Welcome to London's Skoda Independent Garage.We have a team of independent Skoda specialists who can sort out anything from basic Skoda servicing to advanced technical Skoda cars problems. One of the best independent Skoda Master Technician on site offering knowledge and experience using the latest Skoda Main Dealer garage compulsory diagnostics equipment.

Fuel Saving Tips - Tips before you leave

Avoid short trips

  • Cold engines are thirsty. In cold weather, fuel consumption for the first few miles can be far higher than normal. Even in summer, until your engine has reached normal temperature it will use more fuel.
  • Try to avoid making short journeys. See if you can plan to combine several short journeys into a bundle, to keep your engine warm and efficient.
  • Don’t leave the engine running to warm it up. Set off as soon as you have started up.

 

Check your tyre pressures

  • Flat tyres waste energy. Even being just 3 psi under the ideal pressure can add 1% to your fuel bill. Refer to your Owners’ Manual and check your tyre pressures weekly.
  • The original tyres for your car were selected to provide the optimum economy, safety and comfort. If you have to replace them make sure you use the same specification.
  • For more savings, you can use the higher tyre pressure recommended for full load, even if you're on your own and without luggage. It may reduce comfort slightly, but the difference should be minor.

 

Use fuel-saving oil

  • The right engine oil reduces friction in the engine, and gets to work better and faster especially after a cold start – especially important for short trips.
  • It can cut fuel consumption by up to 5% compared with cheaper products.
  • If you’re topping up, check with your dealer to make sure you use the right oil, especially if your engine is using Long-Life oil.

 

Avoid unnecessary weight

  • Remember cycling with a heavy pack on your back? Hard work, wasn’t it? It’s the same for your car - less weight means less fuel consumption
  • It also means less impact on the environment.
  • Whether it’s the bottles and papers you meant to take to the recycling point or a heavy toolbox, remember that every kilogram costs you fuel.
  • An extra 100 kilos will increase your fuel consumption by up to an extra gallon every thousand miles. So only carry what you need!
  • If you have the chance, sharing a car is the ultimate weight-saving trick – it saves the weight of a whole car!

 

Think Aerodynamic

  • Your car is designed to be aerodynamically efficient, but things like roof racks and roof boxes change this.
  • The same is true of speed. If you double your speed, the aerodynamic drag will increase four times over.
  • For example, at 60mph a car with three bikes on the roof will use over a third of a gallon of extra fuel every 50 miles. Speed up to 70mph and this could be nearly half a gallon.
  • Even empty roof racks increase fuel consumption, so if you’re not using them, take them off – especially if your heading for the motorway or other high-speed roads.

Article source: www.skoda.co.uk

 

1895 to 1905 - From push bike fanatics to motorcycle madness


You might think it strange but our founders started by making push bikes! In Czechoslovakia during December 1895, keen cyclists Vaclav Laurin (a mechanic) and Vaclav Klement (a bookseller) started designing and manufacturing bicycles. At that time, most Czechs were fervently patriotic, so they called their first company Slavia. Their bicycles sold well, so Laurin and Klement decided to take the next step – and add motors. They started making motorbikes in 1899, changed the name of their company to the Laurin & Klement Co and chalked up several racing victories. While making nearly 4,000 motorbikes of various types, they started experimenting with a new phenomenon – the car - which began to gradually replace motorbikes from 1905 on.

Article source: www.skoda.co.uk

Winter Health Check

This isn’t about whether you’re feeling a bit sniffly. It’s a comprehensive check of your ŠKODA that’s not to be sniffed at.

 

For just £19.99 we’ll give your ŠKODA a thorough 7-point inspection and give you a full condition report. So you know what needs to be done to keep you safe on the roads this winter.

 

 

 

 

Here’s what we check:

 

Lights

Dark nights and gloomy days demand properly working, properly aligned lights to help you see and be seen. We’ll check your headlights’ alignment is correct.


Wiper blades

Whether it’s raining, snowing or icy, your wiper blades have to keep the windscreen clear. We’ll check them to make sure they’re up to the job.


Windscreen washer

Most people don’t give their windscreen washer a thought until their screen is dirty and they discover the bottle’s empty. But we do, with our function and fluid check, and top-up if required.


Brakes

Stopping’s hard enough in snowy or icy conditions, without your brakes letting you down. We look over your pads and discs, and check your brake fluid, so there’s nothing to stop you stopping safely.


Tyres

As your only contact with the road, your tyres need to be in tip-top condition for the winter. We’ll check them over and, if you need advice on choosing winter tyres, we’re the right people to ask. Why not check out our tyre tips too?


Battery

Avoid that sinking feeling and sad clicking sound of a flat battery on a cold morning. Get us to check your battery now.


Air-con

It’s not just in hot weather you need your air-con. In winter it cuts condensation and aids demisting – but only if it’s working properly. We’ll check to see if it is.

 

 

For more information, please contact your local ŠKODA retailer.

 

Article source: www.skoda.co.uk

ŠKODA UK announces record 2012 

  • ŠKODA UK breaks 2011 new car registrations record in just 10 months
  • Year-to-date registrations stand at 46,281, up 17.9% on 2011
  • Market share of 2.6%
  • Fourth consecutive year that ŠKODA has beaten its previous best

ŠKODA UK today announced that it has broken its previous registrations record in just 10 months of 2012, signalling the fourth straight year that the brand has beaten its previous best. With two months of the year still to go, last year’s record of 45,061 new car registrations has already been beaten.

The astonishing news is the latest in a string of achievements during a hugely successful 2012 for ŠKODA:

  • During October ŠKODA registered 4,759 new cars in the UK.
  • Year-to-date registrations stand at 46,281, up 17.9% on 2011 (39,241).
  • Year-to-date market share in the UK stands at 2.6% and is the first time that ŠKODA reached October with a market share above 2.5%. The breakdown is 2.9% retail and 2.3% fleet.

Alasdair Stewart, Brand Director for ŠKODA UK, commented: “Today’s news that we’ve already beaten 2011’s total – itself the previous highest-ever UK figure – demonstrates the momentum ŠKODA has in the UK. Our core values of exceptionally versatile cars, great design, advanced technology and value-for-money prices appeal to the motoring public. Our congratulations go to our retailers who work very hard to deliver outstanding service to our customers; and to our growing base of fleet customers who are increasingly recognising the excellent value proposition represented by ŠKODA products. The figures underline what a phenomenal job everyone associated with the company has been doing this year, and means we are on target to meet the goals we set for 2012.”

Article source: www.skoda.co.uk

 

Skoda Fabia review by Top Gear

The Skoda Fabia Hatchback is cleanly styled, well made, quiet-running and sweet if unexciting to drive. An entirely logical choice, and possibly more dependable than the French supermini default. Owners absolutely adore them, and their dealers come to that –see the Top Gear survey.

  • Comfort

    A strong point. There's plenty of space in that upright body. The ride is supple and the tyres and suspension quiet. The engines are well-insulated. The seats are supportive and the driving position adjusts to fit anyone, from dumpling-fed Czech farmer to size-zero British learner.

    Rated 7 out of 10

  • Performance

    Excluding the 1.4 TSI in the vRS, there are two petrols with two power outputs each - a 1.2 with 60 or 70bhp and a 1.2 TSI with 85 and 105bhp. There is also a 1.6 TDI with 90 or 105bhp. Ignore the entry 1.2 - although perky enough, with just three cylinders it's loud and can be hard work. The TSI models are much better. Even the entry 85bhp version is fun to drive and feels more powerful than it actually is - 0-62mph is a respectable 11.8 secondsand it has a top speed of 111mph. The 1.6 diesel is only slightly smoother and quieter than the old 1.9 TDI and doesn't feel as if it has that much more power. However, it will cruise easily at higher speeds.

    Rated 6 out of 10

  • Cool

    It shows you don't quite do the normal thing. It shows you're straight-thinking not ditsy or fashion-led. It's also good-looking in a chilly, northern way. Does any of that make it cool? Not terribly, but it's by no means an embarrassment.

    Rated 6 out of 10

  • Quality

    The old Fabia's interior quality was stand out, and the new one is even better; beautifully crafted using materials that are both nice to look at and touch.

    Rated 6 out of 10

  • Handling

    Compared to its recent rivals (such as the Clio, 207 and Punto) the new Fabia has grown up the least, sitting as it does on much the same platform as before. This means it feels quite compact and nippy compared with its ever-expanding rivals. The well-connected steering opens the gate to cornering with a sense of fun. You can tuck the nose in or even loosen the tail if you trim the throttle. This is not the straight-laced behaviour you might expect of a respectable Skoda, and it's all the more welcome because of it.

    Rated 7 out of 10

  • Practicality

    The Fabia's cabin is deceptively spacious. Okay, those in the rear don't have room to stretch, but it's not breaking any human rights conventions, swallowing five people in relative comfort. That's relative to, say, being skewered by a herd of rhinoceroses. The boot is a generous size for a supermini at 300 lires which then increases to 1,163 when the rear seats are tumbled forward.

    Rated 6 out of 10

  • Running costs

    There's a low-carbon Greenline version to keep fuel and tax right down. Depreciation is low, unlike for many ‘bargain' brands. But then Skodas aren't really sold at bargain prices any longer. Service intervals 10,000 miles, a long way for a supermini, and three-year/60k warranty too.

    Rated 10 out of 10

 

Article source: www.topgear.co.uk

More Articles...

  1. Andreas plans ultimate celebration run in Cyprus
  2. ŠKODA: higher deliveries in September
  3. ŠKODA announces exceptional value for money autumn offers
  4. Skoda Yeti review by TopGear

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