Which fabia to buy?
Discussion
Our daily hack is near life end and we will replace it with another skoda fabia. Looking at the latest model year 2015 / 16 car. Decided that petrol is out best option but a little confused regarding which engine. The car is used for shopping and occasional motorway longer holiday haul.
Discounted the 1.4 tsi, considered the 1.2 tsi and thought that would be the best option but now considering the 1.0 tsi as the 1.2 has been discontinued.
The car will be a keeper. Advise and comments appreciated.
Discounted the 1.4 tsi, considered the 1.2 tsi and thought that would be the best option but now considering the 1.0 tsi as the 1.2 has been discontinued.
The car will be a keeper. Advise and comments appreciated.
GetCarter said:
I bought my Mrs a Fabia for a weekly trip to her charity work. You'll need 1.4 as less than that is utterly gutless.
I wouldn’t go near the 1.4 tsi having read all the horror stories about this power plant! The unit has been long since discontinued from the line. Of course the diesel engine is available but we don’t want diesel again.The 1.2 tsi took its place but this also has been discontinued after a short production run, hence my query about the 1.00 tsi.
crankedup said:
GetCarter said:
I bought my Mrs a Fabia for a weekly trip to her charity work. You'll need 1.4 as less than that is utterly gutless.
I wouldn’t go near the 1.4 tsi having read all the horror stories about this power plant! The unit has been long since discontinued from the line. Of course the diesel engine is available but we don’t want diesel again.The 1.2 tsi took its place but this also has been discontinued after a short production run, hence my query about the 1.00 tsi.
I should add: gutless is fine unless you want to overtake, then it's bloody dangerous, so depends on your driving expectations.
Edited by GetCarter on Friday 22 June 15:51
GetCarter said:
crankedup said:
GetCarter said:
I bought my Mrs a Fabia for a weekly trip to her charity work. You'll need 1.4 as less than that is utterly gutless.
I wouldn’t go near the 1.4 tsi having read all the horror stories about this power plant! The unit has been long since discontinued from the line. Of course the diesel engine is available but we don’t want diesel again.The 1.2 tsi took its place but this also has been discontinued after a short production run, hence my query about the 1.00 tsi.
I should add: gutless is fine unless you want to overtake, then it's bloody dangerous, so depends on your driving expectations.
Edited by GetCarter on Friday 22 June 15:51
I have the 1.0 TSI with 110hp in a Seat Toledo, weighing about the same. It's got quite a bit of go once warm, the only issue I've found is a tiny bit of turbo lag in 1st gear when moving off which requires you to change your driving style a little. Anyone saying it's dangerous either never goes about 3000rpm or can't perform an overtake safely. Only ever feels short of power with 3+ people on board. One thing I'd say is economy. I do a lot of short journeys which skews the numbers somewhat, but I always get over 40mpg, and 50mpg is possible in light traffic.
I'm aware Seat have a 1.5 TSI Ibiza - https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
I'm aware Seat have a 1.5 TSI Ibiza - https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...
Edited by codenamecueball on Friday 22 June 17:22
Edited by codenamecueball on Friday 22 June 17:26
codenamecueball said:
I have the 1.0 TSI with 110hp in a Seat Toledo, weighing about the same. It's got quite a bit of go once warm, the only issue I've found is a tiny bit of turbo lag in 1st gear when moving off which requires you to change your driving style a little. Anyone saying it's dangerous either never goes about 3000rpm or can't perform an overtake safely. Only ever feels short of power with 3+ people on board. One thing I'd say is economy. I do a lot of short journeys which skews the numbers somewhat, but I always get over 40mpg, and 50mpg is possible in light traffic.
"feels short of power with 3+ people on board"Edited by codenamecueball on Friday 22 June 17:22
Nuff said.
PositronicRay said:
This is going to sound crap but, instead of a VAG why not consider a Hyundai? Mrs PR has one, cheap to buy and run, fairly old fashioned tried and tested mechanics. Nothing particularly noteworthy just a good old fashioned work horse. (Which I like and respect)
Not sounding crap at all, I have started to look at Hyundai, prompted by thier ad’ for the 130i.That car is not for us but maybe something else in the line up, it is after all simply a reliable cheapest shopping car for the two of us. The odd motorway run we can live with if it isn’t offering the ultimate drive/comfort.
OP, have you considered a Suzuki Baleno?
90 or 110 HP and around the 1,000 kg mark. Quite spacious, too. I guess it would fit your needs very well and should be cheaper to buy than a Fabia, with new ones starting from 10 grand.
Given you are looking into Skodas it doesn't seem to me that you are too worried about the brand (otherwise I guess you'd look into Audis
)
90 or 110 HP and around the 1,000 kg mark. Quite spacious, too. I guess it would fit your needs very well and should be cheaper to buy than a Fabia, with new ones starting from 10 grand.
Given you are looking into Skodas it doesn't seem to me that you are too worried about the brand (otherwise I guess you'd look into Audis
)I've had two late Fabias, both with the 1.2Tsi engines.
First one was 90bhp and I thought was ok.
Now have the 110bhp one in an estate.
Nippy enough to overtake, and a very good engine, anyone who says it's not a good engine can't have driven one, or was expecting sporty performance from a normal car.
The new model came out in 2015 but only the late 2015 models got smartlink and multi function steering wheel. So get at least 65 plate, or 16 plate to be sure.
Don't bother with the S versions, get the SE as a minimum, you'll then get the bolero stereo system, rear park sensors, and the auto emergency braking. (pleased to say I haven't tested the latter)
I haven't tried the new 1.0 engine.
Don't discount the Fabias until you've test driven them, they really are very good for a cheap car.
First one was 90bhp and I thought was ok.
Now have the 110bhp one in an estate.
Nippy enough to overtake, and a very good engine, anyone who says it's not a good engine can't have driven one, or was expecting sporty performance from a normal car.
The new model came out in 2015 but only the late 2015 models got smartlink and multi function steering wheel. So get at least 65 plate, or 16 plate to be sure.
Don't bother with the S versions, get the SE as a minimum, you'll then get the bolero stereo system, rear park sensors, and the auto emergency braking. (pleased to say I haven't tested the latter)
I haven't tried the new 1.0 engine.
Don't discount the Fabias until you've test driven them, they really are very good for a cheap car.
The latest 1.0 is a properly sweet little engine especially in TSI form. It feels surprisingly punchy thanks to the torque and returns decent MPG without much effort. I've tried it in an A1, Polo and Ibiza now and done lots of miles mostly motorway.
The 1.2 TSI isn't bad either but isn't as smooth and suffers from some reliability issues depending on the year. Wouldn't bother with the 1.4, the N/A is gutless and TSI unreliable.
The 1.2 TSI isn't bad either but isn't as smooth and suffers from some reliability issues depending on the year. Wouldn't bother with the 1.4, the N/A is gutless and TSI unreliable.
Thanks for all replies, all interesting and good. Hadn’t thought about a suzuki but will have a look, at this point I’m not even sure if we have a local garage for the service work though.
The Fabia is only available to us in the 1.2tsi guise which suits our budget, owing onto the 1.00 tsi exceeds the budget unfortunately. If the 1.2tsi is a relatively good trouble free engine then we will have another look.
Thanks again everybody.
The Fabia is only available to us in the 1.2tsi guise which suits our budget, owing onto the 1.00 tsi exceeds the budget unfortunately. If the 1.2tsi is a relatively good trouble free engine then we will have another look.
Thanks again everybody.
I’ve had a 1.2tsi 110 SEL for nearly 2 years now. It’s been reliable with no issues at all so far. It’s used maybe 200ml of oil since I got it and has just had its first service at 19000 miles. It’s averages 50mpg going into and out of the centre of Leeds everyday. I can get late 50’s, early 60’s on a run and have had a couple of journeys over 70mpg.
I put a Racechip tuning box on mine which seems to give a decent chunk more mid range power. It doesn’t feel fast compared to my motorbike but it’s more than adequate for what it is.
It’s been a great car so far and has been dead cheap to run. The engine is nice and torquey but there is turbo lag below 1500 revs.
I put a Racechip tuning box on mine which seems to give a decent chunk more mid range power. It doesn’t feel fast compared to my motorbike but it’s more than adequate for what it is.
It’s been a great car so far and has been dead cheap to run. The engine is nice and torquey but there is turbo lag below 1500 revs.
crankedup said:
PositronicRay said:
This is going to sound crap but, instead of a VAG why not consider a Hyundai? Mrs PR has one, cheap to buy and run, fairly old fashioned tried and tested mechanics. Nothing particularly noteworthy just a good old fashioned work horse. (Which I like and respect)
Not sounding crap at all, I have started to look at Hyundai, prompted by thier ad’ for the 130i.That car is not for us but maybe something else in the line up, it is after all simply a reliable cheapest shopping car for the two of us. The odd motorway run we can live with if it isn’t offering the ultimate drive/comfort.
It's an ideal shopping/dog/runabout I really can't fault it, if picky I'd say the seats aren't brilliant on long trips.
i can only talk about the current generation fabias; the 2017-on 1.0 tsi (with 110ps) felt a tiny bit perkier to me than the 1.2 tsi (110ps) of 2014-2017 it replaced. i also liked the noise a little bit more.
the n/a 1.0 mpi engines, with 60ps or 75ps, were never considered; neither the lower-powered tsi (1.2 90ps/1.0 95ps).
of course, when it got to the stage of buying the car, we settled on the 1.4tsi with 125ps limited 'edition r5'.... because green alloys. they did not make this variant available in the uk, though
the n/a 1.0 mpi engines, with 60ps or 75ps, were never considered; neither the lower-powered tsi (1.2 90ps/1.0 95ps).
of course, when it got to the stage of buying the car, we settled on the 1.4tsi with 125ps limited 'edition r5'.... because green alloys. they did not make this variant available in the uk, though
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