Now that the Fabia III has been around for a while, what are owners impressions of interior build quality?

 

My Polo`s door cards creak like hell on rough roads at slow speeds but find the creaks stop if the windows are dropped about 1/2 inch. In fact the Polo is no better than my previous Fabia 2. What with the interior light that wont go out when the ignition is on despite various component replacements, I was told there is nothing more that can be done with the car.

 

Oh and the drivers seat now creaks as well.

 

To be honest I hate the bloody thing and want to some back to Skoda. And I hate rattles!

Wow, that's a shame threadbear. Sorry to hear your not in love with the Polo. I just ordered a new Mk3 110ps Fabia Hatch today with the DSG box. Build seems great and better than my Mk2 estate. The Mk3 estate test car that I drove today had just 8000 miles on the clock but was completely silent going down country roads with bumps and potholes etc. Very quiet at speed too. No rattles. Interestingly, I met someone today that has covered 75k miles in 3 years in his Mk3 estate, and he too was very pleased with it, the only thing going out to lunch was an engine sensor, he said. I hope you can find peace in coming back to Skoda. Good luck!

All new 3rd generation Fabia were not available 3 years ago or even 2 years ago in the UK, so is it a Octavia he has covered 75,000 miles in?

Thanks George. Yep...that's what I meant to say. 

My Fabia is no better, on rough roads there is a rattle from the passenger side area and if i go over a bump like a drain cover the dash creeks as well, I hate rattles and sold my Renault because of it and thought buying a VAG group car would be better unfortunately it is only slightly better if at all

 

very disappointing hopefully it differs from car to car and I am just unlucky

 

My first Fabia went wrong 280 miles on the clock leaving me in a dangerous position on the motorway and they could not figure out what was wrong with it so ordered my a new one which i have now but 9 months in it has had to have a new clutch pack (DSG) as it was noisy and jumpy so all in all very disappointed with the car and customer service seem indifferent.

 

This was my first and last Skoda

My only gripe is an occasional small rattling sound from the top right hand side of the glove box. If I push hard on the top right of the door it stops briefly.

 

It only occurs when the Auto aircon is on about 19 degrees or less so I'm thinking its something to do with a vent behind the dashboard?

 

Skoda did say they would look at it but I'm not keen on stuff being unscrewed and messed with only to be told they couldn't find anything and then it goes worse.

 

I've learned to tolerate it.

Thank you for all your comments. There does seems to be a issue with creaks and rattles in our cars doesnt there? Half the time I think it is the fixings and clips that are used? Shame that they cant used good old fashion screws.....

 

It is obvious with my Polo that when the windows are dropped slightly into the door, that puts tension on the door card which in turn puts pressure on the clips so it holds it taught.

 

I am thinking at looking at a secondhand Volvo V40s that are within my budget......We could do with a bit more space anyway.

Edited 31 August, 20169 yr by threadbear

The only noises that I can detect in wife's August 2015 Polo1.2TSI 110PS 5 door SEL is coming from the silver cowls that surround the the clocks - what a stupid idea, it looks like these silver cowls are just a push fit into the soft dashpod, but unfortunately while they maybe are retained into the hard section behind the soft dash pod, the soft areas are flexing and rubbing against these silver cowls, can't see me asking anyone to look into though!

 

Edit:- do you know where your car was built, like ZA for example?

 

Handy having a light that stays on, surely a proper Tech can sort that - I'd be getting a bit more than angry about putting up with that - talk to your dealer principle and give him the chance to sort it out at next visit and tell him VW UK is your next port of call! (usual approach here, stop talking to the monkeys hunt out the organ grinder)

Edited 31 August, 20169 yr by rum4mo

The only noises that I can detect in wife's August 2015 Polo1.2TSI 110PS 5 door SEL is coming from the silver cowls that surround the the clocks - what a stupid idea, it looks like these silver cowls are just a push fit into the soft dashpod, but unfortunately while they maybe are retained into the hard section behind the soft dash pod, the soft areas are flexing and rubbing against these silver cowls, can't see me asking anyone to look into though!

Edit:- do you know where your car was built, like ZA for example?

Handy having a light that stays on, surely a proper Tech can sort that - I'd be getting a bit more than angry about putting up with that - talk to your dealer principle and give him the chance to sort it out at next visit and tell him VW UK is your next port of call! (usual approach here, stop talking to the monkeys hunt out the organ grinder)

My car was built in South Africa. The interior light unit was replaced and when that didn't work they replaced a lighting ECU under the bonnet. It hasn't come on (incorrectly) for nearly 4 months and now will only go off if manual switched off. Basically the interior light stays on when the ignition is on. The dealer has told me there is nothing more that can be done. When I had an airbag fault which demanded recovery by the AA, the patrol man's laptop indicated that there was a CANBUS fault. I have tried to reject the car, but VWFS have said that I have had the car too long and I have always been provided with a courtesy car......

Frankly I am thoroughly fed up with the car and has been the most disappointing car I have owned.

Edited 2 September, 20169 yr by threadbear

Well VW or any other marques of that group would not get off with that from me, I'd make it a matter of principle - especially as they must continue providing a courtesy car. After my service then follow up warranty visit to VW main dealer, I was sent a link to a survey site - so VW do give the impression that they are wanting feedback on how they perform - though from some of my "helpful" comments, I did expect a phone call from that dealer.  Remember since roughly 2002, Polo is just a Skoda Fabia with different clothes and some panels built at a different site and country.  I was originally concerned about most 5 door Polo being built in ZA, but so far, with the exception of some bits missing which I bought and fitted, everything seems okay.

5 door Polos are built in South Africa, 3 doors in Spain.

Collecting my 3 door towards the end of the month and hoping for superior build quality!

All cars surely develop rattles over time/with changes in temperature. But a faulty light is not acceptable!

5 door Polos are built in South Africa, 3 doors in Spain.

Collecting my 3 door towards the end of the month and hoping for superior build quality!

All cars surely develop rattles over time/with changes in temperature. But a faulty light is not acceptable!

 

That is the general way that things were planned, but some 5 door, ie GTI and maybe some Blue GT Polos ended up being built on a Golf production facility in Germany - possible due to VW's ability to be flexible and the, at times, drop off in Golf demand.

 

Absolutely wrt your comment on the interior light - that is just crazy or lazy main dealer - which needs reporting to VWUK!

 

Edit:- changing temperatures does tend to be the enemy of modern plastic trim, well in parts of UK anyway!

 

Another Edit:-  wife's 2002 Polo was okay and built in Spain, daughter's Ibiza is also okay - for a SEAT!

Edited 2 September, 20169 yr by rum4mo

5 door Polos are built in South Africa, 3 doors in Spain.

Collecting my 3 door towards the end of the month and hoping for superior build quality!

All cars surely develop rattles over time/with changes in temperature. But a faulty light is not acceptable!

 

I have to say that the rattles are worse when the weather is warmer as it has been recently. Going to book the car in for its 11th visit in 18 months. I was hoping for superior build quality when I bought my Polo!

Edited 2 September, 20169 yr by threadbear

I feel your pain! Let us know how you get on this time at the dealers!

I do not think you can have a high level build quality in a low priced mini.

Usually you get what youre paying for.

But I do have a cheap solution for you:

Theres a lot of plastic in the interior which may creek rattle and crack, no wood and tin found.

I havent had any objections on sounds from my Fab except from tire noise. Previous I had a Mercedes 220 cdi which procuced about the same level of noise in the cabin, despite the price of two Fabs.

Edited 2 September, 20169 yr by pfaff

The keys rattle also I've noticed. If you put it in the ignition with the buttons facing you, all seems ok-ish. Put it in the other way and they rattle like hell over every bump.

In April or May I gave the interior of the car a full treatment of silicon spray in the seams between plastic and plastic, and plastic and fabric.

So far the car has been silent, but I know it will not last forever

In April or May I gave the interior of the car a full treatment of silicon spray in the seams between plastic and plastic, and plastic and fabric.

So far the car has been silent, but I know it will not last forever

 I have tried the silicone spray (and Collinate 476 wax) on joints as well and has worked for a few days.

I noticed an annoying rattle in my Fabia the other day... turned out to be my sunglasses in the overhead storage thingy! Only done 3,500 miles or so though.

Few days ago I tried the light switch back in the neutral position so it operates as it should do, and it remained off! Until I went over a road bump and it came on. Since then it has flickered several times. So looks like it is a circuitry problem rather than components? Well the light unit and lighting ECU have been replaced. Car is going in on Wednedsay.

I noticed an annoying rattle in my Fabia the other day... turned out to be my sunglasses in the overhead storage thingy! Only done 3,500 miles or so though.

I would not mind having that problem with wife's Polo, but so far no overhead sunglasses box option - had to make do with grab handle pne! I do have that issue with my S4, it took a few days to work that one out! Oakley Frogskins was the problem!!

Following my intermittent interior light issue, a loose connection was found in the area of A pillar/ door post area. Hopefully that will resolve the issue. 

 

I also enquired about doing a voluntary PCP termination with VW Finance and it was quoted that to return the car without owing money, I would have until February until the car could be collected. There would be no penalisation on mileage as long as the car was in good condition and road worthy. 

 

Funny thing was, I was quoted by a Skoda delar back in March that I would be out of negative equity by September....If I was wanting to get rid of car now, it would cost me about 900quid!