Chance of a dealer in the SE suburbs..

[BluChris]

I agree Woofy, VAG has confused the product mix here making VW and Skoda direct competitors, that's why I think they need to fix their strategy. Skoda is a budget alternative to VW and should be sold that way. Part of doing that is to change the spec. If you look at places like the UK, the base Skodas are lower spec than here and priced accordingly (but you can option them at low cost).

As for selling them through Audi dealers - VW are the 'budget Audi' in product terms and I'm not convinced Richmond Audi/Skoda makes much of a case for the model. Also, 11 Audi dealers across Vic, 7 metro and not much joy outside the eastern suburbs. VW has 22 dealers, 11 metro. Imagine that amount of coverage for Skoda...

[woofy]

The problem with low spec cars here is we have a pretty good asian market presence, the UK don't really. When a basic mazda 3 comes things that a UK base spec Octavia doesn't as standard and for less, it would be hard to sell against that. When you throw Hyundai and Kia into the mix, it becomes very hard.

[BluChris]

Agreed the Asian competition at the bottom of the market is tough. Deciding to sell Skoda specced up to avoid this however delivers the mess we have here and the ongoing lack of traction for Skoda.

There essentially wasn't the room in our market for another low end Euro brand unless it had something really, really uniquely appealing to offer (witness Opel's dismal showing so far). Even when Skoda has something unique (think Roomster) Aussies are too conservative to get it let alone consider buying.

None of the foregoing bodes well for the brand or for VAGs capacity to make something of it.

[K1W1]

The problem with low spec cars here is we have a pretty good asian market presence, the UK don't really.

That is a nail being hit firmly on its head.
A base model poverty pack Euro car would sit for a very, very long time on a dealer's showroom if they tried to sell them here. The average Australian customer wants way more in their vehicles than the average UK or Euro customer who tend to view cars more as transport and not much else.

[Rooboy]

The problem with low spec cars here is we have a pretty good asian market presence, the UK don't really.

And its going to get tougher with VW stating the new Golf is pushing down to the $20k mark. The only things they can really trade on are their points of difference eg Octavia is larger than Golf and a liftback rather than hatchback etc

[BluChris]

I don't agree that UK and Euro buyers regard their cars as just transport, but cost of living and different priorities mean 'stuff' is less of a priority for many buyers.

Still leaves the same problem though - why buy one here? No compelling case for the great unwashed. When I bought mine my enthusiast friends thought I was nuts and they'd be the target market for a niche strategy. Gee, even a guy here who asked me about my Focus opined that in the end he'd probably just replace his wife's Corolla with another one. Such a conservative market and Skoda is left languishing as a left field choice like Saab used to be.

[K1W1]

I don't agree that UK and Euro buyers regard their cars as just transport, but cost of living and different priorities mean 'stuff' is less of a priority for many buyers.

Same thing said a different way.
Either way lower spec cars are more readily saleable in the UK and Europe than they are in Australia.