The new Mrs Arragonis-mobile

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Skoda has a good cost-effectiveness overall.

[Arragonis]

Small update - first tank was 52 MPG which is kind of close to the Prius at 50-ish. The second tank includes a longer journey which resulted in 60+ MPG on the in car display - we will wait and see what the total tank is.

Comfort on this longer journey was rated as not so good - hot weather and furry-ish leather seats.

I'm empathising on the downsides as of course we might swap...

[Arragonis]

Originally Posted by cRiPpLe_rOoStEr

Skoda has a good cost-effectiveness overall.

As long as you find an independent service centre and avoid the dealers.

[Xist]

My understanding of the VW TDI versus Prius debate is that the Toyotas are great until the traction battery needs replacing, but the warranty on that is 100,000 miles, and better in California-compatible states. I just saw comments about the car holding up well and the dealerships taking good care of the customers. A decade ago, when I met Volkswagon owners, I mentioned I often saw those with one headlight out, and they said that was common with that brand, as well as failed window controls and a few other things. Specific to the TDI, I read that the dealerships routinely told customers they needed new turbos, which was a comparable cost to Prius battery packs, even though it might just be a carbon build-up.

When I had a mechanic look at an HX, he told me how reliable Hondas were, but he wanted a Volkswagon, so he was always fixing it.

I imagine that much of this is attitude. I do not think that opinions would necessarily make sense and that two people might have the same experience, needing the same repairs and so forth, but one would tell you it was still a good car, while the other insisted that it was garbage. Hey, women are crazy, but some of them are lovable anyway, and can you imagine what they think of us?!

I have had people rant about how terrible Fords are and have heard the same of Hondas (and Toyotas and sometimes you get Honda versus Toyota). I loved my 1990 Accord and was upset when an elk totaled it. A friend followed me to the recycler in his Accord, which was the same generation. The whole time, he talked about how it was a garbage car, while obviously its owners never took care of it. Then Dad sold me his Focus with 250,000 miles on it and someone took out that car. I dove my brother-in-law's Focus and that ran terribly, but he was hard on cars, and did not take care of them.

Life is complicated, my friends!

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by Xist

A decade ago, when I met Volkswagon owners, I mentioned I often saw those with one headlight out, and they said that was common with that brand, as well as failed window controls and a few other things. Specific to the TDI, I read that the dealerships routinely told customers they needed new turbos, which was a comparable cost to Prius battery packs, even though it might just be a carbon build-up.

Volkswagen had a better reputation in my country at that time, altough after they started replacing the EA-827 engine with the newer crossflow engines such as the EA-111 there were more people complaining about carbon build-up in the oil ducts but it was basically because they insisted in use cheaper low-grade oils which were suitable for the older engines but are crap in the newer ones. Regarding the TDI, the most common issue is the timing belt and its tensioner.

[Arragonis]

Originally Posted by Xist

Life is complicated, my friends!

Fully agree. By contrast my experience with the same dealers with my Toyota badged but Eastern European made Aygo was very much better.

[JasonG]

The oil change indicator light can be changed with vcds.
They after come from the factory set for the gas interval.
For the TDI it should be 10k miles.

The issue in the states is that VW dealer service is lousy.
Make sure to change the oil using the correct spec and the timing belt before 120k miles and you'll be fine.
Ours has 65k and only a rear seat release cable that popped loose.
Well, there was a vacuum hose issue, but that was squirrel caused!

[Arragonis]

It is going to the local specialist for an oil change and filter this Friday - might as well as the dealer said they had serviced it, but they also said the sat nav was working when it wasn't...

...fixed by me

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

You know, the stealers.. err.. dealers hardly provide a good service.

[Xist]

Please educate me, I spent two years in Germany, but did not have a car, so it was only when I came home that I found this site.

When I arrived in Germany, the military had some office at the airport and we had a briefing before being sent our various ways. The gentleman told us that Opel was owned by GM.

You say Skoda is VW and Aygo is Toyota?

Is there more of this madness or some reason for it?

Originally Posted by cRiPpLe_rOoStEr

You know, the stealers.. err.. dealers hardly provide a good service.

I finally bought a sun visor for my Civic (I was so happy to have one!) and their service department had a table comparing their service prices to major chains. I believe their point was that they were competitive, but only on average. It was weird to see that another place charged much more for one service, but much less for another. I believe that they showed $489 for a timing belt replacement. I can only wonder what additional fees were excluded.

People act like the service department at a dealership is the epitome of technical ability, because they are the best of the best of the best, Sir! I would not know, I have never used them!