Octavia RS MY12 Changes

[Rosie]

The dealer has just rung saying another one in the same colour is coming but it is MY12 spec which will have standard bluetooth/multifunction steering wheel as standard. They can do the same deal + $500 (cost of price rise due to bluetooth).

Does this sound reasonable/correct?

What it sounds like to me is a case of a dealer doing what dealers do best.

For starters, the MY12 spec cars were scheduled to start coming off the line in week 22 of this year, so to say that one is "coming in" sounds dubious, unless he meant coming in in December. If the factory build plate, not the ADR compliance plate, is not dated after week 22 it's an MY11, and not an MY12.

I would think that the Skoda Australia pricing policy has more to do with the European production cost rises (when was the last time any new car model price went down?) post the turmoil many European economies have suffered thanks to Greece falling over, which would then be offset to some extent by the current strength of the Aussie dollar. The pricing factors are worked out by Skoda in the Czech Republic, and so in the words of Quasimodo, it's just a hunch, but I suggest the dealer is not being totally honest with you about having to pay an "extra" amount of cash for a "standard" piece of equipment.

[VAG newbie]

What it sounds like to me is a case of a dealer doing what dealers do best.

For starters, the MY12 spec cars were scheduled to start coming off the line in week 22 of this year, so to say that one is "coming in" sounds dubious, unless he meant coming in in December. If the factory build plate, not the ADR compliance plate, is not dated after week 22 it's an MY11, and not an MY12.

I would think that the Skoda Australia pricing policy has more to do with the European production cost rises (when was the last time any new car model price went down?) post the turmoil many European economies have suffered thanks to Greece falling over, which would then be offset to some extent by the current strength of the Aussie dollar. The pricing factors are worked out by Skoda in the Czech Republic, and so in the words of Quasimodo, it's just a hunch, but I suggest the dealer is not being totally honest with you about having to pay an "extra" amount of cash for a "standard" piece of equipment.

Fully agreed. The price rise has nothing to do with Bluetooth being added. It was added by Skoda Aus to hopefully justify the rise in cost so that Skoda in Aus remain a good value for money car.

Recently I read an article on Private Fleet, we inn OZ are paying up to more than twice as much as UK for certain cars, particularly the prestige ones like MB and BMW. Even if you take the cost of shipping into consideration, it won't make that much difference. So the price of Skodas we get here is actually quite similar to UK and Skoda AUS has been very generous in that regard.

But that means there is fairly little margin for Skoda Aus to absorb if the Czech factory raise their price. With such a high demand for Skoda cars world wide (the RS being one of the most popular cars), I don't see why they wouldn't raise the price. But as Skoda is still trying to built the brand name here in OZ, if they raise the price here without good reason, it will hurt its sale, which is already struggling despite constant improvement.

So best way is to add a $10 equipment (as K1W1 says), which has a RRP of $500, to justify the price rise.

[Rosie]

Recently I read an article on Private Fleet, we inn OZ are paying up to more than twice as much as UK for certain cars, particularly the prestige ones like MB and BMW.

Import taxes vary between countries, but the problem here for any overseas manufacturer is that the prestige market in Australia is a small sector in a country that is itself a small market.

I work/travel overseas a fair bit, and the range of models of cars is far greater across the board in Asia than it is here in Auistralia. Where populations are far greater than here, so the markets are bigger for car makers. Especially in many countries where there is only a developing middle class, and while the divide between rich and poor is wider, the rich are very, very rich, and big in numbers. The population of Greater London alone is about a third of the Australian total population. The dealers here just don't want to import heavily optioned floor stock that will end up a clearance model before they can sell it.

[MarksVRS]

From what I have read and heard, the Australian Octavia's are much better equipped than Euro equivalents, so if the price is anywhere near similar, we should be grateful. I personally wouldn't be making too much noise over a $500 increase after 2 years, particulalry if the manual comes standard with the multi-function steering wheel, which is the only thing I regret missing out on.

Until now, this has only been available with the upgraded head unit with GPS which basically makes it a very expensive set of steering wheel buttons! So if you are interested in a manual RS, you are getting a bargain (comparatively speaking)!

[Rosie]

I personally wouldn't be making too much noise over a $500 increase after 2 years, ....

I fully agree with the comment above, but the explaination said to be given by the dealer in the OP just isn't credible. MY11 cars do not have Bluetooth as standard, so on a new car the dealer must have had it fitted, and at cost price to the dealership, whose salesman now wants to pass that expense off at the "dealer fitted option" price to a buyer.

I bought my RS ex-floor stock. It had optional sunroof and MDI fitted, but the advertised price shown was the list price without options, as on the Skoda Australia website. When I went to check the car out the dealer then tried to jack the price up, saying that it had been a mistake and that I would have to pay for the options. I told him that I may have been born at night, but it wasn't last night, and that I was not in the habit of paying for other people's mistakes, so either the price stood or we could both stop wasting each other's time and I'd go back home. He then tried to make it up on the trade in, but I am pleased to say that all up I got a good deal, and got the options and colour I wanted without having to wait 4 or 5 months.

I seriously doubt that any MY12 spec cars have hit our shores yet. I'd be telling the dealer that I know the difference between a build plate and a compliance plate, and that the date on the compliance date isn't the one that determines the build year, so I wouldn't be a bit impressed if I thought they were trying to pass off an MY11 car as an MY12 one. I'd also tell them that I know MY11 cars don't come standard with Bluetooth, and that to pass their costs to customers for options they haven't specified isn't going to do their reputation much good on forums like this one.

New car sales figures are down almost 9% in the last year. Now is not the time for dealers to try to make money by trying to pull the wool. In the current climate, any dealer with a genuine buyer in front of him is a lucky one. If I were even inclined to still want to talk with them, I'd tell the dealer mentioned in the OP that if they seriously wanted to sell me a car, and put a bit of polish back onto a rapidly tarnishing reputation, then they'd better review their sales strategies before getting back to me with the pricing adjusted in such a manner as to make me want to buy it.

[MarksVRS]

Totally agree. I think the root cause comes down to poor communication and selling skills of the Salesperson.

[pologti18t]

I seriously doubt that any MY12 spec cars have hit our shores yet. I'd be telling the dealer that I know the difference between a build plate and a compliance plate, and that the date on the compliance date isn't the one that determines the build year, so I wouldn't be a bit impressed if I thought they were trying to pass off an MY11 car as an MY12 one. I'd also tell them that I know MY11 cars don't come standard with Bluetooth, and that to pass their costs to customers for options they haven't specified isn't going to do their reputation much good on forums like this one.
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Wait a minute... "customer didn't specify". What are you on about? I didn't order the car.

I was looking at a special deal they had. But in the end that car was sold. They then rang the next day saying they had another coming in a week or so but it had bluetooth so it was $500 more. He said it was MY12 and BT was standard and there was an increase in price of $500. They said they would do the original deal + $500. I rang another dealer and he confirmed that there was a price rise of $500 on the MY12 and BT was now included in the spec.

I am not really seeing what is wrong with that as the discount overall was close to $4000! I haven't taken up the deal anyway, so there is no skin off my nose.

[woofy]

It won't be a MY12, they have only just started making them. It will be a MY11 that they have put Bluetooth in so if they say it's a MY12 they are BSing you. Skoda have a summer break which will have just ended (if itbeven has) and any cars made now are MY 12 and don't get here until Nov usually.

[VAG newbie]

Wait a minute... "customer didn't specify". What are you on about? I didn't order the car.

I was looking at a special deal they had. But in the end that car was sold. They then rang the next day saying they had another coming in a week or so but it had bluetooth so it was $500 more. He said it was MY12 and BT was standard and there was an increase in price of $500. They said they would do the original deal + $500. I rang another dealer and he confirmed that there was a price rise of $500 on the MY12 and BT was now included in the spec.

I am not really seeing what is wrong with that as the discount overall was close to $4000! I haven't taken up the deal anyway, so there is no skin off my nose.

Sounds like a typical trick a dealer would do. They advertise some thing that seem very sweet to get you there in the dealership, then tries to sell you another car with a higher price.

Anyway, if the discount is still not $4000 yet, for a vRS, that's not even 10% discount, I personally don't think it's that good deal. When I buy new car, I expect 12-13% discount, with the spec and color I want, no compromise. (Of course the downside with the Skoda is, I ended up have to wait for the car to be factory made....)

Why don't you speak to a car broker first and tell them the deal you got so far? They will get you a price better than that. If you don't want to pay the small car broker fee, I know someone that will do it for free. If they can't find you a better deal, then you know you already got the best deal.

[pologti18t]

Anyway, if the discount is still not $4000 yet, for a vRS, that's not even 10% discount, I personally don't think it's that good deal. When I buy new car, I expect 12-13% discount, with the spec and color I want, no compromise. (Of course the downside with the Skoda is, I ended up have to wait for the car to be factory made....)
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The negotiation so far used has been to do no more than walk into a dealership And remember this is a base spec car. There aren't any options they can use to wangle more of a discount on and push up that perceived discount %. And you get a car now rather than wait 6 months.

It may well have been a bait and switch. But he is risking a buyer being annoyed by the tactic and not bothering to buy anything at the dealership.

I have also noticed lately a growing number of dealers are listing cars on carsales.com.au with POA and listing no options.
You make an equiry and get a response with an outlandish price. Wondering why, they respond that the car is loaded with options!
Now that is a tactic I deplore. Wastes everyone's time.


Sorta gone cold on the Octavia as the price is in the Golf GTI range and the value items of the Octavia I don't really want (sat nav, blue tooth etc). Perhaps they need to strip some of these items out and reduce the price.

[Riker]

The only change to the MY12 Octavia's over the MY11's is the addition of standard bluetooth. This will increase the price of the Octavia's by $450/500. This is what I was told over the weekend at Nth Shore Skoda. MY12 cars will not start production till Sept/Oct & will arrive Jan/Feb 2012. Again, as I was told by the dealer.

A fully specced RS wagon MY12 was mid $51's, but was immediately discounted to high $48's. This is before any negotiation on further discount was entered into. That will come at a later date if I decide to go ahead with an order. The order book for the first batch of MY12 Octavia's, arrival Jan/Feb 2012 finishes in 2-3 weeks. Again, as advised by dealer.

[RSOK]

Sorta gone cold on the Octavia as the price is in the Golf GTI range and the value items of the Octavia I don't really want (sat nav, blue tooth etc). Perhaps they need to strip some of these items out and reduce the price.

I agree that Skoda pricing could perhaps be sharper but couple reasons why I went an Octavia RS over a Golf GTI for the same money:

1. THE BOOT - I got 2 young kids, often need to take a pram along with shopping bags, when we go away need to take 2 suitcases plus pram plus portacot plus assorted stuff... try putting all that into the boot of a Golf, no chance.

2. INDIVIDUALITY - there's 5,000 current model Golf GTI's out there on the road (okay, give or take) and there's about 200 Octavia RS's... I like being one the few, not one of the herd. Also, I thought the Octavia has a bit more 'character' about it, the current Golf is somewhat bland and clinical to my eyes, in addition to being ubiquitous.

3. I PREFERRED THE DRIVE - seriously, I test drove both the GTI and the RS and I definitely preferred the way the Octavia RS rode, it was slightly more compliant and I dunno, just felt better in the 'seat-of-the-pants' as an everyday driver.

Not saying the Gof GTI is not a good thing, it definitely is, but the above are reasons why I went the Octavia RS when I could have bought the GTI.

[Jake02]

Golf GTI's are ridiculously expensive - $50k on-road and you don't get leather, sat-nav, not even projector headlamps or 18" wheels! Who cares if you don't need sat-nav or Bluetooth, take them as a bonus! That the RS doesn't come with those stupid 'Jacky' cloth seats was reason enough for me to buy it over a GTI.

[pologti18t]

Golf GTI's are ridiculously expensive - $50k on-road and you don't get leather, sat-nav, not even projector headlamps or 18" wheels! Who cares if you don't need sat-nav or Bluetooth, take them as a bonus! That the RS doesn't come with those stupid 'Jacky' cloth seats was reason enough for me to buy it over a GTI.

All good points except I could get a 5 door GTI for a price within $1000 of the RS. I am not doubting the value of the RS but when the actual price I can get the cars at is so close you have to start to look at other factors (boring as they may be) like long term resale.

[K1W1]

The only change to the MY12 Octavia's over the MY11's is the addition of standard bluetooth. This will increase the price of the Octavia's by $450/500. This is what I was told over the weekend at Nth Shore Skoda. MY12 cars will not start production till Sept/Oct & will arrive Jan/Feb 2012. Again, as I was told by the dealer.

Maybe the factory workers have had an extended summer holiday or something.
Traditionally in the northern hemisphere the motor industry model year is from Sept to Aug so MY12 cars start appearing in showrooms in early Sept (August build). Every previous year for Australia the new MY cars have started production in early Sept and have been in showrooms here in early to mid December. I wonder if what you are being told is the dealers story or Skoda Australia missing their place in the queue. I'd love to hear what Melbourne or Perth dealers are saying to see if it matches up.
I still have real problems with the story that the price is going up because of the inclusion of Bluetooth and as to those pointing out that the manual will get the steering wheel controls as well I will counter with the fact that the auto has always had the steering wheel controls and that is apparently going up by the same amount. In fact the 4 spoke steering wheel cars (Scout) in manual have also always had steering wheel controls. I guess auto buyers can just feel ripped off.