Your questions answered: Why are features being deleted from the car I ordered?

New-car buyers have recently become familiar with long delays on the delivery dates for popular models.

But there is a new challenge, as car-makers are now choosing to delete equipment – sometimes well after the new vehicle has been ordered – to cut down on the number of microchips required for each new car to keep the production lines rolling.

Different companies are taking different approaches, but the biggest impact is on fully-loaded top-end models.

Question:

Answer: Skoda says it has advised Australian buyers of the “temporary unavailability” of some equipment in some variants, including a 360-degree camera, rear traffic alert and side assist. It emphasises that none of this compromises the car’s official safety rating. Full details are on the company’s website, including advice that: “The customer can continue with the order and accept a credit for the cost of those features, continue to await the arrival of the car as ordered, or discontinue the order and accept a full refund of the deposit.” The company says it will return to original specification when components are available.

Question:

Answer: The Venue is definitely a smart choice. Just be prepared for a long wait and, provided you get all the safety features you need, perhaps consider the model below the Elite as less ‘luxury’ features means less microchips and potentially a shorter delay on delivery.

Question:

Answer: The Kona is definitely good and has this week been announced as carsales’ Best Small SUV for the second year running. Perhaps also consider the Kia Seltos, as it shares many components with the Kona (Kia is Hyundai’s sister brand). As for delays on new cars, you will pay considerably over the odds for something second-hand because so many people are trying to take the same short-cut on a car purchase.

Question: I bought a new Skoda in 2019 and found that they don’t come with a service book as standard. On enquiry I was told Skoda keeps the service history on its own computer system and does not supply a book for stamping. I now keep all receipts for services with the car. – John M

Answer A: This is a direction many brands are heading. Our advice is to always keep a paper trail with the full invoice from each service.

Answer B: Skoda moved to electronic service books with the rationale that they wouldn’t get lost and could be made accessible to anyone who needed them. Unfortunately, my experience is that few staff at the dealership can locate them on their system and one even told me that they cannot find it for their own vehicle in their Skoda app. Persistence at the dealership eventually got me to a staff member who could find and print the service records. – Sam C

Answer C: Regarding the person looking at a 2018 Skoda without service books or manuals, please be aware that a lot of late-model cars, notably European prestige, do not actually have printed service books any more. Land Rover has been doing this for years, and Skoda since about 2016. They have digital service records which the client or dealer can access and reprint. Nonetheless, the client should have these printed copies available and at least the service manuals – although some really late-model cars advise they only have “online download manuals”. If none of these, then there is usually some suspicious history at hand and this is happening a lot now with ex-repairable write-offs or cars with odometer corrections. So buyer beware. – Klaus Sturm, VACC

Question: Can you recommend the sedan or SUV which has the most rear legroom. We have a child who will be dependent on us for life and he’s already headed towards six feet so we want to make sure he’s comfortable in the back. Our budget is anywhere up to $35,000 and we are happy to purchase new or used. – Sal F

Answer: My first choice would be a Skoda Superb, which has the sort of rear seat space that was once a highlight in the Holden Statesman and Ford Fairlane. It’s also a very good car with a mechanical package from the Volkswagen Group and little design touches which set Skoda apart – like an umbrella in the door.

Question:

Answer: Everything points to a cult following for the C 63, which is a wonderfully impressive car. It’s likely to become a future collectible, as well as popular with buyers today, but the arrival of electrification means it’s impossible to predict future values.

Question:

Answer: It’s a belter and on the recommended list. The price is right when you consider its rivals and also the current showroom sticker for a Golf GTI.

Question:

Answer: There are all sorts of claims for this type of device, which were usually focused on improved performance but now emphasise economy. It’s unlikely to cause any sort of cataclysmic failure, but neither is it likely to turn your old Hyundai into a hybrid-style fuel miser.

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