems claustrophobic to me, then it has the analogue dials, I just hate screens in place of mechanical dials and last but not the least, it looks identical from out side.

I was at Skoda recently and I happen to see a black Sportline & it looked so Mafia, just imagine this with tinted windows
You are spot on, Skoda Sportline and Virtus GT Line are absolute VFM variants. All the necessary features at a great value. They are based on the Signature or erstwhile Ambition but with few features from Prestige/Style and styling straight from Monte Carlo.

Unlike you I had by eye on Virtus GT Line only because it had all black interior which I liked over the black/beige of Slavia, but the Virtus body colors were all too bland for my taste. Also the Maxidot analog display of Slavia has nearly all the capabilities of the digital cockpit of Virtus GT Line or higher variants.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Tuisha110HP View Post
Skoda and the dealers. The customer service was so much better when Zac Hollis was leading Skoda.
EVM has sort of a monopoly in Kerala as far as VAG goes so I knew I would have to compromise somewhere. And this anti-customer culture seems equally a Skoda problem as much as the dealer's. Only hope is that this should end at the purchase stage and not continue to service. 🤞
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Old 29th December 2024, 00:23   #2502
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Re: Skoda Slavia Review

Quote:
Originally Posted by janakiram_m View Post

SA showed up with a Carbon Steel TD vehicle which helped me take out Virtus out of contention.

The Ugly
On to the next week, PSU banks have improved a lot and I got my loan sanctioned in two days. Now started the dealership calls to release the payment from bank. But I had given strict instructions to bank to release upon my confirmation post seeing vehicle at yard and PDI. SA promised me Monday, 9th to see vehicle at the yard since it would arrive over the weekend. But on 9th the person was on leave. My father's cataract surgery was scheduled on 10th Dec and I said I can come on 11th for the yard visit. But upon their insistence I went to the dealership on the same day of the surgery. This is where the incompetence starts, when I took time out of an anyways tiring day, I would not have expected what happened next. "Sir, the vehicle is not at yard as Muvattupuzha showroom(50kms away) took the vehicle as their display car.” I did not create a scene there since at that time I was more worried about the car even existing at all let alone driven rashly by dealership staff or multiple people pulling and prodding at my car at a showroom somewhere. After leaving the showroom, I took my motorcycle and went to the Muvattupuzha showroom to see if their story ties back and to see the car in flesh?metal? myself. Felt relieved as there she was in all glory being an eye candy to the whole of Muvattupuzha.
Congratulations on your new car

A brand new un-registered car showing up at your door step for test drive would have been a red flag.

You were lucky that your car was only used as a showroom prop and did not end up as test drive car for some other perspective buyer.

Last edited by Aviator_guy : 29th December 2024 at 00:26.
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Old 29th December 2024, 17:40   #2503
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Re: Skoda Slavia Review

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Originally Posted by vnskvn View Post
my old 70 mai from my Honda City to my Slavia. All you need to do is get a convertor to plug into the USB C in the front. 70 mai has dual dash comes starting from 12k. Its a simple DIY kit.
.
Thanks and this is a relief. I am using 70 Mai in Kushaq but with the 12V socket as plug and play. Does this can be any generic USB A to C type converter is good enough? I generally use wired Android (to avoid wireless AA disconnection issue). If one USB-C port is always connected to this Dashcam, Am I still be able to use the other port for Wired Android?
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Old 29th December 2024, 21:00   #2504
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Re: Skoda Slavia Review

How can they use a car someone has booked as a display car and that too without asking you ? And what about that 20 k you were forced to spent ? Is there no way you could have opted out of it ?
But that does not bother me when I think about the shenanigans of driving your car between dealers! I am angry after just reading that lol.
Anyways, that's all in the past . Congrats on your purchase !
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Old 30th December 2024, 00:18   #2505
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Re: Skoda Slavia Review

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Originally Posted by Game_of_Roads View Post
Was this reading taken at Idle RPM ? The insulation may have different effectiveness at different RPM's/sound frequencies.

I have the bonnet insulation installed as well - based on an unscientific & subjective test that I did, I found the engine sound under load to be lesser, though not a night and day difference, but at idle RPMs I hadn't found much of a change.
Yes, you're right—I conducted the sound test at idle RPM in my stilt garage.

I just completed a 130km drive at medium and high speeds after installing the hood insulator.

Like you, I feel that the sound has marginally reduced during load or acceleration.
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