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-   -   The YetiŽ writes a car story - (and review of Skoda Superb) (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/test-drives-initial-ownership-reports/81233-yeti-writes-car-story-review-skoda-superb-10.html)

Congratulations. Fantastic car you got there!clap:

That one totally made my day.
Your writing skills are too good!

Almost middle of the night, waiting for another post of yours.

Have never waited like this for her phone call

Oops! Thank god Wifey does not have a TBHP account!:eek:

There is a long list of ppl waiting Sam! Cmon.. where art thou?

Thou too, Brutus?

Ohh I mean Jassi?:D

Yep, in the wait i have finished his several other threads that i missed in the last couple of months ..lol

Actually I too was doing the same! Stumbled uppon a facebook page created by one of The YetiŽ fans where I got this question on the Discussion Board:

Not the official version guys/gals but what did you guys think of when you heard the name? :)
Do you have your own version of why it is so?
Please feel free to post the same. :P

So I replied

Coz this creature(Sam) has a life like no one of us Humans have. It almost resembles another creature(the so called real Yeti) in terms of rareness. In saying so, I do not mean that our Yeti is not the real Yeti. Apologies if it hurts the sentiments of lesser mortals like non-TBHpians.:D

Even I didn't know that Sam had a FB account! Promptly joined :) Waiting for more...

Excellent is not the word to describe your write up Sam. Congrats man on your new drive.

Thanks for sharing the experience.

I have been in the stockyard of many dealers (of multiple car companies) and it has always been the same, dust, bird **** and .....sometimes, even human guano. It makes me think that a dealer should try to have some sort of a way to keep the cars under shade. I understand that it is expensive to cover a large area, but it can be done.

Making the stockyard a part of the buying experience can instill a lot of faith in the prospective buyer. How about this, after the test drive:

Salesman: Sir, if you have the time, would you like to take a look at our stockyard? You get to see more colours than the ones in the showroom.

Buyer: Sure, that sounds good.

Buyer goes to the stockyard, sees lots of cars, kept reasonably clean, in the shade. He thinks, well, this dealer takes care of the cars and it might be a good idea to buy from this fellow.

Of course, the salesman needs to take a call about what the buyer might be like (you know, the one who says: "Mere ko khali black car mangta, ekdum raapchick black", doesn't need to go to the yard).

Other than just this, I am really paranoid about cars in yards like the one in the pictures Sam shared. I am certain that rats might have a go at chewing up cables and other things, on a car stored for a month or so. After all, not all rats have a palate as refined as the one who starred in Ratatouille.

The difference Sam is that if a Honda dealer is dishonest with you you can take your case to the company and they will resolve it, if a Skoda delaer is dishonest with you the company does nothing about it.

You must remember that a few TBHP mods met with the top management of Skoda as well as one of their Directors (from the home country) and we made multiple requests...requests? no we made multiple pleas to them that they need to fix their after sales service and dropped enough hints that the system they had to mange their dealers needs to be tightened. Has there been any improvement? Well to be honest, a little. I, personally, would like to see a lot more.

With Skoda, it is not the dealer we have to fear as much as it is the company itself.

I too own a Skoda. I get it serviced by Autobahn (atleast for the big stuff). For the regular oil change etc.. I take to a reliable garage. Sam like you, I am chauffered more often than I drive. Why I drive more in the US, Germany and Singapore than I do in India. Like you my company's lawyers could take Skoda to the cleaners if they tried anything remotely dishonest.

I use my Skoda within Mumbai limits becuase if it fails atleast I can get home. For out of town duties I use an Accord or Innova. The 2 friends who had thei DSGs fail also do the same thing now.

When you have a car that has a major component (they claim it is a "Mechnatronic" part) fail repeatedly and still do not keep this component in stock with your dealers or recall the cars and fix these unrelaible components you are asking for a PR disaster.

Sam I really wish you and Jenny have NO trouble with this car. I like the car. I would buy it for myself but I fear being stranded at the wrong place and at the wrong time.

Sam if your BB hangs while playing some game it is ok but if it reboots in the middle of a conversation it can get irritating to say the least. A car must have reliable ciritical components - engine, gear box, transmission, etc.. if the stereo fails it is tolerable, if the gear box fails doing 80 kmph on the Mumbai Pune Expressway it can lead to disaster.

Now I am not even talking about poor/dishonest service here. Now lets talk about service.

A friend had a small problem with his Hyundai Elantra while driving to Poona. He called the dealer. The dealer had someone at his place (destination in Poona) within 2 hours of the call and the problem was fixed at site. Cost of repair Rs. 300. The car was not even in warranty. Can we trust Skoda or Autobahn to do this?

It was some time ago (2005) but I remember the Skoda mechanic I was talking to (my car needed service then) asking me if my car (Octy vRS) was an Automatic or Manual. The air bag sensor had failed. What does this have to do with the transmission? Why did the mechanic not know a vRS is a manual? Finally I used my TBHP network and Briskoda to indentify the porblem and told the mechanic the part I needed. Why do Skoda service men need our help to debug what is wrong with their car? Ok maybe they are better trained today (it has been 4+ years since).

Sam we both know someone who carries a VAG-COM in their car. What sort of car needs this routine...

Start car. If it starts it is ok. otherwise.
Boot up laptop
Hook up VAG-COM
Flash car
Restart car.
It can take 5-7 minutes just to start your car. That is if VAG-COM can flash the problem away.

I sure hope Skoda does respect your money.

Just to clarify, Jenny is "TheOne", I am someone!

Great narration, as usual, Sam!
Congratulations on getting the most-bang-for-your-buck car!

But i echo Navin's wish that Skoda respects your money.

Its funny how owning a skoda almost harks back to the 70s. Back then it was:
"He drives a car. He must have some good connections"

Now:
"He drives a skoda. He must have some good connections"

Come to think of it, that way Skoda has managed to build a snob value image that no other manufacturer has been able to do. Anybody with money can drive an Accord or a Camry or even BMWs and Audis. But to drive a Skoda, just money will not do. You have to KNOW some key people.

Congratulations Sam! It looks simply awesome.

+1. Going by the stories that bhpians have shared on this forum, I keep wondering which company in the world treat its customers so badly. Skoda sells most of its cars in the D segment and still has such a appalling attitude towards the problems that the customers faced with their cars.

I feel government regulation is also lax. Such companies should not be allowed to do business or there should be minimal service commitments. And the consumer courts take so long - I don't know why.

Sam said he has taken a calculated risk. But Superb is one heck of a car to resist at that price. When your heart is on something, it is easy for calculations to arrive at desired result. In the end it was a decision, that I believe, gave happiness to Sam. And I am sure this Skoda will run well, even if jsut for a change.

Wow...Congrats on your buy. Thats a wonderful car Sam. Wish you a million miles of trouble free running.

OT: I couldn't resist quoting this link :OT

The Official Joke thread - Team-BHP.

No offence guyz!!! Just for laughs lol:

Congrats Sam. Wish you a have a "Superb" time with the car.

Past few days I was hunting the Travelouges session thinking its been sometime that there is no Yeti blogs did not expect one from you in the Ownership reports :)