So you think Skodas are expensive in Australia?

[K1W1]

Check out this from Briskoda

"Octavia Estate RS 2,0 tdi dsg cost 55900£ so it is very expensive in denmark "

That's Aus$97,800.00 in case you don't know the exchange rate. Ouch!

[team_v]

Denmark gets cained for their car prices to reduce ownership and therefore emissions.

[Jake02]

I remember reading in one of Australia's shallow car mags that someone in Denmark made a brand new Audi TT V6 into a ute because the tax on work vehicles is something like 30-40% less than private cars! It was simple, just take out the rear seats (not really used anyway) and boot lining and tailgate and you have a TT ute!

[Inego]

I've seen few threads on pricing, and the UK comparisons are very interesting, given that many many cars are cheaper here than there. Clarkson's Times review last Oct where he concluded that the Octy Scout was now his recommendation for a default car rather than a Golf taks about the cheapest Outback (diesel manual) beng 7,500 pounds (AUD13,070) more expensive than the TSi Scout.

Here, the Outback diesel is AUD2,300 cheaper than the Scout.....

Kent

[K1W1]

Don't forget that the base Scout in the UK is a 1.8TSI with no extras what so ever.

[Inego]

True, but $13k buys a lot of extras!

I chose the Scout over the Subaru - feature for feature, they are competitors. $5k less for the Scout would make it a no brainer...

As for the Suby price in the UK, Japanese cars (if you can still call the Outback that, given how American it is!) have traditionally carried a signifcant price premium. At one stage the V6 Camry was selling there for the quivalent of $50k....

Kent (biting tongue - 4th day now....

[Frufru]

Skodas are cheaper in Europe.

I have no doubt that Skoda's margins are higher here than in Europe. I am not sure whether this is due to size of the market or need to hedge against exchange rates variations.

Just imagine Octavia LPG being sold here for AU$32,000.

Or Yeti, starting at AU$28,000 for 4x2 model and AU$35,000 for 4x4 2.0 TDI.

And this is what you should be expected to pay there.

Price levels in Europe is usually higher for everything. Yet, they never gonna do it here. More likely I expect price level to be on the par with Tiguan and I can continue like this with other models.

[Jake02]

The Fabia RS? Or something more fundamental?

You didn't hear this from me, but the expense in buying a Skoda might lessen sometime soon...but the Superb Combi should do a little towards sales (if they price it well and not make the V6 4x4 $70k drive away) as it seems to be even greater than the saloon. The Yeti, to me would do the most for Skoda sales. Compact 4x4s are a huge market and Skoda should really be capitalising the Yeti's success overseas by bringing it here. I don't care about supply crap, that car should be here NOW. The Fabia also needs to be here because I reckon it'd do well in a class of car that is somewhat boring (having 6-airbags/ESP standard like Skoda Aus wants would be great) because the Fabia has the tech. Even the fabulous Fiesta doesn't have climate control. And I seriously cannot wait to drive the Fabia RS, it looks to be awesome, the wagon possibly even better!

[bobski]

You didn't hear this from me, but the expense in buying a Skoda might lessen sometime soon...

That doesn't sound great if you're waiting for an ordered one at current prices...

[Jake02]

That doesn't sound great if you're waiting for an ordered one at current prices...

Definitely not good, I'm not 100% sure that it will be happening, but a little birdy told me it has to, and indeed it does. Surely Skoda would compensate somehow!

[bobski]

Definitely not good, I'm not 100% sure that it will be happening, but a little birdy told me it has to, and indeed it does. Surely Skoda would compensate somehow!

Yeah, well I'd rather take a $500 hit (although they are late in delivery so I think I can rescind anyway - need to recheck the fine print), than a several thousand $ one...

[woofy]

I wouldn't stress Bobski, if it is something dramatic then I think they might give some compensation...ala Mazda when the new 6's price was dropped a few months later. Either way, you were either happy to pay what you did at the time or not, and if you dropped your order and then reinstated it over a vapour rumour you will back of the line again.

[dsgfh]

I guess it's also worth keeping in mind that while it might suck a little now for those with current orders, if it's enough to push sales up it may well help you retain resale at the other end. It's certainly in no-ones interest for the brand to fail in the market.

I would like to see on their website the tie between Skoda Australia and Volkswagon Australia Pty Ltd. Given comments I've read on here about Skoda Australia's management I suspect people don't realise that Skoda is just a trading name and that VW Aus & Skoda are in fact the one organisation. It takes away uncertainty about warranty in particular, in my mind at least.

[woofy]

I think most owners here do know they are the same. There is a division though, the management of Skoda are separate teams to the VW team, just the group as a whole manage both VW and Skoda.

[bobski]

I wouldn't stress Bobski, if it is something dramatic then I think they might give some compensation...ala Mazda when the new 6's price was dropped a few months later. Either way, you were either happy to pay what you did at the time or not, and if you dropped your order and then reinstated it over a vapour rumour you will back of the line again.

No worries there, to take action, I'd need to have certain proof that something was happening. I'm happy to pay what I'm paying for it now. But I won't knowingly chuck a couple of thousand in the bin either.

As for the low sales numbers, I think its brand recognition that is the killer. Linking the Skoda name with VW would be a good way to enforce the quality of engineering.