- Water vapor in Skoda badge.
- Difficult to engage 2nd gear.
- Airbag warning light does not go off despite having been reset by the dealer.
Bad quality of work done by the Skoda service center here in Singapore.
I'm a resident of Singapore and am just thinking of buying an Octavia. The new car will be available in about 4-6 weeks from now (Feb 2001) according to the only one local agent.
My worry is very true after reading this article. The local exclusive Skoda agent is very new in Singapore and is privately owned. This means if the business is really bad, they may be bust over night and leave us alone in the dark sea.
To run a business for marketing such an unknown brand is difficult enough, not to mention to build a strong service support team to compete the first class Nissan and Toyota services.
With selling less than 30 cars a month and just started promoting less than 3 months in the market, without strong manufacturer backup, even the best car will fail to survive in this highly competitive market.
Whoever lives in Singapore and felt interested in this excellent car will have to take a risk of lacking service backup for many years to come. It's really a pitiful situation. Why don't VW undertake the service internationally and charge to Skoda?
I also drive an Octavia 1.8 SLX, year 1999 and I have done 75000 km with almost no problems (heater for the right outside mirror stopped working - everything else is still working without any problems + very good quality all around).
BUT servicing at the Skoda dealer was catastrophic!! So I started going to a VW dealer (since everything in the car is from VW) and since then I am very pleased with the service.
You do not have to be afraid about Skoda dealers - just take it to VW or Audi dealer.
I understand from the local agent in Singapore that this car is the same as VW Bora? Is this true? I'm interested in this car and have test driven it and it is actually quite good. Very surprised by its performance.
What about servicing, is it expensive?
Thanks...
steven@carsurvey.org:
The Octavia and Bora are different cars, but they are both based on the same base platform as the VW Golf.
Here am I again (Skoda Octavia 1.8 SLX). Sure VW Bora and Octavia are different cars, but the engine, brakes, pumps, clutch, and suspension are all the same as on VW Golf, Bora and Seat Toledo - If you know where to look you will find out that every piece on the Skoda has a VW mark on it.
Do not worry, every part (technical) from the Golf or Bora is the same on the Skoda.
Servicing is not very expensive: every 15.000 km around 150 - 200 DEM and every 30.000 km around 300 DEM (big service)!
I am changing my car from a Hyundai Accent to a Skoda Octavia. The Accent is very reliable and has only 9,800 miles @ 15 months old. Will the Skoda be as reliable as my Accent?
The reliability of Skoda Octavia is the same as the reliability of VW golf, Bora, Seat Toledo - which means not very good if you compare it with reliability of Japanese cars, it is even poorer than cars from Fiat and Renault.
But the Octavia drives much, much better than the Accent, Megane or Marea!
I too had problems with my 1998, 1.6 GLi Octavia. The boot locking mechanism is a known problem with this model.
Two ECU's had to be replaced.
The nearside rear passenger doorlock failed.
Transmission problems occured with second gear being difficult to engage.
Water ingress affected both boot and bonnet badges.
The driver's door window came loose in its runners.
And finally, the seats were the most uncomfortable I have ever sat in.
I have owned a Seat Toledo TdiSe bhp 110 for just over a year. I have done about 37.000 miles in it. I am thrilled with it and there is not even a squeak or a rattle. The car has been 100% reliable. Alas I plan to keep it a long time. The Toledo was assembled in Belgium in the V.W. factory. I have owned other V.W. cars before and have had excellent reliability. The new Seat Toledo is a lovely looking car and it is so comfortable and quiet. On average most of the new made by V.W. are good.
I'm driving a new Skoda and true enough the 2nd gear is difficult to engage as compared to the rest which is smooth. To think taht all this while I've been blaming the wife for screwing up the 2nd gear shift point...
Otherwise absolutely no complaints about the car. This car is many, many, many times better than my previous one.
Somehow I'm not sure you are a genuine owner.
You say you drive the auto but find difficulty in engaging second gear? Help me but something doesn't connect here.
If I did not know any better, I'd say you are a fake and trying to destroy the reputation of the Skoda dealer here in competitive Singapore auto market.
If you are really having problems with the organisation, then call up the Managing Director himsaelf, Jimmy Lim at the Ubi offfice and if he is there he'll take your call. I've done it countless times.
The Skoda models available here are built where? In which country?
I'm also concerned whether the Classic's engine (55kw) can adequately pull the car as compared to the engine available in the other trim levels (74kw)
It's a shame that you cannot opt for a Classic with the features available in the Elegance model because the classic model seems to be the most value-for-money of them.
I drive the 55kw Classic and it suits my driving style perfectly. The car is large but the torque figures are rather high. At 135Nm that is some pulling effort especially with an 8 valve engine. The torque also comes in early at between 2000~3200rpm. That is where most of my driving occur.
The car is made in Czech Republic.
If you are a Singaporean and want to find first hand drivers review, you can email me: gendut@asiaone.com.
Any inputs on the cost of owning the car? How much is the normal servicing, fuel consumption on Singapore roads?
I think that the Octavia Elegance 1.8T is definitely a good car to buy. Rated at 150 Bhp, it is considered quite a powerful car.
I have notice that JTA had priced the car too high to be attractive. At 115k for a 1.8 T (A), I would have more choice to choose. Eg. Mit Galant. I bet JTA must have made at least a cool 25 to 30k from each car.
- Octavia Fan. (Underdog supporter)
Why would one choose to buy a Octavia than an other made, not forgetting that Skoda is a very new and yet to be proven brand? JTA, please make your pricing more competitive, do not kill your own market.