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

ŠKODA UK announces record 2012 

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