[degsy70]

Having recently taken my Spider to my local dealership for it's 21k mile service I also asked them to resolve an issue that I had discovered regarding an annoying 'creaking noise'. I had mentioned this problem not long after purchasing the vehicle but a cause was never found. After much prodding and poking I discovered the problem to be caused by the near side A pillar trim. Pushing the trim back into place rectifies the problem but only temporarily. I have been informed that as the warranty does not cover 'trim' that I would have to pay over £80 to have this replaced (original quote was over £120). They went on to tell me that it is not a problem with the trim as such but simply a clip attached to the trim. They recommended I speak to Fiat Customer Services..

I contacted Fiat Customer Care to highlight the fact that after only 16k miles this trim/clip broke despite it being located on a part of the vehicle that never gets touched. If it was trim on doors, dashboard, boot etc then I could understand. I am also unhappy with the fact that I am being expected to pay over £80 for what is essentially a clip. To have to replace an entire piece of perfectly good trim because of a broken clip is clearly bad design.

The response....tough. It's not covered by warranty.

Has anyone else had this problem? Does anyone know if the clip can be repaired?? If I knew how to remove the trim then I would have a go at repairing myself but I'm not that knowledgable....

 

[Guest]

Trim is attached by metal spring clips pushed onto tabs on the trim
and these then pop into the respective hole to retain the trim.

Are the plastic tabs on the trim broken? Can it be repaired with a bit
of glue or blob of molten plastic? Or maybe just a missing clip?

 

[cj romeo]

Just add a blob of blu-tac to stop it rattling, in my experience it will just come back with manky fingerprints and a different rattle if you leave it to a garage.

Clips are deliberately fragile in this area as the trim detaches as part of the SRS system (or at least they do on the Coupe)

 

[degsy70]

thanks guys, is the trim easy to remove in order for me to see the broken clip?

 

[Guest]

Removing is quite easy. Just tug them off, so-to-speak. (Ooooh errr!!)

But fitting it back is where you can break other tabs if you don't line stuff up.
(You need to bang the clips into place and if it's not aligned to the hole
that's how the clips bend/break....)

 

[Kev.K]

The quality of the interior of my 09 brera is a joke.
Foot rest came loose after two weeks.(from new).
Black leather gear stick cover is now red in places.
Gear knob is loose.
Various squeaks and rattles.
Dark grey metal dash, gets scratched by keys.(unavoidable)
Steering wheel feels cheap.
I still love my car. The tan leather looks great, as do my dark grey 18"'s. The glass roof is cool too.
I'm not a fan of the blue and me system though.

 

[cj romeo]

...scratching the dash with keys is entirely avoidable, my mate has an unmarked 56 plate Brera and my 08 159 have no visible marks here - use a leather keyring so theres no metal on metal!

Gearknob is dead easy - prise off the plastic top and there is a bolt with a 10mm hex below to tighten it.

 

[adamcot]

The quality of the interior of my 09 brera is a joke.
Foot rest came loose after two weeks.(from new).
Black leather gear stick cover is now red in places.
Gear knob is loose.
Various squeaks and rattles.
Dark grey metal dash, gets scratched by keys.(unavoidable)
Steering wheel feels cheap.
I still love my car. The tan leather looks great, as do my dark grey 18"'s. The glass roof is cool too.
I'm not a fan of the blue and me system though.

Most of the things you said above are quite trivial. As said, gear knob is an easy fix, and the solution for the dash getting scratched is to not put any keys on the key fob? The foot rest is one simple screw.

Blue & Me is very easy to use. Most of it's faults are down to user error. If you don't like it, change the head unit for an aftermarket one.

IMO, the interior is extremely well made and thought out. Compared to the quality of my 2006 Grande Punto Sporting (supposed to be top of the range at the time) it is in a completely different world.

 

[Kev.K]

Most of the things you said above are quite trivial. As said, gear knob is an easy fix, and the solution for the dash getting scratched is to not put any keys on the key fob? The foot rest is one simple screw.

Blue & Me is very easy to use. Most of it's faults are down to user error. If you don't like it, change the head unit for an aftermarket one.

IMO, the interior is extremely well made and thought out. Compared to the quality of my 2006 Grande Punto Sporting (supposed to be top of the range at the time) it is in a completely different world.

No offense but a £30,000 car should have a better interior than a punto!
Even if the problems are easily fixed. That isn't the point. The build quality is poor.
If you think the brera has a "well built and thought out interior", you should have a look at a A5.
My mk5 golf had a better interior.
The brera looks nice. But the materials are very cheap.
Also, who doesn't have their house keys on the same key ring as their car keys? The dash design is stupid. Especially on later models (dark grey shows scratches)

 

[adamcot]

No offense but a £30,000 car should have a better interior than a punto!
Even if the problems are easily fixed. That isn't the point. The build quality is poor.
If you think the brera has a "well built and thought out interior", you should have a look at a A5.
My mk5 golf had a better interior.
The brera looks nice. But the materials are very cheap.
Also, who doesn't have their house keys on the same key ring as their car keys? The dash design is stupid. Especially on later models (dark grey shows scratches)

Completely lost with some of your comments, price is irrelevant when it comes to "build quality". Fit and finish of the final product, no matter how much you pay, should be just as good. The Punto looked great the day it rolled out of the factory, 2 years later it was quite terrible. The simple fact is that VAG shift 100,000's of cars with exactly the same interior and trim. Have you seen the A5 interior? Looks as dull as an overcast sky. The materials in the 2007 car I have are very good, the leather is excellent, the dash is aluminium (which VAG car has an all-metal dash?) and it is all very well put together. OK, it has a couple of rattles, but mine is nearly 4 years old now.

I've never had my house keys on the same ring as my car key for security and practicality reasons. Just seems to me as if you are being quite picky. The simple answer is this, if you really hate it that much, go and buy a VAG and have the same as everyone else

Edit: Just had a quick look on Audi's website, to get an A5 in the same spec as my Brera, it would cost nigh on £35,000. That's £8,000 more than the Brera would have been new. Maybe I expect less because I paid less than half book price for a 3yr old example.

 

[Kev.K]

Completely lost with some of your comments, price is irrelevant when it comes to "build quality". Fit and finish of the final product, no matter how much you pay, should be just as good. The Punto looked great the day it rolled out of the factory, 2 years later it was quite terrible. The simple fact is that VAG shift 100,000's of cars with exactly the same interior and trim. Have you seen the A5 interior? Looks as dull as an overcast sky. The materials in the 2007 car I have are very good, the leather is excellent, the dash is aluminium (which VAG car has an all-metal dash?) and it is all very well put together. OK, it has a couple of rattles, but mine is nearly 4 years old now.

I've never had my house keys on the same ring as my car key for security and practicality reasons. Just seems to me as if you are being quite picky. The simple answer is this, if you really hate it that much, go and buy a VAG and have the same as everyone else

I don't hate my car!
Despite the fact that the drivers window has failed 3 times and I've had steering problems, aswell as the poorly built interior.
If I bought a punto. I'd expect it to be falling to pieces after 2 years.
I have driven a S5 and it's interior was anything but boring. Materials including the leather are much higher quality.
I think the brera is one of the nicest looking cars you can buy. But it is very poor in terms of build, speed, handling, fuel economy and overall quality compared to a BMW or Audi. Fact.
I spent alot of money on the car, so I think my opinions are valid.
I've owned my car from brand new, I'm in a position to judge it.
I don't bury my head in the sand and pretend it's the best car in the world because it cost me the best part of £30k.
It's not a £7000 punto.

 

[adamcot]

I don't hate my car!
Despite the fact that the drivers window has failed 3 times and I've had steering problems, aswell as the poorly built interior.
If I bought a punto. I'd expect it to be falling to pieces after 2 years.
I have driven a S5 and it's interior was anything but boring. Materials including the leather are much higher quality.
I think the brera is one of the nicest looking cars you can buy. But it is very poor in terms of build, speed, handling, fuel economy and overall quality compared to a BMW or Audi. Fact.
I spent alot of money on the car, so I think my opinions are valid.
I've owned my car from brand new, I'm in a position to judge it.
I don't bury my head in the sand and pretend it's the best car in the world because it cost me the best part of £30k.
It's not a £7000 punto.

Your opinions are relevant, but you make it out to be the worst car that has ever been built, which it clearly is not. I know it isn't 100% amazing, but what is on the roads these days? I made a comparison to the last car I owned, which was 10,000 times worse. I do take exception to the "It's not a £7,000 Punto" comment. Just so you are aware, the Sporting model I had was nearly twice that brand new and I am also only 23 so don't quite have the experience you seem to have with every Audi and BMW on the road. I could of spent the same money on a Golf and not had any interior rattles, got 5mpg better and spent less on tax. But how dull must you be to want to do that?

Seems to me like you spent a lot of money on a car and didn't do your research before parting with your cash. If you had, you would have been aware of these little issues way before you even got to a dealer. Which, I'm sure, if you visit a VAG forum, they will have similar issues with some of their cars. The grass isn't always greener.....

 

[Kev.K]

Your opinions are relevant, but you make it out to be the worst car that has ever been built, which it clearly is not. I know it isn't 100% amazing, but what is on the roads these days? I made a comparison to the last car I owned, which was 10,000 times worse. I do take exception to the "It's not a £7,000 Punto" comment. Just so you are aware, the Sporting model I had was nearly twice that brand new and I am also only 23 so don't quite have the experience you seem to have with every Audi and BMW on the road. I could of spent the same money on a Golf and not had any interior rattles, got 5mpg better and spent less on tax. But how dull must you be to want to do that?

Seems to me like you spent a lot of money on a car and didn't do your research before parting with your cash. If you had, you would have been aware of these little issues way before you even got to a dealer. Which, I'm sure, if you visit a VAG forum, they will have similar issues with some of their cars. The grass isn't always greener.....

I bought my car because I like it. Plain and simple.
I'm not saying it's the worst car ever built!?!. Just disappointing.
I've had more compliments in my car, than any other I've owned. It's beautiful. But it's not that good to drive, very fast or well built.
I don't regret buying it, but it's far from perfect. And I wouldn't have another.
I didn't mean to be rude with the punto comment. But the 2 should definetly not be compared.

 

[adamcot]

I bought my car because I like it. Plain and simple.
I'm not saying it's the worst car ever built!?!. Just disappointing.
I've had more compliments in my car, than any other I've owned. It's beautiful. But it's not that good to drive, very fast or well built.
I don't regret buying it, but it's far from perfect. And I wouldn't have another.
I didn't mean to be rude with the punto comment. But the 2 should definetly not be compared.

Fair enough, I'll agree to disagree. Mine, as stated above, is great in my opinion. You do seem to have a complete downer on the car, the only positive thing I have read is that you think it looks good. I compare those two because that is my experience, the only two "real" cars I have had the pleasure to own. Fair enough if you have been in A5's etc. but they are more expensive and are of a newer design and therefore probably shouldn't be compared either. As said above, just because it says Audi on the front doesn't mean it won't fall apart after 6 months. All modern car brands seem to have their off days.

 

[cloverleaf159]

yeah, i think you two should agree to disagree....

 

[Kev.K]

Fair enough, I'll agree to disagree. Mine, as stated above, is great in my opinion. You do seem to have a complete downer on the car, the only positive thing I have read is that you think it looks good. I compare those two because that is my experience, the only two "real" cars I have had the pleasure to own. Fair enough if you have been in A5's etc. but they are more expensive and are of a newer design and therefore probably shouldn't be compared either. As said above, just because it says Audi on the front doesn't mean it won't fall apart after 6 months. All modern car brands seem to have their off days.

The looks are the only thing to shout about. Black, dark grey 18's, glass roof and tan leather.
I much prefer my interior to the older one. The seats are much better.
It's a fact that the 2.2 is slow and thirsty. It's also a fact that it doesn't handle like it should.
It's also a fact that audis don't fall apart after 6 months. I'm not really into audis, just think they are very well built. I prefer the way BMW's drive.
I wish the brera was rwd.
What other reason, apart from the look/image of the car. Would anyone buy brera for?

 

[adamcot]

But you don't "know" that every single one is perfect, it's impossible to "know" that. No company can have 100% product quality. There will always be people who will have issues, just like you have with your car. VW were infact behind Alfa Romeo in the JD Power survey this year. What does that tell you about the VW brand? The one that is supposed to have 100% reliability? Not anymore.....

And it also is open to debate how it's "supposed" to drive. I actually bought the car because I wanted a GT car with supercar looks, which is what I own. It drives very well for a GT car, the ride is excellent and so is the engine. If I wanted a full blooded sports car I would have bought a Porsche Boxster. I did my research before visiting a dealer. Infact, even the dealer told me not to think of it as a sports car, it's a big GT for covering great distances.

 

[Kev.K]

But you don't "know" that every single one is perfect, it's impossible to "know" that. No company can have 100% product quality. There will always be people who will have issues, just like you have with your car. VW were infact behind Alfa Romeo in the JD Power survey this year. What does that tell you about the VW brand? The one that is supposed to have 100% reliability? Not anymore.....

And it also is open to debate how it's "supposed" to drive. I actually bought the car because I wanted a GT car with supercar looks, which is what I own. It drives very well for a GT car, the ride is excellent and so is the engine. If I wanted a full blooded sports car I would have bought a Porsche Boxster. I did my research before visiting a dealer. Infact, even the dealer told me not to think of it as a sports car, it's a big GT for covering great distances.

"A big gt for covering long distances"
No, no, no. That would be a bentley c gt, aston or XKR.
The brera is a coupe that looks better, but doesn't drive aswell as it's rivals.
It's basically a 159 with the boot chopped off.
I would probably think mine was the best car in the world too, if I only had a punto to compare it to.
It's a fact by the way that alfa have a reputation for poor build. And Audi have an excellent one.
Fiat puntos are especially poor. That is why your so impressed with your brera.
To be fair to you it is a big leap you have made.
The reason the dealer told you not to think or it as a sports car, is that you would have been disappointed.
I take that back. How could you be disappointed when you were used to driving a punto.

 

[MarcG]

Back on the keys thing.

My silver aluminium dash was badly key marked when I got it. I've just replaced the dash (as I wanted a double din head unit and the factory sat nav is bigger than double din) and I remembered a tip to keep it scratch free I heard on here...

Just push the button to separate the key fob from the metal blade and keyring, and put the key ring thing in the cup holder or arm rest.

It's a pain for the first week, but fast become second nature....

 

[Kev.K]

Back on the keys thing.

My silver aluminium dash was badly key marked when I got it. I've just replaced the dash (as I wanted a double din head unit and the factory sat nav is bigger than double din) and I remembered a tip to keep it scratch free I heard on here...

Just push the button to separate the key fob from the metal blade and keyring, and put the key ring thing in the cup holder or arm rest.

It's a pain for the first week, but fast become second nature....

That's not a bad idea.

My dash looks worse, because I have the updated interior. The dash is dark grey.