Bad experience at Bryan Byrt, Mt Gravatt

[Tigger]

I'm thinking the errant salesman did you a favour by putting in a Zenec instead of a Columbus nav.

Looking at the Zenec website, it looks like a better unit than the Columbus anyhow and as you say, the support guy called you straight away. That can't compare to the Columbus support.... there isn't any.

Also, I wouldn't fret over the lack of voice control, you can't use it to navigate to a new destination once under way which makes it a bit pointless. Also, when I speak into mine I say "navigation" and it will reply, "calling mother". Useless.

hahaha...I gotta say...dont most mothers tell us where to go and give directions anyway???
Maybe the sat nav is cleverer than we think??

[BlackSuperb]

hahaha...I gotta say...dont most mothers tell us where to go and give directions anyway???
Maybe the sat nav is cleverer than we think??

My mother would NEVER do that to me!! But my wife on the other hand.......

[BlackSuperb]

...The comments about the performance of the Columbus are interesting
Fact is, I have never seen a Columbus "in the flesh".........

Sorry can't help you there but you made a comment on the price difference as well. The ZENEC one is listed at $1,999 on their website and when you add in installation and VAGCOM programming, (not much change out of $200 I would imagine), that would take it pretty close to the Columbus list price? I know 3 years ago the Columbus was a $2,700 option and you could get a hefty discount off that with some bargaining. Not sure what the list price is now on the Columbus as my new Superb came with one standard.

[donweather]

Just an update. Michael Van West has gone back to used cars at Denmac Ford Moorooka.

[Blue103TDIDSG]

Sorry can't help you there but you made a comment on the price difference as well. The ZENEC one is listed at $1,999 on their website and when you add in installation and VAGCOM programming, (not much change out of $200 I would imagine), that would take it pretty close to the Columbus list price? I know 3 years ago the Columbus was a $2,700 option and you could get a hefty discount off that with some bargaining. Not sure what the list price is now on the Columbus as my new Superb came with one standard.

thanks for the price update BlackSuperb
The only place I saw a price for the Zenec was in the UK (I think) and it was 999 euro (don't have a euro key)
(edit)Now on "special" for 888 euro !!
That is was what I based the AUD$1500 on -
seems the Aussie market is not as competetive

We were quoted $2970 for the "factory" sat/nav
also quoted $1600 for the tow bar and there was no hint of any discount on them
Although there was some "diesel" discount for the month of some $5000+
But in the end, the "deal" was matched to the advertised price for a car in Sydney
So the price for the individual options became accademic

It is a very nice car

It just the dishonesty that is still stuck in my nose

[Blue103TDIDSG]

Just an update. Michael Van West has gone back to used cars at Denmac Ford Moorooka.

Well I guess that is a "plus" for Skoda at Mt Gravatt
Perhaps a few less unhappy customers

Don't get me wrong -
He is a good salesman, in that, he comes across as friendly, not pushy, obliging, nothing's a problem etc
all the usual car salesman attributes

He even said up front he that he was from the second hand car place and was just filling in
So that covered why he was a bit sketchy and didn't know the answer to some of the questions we asked
However he did point out the things they could do, like fitting the sat/nav and upgrading to leather and the relevant prices

Where he fell short was not doing what he said he would do
or more to the point being clear in what he intended to do since it was different to what he had previously offered
But had he done that he would not have got the sale
So it became a case of say anything to get the signature on the piece of paper

In the end, even for a car salesman, it's a question of ethics or rather lack of them
of course, all this is just IMHO

[Blue103TDIDSG]

Sorry can't help you there but you made a comment on the price difference as well. The ZENEC one is listed at $1,999 on their website and when you add in installation and VAGCOM programming, (not much change out of $200 I would imagine), that would take it pretty close to the Columbus list price? I know 3 years ago the Columbus was a $2,700 option and you could get a hefty discount off that with some bargaining. Not sure what the list price is now on the Columbus as my new Superb came with one standard.

Hope you don't mind me asking -
When I was looking at the Zenec web site I noticed that the "next manouvre icon" can be shown in MFD
Checked and mine doesn't - bummer -
looked a bit further and the settings on the MFD show "Radio" - it should show 'Navigation"

Out of interset, does your Columbus show this icon in the MFD ?

I will be getting a VCDS cable to activate the towbar when it is fitted
figure it's better to put $'s towards a cable rather than pay a dealer
So should be able to fix the "Navigation" problem with it (I hope)

In passing, you can get it here for 80 pounds (no pound key either) delivered to Oz
VAG Diagnostics Ltd - VCDS Vag-Com 908, 912, & 10.6 Cables
They offer full support - what ever that means
I emailed them and they said that they will help with changing the fog lights iunto "turning" fog lights (like that feature)
depends whether the car electronic box supports this feature - if it does, it is only a matter of configuration

Will post all this triffle when it happens

[DkN]

A few things.

First of all, do not buy from vag diagnostic. They are blatantly pirated cables, come with instructions to turn off internet when using it and such crap. I've seen pirated software before, and this is the crudest and most blatant I have seen, plus it is several times the price of other pirated versions of VCDS floating around (typically around $30-40). Reason is other pirated copies actually copies the cable but minus the licence component, while vag diagnostics, if they are to be believed, uses the genuine but limited version of VCDS which only performs generic functions. The part they left out is where they then cracked the licence (crudely) to give full function. Lesson of the day, if it's anything less than the ~$300 mark for the cable, it is pirated, full stop.

Secondly, Zenec is in reality not cheaper than factory. If you compare to the dealer it is, but you'd be a fool to take dealer price for this type of thing as market price. Look in the car audio section of this forum, and search JKU. The price for an RNS 510 is about $1200. If you go eBay, you can find them for $1000 or even $800.

Lastly, unless you care about voice control, Zenec is superior to the factory unit. I would argue my option is too, but other than navigation my unit still has a few things to sort out. This is largely because VW mapping is pretty bad compared to the options out there, while Zenec uses iGo which is one of the best Sat nav softwares there is.

Also factory units do show navigation on the MFD with correct coding. Not sure if Zenec needs the same coding but it looks like it does.

[Jmac]

yeah buddy Zenec can be coded mate
All good points there too, ive seen your deck in your car and rate it highly, if i hadnt just bought an upgrade fro my 4mo i would have jumped at one. Might still
cheers
Jmac

[BlackSuperb]

Bad experience at Bryan Bryt, Mt Gravatt

...Zenec web site I noticed that the "next manouvre icon" can be shown in MFD..........the MFD show "Radio" - it should show 'Navigation".....Out of interset, does your Columbus show this icon in the MFD ?

Yes. It also shows "Phone" and "Audio"

And ditto to what DkN says above.

I'd go back to the dealer and tell them to code it properly for you (display directions in MFD) and while they're at it, get them to code your towbar FOC for mucking you around in the first place with the non genuine nav unit.

[Shakey]

Well I guess that is a "plus" for Skoda at Mt Gravatt
Perhaps a few less unhappy customers

Don't get me wrong -
He is a good salesman, in that, he comes across as friendly, not pushy, obliging, nothing's a problem etc
all the usual car salesman attributes

He even said up front he that he was from the second hand car place and was just filling in
So that covered why he was a bit sketchy and didn't know the answer to some of the questions we asked
However he did point out the things they could do, like fitting the sat/nav and upgrading to leather and the relevant prices

Where he fell short was not doing what he said he would do
or more to the point being clear in what he intended to do since it was different to what he had previously offered
But had he done that he would not have got the sale
So it became a case of say anything to get the signature on the piece of paper

In the end, even for a car salesman, it's a question of ethics or rather lack of them
of course, all this is just IMHO

Dubber,

I would not have paid for the car. I understand that the dealer may have tried to sue you but sobeit. A squeaky wheel gets the oil. I would have gone to the ombudsman, small claims tribunal, Skoda Australia, VW Australia Management and I would have played hell with them all. I would have documented everything in a diary. I would have photographed the car with all the non geniune parts fitted. I can tell you now....there's not a court this side of the black stump would have forced you to pay and take the vehicle. It actually would have cost your dealer more to fight this rather than re-advertise the vehicle and order you a correct one.

I wouldn't have let them away with it. I assure you of that!!!!

[MISS VDUB]

Really sorry that you havent had an enjoyable experience buying your Skoda. My Fabia is my first new car purchase, the rest being classic Volkswagens and until recently, the most modern car being my MK2 Golf.
I had a great experience with the team at Wises Road Skoda Dealership in Mooroochydore. They went above and beyond with helping me. Buying a new car for me was daunting as often car dealers rub their hands together when they see a women, as they think naive and gullible when it comes to cars. They did me a great deal and made me feel kinda special, just how it should be when buying a new car!

[VAG newbie]

Hope you don't mind me asking -
When I was looking at the Zenec web site I noticed that the "next manouvre icon" can be shown in MFD
Checked and mine doesn't - bummer -
looked a bit further and the settings on the MFD show "Radio" - it should show 'Navigation"

Out of interset, does your Columbus show this icon in the MFD ?

I will be getting a VCDS cable to activate the towbar when it is fitted
figure it's better to put $'s towards a cable rather than pay a dealer
So should be able to fix the "Navigation" problem with it (I hope)

In passing, you can get it here for 80 pounds (no pound key either) delivered to Oz
VAG Diagnostics Ltd - VCDS Vag-Com 908, 912, & 10.6 Cables
They offer full support - what ever that means
I emailed them and they said that they will help with changing the fog lights iunto "turning" fog lights (like that feature)
depends whether the car electronic box supports this feature - if it does, it is only a matter of configuration

Will post all this triffle when it happens

A quick follow up. How did it go with Bryan Byrt? Did you get all the coding sorted out? Did you get a satisfactory reply from Bryan Byrt?

I recently just had a bad experience with their service department with the coding of my RVC they installed (please see the Superb thread for detail). Not that they were rude or anything, but just ignorant and ruined my VCDS coding, yet they still had no idea what went wrong. That seem to be the norm with all VW/Skoda dealer though.

Anyhow, they provided me with free loan car while going through the diagnostics, even though they couldn't figure out what's wrong, (it only took 15min from a fellow forum user here to figure it out) they gave me a free car wash (that's at least what they can do...)

I suspect that's the reason they fit the Zenec for you instead of Columbus. Their knowledge of RNS510 is very limited. To save trouble, they fit Zenec whenever they can, which may not be a bad thing after all (although charging at $2790 may be bad....hey, they charge me $990 for a non-genuine RVC!)

Anyway, sometimes I wish I had the Zenec rather than Columbus as it has more usable feature, and it should integrate RVC a lot smoother than the Columbus. (And yes, Voice Recognition is only a party trick. Good to show off. Very useless in real life. Faster to push the button.)

[MacVW]

The Zenec is a far more user friendly and has way better features than the Columbus. He gave you a better system for the deal and you bag him for it. How does that figure. You said you also got reversing sensors and the off-road pack for no extra cost. Sounds like you should be thanking the salesman instead of bagging him. Looks like he over delivered and you don't know how to appreciate that due to your lack of understanding.

[Blue103TDIDSG]

Hey MacVW

The Zenec is a far more user friendly and has way better features than the Columbus. .

In your opinion. I haven't used both so can't comment and in any case I still would prefer to have the Columbus over the Zenec as it would be original equipment and covered by the 5 year warranty. Yes I got extended warranty as well but I would be very surprised if it covers the Zenec even though the salesman said it did. Time will tell if I have a problem.

You said you also got reversing sensors and the off-road pack for no extra cost. Sounds like you should be thanking the salesman instead of bagging him. .

Again, only in your opinion - buying a car is just another purchase albeit a big one, usually only second to your house, so I don't see getting the parking sensors and Off=road pack as any generosity of the salesman, rather a result of our negotiating skills and, which is probably closer to the point, perhaps the dealer was desperate for the sale and was prepared to sacrifice those 2 items. The fact is that they were already fitted to the car and that was the only car they offered at that price/deal.

Looks like he over delivered and you don't know how to appreciate that due to your lack of understanding.

Now you're getting personal - I am quite aware of what was delivered and it is NOT what was implied before we signed the dotted line. There was no "over delivery" as the deal was negotiated with another dealer, all legit upfront with Columbus and leather seats. This dealer met and yes, improved on that deal so we went with them - otherwise we would have gone with the other dealer. They DIDNOT deliver as promised, so I would suggest that it has nothing to do with "understanding" rather it is about honesty and ethics. I might be naïve, but I do expect some ethics - even from car salesmen

Seems to me YOU are trying to defend the indefensible !