Skoda Voted op brand in UK for reliabilty

[Yorkie]

That's the conclusion of a new dependability survey based on a poll of 13,451 UK motorists who bought a new car between April 2012 and March 2014.

Korean firm Kia took the runner-up spot, while at the other end of the 26-strong manufacturer table, Chevrolet's cars were rated least reliable by their owners. However, perhaps the biggest surprise was the number of prestige brands that performed poorly, with BMW, Jaguar and Audi all in the bottom five. One theory is that because people are paying more for these cars they're less forgiving of faults. But that didn't stop Mercedes-Benz from finishing in the top five. Having examined the data closely, research expert JD Power, who is behind the survey, believes faults with the cutting-edge entertainment technology some premium brands are fitting to their cars is to blame.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/cars/news/sko...-struggle/

Interestingly (to me anyway, as a Skoda owner!), the more expensive brands in the VAG stable -  VW and Audi, are - according to their owners, less reliable than Skoda.

Dr Axel Sprenger, senior director of European automotive operations at JD Power, said:

"Five of the top 11 problems reported were related to technology in this category. As we’ve seen in studies in the United States and other markets, owners expectations of advanced technology capabilities are growing. And when they have a problem they are disappointed.” JD Power believes this could explain why Skoda is rated so much higher than its more expensive sister brands Audi and Volkswagen, which get technology earlier, possibly before all the bugs have been worked out.

I've always felt that the JD Power Surveys are a better source of reliable feedback on cars than the highly subjective reviews by motoring journalists based on taking a car for a spin on a 'jolly' paid for by the makers. How for example, can how a car drives be described as 'dull' or 'exciti8ng'? It's nonsense - it's a car for goodness sake!  J.D. Power Surveys aren't based on maker's press releases or  the motoring press - instead, they're based on what owners who've owned the vehicles for one to three years say about their experiences with the cars, so that's long enough for their subjective views about brands, based on 'image' ('what the car I drive says about me' etc) to fade into the background and for reality to set in. 

Furthermore, it's a very detailed survey about every aspect of the car, and if for a particular model there is insufficient feedback to enable the results to be statistically robust, it doesn't get into the survey results.

The study measures problems experienced during the past 12 months by original owners of vehicles in the United Kingdom after 12-36 months of ownership. The study examines 177 problem symptoms across eight categories: engine and transmission; vehicle exterior; driving experience; features/controls/displays; audio/communication/entertainment/navigation (ACEN); seats; heating, ventilation and cooling (HVAC); and vehicle interior. Overall dependability is determined by the number of problems experienced per 100 vehicles (PP100), with a lower score reflecting higher quality. Škoda ranks highest with a score of 77 PP100. Kia ranks second with 83 PP100, followed by Suzuki with 86 PP100; Nissan with 87 PP100; and Toyota and Mercedes-Benz in a tie with 88 PP100 each. The overall industry average is 114 PP100. Mercedes-Benz and Volvo, which ranks sixth (93 PP100), are the only premium brands to rank above industry average.

Not trying to start an argument or pointless debate about brands, which often lacks objectivity and is based on personal perceptions, but I thought a few on the forum might find the survey of interest.

See more at: http://www.jdpower.com/press-releases/20...HrPUF.dpuf

I've had a Skoda Fabia for two years now, (24,000 miles) and I can't find fault with anything in terms of features, benefits or reliability, so they can add my name to the survey. I'll certainly buy another.

My favourite Skoda joke was that the local police were considering buying 16-vale Skodas till they discovered that eight of the valves were in the radio

All a bit passé now.

My elder son has an Aston Martin DB9. (I blame the parents!). It was one of the 75% of Aston Martins to be recalled due to the plastic accelerator pedal risking fracture because it has been made of the wrong type of plastic. Yes, that's right - the pedal itself is made of plastic, not just the pad that you put your foot on. You couldn't make it up! (Mine's just made of metal):

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/cc250af8-8e7e-...z3l4ruSpFg

Ho hum...

[Murphyv310]

Hi.
Skoda have a fine pedigree. There devotion to excellence shows on their early cars, what put Skoda on the map was their purchase of Laurin & Klement in 1925, their history is fascinating. Even during the 60's and later their cars that were badly slated by the UK motoring press were actually very good, the rally cars proved it and when you consider only very few changes were made to the car you could buy in the dealers then perhaps people can see my reasoning. Also if they were so bad why did Europe's biggest car manufacturers battle so hard to buy out Skodas automotive arm. Also lets not forget Skoda in Plzen, one of the world's biggest engineering companies.
No wonder skoda come tops

[Yorkie]

Thanks for reading the post Trevor, and for your comments.

Yes, they did well year after year in Rallies, but I suppose they were held back from a styling and capital investment aspect somewhat due to being kept under the thumb by the USSR prior to the 'velvet revolution' of 1989, (same year that the Berlin Wall came down), after which Czechoslovakia ceased to exist, and became the two separate countries of the Czech Republic and Slovakia. The Skoda Octavia shares many parts with the Audi TT - brakes, suspension, steering, electrics etc. Makes sense really - why make a different electric window winder of windscreen wiper motor for every model in the group - that looses the economies of scale.

If I'm not mistaken, it was Skoda Engineering who made the central hub for the Millennium Wheel in London.

[Murphyv310]

Thanks for reading the post Trevor, and for your comments.


If I'm not mistaken, it was Skoda Engineering who made the central hub for the Millennium Wheel in London.

Thank you, it was a pleasure.

Yes your quite correct 're the hub on the Millennium wheel 

[Refugee]

The other interesting fact about the millennium wheel is that it has a rim drive like a record player turn table.

[Herald1360]

I've always felt that the JD Power Surveys are a betterS source of reliable feedback on cars than the highly subjective reviews by motoring journalists based on taking a car for a spin on a 'jolly' paid for by the makers. How for example, can how a car drives be described as 'dull' or 'exciti8ng'? It's nonsense - it's a car for goodness sake!

I agree with the comment about JDP surveys, but having driven both Lada 1500  and Fiat 124S I can appreciate the "dull" / "exciting" description too. Similarly the contrast between the Nissan Bluebird and Austin Montego is quite distinct. Some cars are just much more engaging than others.

For Skoda jokes- "What do you call a Skoda with twin exhausts?" "A wheelbarrow!"

I've had two Fabias- one with the old Skoda 1.4 pushrod lump and my present 11 year old 1.9TDI. They also have completely different characters.

[Radio Fixer]

The trouble for me is the survey is only over 3 years, the last two Hondas have been kept 10 years.  One, an Accord only had normal servicing and a drivers door lock in over 100K miles.  The other a Civic with 60K miles never had more than services.  It even had the original battery and this was a short trip car.

It would have been nice if Honda had come higher up the list and I don't know why?  Maybe the CD player stopped working or the reversing lights etc which we wouldn't know as we never use them.  I never even turn the radio on yet alone all the Bluetooth stuff.  Maybe its these things that get reported as faults?  You never see many broken down so that must mean something.

Anyway, we stick with them as they have always been excellent (over 30 years owning them) and if you pick one with a big enough engine "exciting" in that they accelerate well, steer well and just are good to drive.

If you ever get to the Caribbean as we did to St Lucia, the island is full of older Japanese ( Toyota people carriers and vans are very popular) so maybe JD should do a 10 year or 20 year survey there.  Not that would help to sell new cars

The latest one, the new Civic with every extra, bought a year old, is a bit scary compared to previous models because there is so much electronics.  A friend just retired from Ford's research and dev. said it will be relays that let cars down in the future but Honda have always been good at those so I'm hopeful 

Gary

[Murphyv310]

                   
Hi.
Well I don't buy expensive (I mean new) these days. The thought of driving a car out of the showroom and loosing so much is frustrating.
I still buy the "underdog". Did it for years with the 1000MB, S100, S110R 120LS etc, did it with my Daf55 and all sorts.
I've now been a devotee of Rover for the last 4 years, I'm currently running a 2000, 75 V6 2.5 Club SE Automatic in Old English white. Spares are still plentiful as the MG7 & Roewe 750, (both 75 based) have been made in China to original specs bar the 750 which is the LWB version.
Here are the two cars I've ran.
Two others were passed on.

[Keithstv]

I've had Skoda's since 2002, two Octavia.s and now a Yeti and my wife has a Fabia. They are the most complex cars we've owned but, touch wood, they have been the most reliable. Certainly more reliable than the Volvo and the two Ka's we've also had.

It's not only the reliability of the cars but the customer service from the garages. Before the Skoda's I had Fords for 22 years, the final Escort overlapping with my wifes Volvo 440. Of these the Volvo customer service was far better but Ford were improving until last year when we had problems following the MOT on a Ka. We are now a Ford free zone having moved the kids cars to the VW camp.

I value reliability as it means less hassle for me because when things do go wrong as it's always down to me to try and get it sorted and then try to get the kids to pay for any repairs!

Keith