Wakasashi

A salesman at Renshaw & Newsome (Nottingham) reckoned no test drive unless he's guaranteed an order via the lease company used by my employer (I can understand him not wanted to give test drives if he has no chance of the deal but I had told him that we order via local dealers). Then he had the gaul to give me his card and asked me to call him to arrange a test drive if my company's car providers would agree to order through him.

Who should be chasing who for business? Who gets paid the bonus? Guess where I shan't be asking my company to place an order? Been waiting weeks for Clock (Derby) to arrange a test drive. Are there any recommendations for Skoda dealers in the East Midlands?

Not having the same hassles with Honda (Accord Sport 2.0 CDTi), Toyota (Avensis 2.2 D4D T4), Peugeot (407 SW HDi), Vauxhall (Vectra SRi 1.9CDTi) or VW (Passat 2.0 TDi Sport). Is this unique to Skoda? Any thoughts on how the Octy 2.0 TDi L&K Estate compares with the estate versions of the other cars listed?

Goochie

If you can get to Bilston, PM Briskoda member "adaadams" He should be able to sort you out

With regards to test drives, I've never ever had an issue getting a test drive (unaccompanied) from any dealer I've been to. It may be worth not telling them its a company purchase, perhaps choose a dealer you know you wont buy from, test drive the car there then go back to the original dealer to place the order.

Not suprised that you had no problems at Honda, they let me take an Integra type R unaccompanied when I was 17

Wakasashi

Thanks Goochie,

The same guy at Renshaw & Newsome told me it's not possible to put a load restraining net in the Octy Estate, nor is it possible to play MP3 format through the stereo. Info I've since found from this forum and the Skoda web site contradict his statement. I don't expect him to be the font of all knowledge but surely it's reasonable to expect a salesperson to know what he can sell and make money from?

I'm now checking out how far away Bilston is, although I've heard a few good reports of the Skoda dealer in Mansfield.

Cheers

Goochie

An alternative strategy is this;

ring the dealer and ask what days that salesman works. If he has a regular day off during the week, call in on that day and tell his colleague that you were told you could have a test drive. His colleague will normally then book a test drive for you there and then, if not take you out right away

hmmmmm......... sounds like I've done this before

dan123

Get your fleet manager to arrange a test drive via Skoda HQ, I used this service for my first Skoda (a Superb), they will deliver the car to your home and leave it with you for 2 or 3 days before taking it away again.

Good luck

PS why not go for a vRS, they are awesome

Wakasashi

Thanks Dan, I'd love to go for a vRS but we have a diesel-only policy. We don't have a fleet manager, the post was made redundant last year. Now each employee is left to deal directly with the lease company, local garages and car hire firms as needed. Allegedly this saves the company money but causes car drivers much hassle when anything other than routine servicing is needed.

I'll follow your suggestion and try contacting Skoda HQ myself.

Cheers

dan123

A fleet without a fleet manager....interesting!

I wonder why they don't just pay you a cash allowance, then you would have a totally free choice.

I'm sure HQ will treat you with more respect than than the dealers, business sales are very important to any car manufacturer.

Hope you like the car when you finally get your hands on one.

Johnnyc

My fleet company offered to arrange to have the Octy 2.0 TDi i test drove delivered to the office and picked up the next day if I wanted to test it overnight.

I'd walk away and go elsewhere for a test drive if I where you.

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Wakasashi

The car fleet is now monitored by a combination of HR & accounts, although 75% of HR resigned 2 days ago.

No cash allowances for field-based workers. The company won't risk high mileage drivers being off the road in the event of expensive repairs. Directors get cash allowances so they can park Audi A8 Quattros, Porsches and Mercs in the car park and pay no tax on them. We get to drive mega-miles, work long hours and pay tax on cars we have restricted choice of. Bitter me?

dan123

My company gets round the issue of "being off the road" (don't you hate that term) by having a clause in the opt out contract that you will get yourself on the road in case of breakdown. I've been opted out now for 18 months and have always managed via courtesy cars or using the wife's after dropping her at work.

Lets us know how you get on with Skoda.

Dan

andy2407

When I was looking for my last company car, I went to the local Toyota dealer, as the Avensis is our "benchmark" car, setting the monthly lease value which we are allowed. I just fancied a quick 20 mins to get an initial impression but when I told them it was going to be a company car (with no guarantee of them getting the business) they seemed to lose interest in taking me out, and just took my details to pass on to Toyota fleet. Then a few weeks later I got a phone call from the fleet department to say they would be delivering me a car at work the following day. It was the exact model, engine and spec I was considering, and they left it with me for 3 days. The driver had driven nearly 200 miles to drop it off, followed by a colleague who was taking him back. There was 3/4 tank of diesel, and they said to just leave them enough to get to the nearest filling station. Great service, but after 20 mins I had decided I didn't want one - they could have saved themselves a lot of trouble if the dealer had given me a quick spin!

On the other hand, my local Skoda dealer (Horners Bury) gave great service. A test drive was not a problem. So sure enough, I told the lease company they were my preferred dealer, and they got the business. I believe that with the lease company we use, they will try to use the preferred dealer if we nominate one, and just come back to us if they won't match the deals they can get elsewhere.

Thumbs up to the local Peugeot dealer who were also very helpful and even brought a 407SW to my work place one lunch time for an initial test drive.

I must admit that as others have mentioned it sometimes seems easier just to say you are a private purchaser, or or tell them that you are considering opting out of your company's lease scheme.

I can't help but wonder why more dealer principles don't do something to stop the sort of attitude you experienced at Renshaw and Newsome. Whilst I can understand that the individual salesmen are after their bonus etc, I suspect that in the overall scheme of things the dealer is likely to make more money out of the 3 year servicing on a company car rather than the sale itself. Almost tempting to ring the boss and tell him what happened.

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ednmra

In a way this reminds of when I bought my 1998 Primera GT. I had several deals laid out from different sources but couldn't find a GT to test drive. Then one came up at Eastbourne and of course I liked it very much.

When I sat down with the salesman afterwards and discussed figures [his were not too good!] I explained the better deals on offer.

He then sarcastically asked me if we were in a "dutch auction" and pretty much said I ought to buy from them because they'd provided the test drive. I told him I was going for the best deal and that if he thought otherwise [on a brand new £18000 car] he ought to wake up and get a grip. Goodbye!!

Wakasashi

Thanks to all for your comments so far. I have contacted the Skoda office, their response was "We'll be in touch".

Giving them the benefit of the doubt I'll now wait to see what Skoda can do to help me.

Wakasashi

Had a phone call back from Skoda UK, they said they would arrange for Nick Lamb from Clock Garage (Derby) to call me re the demo. I actually received a call from Nick at Gordon Lamb in Chesterfield. Talk about "Send three and fourpence, we're going to a dance!".

The end result is that we've set a date for a 24 hour test drive. The guys at Chesterfield also appear to have an enlightened view towards tuning the 2.0 TDi for more power so if I like the car, guess where the order will go?

andyfr

I would be interested to know how you get on with Gordon Lambs in Chesterfield. Although we now live near Inverness we are originally from Sheffield and visit twice a year most years. The Inverness dealers just won't give good deals so when I wanted to buy our current Freelander I got it from Gordon Lambs Land Rover franchise in Chesterfield.

I am considering getting an Octy 4x4 Tdi next year so would like to know if their Skoda franchise is any good.

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Wakasashi

One interesting snippet: Whilst on the phone with the lady who called me from Skoda UK she stated that "We have no intention of bringing a diesel VRs or a 170bhp Octavia into the UK". When I challenged this statement in light of what some dealers are saying regarding delivery dates, the lady said "They must be mistaken".

Perhaps we shall see?

Wakasashi

Gordon Lamb have now joined the list of dissappointing Skoda Dealers in the East Mids. Their guy cried off the date I had booked to try the Octavia 2.0TDi. He claimed they had given the car to another guy after a garage employee drove into the guys car on the dealer forecourt! Gordon Lamb have since been very quiet, can't obtain a new date from them.

This makes 3 dealers AND Skoda UK that have been contacted. The result to date is that I haven't been able to even see an Octavia Estate L&K or drive an Octavia 2.0TDi.

Having reviewed how many people post problems with new cars on this site I am now suspecting that choosing a Skoda would be a bad move. The cars may well be fantastic but the dealers I have experienced do not convey the impression that they even want to provide a service to customers. I would not trust any of them to resolve reliability/warranty issues.

Seriously bad performance from Skoda dealers so far. Think I'll look elsewhere.

Silk

My company insists on a PCP with maintenance and breakdown included, to get over the problem you describe. We get an allowance (taxed) plus 40ppm for first 10K, the 25ppm after that (tax free).

We're then free to go out into the market, subject to certain conditions regarding practicality of car. I am, in effect, my own fleet manager.

Wakasashi

Nice to see there are some employers taking a more open-minded attitude to car provision for staff. Not so where I work, we are now further restricted by having £100 per month removed from our monthly car budget and we must keep all cars sourced from this point for 4 years (some of us will clock up over 160,000 miles in this time).

Let me see: downgraded car, reduced choice, keep it longer and pay tax where our bosses are being exempted. Sorry, just don't get it. If they thought this would boost morale they miscalculated - some of my colleagues have already quit.

Silk

I was quite surprised when they introduced the scheme, as my company were not known for being flexible. Previously, it was a white Astra or nothing. Now we get the opportunity of either getting a cheaper car and pocketing the savings or going for something better and maybe putting something towards it. Even with a top of the range Skoda, I'm still in profit.

It's better for the company as they remove the risk. We take on the risk, but the rewards make up for it.

Wakasashi

At the risk of staying off-thread, we also had the company pension scheme stopped. We now have to use a personal pension as I gather this also saves the company money.

Glad you're in profit Silk . I reckon I could make a profit from running my own car at the mileage rates you refer to. The company has refused outright as I am considered an essential car user. I may take this up with my union as most of the cars on offer have fewer airbags/lower safety rating than my current car.

Still, I could be worse off - the company made a large number of people redundant last year. Funnily enough this happened just before they introduced the new draconian measures. Would it be cynical to suspect the staff were softened up by the hit of job losses just before the changes?

Silk

what do you do for a job? If you don't mind me asking.

Wakasashi

Hi Silk,

You have a PM.

Cheers

RallyMarshal

Ive bought 3 cars from Rainworth Skoda now and am very happy with the service and pricing Ive got. Just the other side of Mansfield - about 15 mins from J27 or J28 of the M1.

Paul..

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Wakasashi

Cheers Paul, I live close to J.26 of the M1 so I'll give Rainworth a try as I would still like to try the Octavia. 4th time lucky?