I wouldn't say VW build quality was any better than the other major players in the past. My '76 camper which I traded in 2000 had new sills, arches, steps, motor, front beam, brakes, window seals (nothing changes eh!!) and various bits plated between '92 & '97. I used to laugh when folks would say "they don't build them like this anymore!" It wasn't the best in the country when I bought it - but it certainly wasn't the worst.

Ladas and Fiats were brutal for the bodywork rusting - twin cam motors went well in the 105E Anglia though.

60's Vauxhall's also used to have a bad reputation - a bloke once told me that this was due to cheap metal imports from Italy used for the shells don't know if there is any truth in that or not or a connection with woes of Fiat shells?

I do know that a mate of mine worked as a lead loader in the early 80's filling in dents / gaps on Rolls Royce bodywork and used to get a bit of overtime doing it!

At the end of the day, I think in the past all makes had their faults, and once you knew about them and kept an eye on them you could delay the inevitable rot. I have had old Fords 15 -20 years old you could eat your dinner of the underside Cortinas, Corsairs. I've also had same year Mk1 Granadas you would have thought were built decades apart judging by the condition of the bodies.

i fot skoda engines lasted quite a while ? or am i just thinkin of the skodas wit vw engines?

this is comedy!

Who cares who built them? all I know is they're fun, and fairly easy to work on.

We know they aint VW's and thats all that matters to us.

Yea, funny that, someone (not naming any names) must have told him that his VW Golf in disguise was actually based on an old, horrible, skoda favorit hohum.

what you looking at me for?????????

Should have told him about Porsche and the engine mountings/suspension fine tuning. He might have tried saying it was a Porsche then

yes this

VW/skoda/porsche Felicia

has an immaculate engine, very tidy bodywork, and a cream leather interior.

hehe.