[VLOCT]

Its great to hear your mind working while selecting a car. Great stuff.

[Sam Kapasi]

My mind had been skewed totally by the negative Skoda threads on Team-BHP.
In fact the Skoda Superb had not even been an option.

I had visited the Skoda showroom, finding there 2 people I knew. The Accessory manager, who recognized me and a in-law relative of NC.
They were both very nice to me and even showed me a car. A wine red superb that i viewed very briefly.

It was a handsome car indeed and looked like a limo, owing to its length and shorter height.
But...

I called NC again.

Class act hai Passat.
I told you.
It's got some fancy engine.
Same engine as the Superb he said dryly.
A Volkswagen engine? I asked all perked up now.
Same engine.
Did you know that the Passat has these fancy headlights that turn with the steering.
Adaptive headlights he said. Still dry as ever. The Superb has them.
Really?
Sun-shades.
Sun-shades?
Those things that you put up and down on the windows. Cool. Like the BMW.
They're also on the superb.
Really?
Boss the superb has all of this and more. Go and see the car for God's sake.

Only thing is that the Passat has no automatic in my budget. The automatic costs much much more.
Yes, the DSG. You get it with the Superb.
Same?
Yes, same DSG.

That day I spent the whole day on Skoda Superb

It looked cool. Very cool. Then I went to the accessories and saw some pretty exciting things.

Then I saw this.


And my mind said Holy Crap.

It was time to call someone at Skoda.

[Sam Kapasi]

I'd lost S' number. I pestered Gautam to give it to me and I called him.

Hello S?
Yes?
It's Sam. Gautam's friend.
Ah, how are you?
I'm well, just a few questions, got the time?
Yeah sure.

So, this Superb. Does it have fancy headlights?
You mean adaptive mumble-mumble headlights?
Yes.
Oh yes, they're Xenophobic aloysius magna carta headlights that..
So like the Passat right?
I think even more advanced
More advanced? The wonder creeps into my voice. Could that be possible?
What about the gears?
What about them?
DSG right? I learn quickly.
Yes of course.

Does it have I breathe slowly sun-shades in the rear?
Yes! Of course on the rear windows.
What about the rear glass?
Yes there too!
Motorized??
No - manual.
Ah.
-5 points to Skoda.

Is there a sunroof?
Yes.
I am about to ask him if the sunroof stops and retracts if my hand is caught in it. I stop myself. This is no time to be frivolous.
So I can buy like a fully loaded, like fully loaded Superb?
Yes of course.

Does it have... dare I ask.
Uhh.. does it have the umbrella in the rear door.
He hesitates. He's questioning my sanity.
Boss, it has everything. Like everything.
The umbrella, it's there na?
Yes.

OK thanks. I hang up. My mind is almost made up now.

Dare I think it?

[predatorwheelz]

"Xenophobic aloysius magna carta headlights!"

Too good. Can't wait for the buying experience, and of course, the pics.

[Ricky_63]

@Sam

You are brave man ! With all the super negative publicity that Skoda has received on the forum, you still went ahead & bought it !! Kudos to you.

There was a thread about a gentleman's experience with the Petrol 1.8, where the car stalled in the middle of the road (which I am sure any car can) & he had a bad BAD experience getting a replacement, but he did.

Well I have been an Octavia user since 2005, never really had a problem, because I found a reliable place to get my car cared for. The dealerships are a rip off & most un-professional.

This post may be against the "flow" of the thread, but that is the honest truth.

May you have a long & happy experience with your new Superb !!

A friend of mine who heads a @#$%^& got the same car while he had no budget constraints. So far he is happy with the car. Prior to that he had the new Accord. He rates the Superb as "Superb" against the Accord !!

So contradictory as it may sound the Superb is Superb till it goes Superb & THAT my friend depends totally on how honest the Skoda dealer is in maintaining it.





Cheers

[esteemer]

This is the first YetiBlog® I've caught live, and it's a beautiful privelege, I must say.

So now I see what your signature relates to. It's the Skoda, right?

OT : I just can't seem to be able to put into words the reverence I have for your literary contributions . You should write a book, that is, if you haven't already. I remember, about a month or two ago, when my exams had got over, I had had this conversation with mom :

Me : Woah! Finally. And so very finally, I get relief.
Mom : Hmm. So what plans do you have?
Me : Plan kya hona hai. Koi achha sa YetiBlog® lekar baith jana hai. Guarenteed entertainment.
Mom's face : 0_o
She didn't reply. Must have thought that I was too fatigued to talk sane.

[Caramelo]

heheh the umbrella is a real killer feature on skoda superb. its usually found in the rolls Royce phantom! when i watched fifth gear in some episode way back they showed this feature in the older superb too . and my jaw dropped at the site of it and i was dumbfounded ! they have still kept the tradition and this feature is still there in the new superb. also i love the name SUPERB! how cool is that!
living in Mumbai this can be really helpful!

also a point to note is that when you put back the wet umbrella in the slot there is a dedicated channel through the door where the water gets out and falls off . you don't see these things but they are there! it is pure German engineering!

[Sam Kapasi]

Originally Posted by flyingspur

I remember over the phone while I was trying to explain to you some crap about the cars that you didn't really care about (1.86 CrjGTF), you interrupted me and asked... Do you think the Accord is worth 22L ??

No.

Alright then, thanks and bye !!

True. I remember that conversation vividly. Thank you for your advice.

Originally Posted by iceman7

You do realize that you have to share some pictures with us too, don't you now?

I've taken no photos of the car yet.

I will do so tomorrow. Promise.

Originally Posted by GTO

What a writeup!

Originally Posted by prateekswarup

excellent writeup

Originally Posted by whitesquall

Lovely write up

Originally Posted by Utopian

Captivating pen . nimble wit

Thank you, you are all very kind. I find it impossible to quote everyone, but thanks really.

I will continue this story tomorrow. Please be patient until then.

Originally Posted by Ricky_63

@Sam

You are brave man ! With all the super negative publicity that Skoda has received on the forum, you still went ahead & bought it !! Kudos to you.

This post may be against the "flow" of the thread, but that is the honest truth.

This thread has no flow to go against. It is merely the ramblings of a man quite full of himself.

However you've brought up a very valid point that many (Skoda haters included) are dying to ask to ask, but no one wants to say it.

I'll say it.

With all the horror stories on this forum about the completely ridiculous after sales service of Skoda Auto, why did you buy such an expensive Skoda, Sam?

I'll answer this and other queries tomorrow

Originally Posted by esteemer

So now I see what your signature relates to. It's the Skoda, right?

OT : I just can't seem to be able to put into words the reverence I have for your literary contributions . You should write a book, that is, if you haven't already.

Originally Posted by esteemer

So now I see what your signature relates to. It's the Skoda, right?

Yes. I was choosing between a thick italian tomato sauce (Passat) or impressively brilliant (Superb) - a good catch there.

Originally Posted by esteemer

You should write a book, that is, if you haven't already.

I'll say it again, like I have on almost every thread I've written.

I've never written a book. Maybe I will someday. Thanks for the encouragement.

[sachinj12]

When the Yeti writes, the whole TBHP reads and how!!

Already 5 pages long and 5-star!! Brilliant write up.

Waiting eagerly.

OT: A few pics, please Sam.

[ms001]

congrats for the 7 star superb SAM ! why didn't you wait for the skoda yeti

[anekho]

Fantastic write up Sam!

Enjoying this one a lot

Congrats on the superb - a great car, and the rear space is sweeeeet!

[JustCause]

Skodas (high end) are like a breath of fresh air in the mostly? self proclaimed segment of Luxury cars. The umbrella reminds me of a vintage Rolls Royce I sat in at the vintage car rally, glad you posted it, as otherwise many would not even have known that an Indian car has this feature.


Waiting for a color. Is it Rosso Brunello?

[wheeler]

I know the real review of the Superb hasn't yet started but from what I've read so far, this has to be the best narration of a car buying experience. And who better to narrate than our in house story teller. Sam, you've got me in splits. My friends are wondering why I'm laughing so much. Waiting eagerly for your next post tomorrow.

[sriny_blr]

This is Awesome! you have an art sir!
It is like reading a Novel.... to me who doesnt like reading Novels.
There is few ways of people seeing 'Car' and then there is 'Mr.Sam way' 'HATS-OFF to YOU'
I dont get much time to read posts very often due to my offshore travel and yesterday i happen to open your posts and I knew what i had missed...

On the other side.. I wish you don't Zero in on a car and continue 'Your way of Exploring for the car' so 'We' get more novels to read......

[ajmat]

Tommorrow is here - where is the Yeti!!!

Let me add that what also influenced his purchase was his newly acquired european heart!