Buy Skoda Rapid At Your Own Risk !

You may want to take time to read this and decide, if you wish to buy a Skoda product or not.

Please be advised that those who plan to buy a Skoda Rapid should expect no customer service or car service from Skoda service centers at all, especially in NOIDA.

Also please be cautious that Skoda India will be least bothered to help you in case of dire need.

I have a lot to tell, but would restrict my experience to be shared in this forum / review as –  not worthy enough to spend a huge money buying Skoda products, especially Rapid.

If you can, in any way, afford to leave your Skoda car at a roadside, in case the engine comes to a halt suddenly, go ahead and buy one. No one in India is going to come and rescue you from the problems and painful moments that you will experience. The Skoda roadside assistance program will also fail to provide you support.

Car Make: Skoda Rapid 1.6 TDI Elegance MT; Manufacturing Month / Year: January 2012

After my car's first service in Feb 2013, there were many things which were not upto my expectations, especially when you are paying for them. Anyways, let me give you a brief summary of the critical and painful expereince with Skoda. The intelligent service engineers and highly ambitious customer advisor / supervisor overlooked the problem I was facing with the engine, which resulted in a constant engine and glow plug warning light always on and flashing, followed by a complete breakdown of my newly serviced car the next day. I was left unattended for days and only after my constant e-mails and calls to both Skoda India and Nawab Motors Service Center, there was little which Skoda or Service Center could do. It took them 5 days to identify problem, came with a lame excuse of delay due to a faulty part (which still in not replaced and been promised for weeks now). To add to my misery, I was not provided with a courtesy vehicle (considering they “promised” me one over phone – some, so claimed, senior person in customer care called me from Skoda India on 4th day of my car at service center).  

This car, which still misses some critical engine parts, runs at “mercy” of Skoda and I, have to drive the car on mercy of God.  All the trust and promises Skoda made during the sale of the car, are worthless and have no value.

Today, the car doesn't have a responsive steering and misses during gear shifts. I wish if I can take this matter to a law, but then, a common man can does not have time for all this. Instead, I have ensured that Skoda products are not purchased from my organization (where I work).

Let me re-iterate – please do not spend your hard earned money and precious time with this “zero customer focus and insensitive to customer” company.

Instead go for a product from another well established car brand in India.

For me, I am going to sell this Skoda Rapid immediately, probably wait for some time to relax, unwind, re-energise myself and buy a good product from an automobile company of good repute and a better customer experience.

Anyone, who wishes to reach out to me, please do so. I have all communications in e-mails which are sufficient to prove my bitter Skoda experience - with details of Service Center and Skoda India key persons.