Inside rear trim question

[Stephen123]

Not had this heap of crap a year yet and got the probs just like loadsa other guys ..... creaky / knocking suspension , rear washer defunct , horn goes off without pressing it , grinding rear brakes etc etc .
Anyway Ive had the seat belts replaced under warranty twice now as they were not working properly , the seatbelts are fine now but does anybody know whats in between the rear side trim panel and the body of the car . The reason I ask is that the car seems very noisy since the second set of belts have been fitted . Does anybody know if there should be anything between the trim and the body as ive got a funny feeling when they were fitting the belts they have tossed the insulation or wadding in bin . Any help would be greatly appreciated . By the way my last five cars have been Polos ..... but i reckon this will be my last .

[alex]

Should have got a Fabia

[Nelson_Wilbury]

Should have got a Fabia

What, so he could have the same problems all over again?

Stephen, I believe you drive a Sport model? If so the only main thing I believe to be in-between the door pad and 1/4 panel is the speaker 'spacers' which is the size of the actual door pad itself.

Can you describe the way in which the car is noisy? A rattle, clunking, road noise etc?

Cheers

Neil

[Stephen123]

Should have got a Fabia

What, so he could have the same problems all over again?

Stephen, I believe you drive a Sport model? If so the only main thing I believe to be in-between the door pad and 1/4 panel is the speaker 'spacers' which is the size of the actual door pad itself.

Can you describe the way in which the car is noisy? A rattle, clunking, road noise etc?

Cheers

Neil

I drive the basic 1.2 55 bhp model ( 2 door ) and as I said the noise was not there until the seat belts were replaced . You get the noise when you drive over grit etc .... it kinda sounds like a snare drum or as if somebody is throwing dried peas at the side of the car . I reckon insulation or some kinda wadding has been removed . It is even more annoying than the creaky , clonking suspension

[Stephen123]

Should have got a Fabia

Dont knock the fabia my missus got a brand new fabia the same time I got this heap of s**t ..... and she has not had one bit of bother with it .

[Nelson_Wilbury]

Should have got a Fabia

What, so he could have the same problems all over again?

Stephen, I believe you drive a Sport model? If so the only main thing I believe to be in-between the door pad and 1/4 panel is the speaker 'spacers' which is the size of the actual door pad itself.

Can you describe the way in which the car is noisy? A rattle, clunking, road noise etc?

Cheers

Neil

I drive the basic 1.2 55 bhp model ( 2 door ) and as I said the noise was not there until the seat belts were replaced . You get the noise when you drive over grit etc .... it kinda sounds like a snare drum or as if somebody is throwing dried peas at the side of the car . I reckon insulation or some kinda wadding has been removed . It is even more annoying than the creaky , clonking suspension

I get this as well, its just something the car does really. If you think thats bad, you wanna drive an A2 when its raining. Its like being in a corrugated bus shelter!

[dxg]

Fitter could have broken one of the trim fixing clips when taking the B-pillar trim off (these clips often break).

Perhaps one fell down behind the rear quarter panel and is now rattling around? Is it a "light" rattle (i.e. just sounds like something loose, rather than a "loaded" thud type of rattle?). Is it coming from low down near the sill?

Deek.
(Since I bought this car, I've become practised in the art of listening to rattles... )

[Stephen123]

Fitter could have broken one of the trim fixing clips when taking the B-pillar trim off (these clips often break).

Perhaps one fell down behind the rear quarter panel and is now rattling around? Is it a "light" rattle (i.e. just sounds like something loose, rather than a "loaded" thud type of rattle?). Is it coming from low down near the sill?

Deek.
(Since I bought this car, I've become practised in the art of listening to rattles... )

There is nothing rattling around in the quarter panel......... its when i drive over road grit etc it sounds as if somebody is firing dry peas at the outside of the car .

[robbiehall]

Yeah, I get it as well. I just put it down to a quirk of the car. Weird though, coz my main impression of the car is SOLID. That's what drew me to it after the trest drive.
Note, VW were the only manuf willing to let us drive one no questions asked, alright Nissan, but we had to make an appointment, take both parts of the driving licence....certainly made a good impression.

Cheers
Rob

[alex]

Should have got a Fabia

What, so he could have the same problems all over again?

This is very unfair both companies (and owners ) need to work together to create better products. I am sure you are aware of the recent surveys produced and the placings that Skoda and VW got.
If you are not aware have a read

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/3641001.stm

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jh ... wstop.html

http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=2804066

And remember filling in the Top Gear Motoring Survey of customer satisfaction ?
FABIA - 11th
"Second placed supermini"
Score of 88.1
(Beaten by the Toyota Yaris ah well do better next year )

Seems like VW have something to learn from the Czechs???

(Yes i realise Skoda came second to Lexus but I think they can take the shame )

[rooboy]

Should have got a Fabia

What, so he could have the same problems all over again?


Neil

That's funny Neil.

Of course everyone I know who owns a Skoda (and I know a fair few) have all had this problem. That is why a lot of them brought Octavias over Subarus and Golf, or Fabias over Polos. Almost all of them have had more then one would still but another. VW's customer satisfaction is right up there with FIAT for shoddyness, where a certain Czech manufacturer owned by another, this time German manufacturer with a reputation for image hype came second only to Lexus.

[Nelson_Wilbury]

It seems a couple of people here have added 2 and 2 together and somehow managed to get 5

Just to confirm, Customer service and Build Quality are two DIFFERENT things. Fascinating isn't it?

This is the amazing bit though, Skodas are more reliable than VW/Audi would you believe!?! Even though most of the mechanical components are built in the same factory. So that means no brake servo pipe recalls, ignition coil recalls, breaking window motors/regulators, faulty Air mass meters, faulty cut off valves, creaking suspension on Fabias, leaking camshaft seals on 1.2 engines and not even washer pipes coming adrift.

Truly amazing!! In fact i'm not sure who to write to first, The Daily Telegraph or The Times! Ummm, no hang on. How does that work? The simple answer is it doesn't!

Throw around as many useless surveys* as you want, we all know Skoda aftersales service is 5X better than VW. But hang on a tic, my local KFC can dish up (no pun intended) better Customer Service than VW, but you don't see BBC news writing a news report on it. Shame...

While we're on the subject of Service, I phoned the Skoda dealership today, the Aftersales department closed at 5pm So not too hot then, especially when the Audi dealerships HAVE to stay open til Six.
Heres a bit of advice, go on the Audi UK site and look for a little thing called 'Service By Design'. Only 16 points, but it sums up how far Skoda are behind. Skoda also offer very little in-house employee training, unlike VW and Audi.

*JD Power survey pits Fabia against the MK5 Polo (Y-51 reg), so lets not go there. As soon as everyone has got over the fact that Skoda now offers a good product, they'll start to concentrate on reliability of it. Then we'll see them slowly fall down the list. I can't wait!

[rooboy]

It seems a couple of people here have added 2 and 2 together and somehow managed to get 5

Just to confirm, Customer service and Build Quality are two DIFFERENT things. Fascinating isn't it?

This is the amazing bit though, Skodas are more reliable than VW/Audi would you believe!?! Even though most of the mechanical components are built in the same factory. So that means no brake servo pipe recalls, ignition coil recalls, breaking window motors/regulators, faulty Air mass meters, faulty cut off valves, creaking suspension on Fabias, leaking camshaft seals on 1.2 engines and not even washer pipes coming adrift.

Truly amazing!! In fact i'm not sure who to write to first, The Daily Telegraph or The Times! Ummm, no hang on. How does that work? The simple answer is it doesn't!

Throw around as many useless surveys* as you want, we all know Skoda aftersales service is 5X better than VW. But hang on a tic, my local KFC can dish up (no pun intended) better Customer Service than VW, but you don't see BBC news writing a news report on it. Shame...

While we're on the subject of Service, I phoned the Skoda dealership today, the Aftersales department closed at 5pm So not too hot then, especially when the Audi dealerships HAVE to stay open til Six.
Heres a bit of advice, go on the Audi UK site and look for a little thing called 'Service By Design'. Only 16 points, but it sums up how far Skoda are behind. Skoda also offer very little in-house employee training, unlike VW and Audi.

*JD Power survey pits Fabia against the MK5 Polo (Y-51 reg), so lets not go there. As soon as everyone has got over the fact that Skoda now offers a good product, they'll start to concentrate on reliability of it. Then we'll see them slowly fall down the list. I can't wait!

But you still hear of more problems on the polo that with the Fabia....

But hang on. The Octavia, Golf/Bora, A3, and Leon/Toledo share the same platform (pevious gen Golf/A3) and have done for years and where are the placings. I have had only one warrenty problem in total with my fabias, and that was a broken engine temp switch. The rear brakes is common with a lot of cars with rear disc brakes but I don't have it myself, nor the washer pipe popping off (the cure to that is use a stronger concentration of washer fluid).

Regarding the opening hours, I think you will find that while VW and Audi dealers are the average size for a car dealers and have large showrooms, the majority of Skoda and Seat dealers are small businesses, and with it all the problems that entails. My dealer shuts at 17.30 which suits me fine, but you cannot please everyone.

[Nelson_Wilbury]

But you still hear of more problems on the polo that with the Fabia....

But hang on. The Octavia, Golf/Bora, A3, and Leon/Toledo share the same platform (pevious gen Golf/A3) and have done for years and where are the placings. I have had only one warrenty problem in total with my fabias, and that was a broken engine temp switch. The rear brakes is common with a lot of cars with rear disc brakes but I don't have it myself, nor the washer pipe popping off (the cure to that is use a stronger concentration of washer fluid)."

This is interesting, your eventually beginning to make my point for me. I don't think I need say much more.

Here are the first five comments on the Fabia from peachorlemon.co.uk. Some of them are long winded, but bear with them...

1) "Fabia 1.4 Silverline Hatchback 2003 (02)
What Car, Car of the Year 2000 and best in class for three years. Must be good. I bought one new for £8k.
Six months on, structural creak, brake problems (£35), rear wash/wipe pipe falls off weekly flooding boot, damp boot so damp ices the interior in winter and have to scrape inside as well as outside. Rear wash/wipe pipe falls off at source cleaning engine, speedo/rev dials mist up can't read them, windscreen wipers fuse at 60 mph, I couldn't see nearly killed.
Skoda do not supply spares, all seats creak/rattle, all interior pillar trim rattle, boot trim rattles, driver's door trim rattles, interior rear view mirror rattles, visors rattle, seatbelt height adjusters rattle, centre console shudders, interior light unit creaks, ratchet seat height adjuster jams (now & then).
The bonnet opens when idle, hit pothole in road - 5 days to get new alloy that Skoda can't fit so off to T&E place with £150 wheel.
Skoda Customer Service - very attentive, they call garage all the time but it's never fixed properly. I've asked Skoda UK to buy it back, why should I sell it on to some other mug? They won't. That says a lot when even Skoda won't buy a Fabia.
If you must buy one - beware. In twenty years of motoring this is the worst car I have ever owned and it's my first brand new car.
Skoda has a long way to go before they can 'claim' to be part of the VW group. Looks good though, Skoda interpreted that remark as 'happy with car'.
I say the Fabia is dung. You have been warned. "

2) Fabia 1.4 16V Elegance Estate 2001
Prior to owning my Fabia I had been a long standing VW buyer, which I guess is something in common with a lot of other Skoda owners.
The VW’s I've owned all had minor niggly faults, which were rectified under warranty and my Fabia, is no different. I really don't think there is a lot to choose from in build quality between the brands (let's face it they all use the same components anyway) and a quick look at the comments about Polo’s and Golfs seems to confirm this. However there is a big difference in price and specification. When I bought my Elegance Estate I got a good discount from the dealer and top spec, VW on the other hand were not interested in dealing and everything I assumed would be standard (even on the top-of-the range model) was on the 'extras' list.
Servicing my Skoda at the dealer is also cheaper (20K service inc. brake fluid change - £98) and for these reasons alone I'll be sticking with Skoda.

3) Fabia 1.9 Hatchback 2002
I have been driving for over 45 years and this is a great car, easy to drive reliable, very economical, super on motorway drives. I love it as does my wife

4) Fabia 1.4 16V Hatchback 2000
I purchased the Fabia when it was first released. I think I bought the prototype.
I like the car and it drives well but I had gearbox problems from the first day, eventually it was replaced after 18 months.
The alarm frequently goes off, I've had numerous parts replaced, erratic heater, remote locking often 'dead' and this year when out of warranty I've had a new wheel bearing.
Fortunately my dealer is excellent and I am well known there. I've now done almost 47.000 miles and hopefully it is now 'run in'.
Lynne

5) Fabia 1.9 Estate 2002
We bought my wife a brand new Fabia in Sept 2002. It is the 1.9 TDi Comfort estate model. At the time of writing it is 14 months old and has nearly 8,000 miles on the clock.
It is a very practical little car with fantastic fuel economy and surprisingly good performance thanks to the engines’ ability to produce 177lbft torque from 2000-4000 rpm. The boot on the estate version is very big for a car this size.
While performance is good, the handling can be a bit soggy with a tendency to understeer if a bend is taken too enthusiastically, but at the end of the day this is not designed to be a sports car. The clutch and gear change are both very smooth and light to operate and the car is very easy to manoeuvre in tight spaces, although the steering is maybe a little too light at speed. Another observation is that the windscreen pillars are very thick and you have to be very careful at junctions as I have found they cause a blind spot.
Disappointingly we have had quite a few problems that have required warranty claims. These include a vibration from the headlining and a cracked trim panel that were there when we picked the car up, a loud rattle from the hand brake lever, faulty rad/cass, fuel filler flap stuck open, fog lamp reflector tarnishing and rear door cards getting wet in heavy rain.
This last problem has yet to be successfully remedied on one side and the car was returned from it's last visit to the dealer with a dent in the door, although this was quickly fixed by dent master without charge or argument.
Other problems which I have fixed myself, are the rubber stop falling off the clutch pedal, the interior door handle back plate falling off and refusing to stay in place without a dab of superglue, the rear washer feed tube falls off under the bonnet every time there is a slight frost and the windscreen wiper fuse seems to blow regularly on very cold mornings.
All in all a good solid feeling practical economical car let down by too many silly little things, otherwise I would have given it a 2 or 3 peach rating. It's a good job it's got a 3-year warranty. [email protected]
Nice one. PoL"


Not looking good is it? I thought these Fabia things were the number one in reliablity? The first comment actually highlighted a problem which affects Skoda and thats Parts deliveries are only once every two days. Certainly not good for a growing brand, but I don't suppose that really matters as most of them are only open til 5 anyway...

"Regarding the opening hours, I think you will find that while VW and Audi dealers are the average size for a car dealers and have large showrooms, the majority of Skoda and Seat dealers are small businesses, and with it all the problems that entails. My dealer shuts at 17.30 which suits me fine, but you cannot please everyone."

About 95% of Audi dealerships are privately owned. Most are by Companies, but about 40% by small businesses. Either way they have to adhere to Service By Design which means you shut at 6pm. Something which Skoda don't force on Dealers and in my opinion something which they should.

I think its about time we locked this thread, our points have been made and its time we started concentrating on the purpose of the forum rather than who offers the worst customer service.

(by the way, the increased concentrate of Screenwash certainly helps, but it ain't a cure, not by a long way).