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Thinking of getting one but were put off by the reviews of the later generation version over the older one. Anyone have a newer fabia and might share their thoughts?
I have a 2009 1.2 Fabia, the most basic model bought from new.
The water pump went after 4 months but was fixed under warranty. Apart from that I have had no problems at all. Just had it's first MOT and passed with no issues. I realy like it
tyre size is a bit of a pain as it's not a common size. So expect to pay about £20 more than you would for say a Golf, fabia has 195/55/15 and golf has 195/50/15.
We bought new as the deal that skoda where offering meant that it was actually cheaper to get a new one.
Dunno about new one, but my missus had the old shape and its been the most reliable car we have ever owned. Ive always bought VW but afew years ago went with seat. If I was going to buy something from VAG id go with Skoda.
Don't go for the 1.6TDI if the car will be used for town/urban most days. The 1.6TDI (as do all diesels now) has a Diesel Particulate Filter <DPF>. If the car is not doing, on average, 50 plus miles per day, the chances are that the DPF will clog up (as it's not doing the miles which trigger a cleaning process to burn off the soot). This will end up costing you LOTS of cash and problems (and you'll also find anything relating to DPF's is not covered by warranty).
There's also an on-going issue with the 1.2 and 1.4 engines - there are some which use a chain for timing (as opposed to a belt), and the chains are jumping teeth in use, hence knocking out the engine timing. There was also an issue with cylinders cracking on the TSI engines.
So usual catalogue of VW issues! However, Skoda warranty and customer care is the best of lot, out of the VAG group.
Check out briskoda.co.uk (skoda owners website) has a great deal of knowledge on it and is very useful.
Our Mk1 Fabia has been a little git. I still think it was down to the dealer that we bought it off bodging a head gasket, which lead to a lot of money being spent on it. The rear door locks have packed up. One door is now permanently locked. It has a habit of going through coil packs, though the garage reckon this is a vag thing, not just the fabia.
On the plus side, it's the estate and seats down its pretty big, pleasant enough to drive, I don't mind if wor lass has my car and I'm left with the fabia. My sister has a younger fabia and it's been brilliant. My Octavia has also been excellent
Had a MKI Fabia vRS. Great little car. Fast, reasonably efficient, comfortable enough for long journeys. Only chopped it in after 5 years as we really needed an estate car. We bought another Skoda.
Only downside to the vRS was understeer when "making progress" with the wrong tyres (Eagle F1s really helped out here) and the white cloth on the seats was a pretty bad idea. Late models had the option of black leather which seems like a much better option.
2010 1.9TDI here. Bought used approved with 15k miles on the clock, now touching 40k. It's been excellent. Very economical - showed just over 70mpg average on the 25 mile mainly motorway drive to work today and yesterday. No mechanical problems whatsoever (now I'm cursed!) so no cause to rely on the warranty. Skoda servicing has been top rate as well.
It will take two trail bikes inside quite happily with the wheels off. DH bikes would be more problematic I think.
We've got a 2009 1.2l petrol. bought new - we've done about 25k over the last 3 years and its been pretty good.
had a couple of silly warranty claims (wing mirror and radio) but other than that nothing to report.. other than I find the 1.2 engine a bit underpowered (and its not as good on fuel as my 2.0l BMW diesel)
Build quality is as good as my 59-plate BMW.
Had the older VRS model. Really quick car but a little heavy around corners.
Door seals went a few months out of warranty. All had to be replaced along with the carpet / lining. Skoda were reasonable and did the work and a discount.
Noticed a lot of the ones we test drove had a damp smell. Would be cautious.
Suspect they are a good buy compared with VW & Audi.
I don't have a new one but bought my 2003 1.2 bottom of the range windy down windows, push the button door lock from brand new, it's now 9 years old and has 110,000 and is great, had a seatbelt go and a sensor went or something but otherwise I've not spent much on it. It's great.
2011 1.4 vRS here. Have nearly 14k miles on it, no issues at all. Big enough for four, reasonably big boot (although I need both wheels off with the seats down), DSG is great in traffic, and it's getting nearly 40mpg average despite having 180bhp when you want it. Way cheaper than most rivals to insure too.
Utter bargain for what they are.
I like mine. 9 year old 1.9 TD model.Very economical. Had a few probs with suspension and locks.
56 plate 1.2 petrol here. had it for 4+ years and it's been a solid low cost 2nd car (8-9000 miles per year). My 3 kids are always borrowing it.
My wife has a 1.6cr diesel elegance with a few options on, and she loves it
Excellent economy, cheap servicing and insurance
My main grip is he plastic is a bit cheap but that's all really...oh except the metallic paint tends to mark easily
I'm looking at getting a cheap beater for myself
We have 2
2005 VRs Diesel its awesome and has been chipped 160k on the clock goes like stink.
2011 Vrs Petrol with DSG in estate guise. If they made it in diesel we would of bought that one.
The petrol drives better corners better and if driven nicely will return in excess of 40 mpg
Thanks all never thought a skoda would be preferred to a fiesta or even a polo but it does appear to be a better motor.
Need to try a few now.
Sorry to bring thus one back to life but... Thinking of either the 1.2 or 1.4 petrol engines. I'm mostly in town driving mode. Is 1.2 under powered on longer journeys?
I have never owned one but my wife was loaned a 1.2 tsi (I think) and I found it pretty zesty and this considering my own car is was a big 2.2 litre disel Toyota
Ours now on 120k with no faults only servicing, great cars esp diesels
Tried the 1.2 petrol HTP version on a test drive, I asume we were driving as it's possible we were being blown along by a light breeze.
1.4 TDI made more sense and wanted to be driven. Not a super car but quite looking forward to it.
Anyone fitted their own Tow Bar?
Is 1.2 under powered on longer journeys?
on a flat motorway, it's fine.
If it's hilly and you want to overtake slower vehicles then yes it is a bit.
We have the 1.2TSI with the DSG 7 spd box
Does 50mpg commuting into work if I miss the rush hour - about up to 40 if it's busy
Has happily pulled me, one child and two overweight pensioners at 70mph on the motorway without struggling, again doing 45mpg or there abouts.
Great little car
Been running my '03 plate Fabia mk1 with the 16v 1.4 polo engine for coming up to three years now. Apart from a couple of ignition coil packs (5 min fix) and a changed (and subsequently cleaned recently) egr valve been very reliable. No probs with the Skoda bits, just the VW bits 😆 Good economy to boot...
1.4 is the TDI with 80bhp the TSI petrol (lovely engine) is 105bhp! Three cyl is a bit of a concern at tickover it is a bit rattly but did seam to pull in the midrange towards 60.