Why is the build quality still so bad?

[Bunker]

Right,

Now I know that this is going to be an emotive subject, but as I'm in the process of looking for a replacement for my Skoda Octavia vRS, I visited a main dealer to day to look at a GP and a Bravo.

I jumped into the drivers seat of a GP 1.4 T-Jet adjusted the steering wheel and watched the bit between the steering wheel and the instrument binnacle detach itself and expose the mechanical bits underneath

far from being put off, I jumped into a Bravo, only to find that the little compartment by your right knee came off in my hand

Got out and surveyed the exterior only to find that the NS wing repeater was hanging out

Somebody please reassure me.....

 

[JFL]

It is a dealer demonstrator model so gets used and abbused by little kiddies who are in the showroom with mum and dad

i used to be a brat for that when i was young.

once snapped the interior handle of an astra when i was about 7 or 8 .

 

[dr_hillmann]

my fiat is 9 years old there abouts and i still cant pull bits off it...

 

[JFL]

The Stilos build quality inside is quite okay.

Anywhere/anything that has kids in it/near it is going to get broken - thats life.

ive done a few bad things when i was younger testing things etc etc

 

[jug]

end of the day its a fiat, if you need skoda quality then pay skoda prices.

 

[luvduvs]

"Why is the build quality still so bad?"

Its Italian

 

[T14086]

I jumped into the drivers seat of a GP 1.4 T-Jet adjusted the steering wheel and watched the bit between the steering wheel and the instrument binnacle detach itself and expose the mechanical bits underneath

far from being put off, I jumped into a Bravo, only to find that the little compartment by your right knee came off in my hand

Got out and surveyed the exterior only to find that the NS wing repeater was hanging out

1) as mentioned messed about with in showroom by public
2) bravo compartment is screwed in after PDI stage
3) all bravos built between a chassis range get side repeaters changed at PDI

(get the bravo)

 

[JFL]

Its like all cars, they improve it as time goes on

 

[jackmr punto]

darn kids breaking stuff

 

[The Beard]

Poor build quality seems to be a recurring theme whenever Italian cars are mentioned, regardless as to whether people are talking about FIATs or Ferraris. I can only speak of my own experiences. FIAT 128: Various plastic parts snapped off and seat materials which were similar to fashion fabrics in their make-up wore out very quickly. The infamous Italian tin worms took their toll too. But mechanically it was first class outperforming anything similar from its rivals. '85 Lancia Y10 Turbo: The only thing that wore out was the Alcantara upholstery that started bobbling. The performance was like turning a tap. Horrendous turbo lag followed by performance to embarass many more expensive cars. Replaced by '89 Uno 60DS diesel: (I became a Driving Instructor). Did about 120,000 miles before it passed to the wife and eventually went to the mechanic who gave it to his sister. During the 5 years it was in our family it only broke down once, after the 3rd time I let it run out of fuel. Nothing broke off, fell off, burnt out or even rattled, except for the screwdriver in the spare wheel well. Had Corsas (rubbish) and Fiestas and Focuses (good) as company cars for a while. During this time, my wife aquired a Punto 60S which ran fine until the head gasket went which prompted a change to an '05 Stilo 1.4 Active. So far no faults apart form a low speed whine which appears to be from the rear that the dealer can't find. There's a surprise. In March '05 I bought a new Panda MJT. Just coming up on 30K and apart from the pads wearing out at 23K, has been faultless.

 

[MHRAR]

Interesting that your 'faultless' Panda MJ was built in Poland alongside the new 500.....

 

[Nuova500]

I get to travel in loads of Skoda Octavias as part of my job, they vary from brand new down to 200,000 mile examples. They seem to have varying build issues, for example a near new one can have loads of rattles and hard suspension which crashes, then an 80,000 miler can be perfect. One thing is for sure, the biuld isnt consistent and ranges from good to poor, with Fiat however, they are all just OK!

I went to test drive a Fabia VRS once, it had a wheelarch liner falling out and there were several bits of trim lying around the boot, also a Mini Cooper I once drove had a self detatching roof lining, so ALL makes really have issues.

 

[JFL]

you do get good and bad cars

look at the mega miles taxi's u get in tenerife/spain etc etc.

got in a merc e-class (late 80's version). 20 years old, about 600,000km on the clock i think, the inside was getting a bit tatty.

but the air con still worked, there were a few loose bits of trim but at that mileage it was holding up well

same goes with the focus at work. 3 years old, 100k miles, still drives like a dream with only a few creaks and groans (and the odd rust spot and bad interior places where the area managers have neglected it ).

 

[thepottleflump]

The Bravo seems well enough made although a little fussy inside, the GP is clearly built to a price.

I wouldn't touch a Skoda with a Barge pole, sorry it might be owned by VW but just no.

 

[Bunker]

The Bravo seems well enough made although a little fussy inside, the GP is clearly built to a price.

I wouldn't touch a Skoda with a Barge pole, sorry it might be owned by VW but just no.

See, that's the trouble with car's it becomes an emotive subject, a bit like the allegiances to football teams, not based on any subjective reasoning

There's loads of people on the Skoda forum that want to have me officially certified for contemplating buying Italian crap. Trouble is though, the car I have the fondest memories of was an Alfa Romeo Alfasud 1.5t Registration number ANY 808T which I bought nearly new many years ago. It rusted as I was watching, but it was in the days before (just) Golf GTI's and I just adored it. Yes, ultimately it was unreliable, but it had sooooooooo much character you could forgive it anything.

I traded it in when I got married for a 1.6 Ghia Mk 2 Escort and life was never the same

 

[T14086]

There's loads of people on the Skoda forum that want to have me officially certified for contemplating buying Italian crap.

Its your money so up to you to decide,personally I think thats a rather biased view (one thing you dont get here thats for sure!) test drive & decide then whats best for yourself not anyone else

 

[thepottleflump]

See, that's the trouble with car's it becomes an emotive subject, a bit like the allegiances to football teams, not based on any subjective reasoning

Actually a very close relative worked for Skoda, and my mother bought one on recommendation, strangely she sold it because it was crap, stuff like terrible fuel economy, bouncy unstable suspension, and bought a ford instead, so my opinion it's based on direct experience.

I think Skoda is afflicted with terminal nothingness. Reasonably well made, inoffensive, no that expensive but it's just nothing really, a car brand for function and little else. What is the point of Skoda? What do they do well? Fiat make great small cars, VW/Audi are known quality. Seat, for sporty cars, Alfa for cars with Soul, etc etc

I think the same problem afflicts most VWs. When hunting for new cars we looked at the latest golf and inside the words dull and devoid of design flair or inspiration come to mind. Quality was ok but really can't see what people rave on about, seat material was cheap, all very square dash and stilted formal layout. We eventually bought a C4.

 

[T14086]

skodas are made by bakers

 

[JFL]

you choose cars on different factors i suppose.

have you got kids etc etc, will there be passengers in the car, is there a dog, how much have i got to spend, how long am i keeping the car.

there are lots of things that can make it vary

i looked at a c4 1.6hdi at eddie wrights but found the seat uncomfortable and disliked the steering wheel - seemed quite strange. although had i got it im sure it would have grown on me

 

[dave]

2) bravo compartment is screwed in after PDI stage

i was gonna say fiat build um solid, but the techs wreck um before we get them, but you beat me too it :devil: