Is it me, or was the mk1 Fabia better built than the mk2. Every thing felt to be put together better in my old 1.9sdi classic. I've door and dashboard rattles. Nothing has actually fallen off yet, but I'm sure its only matter of time!

I can't compare the build quality between the Mk1 & Mk2 because I have not got a MK1, but the build quality of my Mk2 is fine. Nothing rattles and nothing has broken.

9942

I am sure it meets the quality control standards. That said as with everything in life it could be better. My previous vehicle was an 'A' Class MB and it did seem to be better put together / far more solid than my F11. However, I have no compliants it is merely an observation.

You have a warranty, they will fix the rattles. The door rattle is to do with the clips that hold the door card to the door itself, they come loose and rattle. Ask your dealer to replace the clips and it will be fine. The glovebox just needs some percussive maintenance.

Mine isn't great. Lost count of the number of rattles and gave up on getting the dealer to fix them.

Would say is was slightly worse than average compared to my previous cars. Nothing like as bad as a 2003 Megane I had but then not as good as the 2006 Zafira or even a 2004 C-Max!

Had my door rattle 'fixed' once but it's still there, even though all the clips have been replaced. Glovebox rattled in about 4 different places - I fixed some of them where the dealer failed but it still rattles quite badly if it gets warm in the sun.

My Roomster (Which is the same interior) is a world apart from my Mk1 Fabia. 42k into ownership and it's all nice, quiet and still in place. My Mk1 was awful TBH

I found the mk 1 Fabias that I have driven better to be honest. The 2nd

Generation Fabias and Roomsters while being essentially solid had rattly dashes made out of thin biscuit tray like plastic. These were the poverty spec versions though but the boggo Furby 1 1.2 HTPs were just as well screwed together inside as my vrs.

Yep! Nearly a year old and no problems with the build quality. To be honest...it was the Skoda reputation for build quality that won me over in the first place and made me look at them. It's on par or ahead of most of the best and better than most and I speak from years of taking plenty of them apart, all makes. I'm happy!

I know I have only had my Fabia II 1.9TDi 105 3.

However I will have to say this MK2 is far better quality then my old 1.4Tdi Mk1 I had. In all sense's, I guess I may be lucky in this response.... who knows

TL

There will always be Friday afternoon cars I guess.

my dad had a good old yellow furby vrs, and he even commented on how wonderfully put together the mk2 was to his mk1 fabia. I think the finish espcially on the plastics and the design are miles better than the functunial, practical but dull mk1.

We've had a Mark 1 and now Mark 2 Fabia estates; the new one seems trouble free but I'll say this; you've only to open the tail gate on them to see the Mark 2 looks built down to a price; the car looks as if someone went over it thinking 'right, let's keep the build quality the same but see where we can squeeze a bit out by reducing trim and finding more efficient ways of doing things'. Apart from the leaking doors, and one or two light dashboard rattles on the Mark 1 after 65k, we were well pleased with it. And the new one leapt immediately in my book when I found the seat runners weren't covered in grease - how car manufacturers can let their products go out with these lifelong dirt traps I'll never know!

I noticed straight away when the MkII was launched that it had been engineered to be cheaper to build. Things that put me off were

The large plastic protective covers under the car main chassis had all been done away with.

The 1.2 litre engine lost its engine cover (that disappeared at the end of the Mk1)

No door rubbing strips as starndard (what!!!)

Having just collected my new Blueline I'd have to agree. Nothing specific is amiss but there is definitely a cheaper, flimsier feel to it compared with my mk1 1.9 tdi.

Another item that may well pose a noise / rattle issue I believe is the 3 pot diesel engine which is without doubt, uncomfortable at lower speeds and rattles. Mine is 18 months old and only has 8800 miles. Does the noise reduce with higher mileage? As Skodakid states it has to be built at a price and I feel more shoud have been spent on noise insulation throughout the car. That fitted as standard is cheap and has little effect? However it does not bother me and if an insulation company produce a kit for the car then I would invest the £50 or so to cut down the noise even more.

We've just been to look at an Octavia, these seem so much more solid.

We've just been to look at an Octavia, these seem so much more solid.

Really?

Imagine that eh....

I have owned many cars, cheap and expensive and the little skoda is extremely well put together for a budget car. My previous 207 gti had some nicer materials to look at, was much more expensive but underneath wasn't as well built or as reliable, as was the new shape civic type s I had before it, which was meant to be premium but was awful-poor fitting panels, cheap materials, visible spot welds everywhere and more creaks and groans than a haunted house. As for the brand new grande punto I hired on holiday, a dog comes to mind; slow, poorly built, brittle plastics, panel gaps so big a gale came through etc.. I do think that Skoda is becoming a victim of its own success and that expectations of what's possible for the money are exceeding what is possible. The little skoda is one of the best in its class, but not surprisingly, not the class above. I have the new estate and my friend the old one. Apart from his shiny metal door pulls, I know which one I would prefer:)

I owned a MkI Fabia for 2 or 3 years, and the build quality was superb. Malta's full of potholes and there were little or no rattles at all in it. Even the ride was steady and strong, no noise whatsoever from the inside, not even the roar of the tires over the road surface. (I had sold it due to very poor fuel consumption).

My Fabia MkII is on the way, but from the little test drive I had given it and from what I've seen when looking at it at the dealer's, I noticed that first of all, the MkI had a better ride quality. Also, the MkI, although a bit too plain, had a more solid interior, and was roomier. Some might argue that the MkII is larger. Yes it is, from length and height, but the MkI was wider, and gives the driver more space to sit in side-wise.

The dash on the MkI was made of softer material, which also contributes to less noises and creaks. I'll have to see how my new MkII reacts eventually after I've had it for a few months.

The ride in the Mk 1 was a softer ride (better??). I personally prefer the firmer ride of the Mk2 but each to his own on that and the bump thump on the Mk2 is a tad better for me. The Mk2 is bigger, and is no less wide than the Mk1, that is a false impression the car gives due to increased height and head room. It's worth noting the Mk2 seems to offers better protection in side, front and rear impact too according to a technical insurance document I read some months ago although both Mk's have the same Euro NCAP rating Both Mk1 and 2's are tough little buggers!

Now car features...that's a different matter to build quality.

Edited 17 May, 200917 yr by Estate Man
I can't speel!!

I've just checked on Wikipedia... there's actually a slight difference of 1cm (basically nothing), so yes you're right... The width of the MkI is 1650mm and the MkII is 1640mm. I guess that as you said, the greater length and height of the MkII give that optical illusion

The softer ride... well... you have to drive in Malta to know how to appreciate it...:eek:

Malta!...yep, soft is good. I'm sure you will enjoy the new motor though...let us all know what you think after you get it.

LoLoL @ soft ride....

I hope I will enjoy the motor, although I'm getting the 1.2HTP. Before I had the 1.4Mpi 8v which was slow like a granny and consumed petrol like a %@#@^&& :P

The 1.2 is a fantastic motor and many prefer it to the 1.4...no disrespect to you 1.4ers out there! Whatever you buy, you can't go wrong with Skoda...every engine is bullet proof!

I'm really dissapointed that the bonnet pull is on the wrong side on the 2 and that it's lost the cool little handle no longer pops through the grill to lift the bonnet. Just feels engineered down to a price.

JON