VAGCF

Thanks Derek. Earlier XC40s had TC boxes and some could coast in Eco mode. With the MHEV with DCT (DSG) box you have no choice (and you can't turn the stop/start off either) and I was very critical of the coasting function as it would activate at inappropriate times and sometimes give a feeling of running away and if you wanted the engine to restart you had to touch the throttle! Over time though and OTA software updates it has been tweaked and is much better including often but not always, restarting when you are braking. Whilst there are examples of small MHEVs being mentioned the big problem is finding room for the extra equipment needed e.g. starter/generator and the 48volt battery. Also the extra weight in a small car may mean there is not such a significant increase in mpg and handling/ride maybe affected.

Interesting that you can get a manual MHEV, does it have an extra clutch or other mechanism to enable coasting? Have to say that the MHEV system with DCT (DSG) works well in the Volvo having had the 2.0 petrol with TC previously. Same engine but with the help of the electric when accelerating it goes well and fuel consumption for a pretty big SUV is good. I can easily get into the 40s average and twice on long runs I got an average of 52mpg helped by the coasting function which frequently kicks in. It's all very clever the way it all works together but as I said it is very complicated and increases the chance of something going wrong and being expensive.

We (well my wife) test drove a 1.0 DSG as they didn't have a 1.5 in to try. I agree about the performance as even three up with the sales guy, the performance wasn't lacking. But I'm old school and there will be four in the car on occasions so we stuck with the decision to go with the 1.5. Ours is the SE L and we are very pleased with it. Didn't go for ACC as neither of us use CC but we did go for a high spec. I don't drive it very often but when I do I really enjoy it.

Funnily enough we bought the Fabia because it isn't a mild - hybrid! Reason being that we wanted something relatively simple as we intend keeping for quite a few years and probably beyond the warranty. My Volvo XC40 is a MH and whilst it is very nice to drive, goes well for what it is and pretty good on fuel, both of which being helped by it being MH, it is very complicated and I have real concerns about keeping it beyond the warranty as I think the cost of repairs could be very high. Trouble is many new cars are already MH or are moving that way. I agree about the interior of the i20. My son test drove one and we found the interior very poor/bland. He bought a Mazda 2 in the end which has a very nice, quality interior for a small car and goes well enough with its 1.5 non-turbo engine. I do wonder if manufacturers are doing the right thing in their continuing race towards EVs? We did consider one briefly before the stall in sales as it would suit our usage as we do low miles and mainly shorter journeys and could charge at home but the figures just don't stack up for us. The higher initial price compared with comparable ICE car, increasing cost of insurance and the biggie, the poor residuals value. These are fine for business users who are the main buyers but not private buyers in the main.

Not only VAG limitation but Volvo as well and probably others. My current XC40 doesn't even have Sport mode (though being a mild-hybrid performance is good anyway) and you only see the gear when in Manual mode - surprised nowadays that we are even trusted with that! I'd like to see the gear as well and particularly so in my previous XC40 as it had a TC box which was a bit lazy to change gear sometimes. Current one is Volvos equivalent of DSG and snappier but I'd still like to see the gear. And no flappy paddles either! Having ridden in my BiL's earlier T-Cross with the 1.5 and DSG I was looking forward to seeing the gear indicator (yeah, I know I'm a bit sad!) but with the Fabia I've been disappointed, oh well.

I "cancelled" a PCP agreement some years ago as well, but in my case it was well into the agreement term. I handed the car back without penalty as I'd fulfilled the requirement in the terms to, if I remember, make at least 50% of the payments. I did a deal on a new car and even with handing the car back the figures stacked up. I had two near identical cars on the drive for a couple of days until the older one was collected. I liked my Passats and had a silver earlier version before those. I've used PCP a lot to get good deals with manufacturer contributions and services included and as said you never hear of anyone being penalised for early settlements by having to repay for those contributions. The dealers aren't bothered and as said there is no link between them and the finance company, all they want is payment for what they are owed. Best is when you can get 0% (why use your own money!) as well. I got a cracking deal on my current Volvo XC40, strong residuals on my first one, way over the GFV (I'd paid off the balance near the end of the agreement as dealers think they are doing you a favour giving you the outstanding balance/GFV), loyalty bonus, free servicing and manufacturer discount and the 0%! It was a no brainer not to change! I'll never see a deal like that again! I settled the balance on my Yeti as well to help with getting the best Px. I've been stung as well mind. Bought the TT from the show room and couldn't get any discount etc. and still wince at the figures. That was 10 years ago and I've still got that car so not too bad when spread over that many years!

Yeah, one of the reasons for alloy wheels is less unsprung weight but for most folks it's because alloy wheels are usually much better looking. I wonder which numpty thought it was a good idea to fit trims to an alloy wheel! If you want an aero wheel, design it as such from the outset not apply a bodge. Total waste of time on most cars anyway. I see that the Colour Edition has been replaced with the Design Edition and it does still come with the trims as a questionable design enhancement I guess.

I'm happy when the stop start doesn't activate! Especially with my Volvo as it can no longer be turned off.

We've had our SE L for a couple of months now and on the whole am happy with it. My wife drives it mainly as it is her car. As with others we turn the stop start and lane assist off, though with the latter it doesn't activate if you use the indicators when crossing lines so it's not too bad. One reason for going for a Fabia over the Ibiza was the less firm ride, the Ibiza must be very firm then! Whilst we run on the lower of the recommended tyre pressures and stuck with the smaller rims I don't think the energy efficient tyre sidewalls are very compliant and especially so in colder weather. My concerns over these tyres has been unfounded as the grip and feel at the mainly modest speeds we drive at has been fine. I told the dealer we didn't want those awful wheel trims fitted but fortunately cars don't come with them fitted anymore so Skoda have seen the error of their ways! I'm assuming that applies to the Colour Edition as well? Apart from the dubious aerodynamic benefits they remind me of wheel trims fitted to steel wheels, what's the point?

Sport mode would probably make it worse? I used manual mode to change up not down as it was revving higher than it needed to. DSG and other autos can be great most of the time but you can't beat human intervention sometimes! Classic was my 2.0 Tdi Passat estate that when going to work there was an island followed by an uphill stretch on a dual carriageway. Number of times I'd pull out to overtake and it would change up just when I needed to accelate and drop me in it! Answer was to use manual mode for that stretch.

Intriguing but as said could be problems down the line especially if it ever needs bodywork repairs. Mechanical probably not. It would have to be a very good price because unless you are going to keep it a long time it is likely to take a big hit on residual value.

We had a Kodiaq for a few weeks on a trip o NZ earlier in the year and on occasions it was fully loaded with 5 adults and all our bags and suitcases (the boot was rammed), which is why we chose it - the boot is huge. We had the 2.0 petrol with DSG and it coped admirably with plenty of power. We encountered some steep hills where I used manual mode otherwise it would hang onto the gears too much and rev it's nuts off which goes against my mechanical sympathy. Rest of the time it was left in auto to do it's own thing and it was nice to drive.

All manufacturers have good and bad dealers. Guess I've been lucky with those that I've dealt with. With my Volvo though I have chosen to stick with the same dealer that I bought the first one from even though they are an hour away rather than use the unknown more local dealers.

Well, given that we picked the car up around 3 weeks ago today was the first time I drove it or actually been in it apart from altering some settings with my wife and moving it off the drive to get my car out! Wife suggested going to a pub for lunch, with me driving there and her driving back - sounded good to me! As with moving it the brakes caught me out on the first application! But after that fine. Ride is a bit firm on our wonderful roads - wife mentioned this previously and I expected the tyre pressures to be on the top values but they weren't. It felt nippy, which it should with the 1.5 engine, and the steering nicely weighted and accurate and so overall it is a nice drive. Wife's not bothered by the stop start but I am so was glad to see a button for turning this off. The speed limit warning is not intrusive and just pings a couple of times when drifting over the limit, so is useful and will be left on. We'd already sussed out the sat nav, radio and set our preferences so good on that front. Interior quality is good enough, though not as good as our sons cheaper Mazda 2, but is Ok and I think indicative of how VWG has gone over the last few years unless buying the more expensive Audis. So overall, it's a nice little car and ideal for our purposes and most importantly my wife is very happy with it!

According to the manual if the headlights have adaptive function then the headlamps can be changed via the Menu. As SJ says it depends on the lights you have. It would seem reasonable for the speedo to be Ok but I don't know. It's one thing changing things for driving abroad but for importing it might be more complicated. If the Fabia only has one foglight this will need changing as well. Once the required modifications have been done the car will need an IVA - Individual Vehicle Approval.

Are you saying that keyless entry doesn't make the car more vulnerable then?

I'll have to spend some time seeing how our new SE L compares with the new specs as we have some of the upgrades as optional extras. I didn't particularly need keyless entry on my first Volvo XC40 but have got used to it and on my second now and so with the Fabia aren't bothered that it's got it. As said, any car can be broken into but they can't drive it away so what's the problem really and our insurance premiums are reasonable.

You and others see it parked in the drive though! 😀

As hoped for it came with rear disc brakes and the tyres are Goodyear EfficientGrip. They are the quietest of the 3 tyres supplied and have a B wet weather rating. We won't be driving it that hard so hopefully we will be happy with them.

Picked up the car at 2.00pm. Dealer set everything up and took us through the infotainment system and controls. Need to explore the infotainment system more but it looks impressive. Carplay is now wireless. I know the Fabias are more expensive now, especially with the extras we specified but we are very pleased with it. I'm yet to drive it as my wife drove it the 15 miles home (it's hers anyway) but she was very happy with it and we think it looks great even with the standard 16" wheels on it. Looking forward to taking some trips out in it. Photo of it on the crowded drive until our son moves out.

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I'm pretty confident that it will be the case but this afternoon I shall be able to reply with 100% confidence!

I'm not complaining, as unlike some, I see threads as like a chat between friends, but blimey this thread has gone off on numerous tangents!

Just had a call from the dealer to say that the car is with them and is ready to be picked up. I don't think they are supplied, with them now but I've told them I don't want the aero wheel trims fitting if they do. Car has arrived as per the dealer's estimate which is good but I could have done with it being a couple of more weeks as my son hasn't moved into his flat yet and I don't have enough room for another car. May look at putting the TT into storage for a bit.

Good to hear you are still enjoying the car. I'm with you as regards checking the fuel consumption. I used to keep a record of miles from each fill up when I did higher mileages but I just look at the car's display out of interest nowadays and to see what the highest average it can give on a run.