Hello chaps,

New to the forum, but not new to the VAG world, I've had my trusted 1997 Passat TDI Sport (186k) for 3 years now and I'd love to replace it with a Skoda in the furture. I think the Octavia estate and Fabia estate are fantastic cars, I especially like the look of the Octavia, but I'm also drawn to the PD engine in the Fabia. The engine in the non PD Octavia is virtually identically to my Passat engine, same torque, bhp, displacement, fuel pump etc so I'm wondering whether it would be enough of an upgrade (although £120 road tax & insurance group 7 compared with £185 road tax & insurance group 12 certainly is!)

I suppose I really need to drive both before I decide, has anyone driven both engines? I expect the PD engine to be a little more punchy and pokey drive? The Octavia is great as it shares so many parts with the Golf Mk4 and I see from pics on the forum that someone has popped a lovely Golf interior into their car. With the Fabia being so light, I would assume its pretty nippy and fun to drive. Also, it must be the most understated and overlooked PD engine out of the entire VAG range?! Obviously not here, as we all know what great cars they are.

Feel free to sway me either way, I want to know what you guys think of these 2 models, if there are any members local to Southampton or Swindon that wouldn't mind me having a look around their cars, that would be great too!

Actually, a Fabia isn't that light . A vRS is about 1.3T.

Which engines are you asking about? Is it the new CR one in the Octavia, and a PD105 Fabia, or are you not looking at new cars?

Sorry I should have made that clear, not looking at new ones, I'm looking at cars from 2001 to around 2003. I meant that the Fabia is light compared with most estates and certainly lighter than my Passat and the Octavia.

Octavia Big car, Fabia Little car. You can't compare them.

As for the Fabia VRS, yes its the same PD130 unit across the VAG range.

The Fabia at 1250kilos is heavier than the Mk4 Golf PD1301160kilos surprisingly.

As you say, to be a you'll have to have test drives to find the one you want.

Remember, Skoda make Happy Drivers and are full of Lovely Stuff.

I understand that they are different sizes and therefore is difficult to compare, although, the Octavia estate is shorter than my Passat saloon. Check out these stats;

Octavia Estate TDI 110 8v 1435 kg

235 Nm -173 lb-ft (torque)

4513 mm length

MPG 53

Insurance group 7

143g/km £120

Passat TDI 110 (1997) 8v 1415 kg

235 Nm – 173 lb-ft

4669 mm length

MPG 51

Insurance group 11 (Group 12 for Sport Model)

143g/km £185

Not even goin to look at the vRS, way out of my price range for now.

The Octavia is shorter than the Passat because it is a different floorpan. Octavia is same floorpan as a Golf, Leon, A3. The Superb is the same as Passat but no estate version available. So looks like an Octavia Estate for you.