I have written about the body work of the Mk 4 before but I have just noticed a little detail, after owning the car for over a year. The bottom rear corners of the front doors. From a standing position, as you approach the car from the front, the lower rear edge of the door appears perfectly straight and vertical. But it is not at all. There is a sharp horizontal crease along the body work near the bottom edge of the doors and to make the edges of the doors, front and rear, appear vertical, the rear edges of the front doors and the front edges of the rear doors are carefully shaped.  I can not think of any other reason for this detail except to make the door edges appear straight. I now find myself checking the doors of all other cars with a horizontal crease and have not seen this detail on any other car.

All the lines on VAG cars are exceptional these days in my opinion. They are just straight up flexing their manufacturing skills even on budget brands. But at the same time I can't imagine how skilled car mechanics will need to get to straighten some of these panels if they need to be straightened after a crash 🤣 just cut it out and replace I guess.

The Skilled or unskilled Body repair person or fitter will do it or just replace the panel / door. 

1 hour ago, roottoot said:

The Skilled or unskilled Body repair person or fitter will do it or just replace the panel / door. 

Skilled people are expensive, replacing whole panels especially large ones is also expensive. I mean, just look at how insanely gigantic and complex the new Octavia bonet is. On older cars it's way easier to salvage components, one these new ones it's near impossible.

 

They do look good though...

Edited 7 February, 20224 yr by zetzet

That is a concern in a few years with Mk4 Octavia, or if not going through your insurance.

For now that is why you have insurance and to keep the Corrosion Warranty have proper repairs carried out. 

Is it not to do with the door hinge of the rear door.

 

If you look at the hinge rotation point, then when the rear door opens, the wider part is going to arc out further, so if the gap between the doors did not follow the panel, part of the doors would catch each other.  I wonder if your straight line is a constant distance from axis of hinge rotation.

 

On earlier models if you had rubbing strips, then there would always be a tapered or flat part where two doors met, to avoid them catching.

6 minutes ago, roottoot said:

That is a concern in a few years with Mk4 Octavia, or if not going through your insurance.

For now that is why you have insurance and to keep the Corrosion Warranty have proper repairs carried out. 

Yes, that's what I mean, obviously insurance covers it now, but after insurance doesn't make financial sense those dings will become expensive, especially on those sharp details. That's also what I meant to say in the first post, manufacturers are flexing their skills and software designs for sheet metal forming, forming these complex shapes consistently and with good tolerances is pretty damn impressive. 

@zetzetIt is over 40 years since i served my time as a spray painter and panel beater & an assessor ultimately..

I no longer panel beat but occasionally i paint cars.  Really it is no big deal these days.

The paintless repair guys and girls are marvellous and the metal is crap. Professional paint people really are skilled now compared to what i ever did.

Edited 7 February, 20224 yr by roottoot

Surrey John, I am sure that your explanation for the door detail is correct. You couldn't open the rear doors without the relief. Whatever, I still think it's a neat detail now I have noticed it. 

Ось які вмене проблеми авто 2025р

Можливо хтось знає де знайти цифрові показники зазорів. І чи є це допустимо.

1 hour ago, sanyok said:

Ось які вмене проблеми авто 2025р

Можливо хтось знає де знайти цифрові показники зазорів. І чи є це допустимо.

You need to post in English for us to understand...

Here are the problems I have with my 2025 car

Maybe someone knows where to find digital clearances. And is this acceptable