DJNafey

I agree - great deal. I'm jealous about your climate control ! :sun:

For the benefit of anyone else picking this post up in a web search, here's the response that I have just got from Connects2 (who were very helpful) about my 2008 Skoda Fabia II that had the original 'Dance' double-DIN head unit without any steering wheel controls: "I've just checked with the software engineers for you - they can't see why the CTSSK003 interface wouldn't work in your vehicle to be honest, its just that we haven't tested it ourselves so its not on our application guide. CTSSK003 will still function as a CANbus interface even if a vehicle without steering controls."

Lots of replies already but thought I'd add one as I bought a used Fabia TDi hatch just under 2 years ago. It was to be the most sensible car I've ever bought (normally a 'hot hatch' owner!) but I'm so pleased I bought it. Everything about it (apart from handling on B-roads) has been better than I expected. Mine is a 2008 Sport, so not quite as good looking as a Monte Carlo but I like it more than most other little hatchbacks of that age. After test-driving the 1.2 and 1.4 petrol and being disappointed with both, I decided I definitely needed the 1.9TDi, which is also 105bhp like the newer 1.6TDi engine. From driving diesels for a few years for work, I've learned not to race people away from traffic lights often any more (the 0-60 isn't stunning) but what surprises me about my little Fabia TDi is how much power is 'on tap' for short bursts such as overtaking once it's moving. It's INSTANT. From ANY speed. In ANY gear. It's so easy to drive. Around town, it's comparable to my MGF VVC and Citroen Saxo VTS that I've had in the past (both 0-60 in about 7 seconds). It has basically no turbo lag and that means that, in traffic at least, it actually feels "nippier" than the Subaru Impreza WRX that I had a few years back. But I didn't buy a diesel to go fast. I bought it for work (I'm self-employed), mostly to visit clients within my town or just beyond and to only do about 9,000 miles a year. I also use it for personal use, including the odd 3hr journey to the in-laws (it's surprisingly good on motorways too!) or 1000-mile holiday trip to Cornwall. Around town (and it's very built-up here), I can average 42-46mpg in the rush hour and 46-52mpg late at night when the roads are quiet. It's similar on motorways. But, if I drive calmly to the next town on a straight B-road, I can get 60mpg and, in Norfolk, I've averaged 70mpg! I used to get 40mpg from every tank in my 2006 Astra 1.7CDTi van (and the same in my 1999 Astra 1.7DTi van before that one) and around 28-32mpg around town in anything taking petrol. Nothing has gone wrong in the last 21 months so, throw in some 'no expense spared' maintenance and the savings in cheaper tax and fuel, and my accountant confirms that it's (overall) cheaper to own than anything I've ever had (including a couple of £1000 'cheap runarounds', which were a false economy). As I said, I used to have an Astra van for work. I didn't need that much boot space often so I wanted to switch to a decent-looking hatchback that was small, easy to park, reliable and cheap to run. The Fabia's boot size was still a consideration and I discounted several other cars such as the Suzuki Swift due to tiny boots. The Fabia boot isn't quite as big as an Astra hatchback but I suspect that it's bigger than a Corsa. A winning factor for me was also that the back seats are so quick and easy to put down and they fold almost totally flat - that makes more of a difference than I was expecting. I've had a wheelie bin and a dishwasher in the back! Incidentally, I did test-drive a Fabia Estate but I wasn't keen on the looks and it actually felt TOO big, believe it or not - I'm only 5'6" and I felt like a little child sitting in the front! Sorry, I do seem to like the sound of my own voice ......but I hope my experience of the Fabia helps you to decide :-)

Hi Ryan-re, I've just registered on Briskoda.net simply to reply and say thanks very much for sharing that information with the community. I am suffering the same problem where my new Alpine head unit is constantly live and never fully turns off. I have a Fabia mark 2 (2007 onwards), which is also listed as being compatible with the part that you used on your Octavia. I took advice from other forums to buy a Connects2 CTCSK01 CANBUS adaptor but it made no difference. I emailed Connects2 for advice but have just found your post about the Connects2 CTSSK003 adaptor, which sounds like exactly what I need. It also appears to be a quadlock-to-ISO adaptor and CANBUS adaptor in one, which should make it much easier to squash all of that extra wiring into the small space behind the stereo! So thanks again. P.S. Your link to CarAudioDirect.com doesn't work any more - here's a link to what appears to be an updated model: http://www.caraudiodirect.co.uk/ctssk003-2-stalk-adapter-for-skoda. That lists the Fabia (and Roomster) but not the Octavia but, as the original part was compatible with both, I'm guessing that the updated one is too - it certainly looks the same.