My new car was delivered to the dealership on Friday. I'm not collecting it until March the 1st, but I was passing today so I went to go and check it over. I'm not happy with the panel gaps on it.

Skodas in general have fairly large panel gaps. This will be my third mk2 Octavia so I know what to expect. The largish gaps are OK so long as they are even. Unfortunately that's not the case in some places on my new one...

The strip that bridges between the bottom of the rear light cluster, the rear bumper and the rear quarter (same problem on both sides)...

The leading edge of the rear bumper is touching the wheel arch. Looking at my current car and others in the dealer's compound, there should be a very slight gap...

There is a bigger gap between the wing and the A-pillar on the offside than the nearside (photo taken from the same position on both sides, one image flipped horizontally for easier comparison)...

EDIT - On closer examination, the nearside one might be the one at fault - the wing is actually rubbing and damaging the paint on the bottom of the A-pillar. Photo in post further down the thread.

Anybody else noticed such things on recently built Octavias? I've mentioned it to the salesman and he said he will speak to the body shop manager. I think I'll give them copies of those photos so there's no ambiguity in what I'm talking about. I'm hoping they can just loosen and re-align the offending parts to a good standard without introducing any other issues (I've got visions of them taking the wing off, marking it somehow and having to respray it or covering it in swirl marks or something). I should try not to meet trouble halfway. :(

Edited 26 January, 201016 yr by wega3k

Hmm, I'd say you were a fussy git, but I'd also have to agree - it doesn't look quite right at all.

It definately does not look right. I would not expect that of a brand new 20k car. I would reject that car :no:

I don't see how they can correct those panels, possibly the rear bumber can be adjusted. It would be one of those things that would really bug me everytime I looked at the car or washed and waxed it. Sorry but I don't know what to suggest.

TBH, i think it might have had a rear end bump and a new bumper.

You are within your rights to reject the car as it's obviously been damaged or not built to the standard you would expect on a new car.

Obviously, I would check some other cars at the garage too and see what they look like.

Tom, you would be just as fussy if you were handing over £20k. I mean you got your new car `detailed` by baker21 only days after getting it.

Thats not right , if i can see it , its bad , tell them you consider it to be "not of merchantable quality " i think its the sale of goods act , may be worth looking at the actual wording . would think its likely you will get further by not accepting it , rather than any offer to correct later, may be worth a call to the c.a.b. or trading standards , before speaking to the dealership so you dont compromise anything.

I certainly wouldn't accept delivery until it was right, thats for certain.

That's very dodge!

I wouldn't accept that car :(

I could not see what the fuss was about in the little pictures until I clicked on one................................yer...............thats not a great finish is it! Inly trouble with accepted it and letting them try to fix it is are you going to always have worries in the back of your mind? i.e. if that is wrong what else might be.........I know I would.

And if you did have that thought then sorry for puttin it into your head :S

Hi Wega

I know of some Octavias that had troubles opening the bootlid. It scraped the bumper. All they had to do is realign the bumper. Some even scraped that much that the paint came off the boot edge.

Cheers

Mike

Edited 25 January, 201016 yr by magic62

TBH I would walk away from that one. Looks like it may have been damaged

when they were thrashing it around the parking compound :(

have to agree with everyone else in that it looks pretty rank. that would defo do my head in over time and i'll guarantee youll notice it everyday :(

Did you get the chance to check in the spare wheel well for any crumples?

I agree with some of the other comments it looks like it has been rebuilt after a crash by drunk eastern european brick layers.

It can not have left the factory QA with a pass mark ?

If you do reject it and i would how long will it take to get a new one ??

Don't the importers have a bodyshop on Immingham Docks, to repair damage done in transit to the UK?

Don't wait until 1st March, tell your dealer you are dissatisfied now.

D

That defo looks like it was repaired. Don't think because your dealing with a main dealer that you are safe from such underhanded treatment, I've heard some horror stories from mates that are in the trade. I would check with consumer affairs just to be sure of where you stand and then I would reject the car. Whatever happens, best of luck with it.

Give the dealer a chance to get it right, but make it quite clear you won't accept delivery unless its perfect.

Ask your dealer if it has been damaged at all. IIRC they have a duty of care to disclose any pre-delivery damage but only if they're asked

on my car an octavia vrs 07 reg the panel gaps seem quite even but quite large around the boot area (but even) is this normal ?

Wega

Look I know you've probably been waiting ages for the new baby but do not sign for this one. Defo not right and dealer needs to be asked about any delivery damage. The answer "not to our knowledge" is not good enough......

If you don't reject it pre delivery, you'll regret it.

Really feel for you.

I'd keep the blue one Nick

Would really p*** me off looking at those gaps

Thanks for your input everyone.

I've printed off some decent photos to illustrate to them. I'll nip down tomorrow to discuss it with them.

Build quality is definately not up to standard. I would need at least £2000 off or a new replacement.

I had similar problems when I was looking at buying a Fabia from a dealer's forecourt and noticed panel gaps of different distances on some edges between bonnet and front wing and gap below A pillars of cars. It seems that its in batches - cars made together. i.e. biggers gaps on some 57 plate ending witht he last 3 letters the same than some other 08 or 58 plates or 57 plates with last 3 letters different

Edited 26 January, 201016 yr by fabia55

let us know how you get on

Hi Wega,

I'm surprised how obvious it is. I'd be rejecting the car for sure, you would think the the Quality control at the factory wouldn't allow a car to be released with such poor alignment, therefore what happened? Good luck mate soughting it out!

Yep , that's not right at all.

The first pic shows the panel gaps are all over the place.

I wouldn't pay for a new car that has had accident damage badly repaired , no matter what they offer to do to it

If you do decide to reject that car, then be prepared to wait another 2-3 months for another. I'd give them a chance to correct what is obviously only minor alignment issues.