I agree to some extent......my VRS is pretty **** tbh...

FM radio don't work. Major suspension issues. Replaced two CV joints, Front ARB, cambelt,waterpump. Spent ages fixing the leaky doors. The seat creaks. The suspension groans, the car constantly rattles and shakes. Even the rear demister window sticks in this cold weather....

I truly believe they used vastly inferior parts in these cars.......

The sole reason I bought this car was because of the bombproof PD engine. I had an Audi with the same engine and it never missed a beat.

The worst thing is I could have easily bought a 120d instead.........My wife is currently considering setting fire to the car as its her daily driver. Thankgod I have such a patient and understanding wife!

Sounds like the total opposite to mine! Got it with well over 100,000miles on it. Replaced turbo, clutch, wheel bearing, bulb or two and a battery. Think thats about it really. Its now on 148,000miles, and running much more power than standard.

Matt

I've had mine 14 months - it was 5-years-old when I bought it with 66k on the clock - apart from one leaky rear door I've no complaints - a lot of it is Donald Duck but buying something that's been properly maintained will always improve the odds in your favour.

Google virtually any car and you'll find someone with a tale of woe.

Perhaps Nick's nan doesn't like him very much and decided to dump her lemon on him .

Edited 30 November, 201015 yr by Wee Bri

Telling people on a Skoda forum to not buy a Skoda?

Talk about shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted

In my family we currently own 6 VAG cars (Skoda/Audi/VW) and overall probably 10 +. None of us have ever had a 'major' problem, only the odd extra bits at service intervals.

My vRS is the 3rd VAG I have owned personally and I plan to keep buying them in the future.

There are lemons out there but that's true for all marques.

Apart from a mk2 Astra that never missed a beat in 6 years the fabia Vrs's are the only cars I have every regretted selling.

This is what I like about this forum. Someone posts a derogatory remark about Skodas and 100 people turn up with something positive to say!

Give yourselves a pat on the back.

This is what I like about this forum. Someone posts a derogatory remark about Skodas and 100 people turn up with something positive to say!

Give yourselves a pat on the back.

Good job he didn't post a derogatory comment about a yeti, he would probably have found a horses head in his bed this morning

I have had my skoda for 6 years now and have decided to get rid of it because I didn't realise they don't last forever and apparently it's not free anymore.. Anyone on here looking/thinking about getting a skoda, dont.

There has been so many problems with it one after the other. More recently ive had to adhere to normal servicing schedules and have the timing chain replaced £500 later. The clues in the name 'skoda' which are ****e cars which dont last forever. Rant over, new car hunt begin. Imminent disappointment looming.

Corrected for truth.

Perhaps he's off to buy a Peugeot.

I was working with a German colleague a few months ago and he told me that he had bought a new car. 'Another Peugeot?' I asked, he has had Peugeot's for a more than 10 years. No he Said, no more Peugeots! The 307 was just over 3 years old with 100,000 km and he spent more than 3000 euros on it in 3 months.

Service, cambelt & tyres is the same for any car, but in the service they found some other expensive problems and a month later another 1000 euro fault. So what car have you bought Josef? 'I now have a Skoda Octavia combi L&K and I like the car a lot' he replied.

Given that you've had your Skoda for 6 years but you only joined in January, I'm thinking that the issues actually started after about 5 years of happy motoring? And you've either done 120,000 miles in 6 years or you've not followed the service schedule for the timing chain. You bought a CHEAP car. MOst of us on here are delighted to be in on the Skoda secret. They are cheap VAG cars - basically you are getting an Audi A2/VW Polo for buttons and the dealers are nicer.

Personally, I think you should be permabanned for posting the carp you have, but actually, it'll be more fun to have to around to rub your nose in it when you wake up and realise that actually, your Skoda was a VERY good, cheap, little car. What are you expecting to last forever next? Seriously, I'd love to know what cars are on youir shortlist.

Oh, and no, I'm not at all annoyed with myself for getting hacked off at your trolling - but I'm sure I'll regret it later!

On my fourth SKODA Fabia (all TDI/VRS)

After having over 40 cars from new (replaced every nine months) of most (poor man ) makes

My Skodas are the most reliable cars I have had and only had one problem which was a near side rear stub axle whineing

The one with the axle noise I had bought off a SKODA dealer who assured me it was driven by a lady doctor and at one year old was brilliant

However on reflection I believe the car had been in an accident side on rear, just a feeling, from little things picked up on

So Skoda are fine for me, and appear fine for the thousands of Taxi companies that use them well over 200k on the clock with just essential servicing

National

As a family on our 4th Skoda (3 x Octavia's and I've defected from Audi to a Fabia VRS). All have been very reliable but have been serviced regularly which helps

I have had my skoda for 6 years now and have decided to get rid of it because i am fed up of ploughing money into it. Anyone on here looking/thinking about getting a skoda, dont.

There has been so many problems with it one after the other. More recently ive had to have the timing chain replaced £500 later. The clues in the name 'skoda' which are ****e cars which dont last. Rant over, new car hunt begin.

Fail.

All said and done, if you have had it 6 years then it has done well and you've really soldiered on no matter how many problems it has given you. The saying never look a gift horse in the mouth maybe true (especially if its got long hair,nice boobs, nice legs and is willing and most able. I think Heather Graham) but in your case you got a lemon. If its too good to be true then it probably is and you are better off avoiding free cars in future.Only leads to trouble.

Ban the troll.

That is all.

Trying to mediate here - Briskoda is so clogged up with fanboys that criticism inevitably gets flamed,

I am guessing the OP had a pre 2004 Fabia 1.2 3 cyl (54 or 64bhp). These had a bad design fault - the chain tensioner. The chain tensioner is hydraulically operated by engine oil pressure. If oil level dropped too much, then occasionally (i.e. going round a corner fast), the oil pickup was starved and the oil pressure momentarily lost - the chain slackened and jumped sprockets on occasion. Also the tensioner was also allegedly fussy about the oil type/condition.

The tensioner was redesigned around 2003/2004 but it still is hydraulically operated. I believe customers who suffered early failures had the revised tensioner fitted.

Obviously a major failure like this followed by poor/expensive dealer repair follwed by consequential damage is likely to leave anyone bitter. There are many problems on VAG cars - both inherent design and production defects - the average owner will just accept it or ditch the brand. Very few come on Briskoda......

if you have had it 6 years then it has done well

I don't know what planet some of you lot live on, but where I live I expect any car that is regularly serviced to last a minimum of 10 years.

you've not followed the service schedule for the timing chain

Its maintenance free according to Skoda/VW

Some very harsh and ignorant comments on here...but thats about the norm......

Edited 1 December, 201015 yr by xman

[quote name='xman' date='30 November 2010 - 23:44' timestamp='1291160647' post='2189987'.

I don't know what planet some of you lot live on, but where I live I expect any car that is regularly serviced to last a minimum of 10 years.

sshhh don't tell him that!! I was just trying to make the guy feel better about his Skoda.

NickJohn87's first ever post on here...

Hello all. Great forum, joined today! Got my skoda last weekend 03 furby standard, ( though not for long, watch this space). It was a free gift off my good old nan, superb!

Its maintenance free according to Skoda/VW[/Quote]

Fair point, I read timing chain and saw cambelt. My error.

Some very harsh and ignorant comments on here...but thats about the norm......

No, I don't think harsh and ignorant comments are the norm. I appears that the OP was given the car (an 03 registration Fabia) in January for free by his granny, who may or may not have looked after it properly. Given that his username is NickJohn87 I'm going to hazard a guess that he's 23 and the poor old car got the thrashing of it's life having been babied by Granny for 6 years. He's then run into the usual round of issues on cars that are out of warranty and he's decided to be highly inflamatory. He may well have been posting drunk or stoned. I like to think no-one is that innocent of the ways of the internet that he thought no-one would read his previous posts (all 5 of them!).

Anyway - I'll leave him to his search for something that's better than his current car, and I really hope he finds one, although I suspect it will be difficult.

Fair point, I read timing chain and saw cambelt. My error.

No, I don't think harsh and ignorant comments are the norm. I appears that the OP was given the car (an 03 registration Fabia) in January for free by his granny, who may or may not have looked after it properly. Given that his username is NickJohn87 I'm going to hazard a guess that he's 23 and the poor old car got the thrashing of it's life having been babied by Granny for 6 years. He's then run into the usual round of issues on cars that are out of warranty and he's decided to be highly inflamatory. He may well have been posting drunk or stoned. I like to think no-one is that innocent of the ways of the internet that he thought no-one would read his previous posts (all 5 of them!).

Anyway - I'll leave him to his search for something that's better than his current car, and I really hope he finds one, although I suspect it will be difficult.

I personally think thats quite a harsh an ignorant comment in itself. I know young people like to thrash cars, but as a 23 year old achieving an average of 52mpg over 5000 miles, I think it's a bit unfair to throw everyone in the same boat. Sorry, but I don't like people stereotyping. To be fair, I'm not your 'average' or 'normal' 23 year old though.

I don't agree with his original comments about the Skoda brand either by the way. Had my vRS for 15 months and only problems I've had are wear and tear and leaky doors. Life could be worse - touch wood!

I am guessing the OP had a pre 2004 Fabia 1.2 3 cyl (54 or 64bhp). These had a bad design fault - the chain tensioner. The chain tensioner is hydraulically operated by engine oil pressure. If oil level dropped too much, then occasionally (i.e. going round a corner fast), the oil pickup was starved and the oil pressure momentarily lost - the chain slackened and jumped sprockets on occasion. Also the tensioner was also allegedly fussy about the oil type/condition.

The tensioner was redesigned around 2003/2004 but it still is hydraulically operated. I believe customers who suffered early failures had the revised tensioner fitted.

Interesting points. My understanding was the 1.2 was designed by Skoda to replace the 1.4 mpi before it suffered impending doom under future European emissions legislation, and that it was so good it was used in the VW Polo (so some badge snobs think they have a VW engine it's Skoda designed).

£500 seems a bit much for a timing chain change though.

Edited 1 December, 201015 yr by anewman

My tooth hurts......I'm never going to buy another one, not ever, never, ever.

PS Oh forgot to mention, my Gran left her dentures to me in her will.

My tooth hurts......I'm never going to buy another one, not ever, never, ever.

PS Oh forgot to mention, my Gran left her dentures to me in her will.

Wow, we haven't had a troll for a while.. Shame we scared him of though :(

I personally think thats quite a harsh an ignorant comment in itself.[/Quote]

I think harsh and ignorant is a bit strong. I'm GUESSING he's 23 and that the car was driven significantly harder than it had been by his granny. Hardly harsh or ignorant.

I know young people like to thrash cars[/Quote]

Careful! You could be accused of stereotyping young people!

, but as a 23 year old achieving an average of 52mpg over 5000 miles, I think it's a bit unfair to throw everyone in the same boat. Sorry, but I don't like people stereotyping. To be fair, I'm not your 'average' or 'normal' 23 year old though. [/Quote]

Not wishing to point out the fact that you've just stereotyped young people yourself, then compounded the fact by pointing out that you think you're a highly responsible driver, but you're not typical of 23 year olds. Are you then the exception to the rule?

The sad fact is that by posting in these forums we show traits in ourselves that we are unaware of. I'm quite happy to apologise if you, or anyone else, found anything I wrote harsh or ignorant. I've admitted that I was in error when I mixed up timing chains and cambelts. I think the OP deserves a bit of harsh treatment, after all he has been exposed as being a trifle economical with the truth and his comments do not strike me as reasonable or balanced.

If you find my characterisation of 23-year-olds and 'young people' offensive then I apologise for that too, and possibly for pointing out the potential hypocrisy in your own comments.

I'm in this thread for a bit or 'Rally round the flag troll bashing' and I'm quite happy to admit it. Try it, it's quite liberating to just let rip once in a while!

I think harsh and ignorant is a bit strong. I'm GUESSING he's 23 and that the car was driven significantly harder than it had been by his granny. Hardly harsh or ignorant.

Careful! You could be accused of stereotyping young people!

Not wishing to point out the fact that you've just stereotyped young people yourself, then compounded the fact by pointing out that you think you're a highly responsible driver, but you're not typical of 23 year olds. Are you then the exception to the rule?

The sad fact is that by posting in these forums we show traits in ourselves that we are unaware of. I'm quite happy to apologise if you, or anyone else, found anything I wrote harsh or ignorant. I've admitted that I was in error when I mixed up timing chains and cambelts. I think the OP deserves a bit of harsh treatment, after all he has been exposed as being a trifle economical with the truth and his comments do not strike me as reasonable or balanced.

If you find my characterisation of 23-year-olds and 'young people' offensive then I apologise for that too, and possibly for pointing out the potential hypocrisy in your own comments.

I'm in this thread for a bit or 'Rally round the flag troll bashing' and I'm quite happy to admit it. Try it, it's quite liberating to just let rip once in a while!

good points well made