VAGCF

I agree with what you say about the wheels on modern cars but sometimes you don't even get offered the sensible option anymore! With my Volvo I've got 18" wheels and given the size of the tyres have good sidewall depth and look good on an SUV. These have now been dropped on new cars and replaced with 19" which are still acceptable but you have the option of 20". The top spec cars have 20" and that's it, which isn't what I'd want. It's an SUV not a sports car! Some owners had cars supplied with Continental EcoContacts which some didn't like and found they had less wet weather grip. Fortunately both mine came with Michelin Primacy which I've been very happy with. The TT has Contis but they are SportContact which are a different animal and I'm happy with those as well. For the Fabia SE L we are sticking with the 16" wheels, not only for better ride comfort but also to lessen the risk of kerb damage. My TT does have 19" wheels with low profile tyres which as well as looking good and suiting the car do at least make sense on a car like that albeit at the expense of a harsher ride, but not too bad on our poor excuse for roads.

Totally agree, letting the revs drop too low when in gear and lugging/stalling is one thing but the engine just cutting out at low revs is another. I never have that problem with my 2.0T FSI TT and if I did it would annoy the hell out of me. Good job that the ordered Fabia DSG 1.5 is not affected otherwise we wouldn't have ordered one. It's disappointing to come back on the forum after a few years away to find that there are still problems with the 1.5, albeit different ones, which was one of the reasons for looking elsewhere when replacing the Yeti and going to Volvo.

When we get our new car I think the first job will be to get a decent set of tyres fitted rather than those Eco tyres which don't offer the best grip in the UK climate.

And why they can't wait for all cars to be EV's! 😀

He is just commenting that in theory the max weight that the tyres can cope with is well over that of the rear axle. In practise though the additional weight of two more passengers and especially two more suitcases is rather arbitrary due to a lack of space! And if calculated as if it was possible would surely show that the weight is well short of the 800kg capacity which in itself is low due to the factor of safety allowed for in calculations. This does indicate to me that the stated tyre pressures for the increased load of passengers and luggage are above what is required and it is therefore fine to run at slightly lower pressures to give a more forgiving ride. I usually drive (Not in a Fabia at the moment) with two or three in the car and so use the lower pressures stated and only increase the rear pressures, but not to the max stated in the table, when going on longer journeys with more passengers and luggage. The size and weight of car needs to be taken into consideration here though as a smaller, lighter car with smaller tyres is going to be affected more by any increase in weight and more consideration needs to be given to tyre pressures with regard to this. In an ideal world the actual pressures required should be calculated and appied before the start of any journey as the weight of passengers and luggage can vary wildly and can't be covered accurately by a simple table. In reality though the table should be used as a starting point and then common sense applied to arrive at safe and comfortable tyre pressures above the minimum values stated. Unfortunately for many motorists common sense is sadly lacking. When filling up the other week there was an oldish Jag at the nearby pumps and all tyres looked very soft, even with the car empty. The driver was obviously oblivious to this.

As I understand it that's what Derek is saying.

As I wanted to find out on another thread the 1.5 comes with rear disk brakes as standard, I'm with you as regards preference. It's the 1.0 that was offered with them as an upgrade option.

Good point and his (?) attitude is questionable.

I understand your frustration with nearly new and even new cars. The engines themselves seem to be pretty reliable now but everything else is so complicated that you are lucky to have a car last 10 years without major/expensive issues nevermind within the warranty period which is pretty damning of modern cars.

Not only VW Group unfortunately.

Great result. Low miles is worth a bit as well on a car that new. I tend to think that extras not adding much to the value came about because the trade wanted to get the car's as cheap as possible and is a ploy used to screw the seller down. Funny how they are more happy with a car that does have the desirable extras though and if it doesn't they give a lower price! You only have to look at second-hand car prices to see that extras do have a value! Anyway, academic though now and you've got what you want, enjoy it.

Same orange for Audi I think is Samoa Orange. My TT is 10 years old now and still looks good and there's not too much orange! I agree that it depends on the car. I think on an SUV it's too much but on a Fabia, especially a Colour Edition with the black roof it looks good. We have a Fabia coming soon which is in Race Blue which is nice and bright.

I had to smile at the fashion and ego comment as regards rear disc brakes, as if most folks would even notice them!

I dont know but from what I've read many manufacturers initially are going down the less intrusive route i.e. the warning and certainly in the UK it can be turned off each time you start the car. Good job given the unreliability of speed limit detection and inadequate signage.

Yes, there are delays for other manufacturers at ports abroad and in the UK and once in the UK there have been delays due to a shortage of drivers/transporters. Hope ours doesn't get delayed too much as due to be built towards the end of this month.

Yes, thats the trouble with using so many common parts over the different marques within VWG and the fact that some Skoda's are seen as nicer than their VW equivalents, there is little scope to market them more cheaply. I've mentioned before about speccing up a Karoq and it soon got to over £40k.! Had to smile at your glass palace showrooms - the Skoda dealer in Coventry has recently moved into a former Jaguar showroom - it's better than the same group's Audi dealer just up the road!

I hadn't either until the guy I bought a set of wheels off for my first XC40 gave me one. Those wheels are very heavy and an alignment tool would be essential for most of us. I'm 6 foot and nearly 15 stone with little fat but a few months over 70 now and have definitely noticed over the last 12 months or so that muscle has reduced and I think twice now about lifting and carrying things as am definitely weaker. I could probably manage the Fabia wheels Ok but wouldn't take the risk of not using an alignment tool now unlike when I was younger.

Not arguing with your observations Martin but when my wife test drove a Fabia with me in the back I didn't really notice that the interior was poor and I've had some quite expensive cars. Didn't look at any other cars as we like the look of the Fabia and Ibiza (gone off the Polo with the new corporate front end) and the relative simplicity of the engine, as many rivals have gone hybrid, and the intention is to keep the Fabia for a few years. Son's got a Mazda 2 and the interior is very nice in that but we wanted more space in the back and I've had many VWG cars over the years so I was being drawn to another one! I'm sure it will be fine for what we want it for.

What are you replacing it with?

Had a call from the dealer today and was told that the car is scheduled to be built mid -August and should be available for collection in September. That fits with what we were told when ordering in May so that's good.

I'm an Audi and Volvo driver but I'll let you off just this once! 🙂 Unfortunately drivers of many makes don't know how to use indicators and many drivers of German cars are very aggressive. Their ranks are being joined by powerful EV drivers. Anyway, enjoy being able to turn things off whilst you still can. I hate stop start as well and Collision Avoidance (with its false alerts and sudden braking). With my first XC40 my starting routine included turning them both off but with the new one I can't do that - partly due to it being a mild-hybrid with coasting function. The SS is better and quicker reacting as it uses a combined starter and generator but I'd still prefer to not have it. I get round it by using "Manual" which keeps the engine running or heel and toeing to restart the engine when coasting and wanting engine braking. In city driving I find it so annoying and frustrating with it's frequent and unnecessary operation. At least the Lane Assist isn't too intrusive as it just vibrates a warning rather than tugging the steering. As I mentioned elsewhere this was one of the attractions of the less complicated Fabia and still being able to turn off the SS is great!

I've got a few years on you at 70 but still riding motorbikes as well, can't beat it!

Thanks, that's good as I like the look of them. Stuck with the 16" as less vulnerable to kerb damage.

@Tintowellfan - do you drive something else as well as 800 miles is very low? We haven't ordered one for an exciting drive but just to do a job, did you expect more then? To be honest most modern cars are pretty boring to drive. One reason I've kept my 10 year old Audi TT roadster which does provide enjoyment.

Are those the 16" Proxima wheels? I'd already checked the configurater for the SE L and told the salesman I didn't want those horrible aero covers but he looked and said no they don't come with them. I didn't see any mention of them in the configurater and they aren't shown when building a car. If they do come with the car I will be telling them not to fit them and they will be going in the bin! Edit: Whilst posting I see that Willie says they have been dropped, thankfully!