I'm looking to buy a new Fabia, my options are:

1.4 16v (100bhp)

1.4 comfort TDi (75bhp)

vRS

I'm looking for advice (user reviews) from people with experience of these models. My wife is nervous of the vRS, because of its power and gearbox, and believes its not suitabily for a family of four. she favours the TDi for its economy (treehunging values) . I favour the vRS and believe she would have little problem ajusting to the car. If we can't agree on the vRS my preferred option would be the 1.4 16v.

Anybody got an advice.....I obviously want the vRS

The 1.4 TDi would be my choice. Drives much nicer than the vRS IMHO, and the 1.4 16v is neither especially fast nor especially economical...

Best advice would be to drive all of them and then decide though!

Rob.

TDi...

unless you want the grunt.. suspect it would chip to 100bhp anyway... ad be pretty quick....

Another for the TDi here.

I assume that the 1.4 100bhp petrol engine is the same as my wifes Ibiza Sport - and that goes well enough but is nothing special (and certainly not very exciting).

The 75TDi goes quite well even in stock form - everyday driving will not be that different from the petrol 1.4 and you'll have much better economy.

RS is a good car but if you use it as a family car I can see you getting very stressed with the abuse it will take in every day life (supermarket car parks, kids spilling things on those nice white seats etc). You never know though if you get your wife into one maybe she will love it as well since they are so easy to drive - then she'll be the one giving the grief to kids and parking at the far end of car parks

Go for the vRS - just because it has a bit more power doesn't mean you're going to suddenly come a cropper the first time you drive it. (As it's the "newest addition" to the fabia family it's safety features might be best for a family?)

1.4 16v is fine although not as quick as the vRS Fuel economy on it will suck compared to any diesel.

It's got to be the 1.4 TDi for me, good performance and crazy economy!

The 16v petrol motor is all revs and the vRS is probably a bit "full on" for just shopping trolley use.

Thanks for the advice guys (don't stop....keep it coming).

1.4 TDi.....vRS....14 TDi.....vRS. Got a headache now

So the TDi has good economy and performance. The vRS needs a can of scotchguard..I can live with that , besides the kids can walk . It'll work off all the crap they eat

If you buy the 1.4 TDi, will you not find yourself thinking "if only I'd got that vRS" a few months along the line? Or is it simply for a runabout in town?

Another vote for the TDi.. driven all three for many many miles, it has the balance and nimbleness of the lower powered cars, but with enough torque and "go" to make it fun.

Any reason why you ruled out the 1.9TDI 100bhp model? I have one of these in Elegance trim and it's got plenty of grunt, and can be chipped above standard vRS bhp figures if desired

Chris

Havn't considered the 1.9TDi, another addition to the list . The 1.4TDi is looking good (bugger ). The car will be a on the whole general runaround, but will spend weekends/holidays running around UK & Europe (as far as Poland). I've just turned 40 so I'm looking for a bit of fun, fed up of being sensible hence the vRS option. The car is replacing a 36000 mile L reg Favorit

The 1.4TDi uses an newish design, and has an aluminium block which is considerably lighter so making the car less nose heavy.

That said, the Elegance has some nice toys which might make it nicer for long distance travelling...

Oh, and the Fabia vRS still falls into the "sensible" category!

Rob.

I'll add another recommendation for the 1.9 TDI

More suited to long journeys than the 1.4 but still very economical and driver friendly

The 1.4TDi uses an newish design' date=' and has an aluminium block which is considerably lighter so making the car less nose heavy.

Rob.[/quote']

I agree with Rob. Although being a VRS owner, the lightweight alloy, 3 cylinder diesel engine is so light the car feels more nimble than the VRS and still has the added benefit of diesel torque, gearing and economy. I'd love my good lady to have one as our second car to the VRS

[COUGH] another 1.9 TDI owner here :wave: my engine's feeling a little left out. (unlike my other engine which is literally OUT...)