So this goes for Mercedes and BMW too?

Probably yes. Would disagree that it's the case for all cars, though admittedly if you want good build quality it costs.

I've been in Fiats less rattly than my Skoda...it's hardly what I'd call "high build quality".

Rob.

If nothing else this shows the build quality is pretty inconsistent - which is generally not a good thing!

Rob.

I dont have the problems either, does that make it consistent?

I think the problem is that few people will start a thread to say "I dont have a rattle in my dashboard" or "My fuel flap works great" so all we see are the niggly problems. I dont think there is a car manufacturer out there that doesnt expect to do re-work at some time,

Also doesnt help that on this Car forum, the reason we tend to congregate in this electronic manner is a love of the automobile, and we all tend to be a bit overly critical, Maybe thanks to watching the likes of Jeremy Clarkson, and nit pick at the smallest things. Give my SWMBO a brand new car with a rattly dash and squeaking seats and a creaking glovebox lid and she would never notice, all she could tell you when she got out is what colour it is.

Probably yes. Would disagree that it's the case for all cars' date=' though admittedly if you want good build quality it costs.

I've been in Fiats less rattly than my Skoda...it's hardly what I'd call "high build quality".

Rob.[/quote']

you got it in one. when you said "my skoda" it means 1 car. We need to look at facts over a wider populatin. JD power anyone? Top gear car survey?

any way back to topic How quick is the Fabia VRS: sureley this is subjective? Faster than mini cooper! pls put your hand bags away

I also don't have these problems!

I think the build quality is pretty good, and certainly better than most cars in the same price bracket. I find it a little daft to compare the build quality of a BMW/Merc to a Furby!!

We're now moving very off topic...!!

TBH I think you can get good and bad cars from different manufacturers.

My Dad had 2 Cavaliers withing 3 years, both identical spec. The second creaked and rattled, nuked its ECU and leaked. The first was faultless.

Some people say Japanese cars are 100% reliable - trust me, they're not.

People claim Imprezas break frequently - ScoobyChris's was bullet proof.

I dont have the problems either, does that make it consistent?

:confused: No of course not - the point is, there are some reliable examples and some examples with faults (such as a snapping alloy wheel). This is what causes the build quality to be inconsistent - if the build quality was "high" then examples such as this would never pass QA at the factory...and if by some chance they did then it would be picked up at PDI by the dealer.

Rob.

:confused: No of course not - the point is' date=' there are some reliable examples and some examples with faults (such as a snapping alloy wheel). This is what causes the build quality to be inconsistent - if the build quality was "high" then examples such as this would never pass QA at the factory...and if by some chance they did then it would be picked up at PDI by the dealer.

Rob.[/quote']

Rob,

How could you test a wheel was going to split in half in 10000 miles? the chancwe of that happening are so small. You can't... but to say only 1 of this kind of occurence out of millions of cars... thats like 0.00000001% had a fault thats not bad consistancy!

Pls rob back to the topic at hand.

How about start your own thread. "Skoda's have poor build quality" or something similar?

:confused: No of course not - the point is' date=' there are some reliable examples and some examples with faults (such as a snapping alloy wheel). This is what causes the build quality to be inconsistent - if the build quality was "high" then examples such as this would never pass QA at the factory...and if by some chance they did then it would be picked up at PDI by the dealer.

Rob.[/quote']

Sorry Rob, I should have put a smiley beside that, It was a rhetorical question before i went on to try and explain that a fault perceived by one person may not even be noticed by another.

I think mine shows how build quality "can" be pretty good. I think I got a peach of a car, and despite all I've done to it, it's still pretty much a peach in terms of build quality. Don't have any rattles (well none I can hear over my exhaust) and everything is pretty much working as it should. Sure I've made a few bits not work deliberately, and the odd sensor pops now and again, which is pretty normal I reckon.

I can't really use mine as an example of "how fast". It shows what potential the engines have though given enough dough is thrown at them. I just think as standard they're a nippy little frugal 130bhp hatch. nothing more, nothing less. In terms of "fast" for "£££" I think it favours well compared to many new cars out there. One thing that lets it down is kerb weight though I think.

How could you test a wheel was going to split in half in 10000 miles?

Exhaustive testing of all materials, designs and finished articles. Would be an expensive process, but that is what would differentiate "about average" with "high".

Pls rob back to the topic at hand.

:confused: I'm having a discussion about a post you made, everything in a thread does not have to be with reference to the original post...

Rob.

Sorry Rob, I should have put a smiley beside that, It was a rhetorical question before i went on to try and explain that a fault perceived by one person may not even be noticed by another.

Oh, right...

Very true, though the same would apply to all the surveys such as JD Power and that, and also peoples' expectation of the cars they buy (ie. spend

Exhaustive testing of all materials' date=' designs and finished articles. Would be an expensive process, but that is what would differentiate "about average" with "high".

:confused: I'm having a discussion about a post you made, everything in a thread does not have to be with reference to the original post...

Rob.[/quote']

Did you find out if the wheel was a one off or had this happened say 1000 times?

if it happened 1 time then you cannot put it down to quality inspection and bad quality can you?if it happened more than once say 100 times then you have a better case. I go with the majority lets grade it down a bit for Rob, Good Quality!

Exhaustive testing of all materials' date=' designs and finished articles. Would be an expensive process, but that is what would differentiate "about average" with "high"

:confused: I'm having a discussion about a post you made, everything in a thread does not have to be with reference to the original post...

Rob.[/quote']

All manufacturers are obliged to test to a very high standard due to legislation and laws, I very much doubt even the most stringent testing would have come out with a split wheel!:eek: it's seems like a 1 in a hundered million chance that would happen

seems like you are hung up on that a bit.

All manufacturers are obliged to test to a very high standard due to legislation and laws

Their testing can't be that good with the number of coil packs failing on the 1.8T

Chris

Their testing can't be that good with the number of coil packs failing on the 1.8T

Chris

Maybe VAG's version of 'beta testing' on the public

seems like you are hung up on that a bit.

Only 'cos you replied to it twice...

Have you seen this site: http://www.reliabilityindex.co.uk/

Quite interesting, as unlike JD Power it surveys cars which are outside of manufacturers normal warranty and is based on actual warranty claims (through Warranty Direct) rather than a subjective opinion as given in JD Power and the like.

In the top 100 listing, the Fabia doesn't appear, and the Octavia is at position 29. Such notably reliable vehicles rated above it are the Citroen Xsara and the Rover 45...

Rob.

bored now

Only 'cos you replied to it twice...

Have you seen this site: http://www.reliabilityindex.co.uk/

Quite interesting' date=' as unlike JD Power it surveys cars which are outside of manufacturers normal warranty and is based on actual warranty claims (through Warranty Direct) rather than a subjective opinion as given in JD Power and the like.

In the top 100 listing, the Fabia doesn't appear, and the Octavia is at position 29. Such notably reliable vehicles rated above it are the Citroen Xsara and the Rover 45...

Rob.[/quote']

Makes for interesting reading, shows how facts/figures can be manipulated to read a different story about Skoda's reliability.

The problem with the Top Gear survey is that it revolves around people's expectations. Skoda drivers will be very please if their can only has a rattle from the dash. BMW or Mercedes drivers have a higher expectation so when the same fault occurs they're more unhappy.

Makes for interesting reading, shows how facts/figures can be manipulated to read a different story about Skoda's reliability.

But that's just it though...it's facts/figures on warranty claims, rather than asking owners how happy they are with 3 year old cars.

Yes, to get from the facts/figures to a single "index" figure takes some statistical analysis, but it's based on a fairly important set of criteria and is done the same for all manufacturers. While Skoda are doing fairly well for a European manufacturer, compared with the likes of Japanese competition (and most of it not especially exotic) they don't seem to be anything special, ie. "about average".

Rob.

But that's just it though...it's facts/figures on warranty claims' date=' rather than asking owners how happy they are with 3 year old cars.

Yes, to get from the facts/figures to a single "index" figure takes some statistical analysis, but it's based on a fairly important set of criteria and is done the same for all manufacturers. While Skoda are doing fairly well for a European manufacturer, compared with the likes of Japanese competition (and most of it not especially exotic) they don't seem to be anything special, ie. "about average".

Rob.[/quote']

IMO Japanese Reliability is a bit of a myth...... or it probably only counts for cars actually made in Japan cos my CTR been back to the dealer more times than i'd like to remember....

IMO Japanese Reliability is a bit of a myth......

Would have to agree...bit like the fabled VW reliability...

Rob.

Would have to agree...bit like the fabled VW reliability...

Rob.

Here's my list;

Alarm PCB replaced. Alarm kept going off in the early hours..

Rear suspension arm replaced. Part of a faulty batch that were too short..

Both healights replaced. Water ingress in the motors killed them...

'Clicky' indicator stalk repaired twice.

All 4 wheels replaced. Corrosion.

Rust. On the slam panel.

Its all fine now though.

IMO Japanese Reliability is a bit of a myth...... or it probably only counts for cars actually made in Japan cos my CTR been back to the dealer more times than i'd like to remember....

Nope. Its not a problem with UK built cars only

Nope. Its not a problem with UK built cars only