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I was speaking with the head of Skoda Australia a couple of weeks ago.
Im looking foward to whats coming.
The Scout will be here soon along with the Superb, the Ocatvia II is getting a facelift but they are going to hold off on the RS, rumor has it the the 1.8T will be optioned with a 7spd DSG. The RS diesel may be here by the end of the year and it will definately have the DSG.
The Fabia is a while off yet as they are working hard at getting the price right.
Sounds about right. Did he/she say when we are getting the CR diesels in Oz ? They already have them in the UK (along with DSG vRS diesels).
Skoda need to sharpen their prices if they want to get the sales volumes they were hoping for, and particularly with the Fabia. It's a pity the $AU wasn't as high against the Euro as it is against the $US.
I was told October for the vRS diesel (by a saleslady)Quote:
Originally Posted by gregozedobe
Same, Diesel vRS October! :D
7spd DSG.... big possibility.. as Audi have had one for yonks... its Skoda's turn! (Slight confirmation from Skoda insider) :p
I think my Skoda was great value for money - initially it seemed expensive until they realised I was serious & suddenly the trade-in was really good & the cost of the car came way down. The more I drive it, the more I think what great value for money it is.Quote:
Originally Posted by gregozedobe
I didn't say they weren't good value for money - I've bought one, and with my own money (and I'm very happy with it) !
But if they want to sell as many as they said they plan to, I think they need to drop their prices. For example, VW Golfs are a known brand, yet they are being discounted more than Skodas, which have very little real presence with the more average car buyer in Australia (as opposed to the enthusiasts you find on sites like this one).
So they need to restructure their initial pricing to get the punters onto the forecourt.
I paid $30452 drive-away for my Nov07 build 1.8T Elegance liftback (no accessories or options). To top it off I got $11750 trade-in for my Mk3.5 Golf Cabrio (paid $13700 private 2 years earlier) which 2 VW dealers offered me $7000 as a trade-in on a GTI / GT Sport Golf.
edit: VW seem to be targetting the fleet market in Australia. Skoda claim to be targetting retail buyers. In Europe, Skoda is the fleet car (so I was told by SWMBOs cousin in Austria).
Revised pricing wont make any difference if people still don't know what it is. Nearly everybody that has seen my (wifes) car is very impressed with it, but none of them have ever heard of Skoda before. The only people I have met who actually know what it is are VW drivers or people who have lived in the UK.
In my opinion the advertising should be focussing on the features of the car. Rather than telling us how clever it is, tell us why! If people realise that they can carry two kids in the back, two dogs in the boot (wagon), go around corners without the car falling over, and still get to 100km/hr in a little over 7 seconds in comfort & style they might be more interested.
Console Operator at Shell recognised it the other day. I said "red car, pump 9" He says /Arpoo voice on "The Skoda. They sell very well in India" /Arpoo voice off.Quote:
Originally Posted by mrx
I can think of several add campaigns based on my experiences so far.
You can fit 3x2L milk bottles in the net thing on the right of the boot. My kids thought that was great rather than having to hold the wet, cold milk bottles on their lap.
My car was parked outside with the windows open. My Father-in-law warned me it was about to start raining. I told him the windows will wind up automatically when the rain starts. He couldn't handle this and told me another 3 times it was about to rain and I should go outside & wind the windows up...... So I pressed the lock button on the remote & they wound up.
Same day. Father-in-law asks: "Has it got ABS brakes?"
me: "yes"
FIL: "Has it got airbags?"
Me: "yep, 6 of them"
FIL: "Has it got ESP stability control"
Me: "Mate, think of an initialism and it's got it!":nana:
My wife drives like a Nanna and reckons the car is luxurious, easy to drive & comfortable. I drive a bit harder & reckon the car has good power, handles well & looks good.
All these things would translate well to a telly commercial.
But yeah, SIMPLY CLEVER because you are good at sand castles?
People don't wanna buy a car that they don't know anything about !!!Quote:
Originally Posted by mrx
Even if it is a great car; who are they?, will they be here in ten years time?, and what support do they have?
I think the best thing Skoda could do is let people know it's Volkswagen.
Most of the running gear is VW parts. It's exactly the same as VW to service and any VW mechanic could fix them.
Then if Skoda closed shop in Australia, no problem. Volkswagen can look after it.