Skoda impacts on VW

[RSwag]

Check out the link below, it is an article written in Europe on the 13th March 2010 about the imbalance starting to occur with quality finish and value the Skoda product is now offering in comparison to it's VW siblings.

http://www.spiegel.de/international/business/0,1518,682530,00.html

The general gist is that Skoda have take what is a successful product and made it better for less money, well in most places but here in Australia. It's really quite funny that in Europe they are so well renound that they are causing issue's with Volkswagen market share and here only a fist full of people rate them, most of which are on this site.

I sincerely hope it doesn't mean a drop in quality and technology, they would almost certainly mean it's demise globally

[Inego]

A problem is that, say in the Octy range, only VRs and Scout have a USP clearly different from equivalent Golfs. Superb is a bigger, cheaper Passat, Fabia a cheaper, better Polo....although the Fabia Scout, again, has a different USP, as does the Yeti and Roomster (although, is the Yeti a Tiguan in drag?)

Kent

[Jake02]

...as does the Yeti and Roomster (although, is the Yeti a Tiguan in drag?)

Kent

You'd think so, but it's actually a hybrid of Scout mechanicals and Roomster practicality, the same size as a Nissan Dualis, but it'll still be a soft-roader. When it arrives, it'll likely start from something like $26k (for a 1.2TSI 4x2 manual base), proving to be almost $10k cheaper than a Tiguan. The equivalent Yeti would probs be around $3k cheaper than the Tiguan. Of course, I'm just guesstimating, Skoda Aus might go down Skoda NZ's path and have a single, highly-equipped model, but I hope not.

This article suprised me so much that I actually doubted its content. That Skoda would be selling so many cars (not here, elsewhere) and losing so much money is such a shock. I'm not sure what they mean by quality however. Sure, Octavias, Superbs and Yetis interiors are the same of VW products, but the Roomster/Fabia interior isn't particularly nice. Sure, it's put together very well, but the plastics are hard everywhere but the dash and the colours available are so depressing.

I thought the facelift would make it better, but even now the door handles are black plastic. Cheaper than the Polo yes, but I bet the Polo interior is higher quality. Comes with a 6-speed manual too...

[woofy]

Um not sure how you know what a Fabia looks like inside, so far we haven't had any? Or are you going off what people have said elsewhere.

[K1W1]

According to Skoda they look like this.

[woofy]

From Memory Skoda are the biggest company and employer in CZ and if they are doing well inevitably the standard of living will increase, coupled with the CZ currency rising against the Euro, profits will be down, no matter how many increasing sales there are.

I know a few Germans who looked at Audis, VW and Skodas and bought the SKodas as it seemed ludicrous to buy the other two for the huge price difference. I didn't know but BMW, Merc and Audi are just as expensive relatively in their own country as they are here.

[aslsw]

Should we be worried about the message that Skoda might be unprofitable eg. long term viability in Australia?

The funny thing about this is that my sister-in-law was talking about her partner choosing a new car. Turned her nose up at my Octavia on order, would never dream of buying a VW but has her heart set on him buying an Audi!! Talk about a brand snob!

[bobski]

The funny thing about this is that my sister-in-law was talking about her partner choosing a new car. Turned her nose up at my Octavia on order, would never dream of buying a VW but has her heart set on him buying an Audi!! Talk about a brand snob!

I imagine most of us here would agree that value for money played a large part in the purchase. Brand snobbery transcends any value for money. I have a mate that wants an X5. I can't convince him otherwise, but he seems to think that if he's going to have an SUV, he should have an expensive one with a badge. (even though he'll lose 25k driving it out of the lot)

I've found myself defending the Skoda (or my purchase???) because people have no clue about the brand. And I don't have it yet!!! Like everyone else here, I looked at a whole range of cars in that segment and I could only think of how disappointed I'd be to have anything else. It was simply the most complete car for that money. Frankly, I'm more surprised that the brand isn't doing better. Sure some cars had other desirable things (like standard bluetooth and power front pews), but they'd then have some crap slushbox 5 speed auto and a gutless fuel hungry engine... The only comparison is from the VW camp and overall they are more expensive and IMO not as handsome (ok maybe the passat).

[Graybags]

I've found myself defending the Skoda (or my purchase???) because people have no clue about the brand. And I don't have it yet!!! Like everyone else here, I looked at a whole range of cars in that segment and I could only think of how disappointed I'd be to have anything else. It was simply the most complete car for that money. Frankly, I'm more surprised that the brand isn't doing better. Sure some cars had other desirable things (like standard bluetooth and power front pews), but they'd then have some crap slushbox 5 speed auto and a gutless fuel hungry engine... The only comparison is from the VW camp and overall they are more expensive and IMO not as handsome (ok maybe the passat).

This is the same situation as I was/am in. But everyone who has seen the car now I can show it to them are surprised, and the few who have been for a ride come away more than impressed.
Anyone else read the age cars section on the weekend about second hand Octavia's? As usual they haven't got the facts quiet right by having a picture of the new model and only giving it 4 star howsafeismycar review. It says what a good option it is to VW but only gives a review of 3 1/2 stars.
Like WTF?

[bobski]

Anyone else read the age cars section on the weekend about second hand Octavia's? ?

http://www.drive.com.au/Editorial/ArticleDetail.aspx?ArticleID=69082&vf=14

Is this the one? After years of reading Motor, I respect David Morley's opinion, but I think he is in this case comparing it to a Golf GTI. Which I have no aspersions that it is.

I didn't test drive the GTI as the new one doesn't do it visually for me, so I could be talking out of my $rse. However, I see the GTI as a crack at hot hatch sports, and the RS as closer to a GT.

I don't think 3 1/2 isn't too bad. If 5 is a ferarri 430

[K1W1]

I'm old enough to leave my ego behind when I make decisions about purchasing new cars or motorcycles.

[Graybags]

Yep that's the one! I leave my brand snobbery at the bank door.

[woofy]

Two people have bought an RS due to me, although at least two bought a 6 after I did, but the RS buyers did it after just being in it for 5minutes. I suspect the thing holding Skoda back in Oz is the head office, poor support and some dealers offering conflicting info means even with just a small amount of dealers they can't get it right. They need to get aggressive and start doing some Australian ads, eg anything paying out a Commodore or Falcon will draw a fair amount of attention.

[RSwag]

Not hard to see why

Check out this microsite, by far the best i have ever seen for any manufacturer!!

http://new.skoda-auto.com/GBR/model/superbcombi/gallery/multimedia/Pages/MMPresentation.aspx