Dreaded door card bubbles!

[echo 78]

I'v got the same fault on my 55 plate elegance but don't mind it much, fits my elbow perfect...

[Jim1556]

Which dealer was this? I reckon some history of fault/rectification may help.

To be fair, mine (DMK Leeds) have been great so far and I hope the conversation doesn't go like this:

DMK: 'it's not an armrest'

Me: 'Yes it bloody is! I bought the car to do 20,000 miles a year, 80% motorway, most people I see on the motorway use the top of the door, this is not fit for purpose, and certainly not what I expect on a brand new car'

DMK 'not our problem'

Phoned DMK Leeds and spoke to Dean @ Service, he's going to order a new door card and will ring me to arrange the work when he has a delivery date (VRS with full leather so not a standard part).

Simple, quick, no arguments... Brill!

I'm going in on Saturday to pick up a jack anyway so will take that opportunity to have a chat with them about the door card issue, update in due course.

[Davidsr20]

Phoned DMK Leeds and spoke to Dean @ Service, he's going to order a new door card and will ring me to arrange the work when he has a delivery date (VRS with full leather so not a standard part).

Simple, quick, no arguments... Brill!

I'm going in on Saturday to pick up a jack anyway so will take that opportunity to have a chat with them about the door card issue, update in due course.

That's great,maybe u could ask him was this issue ever brought up with skoda.

[blueR36]

I think it is a case of etiquette , I was told to keep my elbows in whilst eating and not on the table, same when driving, 5 and half years old and perfect, the car not me runs away and hides

[Jim1556]

I think it is a case of etiquette , I was told to keep my elbows in whilst eating and not on the table, same when driving, 5 and half years old and perfect, the car not me runs away and hides

Bear with me - not having a dig, just replying...

Whilst I understand it is not everyone's choice, I do 3-6 hour drives quite regularly, and although the VRS is a comfy place to be, I like to fidget (have since childhood) and as such alternate between the armrest midway up the door and the top of the door card, as I always have (like many, many people I see on the motorway).

I have done this with every car I've owned and not one (up until now) has ever suffered from permanently deformed door trim!

I know I could've bought a Golf or Leon but I like the extra boot space of the Skud and from what I've read, some of their variants suffer from this as well.

Other makes were discounted too: BMW (great cars, no hatchback), Ford (er, no!), Vauxhall (er, no!), anything French (NO, NO, NO :no:), SAAB (do they make them anymore?) Merc (er, I wanted reliability).

Even the TopGear car selector agreed, the Octavia VRS TDI IS the ideal choice for the money, space, reliability, frugality and overtaking ability!

Just to reiterate, regardless of your own personal choice, do you think this is even remotely acceptable on a car which is less than 2 weeks old and has covered 1450 miles?

As I said, I will be discussing this issue with DMK on Saturday and I'm intrigued as to what they & Skoda think - will I be dropping the car off every month until they decide to improve the build quality on what I reckon is a very well used/contacted area!

[Davidsr20]

Bear with me - not having a dig, just replying...

Whilst I understand it is not everyone's choice, I do 3-6 hour drives quite regularly, and although the VRS is a comfy place to be, I like to fidget (have since childhood) and as such alternate between the armrest midway up the door and the top of the door card, as I always have (like many, many people I see on the motorway).

I have done this with every car I've owned and not one (up until now) has ever suffered from permanently deformed door trim!

I know I could've bought a Golf or Leon but I like the extra boot space of the Skud and from what I've read, some of their variants suffer from this as well.

Other makes were discounted too: BMW (great cars, no hatchback), Ford (er, no!), Vauxhall (er, no!), anything French (NO, NO, NO :no:), SAAB (do they make them anymore?) Merc (er, I wanted reliability).

Even the TopGear car selector agreed, the Octavia VRS TDI IS the ideal choice for the money, space, reliability, frugality and overtaking ability!

Just to reiterate, regardless of your own personal choice, do you think this is even remotely acceptable on a car which is less than 2 weeks old and has covered 1450 miles?

As I said, I will be discussing this issue with DMK on Saturday and I'm intrigued as to what they & Skoda think - will I be dropping the car off every month until they decide to improve the build quality on what I reckon is a very well used/contacted area!

Ur dead right and after all ur car is new,I wouldn't stand for it ether,iv always drove jap sports cars and even with there bland interior it was still quiet strong and I'm a vehical tester by trade and the only cars iv seen this on is octavias from 05 on, u can not turn around to someone and say just don't rest ur elbow there as most people in most cars do it for years with no issue!

I wrote an email to skoda and they wrote back saying the car was out of warranty and to get a good will gesture on a cheaper price on the new card they would need too see it and ur still not guaranteed anything etc!

So anyway has anyone found me a second hand one ? There must be some specialised octavia breakers in the uk is there?

I'm that ****ed off now looking for one I might have to just buy a new one ;(

Edited 1 February, 2012 by Davidsr20

[Davidsr20]

Phoned DMK Leeds and spoke to Dean @ Service, he's going to order a new door card and will ring me to arrange the work when he has a delivery date (VRS with full leather so not a standard part).

Simple, quick, no arguments... Brill!

I'm going in on Saturday to pick up a jack anyway so will take that opportunity to have a chat with them about the door card issue, update in due course.

Well how did today go?

[blueR36]

No probs mate, just having a laugh no some guys are 20 stone and put all the weight on it for 5 years, fully agree 2 weeks and a problem really is the real joke

[Jim1556]

Went in but spent too long waiting as they were busy with other cars, I had plans so had to bail - rescheduled for Tuesday. I'll update then. All parts are in though so it should be straightforward...

[Jim1556]

Arrived at DMK Leeds about 9am yesterday - 2 hours later keys were back in my hand, new door card fitted.

Nice n easy, although it states on one of their flyers if it's in for an hour or more, it'll be washed... It wasn't :( but quickly was when I asked them to!

Cheers!

[Davidsr20]

Arrived at DMK Leeds about 9am yesterday - 2 hours later keys were back in my hand, new door card fitted.

Nice n easy, although it states on one of their flyers if it's in for an hour or more, it'll be washed... It wasn't :( but quickly was when I asked them to!

Cheers!

Now u cant rest ur arm there again or it will do the same ;( have u a picture of the old card?

[Jim1556]

Now u cant rest ur arm there again or it will do the same ;( have u a picture of the old card?

Afraid not, didn't think to... Even Gareth (my salesman) commented how bad it looked and that was from outside!

I'll be driving as I always have and using the top of the door card occassionally - if it goes again, it'll go in for a warranty replacement again followed by a letter to Skoda UK expecting some explanation as to why they're using substandard materials in a high contact/usage area.

Time will tell but nothing noticeable so far.

[CJSVRS]

I've noticed if I rest my elbow on the door a dent in the vinyl appears, but it goes very quickly and looks as new again once I stop leaning on it.

Maybe the foam hadn't cured properly on others that get stuck with the dent? Either way should be resolved under warranty.