Skoda Octavia [2001-2010] User Reviews

Areas of improvement  

I used Skoda Octavia Ambient 2.0 (petrol) nearly for 6 years. On highways (when it runs), it's a KING. It's perfect vehicle for newly built National Highways or roads like NICE road outskirts of Bangalore. Even at 150Kmph+ the car goes just smooth and safe. Braking system is excellent and ABS really does work! One can almost take any kind of turn virtually at 80+Kmph. So, when it runs I'd only like to drive Skoda.

BUT, when it does not run, i.e. you have even a minor breakdown, then you had it! Especially in Bangalore I found servicing experience consistently worst, on following counts.

(a) Usually unavailable service slots at your preference

(b) Pickup/drop facility has never been serviced at promised time.

(c) Spare part AND service charges are just HUGE. In fact I used to complain if my car was serviced by Czech technicians.

(d) Many a times the service folks would not address all the problems reported and still give the car back indicating it's completely serviced

(e) Once handed over to the service station, you would NEVER EVER get any proactive intimation on the timeline, schedule and delivery time. You have to make almost 4-5 calls each time to obtain this information.

(f) In 6 years, only once the car was given back on the same day.

(g) They'd tell the spare part available/unavailable only after you drop the car for servicing. Which means you really can not plan anything until the car really comes back to you.

(h) There is no respect to customer. Even the service managers have been used to give misleading information and defend whatever Skoda has done.

(i) Last but not the least, if you try to escalate your dissatisfaction then following is how Skoda "handles" it. Say you go directly to Skoda WW, then they would promptly put it as India Skoda problem and would pass it on to Skoda India. Skoda India customer relationship manager or team would promptly put back the problem onto the dealer. So, even after escalating you are efficiently looped back to the same person or team against whom you may have escalated! This the way things have been working at least in Bangalore.

I spent almost 30-35% of the onroad price I paid for this car on servicing in 5-6 years, which is IMHO a HUGE amount and completely unjustifiable.

So, needless to say that I sold it off and leading much happier life since then.