Hi all,

as many of you know we have a fabia vRS. since buying the car new we have had many problems, nothing serious but niggling problems. the car has been back to the dealers more than 15times in 20months. from rust to water leaks to rattles to central locking.

its now been booked in for another rattle in the back hatch, its sounding pretty terrible tbh.

we are at the point of no return, the car is just less than 2 years old and under 20k miles. we have lost all confidence in the car and are sick of the constant niggles no matter how small they seem t be to others.

what are our options? im feeling like throwing the keys back and skoda and demanding a new car:mad:

You must have a Friday afternoon car !! Your experiences are not shared by everyone. Try talking to the dealer and see if you can get some discount off a newer one

If the car is on finance talk to the finance company.

You could find you qualify for a refund/replacement under the consumer credit act.

Given this all my cars are purchased on finance even though I (sometimes) have the cash in the bank ready. Been bitten too many times before.

They swapped my brothers at 12 months old.

It's paid for by a private loan mores the pity:(

If it was a 'Car Loan' there may be some redress.

Contact your bank/finance co and ask - no harm in doing this.

This is where car DIY comes in. Even if its under warranty I see nothing wrong with going looking for the sources of rattles yourself and padding out. Often a DIY job will be taken with much more time, thereby perhaps doing a cherished job? Its what I have to do anyway, but then I have no warranty anyway.

Catalogue all faults and dates if you can, take a copy to your dealer and send one to Skoda UK.

All goods sold in the UK have to be of 'satisfactory quality' and fit for the purpose for which they are intended - your car obviously does not meet these requirements and is therefore faulty under the terms of the Sale of Goods Act. You may choose a refund or replacement in these circumstances, assuming the seller has had a fair chance to put the goods right.

Like I said, my brother's vRS was replaced at over a year old because it was persistently faulty.

Get a solicitor if all else fails.

If the car is on finance talk to the finance company.

You could find you qualify for a refund/replacement under the consumer credit act.

Given this all my cars are purchased on finance even though I (sometimes) have the cash in the bank ready. Been bitten too many times before.

wouldn't bother as it's not their problem, trust me I tried that route with my Pug 206 (which had a trip every month to the dealer on average)

I'm not sure cars fall under that act, though I could be wrong.

It would not hurt writing to Skoda UK, explain your problems and tell them you would like something done about it, maybe a replacement, a very good trade in price or even the chance for them to buy it back. Maybe if they did that they can take it apart and find out what went wrong, that way maybe stopping it from happening to another customer.

I just hope Skoda UK value their customers more than Peugeot do, after 24k miles and 14 months of ownership I part X my peugeot in for the fabia (with a loss of 3k to me)

Have to say the fabia is the most reliable and well built car I've owned, I'm sorry yours is not the same!

Good luck though

It's paid for by a private loan mores the pity:(

Did you pay the deposit of 100 quid or more for the vehicle on a credit card? If so you might be able to get some help from your credit card company....

Approach the dealer and get it sorted under the sale of goods act!

YOU HAVE A LEGAL RIGHT and the dealer has a LEGAL OBLIGATION!

Kenny, I'm no expert but I think the fact that nigh on 2 years has passed and 20k odd miles will mean you'll be lucky to get anymore than a goodwill gesture for your troubles.

Playing devils advocate I think the term of merchantable quality is somewhat subjective aswell. Although annoying, a persistent rattle doesn't stop the car from going about it's regular business..... Would be worth a letter or 2 though but don't hold out much hope I'm afraid :(

As per previous advice -- write out a letter stating dates and mileages and details of faults - also any details of how long car was off road and if had to go in more than once for the same fault.

Address this to the dealer principal and also speak to Skoda UK and get a name you can send the letter to -- then copy this named person in on the letter - that way the dealer can speak direct to customer care rather than going round the houses.

You could also ask for a Skoda technical representative or Area Service Manager as they are called to inspect the car for the faults you are complaining about.

we will need to try something, skoda uk will get a call tomorrow and a letter to follow that, contacts given by a good friend

dealer will be visited next thursday to get things moving too, not a happy bunny

If its been that much of a pain, I will sell it and get something else. Let the dealer have the hassle with a new owner I would say.

has been a consideration Andy. have looked at a few octy vRS's and even other makes. will just wait and see i guess

have looked at a few octy vRS's and even other makes.

Sack it off and get an Audi...

Rob.

I'd flog it as well TBH.

There are plenty of other cars that can give you what the Fabia gives you every day.

People go on about Renaults, but my Fabia was rattling like a good'un when I got rid, and this Renault has less rattles than that did, and thats a French shed!

Both however, pale in comparison to my old Golf Mk2... now that really was a rattle-free, solid piece of machinery. Maybe they dont make em like they used to?

I had the same problem with my Superb, loads of different annoying faults, Skoda wont do anything about it im afraid, nor will trading standards etc.

The only way you can give the car back or get a refund etc is if you keep having the same recuring fault and they cant fix it, if its a different fault every time and they fix it every time they are doing their job in the eyes of the law i'm afraid!!

its just so frustrating, at the minute we cant really afford to change, more down to sense, as i have recently lost my job and dont thing its a good time.

PS rob, ive had no probs with th audi so far, so i just might