Servicing & Warranty (life after Bayford Skoda)

[BluChris]

That's what I was told too by a metro Melbourne dealer or two. The only thing I can see that appears different is that it looks like Skoda/VW are appointing country VW dealers in Victoria at least as Skoda service agents. As far as I know they don't seem to sell Skodas

[woofy]

When I first bought my Skoda one of the big selling points was that any VW dealership would be able to service it due to lack of Skoda dealers, reality was that Skoda are more particular about how their cars are serviced though and have some unique software tools etc that most VW dealers don't want to bother with. With Skoda so big in Townsville, I'm really surprised there isn't one in Toowoomba, my parents would be more interested in one if there was. The problem there though is most dealers run several brands and the most likely candidate already has VW, Mazda and a few others I can't recall. They could theoretically service them there. Selling Skoda would eat into both the VW and the Mazda sales. The rest of the dealers are mostly sole brand and always have been so probably aren't interested.

I didn't actually see Vito for my last service, there was anotehr guy at the desk who I've never seen before and an american guy. But he did tell me he was fresh from a VW dealer when I first met him, and I've found he sorts out any issues I've had.

[sh|tbmxrider]

Wouldn't the people who used to go to Bayford now to Preston Motors Skoda?

[hmoon101]

I bought mine form Preston Bayford Skoda a month before they closed and took it to Richmond for the first 15K service in September.

It was just OK overall, but not so overly impressive and I would try Lance Dixon Skoda next time as it is only 1-2 minutes driving from my place and I have heard good stories about them when I was seriously considering getting Alfa 159 wagon.

It is still 10K-odd kilometres to go for next 30K service, but I will definitely give them a go.

[Fireside]

Lance Dixon?!! I never knew they existed. I should be checking the dealer network more, seems to be dealerships popping up everywhere.
Thanks man, I'm defiantly going with them, I'll report back once done to let everyone know how whey were.

[K1W1]

there was anotehr guy at the desk who I've never seen before and an american guy.

yeah the one who has just purchased a Suzuki Alto for himself!

---------- Post added at 10:11 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:08 PM ----------

It was just OK overall, but not so overly impressive and I would try Lance Dixon Skoda next time as it is only 1-2 minutes driving from my place and I have heard good stories about them when I was seriously considering getting Alfa 159 wagon.

Pray with every ounce of your being that bois cannard motors don't have any of their Land Rover mechanics working in the Skoda section. That is a 100% serious statement.

[sh|tbmxrider]

yeah the one who has just purchased a Suzuki Alto for himself!

---------- Post added at 10:11 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:08 PM ----------



Pray with every ounce of your being that bois cannard motors don't have any of their Land Rover mechanics working in the Skoda section. That is a 100% serious statement.

Land Rover mechanics would be busy enough with the amount of Land Rover work, surely?

I would be more worried about the Alfa/Citroen/Saab techs getting there hands on it!

Good to see a more balanced dealer PMA setup in Melbourne now, with Preston going out to Epping, and Doncaster popping up.

Next step, Berwick, surely?

[woofy]

Ah I didn't know there was finally one in doncaster....I still think Penfolds could whip one out of the side of their Audi part ala Richmond as they already are familiar with the insides. I know when I first got mine, I left it in their Mazda yard for the day (long story) and they all had a good look at it and the guy who was working on it for me took it for burn and was blown away at the time. I'd be surprised if they haven't already thought about it.

[brad]

Pray with every ounce of your being that bois cannard motors don't have any of their Land Rover mechanics working in the Skoda section. That is a 100% serious statement.

I did most of my apprenticeship working on series 2 & 3 Land Rovers, minis, Leyland trucks & RR powered Nubian fire engines. If nothing else, it made you into a very patient person & everything else seemed easy & logical after that.

[K1W1]

I did most of my apprenticeship working on series 2 & 3 Land Rovers, minis, Leyland trucks & RR powered Nubian fire engines. If nothing else, it made you into a very patient person & everything else seemed easy & logical after that.

As I'm sure it would
My comment was more directed at the quality of the workmanship than anything else. I don't think I ever took a Land Rover to LD for service where I didn't have to go back to get something they had missed or stuffed up fixed.

[brad]

As I'm sure it would
My comment was more directed at the quality of the workmanship than anything else. I don't think I ever took a Land Rover to LD for service where I didn't have to go back to get something they had missed or stuffed up fixed.

i'm sure if you were a long term employee then you'd be jibbering mess. If you'd come from another marque (esp japanese) then you'd spend most of the day hiding in the toilet reading the employment classifieds.

I was lucky as it was a non-commercial workshop & there was only me & my boss. He was an alcoholic & spent most of the day "doing paperwork" in the lunchroom, so i'd do an hour or two of major work on the pommie crap that had been bought trying to keep Zetland afloat & then do some servicing work on the Corollas/Suzukis/Izuzus/Land Cruisers that they'd started to buy after Zetland had gone under and then do a bit more on the pommie crap. One of the rules was "no spanner throwing or tantrums" so you'd spend a lot of time deep breathing & contemplating how to best attack a badly designed piece of machinery.

Our people did a lot of exploratory work around Maralinga & given a choice, they'd take the Land Rovers. I have no idea why as the Land Cruisers were far less likely to leave you stranded.

[VRS-Vic]

Not so confident on Lance Dixon. I called them today to get a price on a 60k service and the guy told me he doesn't know, and that I'd have to give him my vin number and he'd have to make some calls and would get back to me.

[Gti Dave]

Just wondering, does anyone's cars get washed these days after a service? I remember my polo getting washed and same with my previous jap cars but for some reason not Skoda at Mentone? Am I being jibbed. I can't help but feel that servicing costs have risen but the amount of actual services provided has dropped.

[K1W1]

Dealerships stopped washing cars during the drought but now the water restrictions are largely over they have started again. I got a full wash and vacuum with my service in early December.

[Gti Dave]

Dealerships stopped washing cars during the drought but now the water restrictions are largely over they have started again. I got a full wash and vacuum with my service in early December.

Hmm...I've had 2 services this year and neither times did mine get a wash. Not even a vacuum. Should I say something? Obviously they are charging the same or more and providing much less to show for it.