Optimist

Well done Kev. Looks like we're both happy with our decisions regardless of the sceptics. Many thanks everyone for your inputs. Looks like I need to transfer to the VW forums then?

Yep, everyone's happy and I'm bored now!

Actually, the VW would have been just over £26000 without discounts and comparing like with like specifications, the Skoda would be just over £19000 without discounts so I'm afraid you're wrong Furbytom, the VW IS £7000 dearer making the Fabia a good deal! Assuming the discounts received on the VW were matched by Skoda, then the price difference would still be £7000. I don't call £7000 uncomfortably close, depending on which figures you use, it's at least 27% dearer.

Thanks Kev, and sorry for the typo errors. Of course I meant 1.6Tdi (not 1.9) and at the end Fabia Estate (God knows what a Fania Edtste is - but it sounds a bit fruity!!!)

Well said Kev. I feel a little bit of a fraud now as today I have agreed to a new VW Golf SV 1.9 Tdi 110PS. DSG. I re-visited the showroom with SWMBO and once again thought I'd like one BUT over £4000 dearer. However, to cut a long story short I got £2500 off as part of their Feb deals. They included free metallic paint, front and rear parking sensors, free GAP cover (VWs own version), free 3 years servicing, Williams F1 Paint Protection AND they offered me £2000 MORE as a part exchange on my Audi A1. What could I say - yes please done and dusted. I STILL feel the Fabia Estate fully loaded with extras is a great deal BUT I think the VW will give a better residual value. So, search is over and I am delighted. Good luck to all you Fania Edtste folks, I'm sure it will be a great car.

Yep, it is deffo available on the Estate: Removeable towball is a £410 extra. AND you can now get the panoramic glass roof on the estate for £725.

Why would I knock off the extras I want???? When you put those "extras:" on ALL the other cars that have been recommended as alternatives on here, the prices are WAY above those of the Fabia Estate,hence my original entry. Someone suggested the Ford Focus ST Estate - I'm 67 and the wife is 65, why would we want a car that hase 250hp and does 154 mph?????? I was trying to compare like with like re-size, capacity, cost of extras etc. NOT looking for a track car (estate)! The whole point of my comparison was to show the Fabia Estate WITH those extras was so much cheaper than all the other with the same - or even fewer extras. I have looked at what was suggested and I am still not convinced there is a better package available WITH a fully loaded "extras plan"! I admit I have yet to test drive the car - I've only checked it over on the forecourt - I am a bit concerned about the comments about it sounding like a tractor - I was assured by the salesperson they were all a lot quieter than the Mk IIs, both petrol and diesel. The car we are changing from is a 2011 1.6 Audi A1 - a beautifully built small car, but that IS like a tractor until you're out on the motorway! A new one of those (which would be too small and defeats the aim of more space) is AT LEAST £20600 and doesn't include a towball, turning fog lights, spare wheel, etc etc. AND there is no estate option.

Yep! Practicality and convenience with economy. NONE of the cars mentioned by others can match the mpg of the Fabia 1.4 Tdi 90PS. Mind you, I haven't made my mind up yet - still researching and hoping that whichever one I prefer is OK with SWMBO. Thanks for the suggestions though. I will check out all.

OK. That's your opinion. Just check out the specs though, including fuel economy - I'm not as mental as you might think!

Bluecar1 I think you'll find I was comparing similar sized vehicles - check the physical dimensions and boot volumes etc. Also, I didn't mention the Kia Rio at all. However, I still believe my comparisons are sufficient to show the value for money of the Fabia Estate. Having in the last 10 years owned a VW Tiguan, a Merc C class and M class, , a Volvo S60 and V50, a Kia Sorento and a Skoda Superb, I am in an informed position to be able to assess build quality, practicality and value for money! I appreciate that some finance schemes are questionable, especially in these times of low interest rates and I sympathise with those who feel the Skoda Scheme is questionable, but that's all about financing the purchase, not a criticism of the merchandise. I know this thread started about financing, so rather than press on I'll say no more. Love the forum though - always very interesting and informative.

This is all very interesting and informative BUT having spent ages researching the options for replacing my wife's 4-year old Audi A1 with a small car with loads of luggage space (seats up or seats down), with an annual mileage of well over 12,000 and pricing out the "reasonable" option, I have considered: Petrol v Diesel Manual v DSG (or DCT) Hatchback or Estate Physical size Residual values Basic specs and cost of desired options Design features Aesthetic appearance AND looking at: Kia Ceed (Hatchback and SW) Hyundai i30 BMW Series 2 Active Tourer (what a lovely car!) VW Golf SV Skoda Fabia Estate Volvo V40 Merc A class etc (i.e. a range of manufacturers) I have costed up a Fabia SE-L 1.4 Tdi 90PS DSG - £18,385 PLUS Panoramic roof £725 Detachable towball £410 Sunset glass £180 Desired paintwork £175 Cornering foglights £130 Variable boot floor £110 Front and rear parking sensors £290 Space-saving spare wheel £85 - the overall cost is £20490, that's - £7500 cheaper than a BMW; over £6000 cheaper than an Audi A3; £5000 cheaper than a Volvo; £4000 cheaper than a VW Golf SV; £2400 cheaper than a Golf Hatchback; £2000 cheaper than either Kia or Hyundai, AND none of these others include Panoramic Sunroof or detachable towballl!!!!!!! I think its time some of you guys got real - times change, prices go up, demand increases prices, improving reputation increases prices, improved technology increases prices etc etc. I have viewed ALL the above cars and test driven most of them - and I STILL think the Skoda Fabia Estate DSG looks a no-brainer compared to the others. But no doubt many of you will disagree so feel free to put me right!

That seems odd. My last two cars had SatNavs and Blutooth (Skoda then Kia) and both linked to the iPhone no probs. or is Mirrorlink something more complex? What is AppleCar anyway?

I Just hope they quickly make mirrorlink work with the iPhones! Seems a bit of a let down that it doesn't from the word GO!

HI again folks. Hudson1, as far as I could tell when I viewed the Estate for real, the back seats did not lift up as you wished they did, but the squabs did go more horizontal when the headrests were raised before lowering the squab. Stug45, the configurator is rubbish - it only allows one choice of engine and not all the options are there. The saleslady I saw showed me the printout from Skoda which confirmed you can now order the sunroof and a detachable towbar for the estate - just no prices, but expected to be similar if not the same as for the hatchback.. There was one other option that is now available but I forget what it was - wife thinks it was to do with the roofbars! (Old age creeping in again) - me that is, not her! I just wish the more powerful diesel (105PS) was available with DSG - God knows why its only available with the 90PS engine - hey ho! I'm hoping SWMBO will agree to us ordering one for September 1st but she's a bit focussed on the new Audi Q2 promised for sometime in 2016. Probably about £8000 more!!!!!