Skoda - how risky?

[Golf Loon]

Octavia to Passat isn't a fair comparison.

It pretty much is. Lots of the same parts.

[gregozedobe]

Octavia to Passat isn't a fair comparison.

I wouldn't say that, it depends on what criteria you want to compare - try comparing luggage space volume and usability for example

I certainly looked at a Passat wagon before I purchased my Octy RS wagon

[spellbound]

Interseting the comments about dealers in the eastern states , there is only one dealer in adelaide , large organisation , running vw , audi , skoda, jaguar , land rover ,volvo, aston martin all exclusive except vw .

Their mass gave them a very professional look which was very important when purchasing my skoda .

They were right on the ball , top showroom , one central service centre for all brands , knowledge in their product .

The weakness for skoda could be the dealer network which may need to be rehashed in the east .

I feel quite confident in the brand continuing into the future , iam most satisfied with the product , well built, performs well , reliable , which is what we all want , they just need to build on these points , it is a long term exercise , just as it was with audi in the early 90's .

[Plicata]

I think the broker referred to by the OP was just being sensibly cautious. He’s not interested in driving qualities or whether you love the car, he is just looking at the numbers. Recommending a Mazda or Honda is a safe bet in this market (if he was in the UK, he would be recommending Skoda and being cautious about Mazda or Subaru). We all hope that Skoda stays in Aus but there are no guarantees. My uncle and aunt just bought a 2 year old Octavia for $21,000 which cost $42,000 on the road when new. The broker is right to be cautious about resale values when advising a client. There are no issues with the quality or reliability of the car so it’s just a question of whether you can afford the potential depreciation.

[canyonman]

Yes and No

Thanks Plicata for your response and yes the consultant was concerned about depreciation however that did not really concern me too much as I had planned to buy the RS out at the end of the lease and turn it into the family run around.

What did concern me was his assertion that "Skoda won't be around in Australia too much longer" - his seemingly confident claim was that dealers were taking a bath and would cut and run very soon.

Hence my concerns - I like the car but don't like the idea of being "dealer-less"??

[Cupra]

canyonman don't worry about the dealerless situation to much, I am the proud owner of a Seat Cupra sport which I picked up new at the end of 99 (I just realised, 10 happy years of fun this month!!). Shortly after the purchase Seat as it was left Oz. I had no problems with service or warranty work through VW dealers to the point that when I was looking to replace my 626 I picked up a MkV golf.

If the car ticks all your boxes & you say you want to keep it at the end of your lease buy it & enjoy