New Skoda Karoq Launch and SUV Event

On Wednesday 10th January Derek Slack Motors played host to The Škoda SUV event and the Launch of Škoda’s newest model, the KAROQ.

It was also a chance to pay tribute to one of Škoda’s most successful models,  the Yeti of which over 600,000 have been produced since its launch in 2009.

Kim Bradley, Community Fundraiser of Teesside Hospice, unveiled the two Karoqs which are now available for test drive. Kim was also there to receive a cheque for funds raised last year by Derek Slack Motors staff and donations from Derek Slack Motors customers.

Invitees of the VIP event were entered into a prize draw for a range of Skoda goodies including a state of the art dash-cam, which was won by Anne Smith of Longnewton. Other prize winners were Mr Ingram of Guisborough and Mr Robert Trewhitt of Stockton.

Equipped for all of life's adventures, the All-New Škoda Karoq sits alongside its larger stable mate  the Škoda Kodiaq in the Škoda SUV family. This flexible and spacious SUV is a fitting replacement for the much loved Yeti. Available to order now from £20,875 OTR. Contact us now to arrange a test drive and be one of the first to experience this exciting new model.

There's Some Gripping 4x4 deals at Derek Slack Motors

ŠKODA currently offers 4×4 in OCTAVIA, OCTAVIA COMBI, OCTAVIA SCOUT, OCTAVIA RS, OCTAVIA COMBI RS, SUPERB, SUPERB COMBI, KODIAQ and KAROQ.

The first all-wheel-drive vehicle in its modern history was OCTAVIA COMBI in 1999. Since that time, the offer of four-wheel-drive cars has expanded. Moreover, OCTAVIA COMBI 4×4 and SUPERB COMBI 4×4 help ŠKODA maintain its leadership in the 4×4 estate segment in six European markets (Switzerland, Norway, Austria, Poland, Spain and Finland).
Visit Derek Slack Motors to see some 'gripping' 4x4 deals

But the brand’s 4×4 history is much older…

The first multi-axle-drive experiments were conducted in the late 1930s. ŠKODA produced several prototypes of three-axle buses with both rear axles driven, but these projects never reached the production stage.

Next came the Type 903, an army vehicle. The Czech Army Headquarters had invited tenders for a vehicle to be used by high-ranking officers in field operations, and ŠKODA had participated in that public tender with the 903, a vehicle prototyped in 1936 (with three prototypes produced in total). Inspired by the ŠKODA 650, a passenger car, the prototype design featured a 45 kW three-litre, six-cylinder engine and three axles (six-wheels), with the two rear axles driven. No contract was ever agreed, however.

Type 903 (1939) - chassis

Type 903 (1939)

Vehicle assembly operations in the Mladá Boleslav plant were limited during the Nazi occupation, but the ŠKODA 903 was one of the few vehicles included into the production portfolio. The plant manufactured an additional 42 vehicles of this type during 1939–1942. The ŠKODA 903 had a top speed of 100 km/h, managed a maximum uphill gradient of 45 %, and had average petrol consumption of 25 l/100 km. The product was available in two versions: one with an open, six-seat passenger compartment with four doors and a convertible roof, the other with a completely open top and longitudinal benches designed to accommodate a total of eight passengers. Probably only three vehicles of this type have been preserved.

In addition, the brand produced a few other 4×4 models during World War II. The three-litre SUPERB OHV was used as the basis for the SUPERB 3000 – Kraftfahrzeug 15 (an army vehicle). That vehicle had rear wheel drive, but the brand also tested a 4×4 version (named the 956).

Type 956

Type T 805 - chassis

Type 972

The company returned to the concept of manufacturing army vehicles several times after World War II. For example, the Mladá Boleslav plant produced nearly 6,500 Tatra 805 vehicles during 1952–1955, but production of this freight vehicle was then moved to the V. I. Lenin Plant in Pilsen.

Built on a shortened chassis and featuring many of the Tatra 805 (1954) components, the 971 was an armoured vehicle (also known as Jarmila, the brand produced three vehicles of this type) and the 972 was amphibious (with five vehicles produced during 1951–1952). The latter was fitted with a screw propeller enabling it to move at speeds of up to 10 km/h in water, and its maximum speed on the road was 85 km/h. The equipment included a lightweight machine gun and two rifles between the seats plus an assault rifle on the driver’s left-hand side.

Type 973 (1952) - back

In 1952, the brand produced the Type 973 with de-activatable front wheel drive. Boasting excellent driving properties, the vehicle was able to cope with uphill gradients as steep as 58 %, overcome vertical obstacles as high as 0.25 m, and stride through water as deep as 60 cm. Warsaw Pact forces tested similar vehicles near Dresden, and the Czech-made 973 proved to be the best of these. Nevertheless, the brand produced only a test series of ca 30 vehicles of this type and then the project was terminated, because the Russian-made GAZ-69 was chosen as the preferred product.

Type 973 (1952) - front

“In many respects, the ŠKODA-made army vehicles were better than the vehicles routinely used by the Soviet Union and/or the Warsaw Pact. Profitability, the requirement to prioritize civil production of an “ordinary people’s car”, and capacities not meeting the demands of the allied armies – all these were aspects that, in the end, led to the decision to focus on off-road vehicles for farmers rather than armies,” says ŠKODA Archive Manager Lukáš Nachtmann.

Agromobil 998

In the early 1960s, the brand cooperated with ČZ Strakonice on developing the Type 998 (known as Agromobil) and, a few years later, the Type 990. Only a few prototypes were produced – their exact number is not known, but it was probably 13 – of which at least two have been preserved. One is owned by the ŠKODA Museum, the other by the Military Museum in Lešany (together with a Type 973, known as Babeta), both these vehicles appeared in the 1964 film If a Thousand Clarinets (Kdyby tisíc klarinetů).
As part of its ŠKODA 1203 modernization project, the brand had considered producing a 4×4 version for farmers (Type 779, 1970).

New Subaru WRX STi 4-Door Saloon Middlesbrough

Derek Slack Motors, main dealers for Subaru in Teesside, are delighted to announce the arrival of the new shape, Subaru WRX STi 4-door saloon. The new WRX STI 4-door saloon is back with avengence featuring double twin exhaust, push button start and lots more! See it in our showroom, on Prospect Place, Cargo Fleet, Middlesbrough, just off the A66.

VAT FREE SKODA-MIDDLESBROUGH

Derek Slack Motors, main dealers for Skoda on Teesside, are pleased to announce a fabulous new offer available on brand new Skodas. Excluding the Yeti and Superb, you can drive away a new Skoda from our dealership in Middlesbrough VAT FREE! Yes, VAT Free on Fabia, Roomster and Octavia, that represents a saving of up to £3,500 with the saving equivalent to 17.5%. We’ve already seen many repeat customers taking advantage ahead of the closing date of September 31st 2010. So if you live in Stockton on Tees, Middlesbrough, Redcar, Yarm, Whitby, or Darlington and you’re looking to buy a brand new Skoda, now is definitely the time to buy. Plus compare a new Skoda, to a new Ford, Citroen, Renault,Vauxhall, Seat or Toyota and you’ll see how much further your hard earned cash will go. Think more car for less money and Skoda comes out top for value in Teesside.

Thanks for reading

Tony

Subaru Impreza GB270 for sale in Middlesbrough

When Subaru released the limited edition Impreza GB270 with only 400 models available in the UK, the stainless steel mesh grille and huge rear wing with silver alloys had everyone with a Subaru itch scratching. It quickly became a legend in its own time as the WRX was undisputedly the most capable all-weather performance car around. So imagine how excited we all got when a GB270 found its way onto our sales forecourt. Just £16,995 separates one lucky Subaru fan from this hoot to drive WRX. What I really like about this vehicle is how quickly you can get back on the throttle mid-corner, but hey, if you’ve driven a WRX, you’ll already be familiar with its ability to out perform most performance cars. The Prodrive Performance Pack increases the engine’s output from 226bhp to 266bhp. We do however always advocate responsible driving with safety in mind.

So if you fancy a bit of bargain, or even just a drool, why not call into Derek Slack Motors, main dealers for Subaru on Teesside.

Thanks for reading

Tony Slack

Skoda Fabia Greenline II Estate Middlesbrough

One of the most environmentally friendly models ever produced by Skoda has just arrived at Derek Slack Motors, Middlesbrough in the shape of the new Skoda Fabia GreenLine II Estate. Offering fantastic fuel economy of 83.1mpg  and low C02 emissions of only 89g/km, the new Fabia GreenLine II Estate is also packed with advanced technology including Skoda’s new, ‘stop-start and energy recuperation systems’.

Our car sales co-ordinator Phil Cross, is so taken with the new Fabia Greenline II Estate, he’s jumped in to finish this blog post!

Even though the new GreenLine II costs just £555 more than the outgoing model, customers actually benefit from £800 worth of extra standard equipment. In particular, the new ‘stop-start’ system automatically stops the car’s engine when the vehicle comes to a halt, and the driver selects neutral and release the clutch pedal. When the driver presses the clutch the engine then restarts immediately. It’s also worth mentioning that the potential fuel saving based against a Fabia 1.4 16v petrol is a staggering £865 per year on 15,000 miles per annum, that’s a saving of over £70 a month on fuel alone!

I think the Fabia GreenLine’s green credentials combined with new advanced technology, makes the price tag of only £13,740 on the road seem just as remarkable as the vehicle. itself.

Skoda Fabia vRS Middlesbrough

England might not be providing thrilling performances in the world cup, but Skoda’s new Fabia vRS 1.4 TSI Turbo has received four stars from Autocar magazine in their recent review of the new hot hatch saying, they “ loved the combination of thrilling performance, excellent equipment and above all, driving pleasure.” The 178bhp Fabia vRS is now available to order from Derek Slack Motors in Middlesbrough, plus what’s more you can driveaway the Fabia vRS from only £199 per month and with 3 years free servicing. With orders already being taken on this special launch offer, we suggest you get in the mood for some ‘fun driving’, before the offer ends June 30th 2010. 

Thanks for reading

Tony

Skoda Stockton-on-Tees

The May bank holiday weekend, had Derek Slack Motors on Cargo Fleet busy as usual with many customers keen to learn more about the relaunch of Skoda’s new scrappage scheme available on Skoda: Fabia, Roomster, Octavia and Superb, or as the marketing people at Skoda like to call, ‘Happy Scrappage’.

Everyone seems to be talking about Skoda at the moment. The recent ‘Which’ awards giving Skoda ‘Best Car Manufacturer’, is an enviable achievement in what is still a very competitive market, and must be one of the best accolades any manufacturer can receive!

So, it’s great to see so many Skodas on the roads of Teesside. In particular, we’ve enjoyed a great deal of success over the years as main dealers for Skoda in Stockton on Tees. The motoring public of Stockton have always voted for value for money and it shows in the number of Fabias, Octavis, Superbs and Yetis now on the road. Gone are the old days when Skoda were considered an affordable choice for all the wrong reasons, motorists now appreciate not only the value, but also the build quality and standard luxury features Skodas have to offer! Long may it continue!

Thanks for reading

Tony Slack

Skoda win ‘Best Car Manufacturer’ title in the annual Which? Awards

The awards really seem to be following us around these days! Not content with

being nominated as one of the top 50 dealers in the UK and in the top 5 in the region, now Skoda have received their own prestigious award from Which ?

as ‘Best Car Manufacturer’ title in the annual Which? Awards, presented at the British Museum on the 19 May. Škoda trumped the competition – including premium brands – thanks to their outstanding customer service and products.

 

Škoda UK Director, Robert Hazelwood, said: “We’re really pleased to win this award. It shows just how highly Which? rates our products and service.  We’re very proud of the excellent engineering and great value in every one of our cars, and pleased that Which? has recognised the outstanding personal service our retailers give their customers.”

The Which? car test team and Which? members were impressed with Škoda’s reliability, customer care and the quality of its retailers. Škoda achieved above-average marks for its retailers (79 per cent) and its service (81 per cent), and the brand had a reliability score of 79 per cent. Four Škoda models were judged to be ‘Best Buys’ or ‘Worth Considering’.

 

Which? Chief Executive, Peter Vicary-Smith, said: “Škoda is a car company ideally suited to the times, as people demand more but want to pay less. It offers a great range of reasonably-priced, well-built cars.”

 

Announcing the awards, he added: “The winner of this award is a car brand much praised by its customers, with high scores on dealer satisfaction for both sales and servicing. Owner satisfaction is also high, with most Which? members rating it as very good. The company also achieved a number of best buys for the various models we tested, making Škoda an obvious choice for Best Car Manufacturer 2010.”

 

Editor of Which? Car, Richard Headland added: “'People might know Škoda as a purveyor of value, but what they might not know is that this brand should be equally recognised for its quality of product, its reliability and its excellent retailer network.”

We at Derek Slack Motors fully endorse all of the above comments and look forward to see customers new and old over the May Bank Holiday Weekend.

Thanks for reading

Tony Slack

Isuzu Denver Pick-ups in Middlesbrough

Sorry for the self promotion, but I thought this little story might be of interest to those familier with the true power of the internet!

Derek Slack Motors’ recently ran an online promotion targeting Denver Pick-up customers, which brought admiring glances from all corners of the country as we sold and delivered (free of charge), three Isuzu pick-ups in 24 hours. Recognising that a shortage of UK stock was leaving some customers frustrated we decided to help out by introducing a ‘Free UK Delivery Package’ on all orders placed within 24 hours of the online advertisment going live. Nothing happened until around mid-day, when the phones started to ring and the Isuzu promotion got into full swing.

Our furthest delivery was in Kent, but would have been happy to go further.

We still have Isuzu Denvers in stock, for immediate delivery with a choice of metallic colours and prices starting from as little as £14,995 for the Denver 2.5 Twin Cab.

As the main dealers for Isuzu in Teesside, Middlesbrough, Stockton on Tees and Darlington

we’d be happy to extend the same offer indefinitely! Just give us a call on 01642 256101

or visit us online at www.derekslackmotors.co.uk

Thanks for reading

Tony Slack

What Tow Car?

With more people choosing to spend their holidays at home this summer, it’s only natural

to see families searching for a vehicle that offers towing capabilities as people

look to caravaning and camping for their jollies!

Thanks to the growing number of ideal towing options now available from Derek Slack Motors, it was inevitable we’d build up a growing list of keen caravan and camping customers, all looking for the same practical solutions from Derek Slack Motors on Cargo Fleet in Middlesbrough. In particular, the Skoda Octavia Estate received 5 Green Stars from ‘What Tow Car’, the highest possible rating indicating a perfect match between car and vehicle. ‘What Tow Car’ has developed several online programs which can predict and compare the pulling performances of any car hooked up to a caravan. The programe also calculates the top speeds on flat roads and gradients, making the Skoda Octavia Estate the ideal towing car for you and your family.

The new Skoda Yeti 2.0 TDi, with the Skoda Octavia Scout and Subaru Forester, also make ideal vehicles for towing and come with a variety of purchase options, making your money travel as far as you do! Visit our website at www.derekslackmotors.co.uk to view the full range of vehicles.

We’re always delighted to offer our own free advice, so if you’re contemplating a holiday at home this year, or even a camping trip abroad, be sure to drop into Derek Slack Motors and we’ll see if we can hook you up with the perfect towing solution!

Thanks for reading

Tony Slack

Derek Slack Motors Help Drivers Keep Their Cool

Tony, our dealer principle has asked me to remind customers about the benefits of checking their air conditioning system. I'm a bit new to this blogging, but here goes...

Here's how Derek Slack Motors can help clean up your car air conditioning before hot weather hits. 

Bacteria in air conditioning systems can cause unpleasant smells and allergies which can become a real problem.

A Bi-annual check should prevent expensive breakdowns and enhance performance.

It’s unlikely that many drivers will have thought about their car’s air conditioning over the past few months. As spring brings the warmer weather we at Derek Slack Motors recommend an air conditioning clean-up to prevent the system from harboring microbiological growths that can cause unpleasant odours.

During the life of a car, micro-organisms can get trapped in the evaporator fins of a vehicle’s air conditioning unit.  Left to their own devices these can breed and will often cause a very nasty smell and, in some cases, an allergic reaction. 

Although some high street stores sell deodorising products, most simply mask the smell and don’t tackle the root cause of the problem.  At Derek Slack Motors, however, our expert aftersales team lead by me Craig Parry, is offering customers a treatment that eradicates the micro-organisms as well as the unpleasant odour. Yippie!

In addition to the clean-up treatment, Derek Slack Motors also recommend that drivers have their vehicle’s air conditioning serviced every two years to ensure the system is operating at optimum performance.  For only £79.95 inc. VAT, our comprehensive, multi-point service covers the following areas...

1. Drain, evacuation and recharge of refrigerant gas, including a visual check for air conditioning oil contamination.

2. Checks to make sure the cabin is being cooled, warmed and dehumidified correctly, that switches and controls are in working order and that clean, cool air is distributed through all vents.

3.Visual checks of the key air conditioning components such as cooling fan and plenum chamber.

4. A visual check of ancillary components such as lines, hoses pipes and connectors.

5. Visual inspection of the pollen filter, housing and seals.

6. System decontamination to remove any bacterial or microbiological build-up.

7. Record in the service book.

Available on most makes and models

I've already had my air conditioning serviced, so the only bad smell you'll find in my car this summer will be my feet!

Thanks for reading

Craig Parry

Aftersales Manager

Used cars on Teesside

We’ve just enjoyed a cracking easter here at Derek Slack Motors. It’s proved once again, customers on Teesside don’t just associate us with Skoda, Subaru and Isuzu, but they’re also aware we stock one of the widest selection of quality used vehicles on Teesside too!

There was all manner of customers that weekend. People searching for their first ever runaround, returning customers looking for a used, Skoda, Ford, Renault, Seat, Fiat, VW, Vauxhall, you name it!  One thing that did stand out was the number of people still interested in Scrappage!

Our new £149 per month deal with No Deposit on a brand new Skoda proved really popular. We’ve only recently advertised it in the press, so I imagine a lot of customers must have seen the link on our website, and realising just what a great offer it is! For example, you can now save £2,000 on a new Skoda Roomster or Fabia, plus £2,500 on the new Skoda Yeti and Superb! All available on vehicles registered before March 2003.

That weekend alone, we had customers looking for a used car from, Thornaby, Stockton, Billingham, Middlesbrough, Hartlepool, Saltburn, Yarm and Darlington. So it goes without saying, we must still be number one on Teesside for used cars!

Thanks for reading

Tony Slack

Open Night

We recenlty held one of our most exciting motor events marking the launch of Skoda’s exciting new Superb Estate with a VIP open night, that saw the dealership jam packed with both Skoda, Subaru and Isuzu customers! Established back in 1973, we were known as the region’s largest Skoda dealer. Even though tough times fell upon the industry during the credit crunch, we were busy expanding, adding Subaru and Isuzu into the fold, so the open night was an ideal opportunity to mark the opening of the new showroom. The event got underway with County Durham born rally driver Guy Wilks - Skoda UK Motorsport’s new exciting rally prospect, opening the proceedings speaking to customers about Skoda’s Intercontinental Rally Challenge. 

It was a terrific evening,we met lots of new faces, along with many familiar ones too! Many people came to see the new Skoda Superb Estate, but we also featured many new exciting models for the event including, the new Subaru Impreza TDi, the new Legacy and Outback, plus the popular Skoda Yeti and Octavia VRS.’

It was also great having Guy Wilks here representing Skoda UK’s Intercontinental Rally Challenge. Guy really is an exciting prospect for Skoda motorsport and you can be sure that Derek Slack Motors will be supporting him all the way!

Subaru UK also did their bit, to support the evenings entertainment with the delivery of a fully deckled Subaru Impreza police vehicle. Music was provided by local live Jazz act, ‘After Eight Jazz’.The evening climaxed with some exciting prizes and giveaways, drawn by Guy Wilks. ‘We are all really pleased with the huge turn out for the event. The weather forecast was poor with snow falling earlier during the day, but it didn’t deter our loyal customers, and we’re already busy planning out next event.