Team-BHP - Has Skoda stopped servicing the Octavia?

My vRS wiper blades replaced recently from Skoda Mysore dealer and it stopped working on the very next day!

I visited their dealer workshop near NIE after a week, it was a shock! they service advisor said they stopped taking Octavia :((
He claims shortage of Octavia spares creating scenes in their workshop and hence they stopped, they had instructions from the top. :eek:

I gave them two options, either pay my last invoice amount back or repair the wiper blade. He rectified it, but he was not ready to listen to the other problems at all.

I called Skoda Auto India helpline to find out if the state is specific to the dealer. He registered a complaint and gave me the number. He wasn't ready to comment if the decision not to service Octavia vehicles are officially from Skoda. I sent them a mail as well afterwards, they once replaced asking my plate number.

Now, more than 15 days no response. I was wondering where should I take my vRS for routine service jobs:deadhorse

This again is not a very encouraging news on Skoda. When Japanese keep servicing their 10-15 year old cars even today i am not really sure what stops Skoda from doing the same. Do they expect their cars not to last so long and be junked much before that.

My Baleno (i believe) was discontinued before Octavia and i continue to get parts when i need them (Some of them take longer). Maruti A.S.S continue to accept my Baleno for servicing and all. This gives me peace of mind owning a Japanese car Skoda (or VAG) should do the same with their cars launched in India.

BTW, Did you tried trying a nearby trusted mechanic by any chance? He might do a better job minus the crib.

I doubt this is the case. Servicing is a huge revenue generator. Main issue is that Skoda dealers cannot cope with the service volumes. Our mod Navin just gave his Octavia in for some work and had no problem!

Honda still repair the first Honda City, Ford still repair Ikons, Escorts and Mondeo's. Abroad - manufacturuers stand by their products for a lietime.

With the quantity of octavis they have sold , they would be nuts not to service that car for the sheer amount of revenue it brings them. Additionally , Routine servicing like oil/filter change you can do on your own. As far as other intensive jobs there are hoards of independent garages to cater to your requirements.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sgiitk

nishad; you are in Bangalore. I am sure there are independents who do a better job. Ask around from other Skoda owners.

Yes. Do write to Ajmat because he uses a couple of garages who are apparently good and above board. He did recommend the KR Puram Vinayak Service centre to me once when I asked him.

But why should they dis-own their own vehicle, I fail to understand. Are there any govt. guidelines on these things ? What if I buy a car which is discontinued within a year's time and a company decides to stop servicing it ?

S(hh)koda :D if infamous for they A.S.S. but just wondering if there are any rules on these things.

The easiest way to cross check what the dealer has said about Octavia parts is to check with some other dealer. You could try that in Mysore or Bangalore.

But, I wouldn't be exactly surprised even if there is truth in this given how GM-Opel treats my Corsa! Probably, the Germans believe in "Goods once sold will not be serviced!" :D

It would appear that Skoda stopped servicing their cars from when they were launched ! Jokes apart, such dangerous motherhood statements from Skoda are unprofessional - they seem to not have learnt to shoot themselves in the foot.

Quote:

Originally Posted by shankar.balan (Post 2776627)

Yes. Do write to Ajmat because he uses a couple of garages who are apparently good and above board. He did recommend the KR Puram Vinayak Service centre to me once when I asked him.

A small correction, the only garage apart from Vinayak that Ajit uses is his own garage at home. Most of the repairs on his car are DIY at home!!! He doesn't need to take the car to Vinayak also.:D

I recently replaced the brake pads and disks on my Octavia mk1 vRS and Vinayaka had everything in stock. I also found Vinayaka very courteous unlike my previous experiences with Maruti *** (high volume so they tend to cut you off - my Swift always had scratches post service)!

Stopping of repairs/servicing is highly unlikely.
As Ajmat rightly pointed out, servicing is a major revenue generator, that most delears wouldnt want to lose.
At least here in Pune, I do see Octavia's serviced at both the delears' workshops.

Secondly, isnt it a law, that spares must be made available for cars, for at least ~5 years after manufacturing has stopped.
Read it somewhere (could be on this forum itself).

Quote:

Originally Posted by Swanand Inamdar (Post 2842371)

isnt it a law, that spares must be made available for cars, for at least ~5 years after manufacturing has stopped.

5 years????
You must be kidding. My Tucson is already 7 years old...:D

If we pay road tax for 15 years, we should be able get spare for 15 yearsplease:.

Our Octavia was due for service last month, and not only were Vinayak cars (okalipuram) ready to accept they car, we got a few reminder calls as well.

I don't think they've stopped servicing Octavia. hope they don't anytime soon either :)