Worrying comment from auto Trader on the MK3, is it true?

[Atlantia]

http://www.drivethedebate.co.uk/search/read/review/36373/make/71/model/645/page/0/

Heres the relevant bit, well the majority of the short article really, its not like it has anything positive to say about the Mk3!

"Major design fault of the heating controls being routed through the car's radio which results in complete failure of radio, heating system, and all related console controls after about 30,000 miles. Stupid shaped doors which lean out at the top and bust your nose if you don't lean slightly back as you open them from outside! Exterior temperature sensor located in the nearside mirror and very prone to going haywire"

 

[Fl@pper]

radio is a well known achillies heel ill admit

exterior temp sensor is also but all of £20 to fix if you REALLY need to know how cold it is outside

open the door before you try and get in and you wont hit the door

 

[truCido]

lol the radio doesn't always fail after 30,000 miles, some don't fail, some don't fail till 100k just one of those things...

exterior temp sensor will fail at some point yes but like fl@pper said easy fix

lol i never had a problem with the door??

 

[Fl@pper]

lol i never had a problem with the door??

nor me, but i guess i'm tall enough or my arms are long enough or im more patient to wait for it to be wide open before i get in

 

[Dan1.6]

iv never had a problem with my radio yet touch wood the onlt one with the door was were i trapped ma fingers

 

[Atlantia]

They made it sound like the radio/console total failure was an inevitable and regular event.
I'm relieved to hear that the reviewer is exaggerating somewhat.
Is there a an alternative to replacing the standard radio? Surely someone must have figured a mod for this problem?

 

[Dan1.6]

theres plenty if you search

 

[oalloyd]

I don't have a radio in mine so no worries!!

 

[Dan1.6]

lol one way around it

 

[shantybeater]

lol i have never noticed anything with the doors?? and as for the stereo..people usually just cut a hole in the dash to the shape of an aftermarket HU or stick it in the glovebox..

Heres the headunit on my old one:

 

[Dan1.6]

looks awsome that

 

[clarkey-cool/s]

I have that problem with the door, its when you got your hands full and get in and it twats you on the nose!
Never had my temp sender work..don't really care because I know exactly how cold it is anyway!
My headunit still works after 74k, never use it though, but it's still all wired up.

 

[markmeus]

I wouldn't trust an article that shows a mk4 cupra in a review of a mk3.

 

[kyle'87]

I wouldn't trust an article that shows a mk4 cupra in a review of a mk3.

Good ol'internet reliability

The MK3 I have put adeposit down on has never had any of those problems *touch wood*

 

[si-mate]

From several years of reading posts on here, the radio failing isn't that common. Much more likely is the clutch pedal snapping, coilpacks failing and the MAF giving up the ghost.

 

[acidstrato]

yep tbh those things are the least of a mk3 owners worries