No more Skoda dealers in WA

[gregozedobe]

In Canberra Lennocks sell Nissans, VWs, Skodas and Used cars. They have adjacent new car showrooms for Nissan and VW, with one service dept. Skodas were sold out of the Used Cars "Office", but have recently moved to a separate showroom about 300M down the road, which they share with Jaguar/Land Rover.

[mrgolf]

VW Aus wont allow a situation to occur where servicing and parts are not available for a brand they are still trying to grow. The dealership may be closing down, but as others have suggested, another dealership will open up, or VW will look after the WA owners.

[brad]

VW Aus wont allow a situation to occur where servicing and parts are not available for a brand they are still trying to grow. The dealership may be closing down, but as others have suggested, another dealership will open up, or VW will look after the WA owners.

How many years do you think they can afford to sell ~60 cars a month? IIRC Puegeot reckon 200 per month was the rollover point where the cost of business/marketing etc amortised big time & profits started to grow exponentially. Below that & you were treading water.

I noticed the advertising has started to mention "Volkswagen Technology" which they appeared to be avoiding at the start.

[mrgolf]

I agree, but VW didnt launch the car just to pull it because sales were affected by a global downturn. VW are in for the long haul. I would say that the current level of sales will prolly linger for a few more years so they can see how sales will go in a normal market. VW have invested a lot of money to bring the product here. They wont write the money off til they are able to be sure a normal market wont support the product. VW is still a growing brand in Australia at the moment, supporting the theory that Australians are looking for smaller quality euro-ish cars. While there is demand, there is hope. Skoda just needs a small foothold.

Either way, VW brought the brand to Australia unlike Seat in the 90's. When Seat folded, there was no one to back up the brand with parts because it was a private importer. VW are responsible for the car, so ongoing support is in the bag while ever VW is on sale in Australia.

[faisan]

In Canberra Lennocks sell Nissans, VWs, Skodas and Used cars. They have adjacent new car showrooms for Nissan and VW, with one service dept. Skodas were sold out of the Used Cars "Office", but have recently moved to a separate showroom about 300M down the road, which they share with Jaguar/Land Rover.

Funnily enough, Skoda was next door to Nissan here in WA too. It was Skoda, Hyundai, and Nissan sharing a big lot.

[mrx]

Funnily enough, Skoda was next door to Nissan here in WA too. It was Skoda, Hyundai, and Nissan sharing a big lot.

Not part of the same dealership though.

[faisan]

Not part of the same dealership though.

Arent they all AHG?

[mrx]

As far as I understand it the dealerships are still individually owned but come under the AHG umbrella. Much like Auto One stores are individually owned but get together for greater buying power.

Janetto Holdings (I think it's called) owns Subaru, VW & Skoda Osborne Park & I think they might also own the new Gnangara dealership.

[geoff_gti]

I've seen a couple of those new ads in various bus bays as well - http://eatmyhat.com.au/
I'd expect any of the VW dealers could pick up servicing duties, or the specialists as well.

[mrx]

Yeah, I've seen the ads on the bus shelters too. Seems strange they would start advertising just as the brand disappears? I wouldn't be surprised if another dealership pops up in the near future.

I wonder if Skoda Australia know Osb. Park has pulled the pin?! They still list them as a dealer on the website.

[davidh]

I phoned Skoda's Australian headquarters after frustrations with the Osborne Park dealership, and they said they were trying to open up a new dealership in June/July, which will hopefully coincide with the Superb.
Various "Skoda" salesmen at VW Osborne Park over the past month have told me:
1. They will only sell 2008 models, not 2009
2. I am wasting my time looking at Skoda because they have poor resale value
3. Skoda should only ever have imported the Fabia to Australia
4. I should be looking at a Jetta or Passat
5. They hate dealing with Skoda headquarters because they get no support or information

They did not tell me the dealership was being dropped. I found that out separately. And the local newspapers are advertising the new 7speed DSG Octavia (2009) even though they refuse to sell it.

I don't agree with anything the dealer has said, but as someone wanting to buy a Skoda in the next few months, it is making my life difficult and worrying.

[brad]

Various "Skoda" salesmen at VW Osborne Park over the past month have told me:
1. They will only sell 2008 models, not 2009
2. I am wasting my time looking at Skoda because they have poor resale value
3. Skoda should only ever have imported the Fabia to Australia
4. I should be looking at a Jetta or Passat
5. They hate dealing with Skoda headquarters because they get no support or information

.

1) Stock situation seems all over the shop.
2) How would anyone know? The number that have been bought & subsequently sold would be statistically unreliable.
3) Maybe
4) Well, maybe if you want a sedan or a substantially bigger wagon. If you want a Golf with a bigger hatch area & full size spare..... Octavia!
5) That's probably a fair comment. I get the same feedback consistenly & experienced the same thing myself. Head Office are hopeless.

[davidh]

1) Stock situation seems all over the shop.
2) How would anyone know? The number that have been bought & subsequently sold would be statistically unreliable.
3) Maybe
4) Well, maybe if you want a sedan or a substantially bigger wagon. If you want a Golf with a bigger hatch area & full size spare..... Octavia!
5) That's probably a fair comment. I get the same feedback consistenly & experienced the same thing myself. Head Office are hopeless.

I recognise points 1 and 5 are realistic pain points, which is part of my concern. I think point 2 is a ridiculous comment given there are hardly any 2nd hand ones on the market and they are all priced quite close to new ones. The salesman was trying to put me off Skoda, and believed based on the first year of stats that you would have to keep it for 10 years.

On points 3 and 4, I am waiting for the Superb, which is as far from a Fabia as you can get.

[geoff_gti]

I've seen a couple of those new ads in various bus bays as well - http://eatmyhat.com.au/
I'd expect any of the VW dealers could pick up servicing duties, or the specialists as well.

Do those headlights on the new Octavia look frighteningly like a Holden Epica to anyone else?

[dasauto]

Side note to this thread, I spotted the new Octavia on Perth roads this week. Interesting with no Skoda dealer...