Fabia_TDI

This is 'on topic' just about (I think). I'm about to part ex my mk 1 Fabia for a mk 2 (yet to pick, but it will be a 1.6 TDi Elegance). I do plenty of miles so a low mileage one will be preferred. Any significant changes/improvements between 2011 and 2013? I was going to ask what to check for when looking, but that's already been covered (thanks!)

Very nearly just made a pillock of myself. The "Rapid estate" I spotted parked in front of a local Skoda dealer at lunch time must have been an Octavia estate. The Octavia and the Rapid do look similar if you're not paying that much attention!

Hi All, Got an 06 plate Fabia 1.9 TDi with 91k on the clock. Do about 20,000 miles per year (commuting mainly). Car hasn't missed a beat in the last few years and I'm quite happy to keep it for a few more years. But I can't help wondering whether I should change it before it starts to give me any trouble. Equally it is not worth that much and I could just run it until the wheels fall off (well preferably just before the wheels fall off). I'd get another Fabia, new shape, either a 1.9 or 1.6 TDi with low-ish miles IF I was going to change. Any of you wise owls have an opinion? How likely is it that my car is about to suffer a terrible mid life crisis?

You can't get a 1.4 vRS can you?

I've owned two TDis and I really like them. But I'm sure lots of people would say the same about the vRS. Bizarrely, I think the rear disk brakes depend on trim level on a TDi. An 'Elegance' 1.9 TDi will definitely have rear disk brakes but I think the lower trim level (Comfort - later renamed to Ambiente) might have drums on the back. On the new model (2007 onwards), rear drums are standard unless you have optional ESP (cost cutting I assume). Many people on here have said it shouldn't make a big difference though as the front brakes do much more work then the rear ones. Of course rear disks look much nicer... Edit: Of course if you're going to have a TDi and get it remapped, rear disks make more sense!

The newer engine has a revised EGR system. The emissions are better but some engines suffer from the afore mentioned stutter. More info here: http://briskoda.net/fabia-i/fabia-vrs-blt-engine-hesitation/86593/ There may be other differences, I don't know. I assume the reason for the change was to make the vRS Euro IV emissions compliant.

57 plate 1.9 TDi. That will be nice. I guess your old motor has 14" wheels and this one has 15s. Will be interesting to hear what you think. My 06 plate 1.9 TDi hatch (not a vRS) did have the 'stutter' when I got it. But we all know how to fix that now!

I think there is only one 1.4 16v you can get with a manual gearbox and that's got 100 BHP. I believe these can suffer from head gasket problems although I'm not sure how common these are. The 1.4 MPi is an old OHV engine which was developed from the unit used in the Felicia (I think). Some owners have reported that this engine is quite thirsty. Far less powerful the the 16v - 68 BHP. If you want to know more do a search. :sofahide:

Hi There! My Grandad picked his 'new' car up today - a 55 plate 1.2 Ambiente replacing a 53 plate 1.2 Silverline. The gearchange is much better on the new car but curiously the new one seems to hold the road a bit better too (I've driven both cars a few times). Did they tweak the suspension when they did the facelift? There was nothing wrong with the old car - the new one just seems better! :confused:

Based on what I have read on here I thought they changed the water pump to make sure there was no danger of it seizing and snapping the belt.

You would need to fit the gasket at position 11. If you look at the under bonnet photo that will make it a bit clearer.

Thanks for your comments. Car is very good from a price and spec point of view, much better than most of the others I have spotted in main dealers. My only concern was the low mileage and the car having been 'under driven' for most of its life. Think I might take a look anyway - a mechanically competent colleague has told me cars like that do loosen up after they have been driven a bit.

Hi All, I mean REALLY low mileage. It's a 55 plate 1.2 with about 8800 on the clock. I have spoken to the dealer and it did about 4000 miles in the first year, about 4000 in the second as was barely driven during the third. Belonged to an old chap. Not driven it yet but I wondered what people's opinions were on such vehicles. Worth a try or forget it and find one with a nice sensible 20k on the clock. FYI it's for an old chap who won't be doing many miles in it!

Based on what I have read on here, a few Fabia diesel owners experience moderate oil consumption but the vast majority say their cars hardly use any oil at all. The diesel engines used in the Fabia are well proven units, in any case.

Perhaps you needed to be there, but... My old boss in his 206 GTI 180 was following a colleague in a 150 bhp Mk 4 TDI Golf. There were a couple of passengers in each car I think. Golf man puts his boot down and my old boss couldn't keep up at all. He even switched his traction control off to see if that would make him go any faster! But it didn't. Golf man now has a 2.0T Audi A3 and my old boss bought a 3.2 V6 Audi A3 to make sure such a thing could never happen again.