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Hello to all.
I’ve just registered for the forum after Google pointed me here while I was seeking information on Skodas & Superb in particular. I recently bought a 2010 plated Superb Elegance 3.6FSI 4x4 DSG sedan , an ex factory demonstrator with token Ks on the odometer. I believe it was used by Skoda as a VIP vehicle at Tour Down Under. It is effectively a new car as far as we are concerned, with everything desire included & plenty of factory warranty remaining. Both my wife & I are simply delighted with it.
I’m now retired & we have lots of family & friends in rural Australia, so the V6 is proving ideally suited. It is provng unbelievably frugal on the open road, achieving consumption figures even better than the official one on inland highways & motorways. In Sydney though, it is a very thirsty beast if one is not very consciously conservative with the right pedal. I suspect I can get better by using manual mode & short shifting a gear higher than auto drive does routinely. Since the late 1960s I always had manual Ford GTs or XR8s. I was attracted to look at Skodas because of their VW group engineering & ‘superb’ quality finish. I’ve never been a fan of FWD vehicles but unless one buys a Ford, a Holden or a BMW these days, there is little choice. Personally I reckon being rear wheel drive is one of the only things BMWs really offer. One wonders if Octavia was rear wheel drive, if any young blokes would be buying 3 series BMWs. This personal preference also played a part in my opting for the 4x4 V6.
Another reason I went looking at Skodas was is this penchant by other manufacturers to increase the rack of their windscreen year after year. I’m a larger bloke & I’m fed up with bashing my head every time I want to get into a Ford or Holden. In Ford’s case I am also sick of having to adopt a compromised driving position to accommodate their fetish for designing cars for people with 8 foot long legs to operate a clutch. It is fantastic to be able to position seat & wheel where I feel comfortable for the first time in a long time.
I’ve had need to contact Skoda Australia to help sought out transfer of warranty into my name & found them very helpful in sorting out the problem. I cannot say the same for the dealer the car was actually bought through. My sister has been so impressed with my Superb she became interested in Skoda & she ordered a new 2012 Octavia 77TDI DSG last week, but from Skoda’s new dealer in South Western Sydney, rather than the one I dealt with.
Parts supply & prices seem to me to be a subject which might interest other owners. My experience already shows all Skoda dealers are not the same. I have just bought a fifth Themisto 18” alloy so that I do have a “Spare wheel – Full size alloy”, as so many Skoda dealers indicate is standard in ads online. Themisto 18” wheels are advertised by Skoda in UK/Europe at 165 UK pounds, about A$245 then, but dealers around Sydney quoted me prices ranging from $449 to $569 for the same thing. I found a similar thing with mud flaps. Methinks some dealers see Skoda drivers as targets rather than repeat business customers. I would be interested to know if VW is behind this price gouging, or just the dealers. The difference between prices here & overseas is far too big to be put down to the old chestnut of “freight”. VW/Skoda ships cars & spares by bulk sea freight at quite low cost these days, not air courier.
The reason I bought a fifth alloy wheel is because we o travel. A compact wheel is no good to someone like me. I dread damaging a tyre somewhere between Parkes & Wilcania & I dread the cost I would face needing to get a new tyre freighted in, at full RRP + freight + 4-5 days acccom while awaiting its delivery! FWIW I hav ereplaced the soft Continental tyres originally fitted with Dunlop SPSports Maxx TT because the continentals just don't seem tough enogh for rural Aussie roads.
We continue to be reassured the decision to buy this car was a good one, the longer we use it.
I’m Looking forward to participating in the forum in the future. Best to all.
I’ve just registered for the forum after Google pointed me here while I was seeking information on Skodas & Superb in particular. I recently bought a 2010 plated Superb Elegance 3.6FSI 4x4 DSG sedan , an ex factory demonstrator with token Ks on the odometer. I believe it was used by Skoda as a VIP vehicle at Tour Down Under. It is effectively a new car as far as we are concerned, with everything desire included & plenty of factory warranty remaining. Both my wife & I are simply delighted with it.
I’m now retired & we have lots of family & friends in rural Australia, so the V6 is proving ideally suited. It is provng unbelievably frugal on the open road, achieving consumption figures even better than the official one on inland highways & motorways. In Sydney though, it is a very thirsty beast if one is not very consciously conservative with the right pedal. I suspect I can get better by using manual mode & short shifting a gear higher than auto drive does routinely. Since the late 1960s I always had manual Ford GTs or XR8s. I was attracted to look at Skodas because of their VW group engineering & ‘superb’ quality finish. I’ve never been a fan of FWD vehicles but unless one buys a Ford, a Holden or a BMW these days, there is little choice. Personally I reckon being rear wheel drive is one of the only things BMWs really offer. One wonders if Octavia was rear wheel drive, if any young blokes would be buying 3 series BMWs. This personal preference also played a part in my opting for the 4x4 V6.
Another reason I went looking at Skodas was is this penchant by other manufacturers to increase the rack of their windscreen year after year. I’m a larger bloke & I’m fed up with bashing my head every time I want to get into a Ford or Holden. In Ford’s case I am also sick of having to adopt a compromised driving position to accommodate their fetish for designing cars for people with 8 foot long legs to operate a clutch. It is fantastic to be able to position seat & wheel where I feel comfortable for the first time in a long time.
I’ve had need to contact Skoda Australia to help sought out transfer of warranty into my name & found them very helpful in sorting out the problem. I cannot say the same for the dealer the car was actually bought through. My sister has been so impressed with my Superb she became interested in Skoda & she ordered a new 2012 Octavia 77TDI DSG last week, but from Skoda’s new dealer in South Western Sydney, rather than the one I dealt with.
Parts supply & prices seem to me to be a subject which might interest other owners. My experience already shows all Skoda dealers are not the same. I have just bought a fifth Themisto 18” alloy so that I do have a “Spare wheel – Full size alloy”, as so many Skoda dealers indicate is standard in ads online. Themisto 18” wheels are advertised by Skoda in UK/Europe at 165 UK pounds, about A$245 then, but dealers around Sydney quoted me prices ranging from $449 to $569 for the same thing. I found a similar thing with mud flaps. Methinks some dealers see Skoda drivers as targets rather than repeat business customers. I would be interested to know if VW is behind this price gouging, or just the dealers. The difference between prices here & overseas is far too big to be put down to the old chestnut of “freight”. VW/Skoda ships cars & spares by bulk sea freight at quite low cost these days, not air courier.
The reason I bought a fifth alloy wheel is because we o travel. A compact wheel is no good to someone like me. I dread damaging a tyre somewhere between Parkes & Wilcania & I dread the cost I would face needing to get a new tyre freighted in, at full RRP + freight + 4-5 days acccom while awaiting its delivery! FWIW I hav ereplaced the soft Continental tyres originally fitted with Dunlop SPSports Maxx TT because the continentals just don't seem tough enogh for rural Aussie roads.
We continue to be reassured the decision to buy this car was a good one, the longer we use it.
I’m Looking forward to participating in the forum in the future. Best to all.