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.

At the risk of being controversial I do have SOME sympathy with people who don't wish to increase their already SCANDALOUS car insurance premiums by making a claim. You would be relying on them (a complete stranger) to be completely honest though. That's for you to decide.

Thanks irfant. I did see that but had seen conflicting info elsewhere. I think that article is probably correct though. Just read the Autocar test of the new Ibiza and it's reasonable to conclude that WHATEVER underpinnings the Ibiza uses, they aren't significantly better than the ones the Fabia uses, anyway. So no worries there.

Howdy, This article in Autocar seems to have sparked a bit of a debate as to whether the new Fabia is based on the VAG PQ24 platform (current Fabia, Ibiza and Polo) or the new PQ25 platform (new Ibiza and forthcoming new Polo). Common sense and everything I have read about the new Fabia up to now suggests it's the PQ25, but Autocar's Industry Editor said the new Fabia is actually based on the PQ24 platform (see the blog section attached to the article). So which is it? :confused: Seat Ibiza SportCoupe 1.4 - Road Test First Drive - Autocar.co.uk

I read the same thing on Honest John. People may or may not agree with this but here's the article. Bear in mind a PD diesel doesn't rev as high as most modern ones! Honestjohn: Frequently Asked Questions

We should also bear in mind that the arrival of the mk2 will have pushed values of the mk1 down a bit. I was pricing up an 05 or 55 1.2 Ambiente for my Grandad the other day as was surprised how cheap some of them were in main dealers.

Well mine is a PD 100, not a vRS. Had done 16k when I aquired it. Between 16k and 26k it used a litre and then between 26k and 36k it used another litre. Apparently that's well within tolerance (and it's not leaking or smoking) but I would have expected much lower oil use then that. Oh and it's driven fairly gently!

Well my other local Skoda main dealer agrees with my point of view and quoted me £101 for an oil change service. I told them the whole service history of the car and they assured me I only needed the oil change service. Wonder how many people look at the book before they get their car serviced? Deary me...

Hi All, I did a quick search but I'm at work, and a bit stressed out. My question is this. I do 20,000 miles a year and have my car serviced in the middle of the year and at the end. According to my handbook, oil change is 15,000 km or 1 year, inspection service is 30,000 km or 1 year. I had an inspection in December last year so I assumed the service I am due now would be a bit cheaper because I would not be due another inspection service until December. Have just been told I have to have the full works which will cost £245, despite my protests. Who is right - me or the dealer?

Does it have a ball instead of wheels so it goes round corners better?

Yes. Jeremy Clarkson said the engine in question was a refined as falling down a flight of stairs or something similar, but I have read good things about it in Autocar and What Car. I'd like to try for myself, but I'm a PD 100 man to be honest. At least until diesel is so expensive only footballers can afford to drive diesel cars. :(