Hi,

I'm looking at changing my fabia as the warranty is out in a few weeks time and was all geared up to buy a new shape fiesta. When i was picking the fabia 1 up from the workshop today i thought i'd pop into sales just on the off chance something caught my eye. Low and behold the fabia 3 did. I'm looking at it in white with the 1.4 engine (petrol). Its very reasonable a month for whats included but lower in spec compared to the fiesta or so it feels but it is £45 a month cheaper. What do any new fabia owners think to their cars? or could someone give me a real life review

Ben

I've got the 1.2 level 2 Fabia. Which I think is a great car for the money, its very spacious and comfy. It also feels really well built. Had two Mk1 Fabia's and in nearly all respects the new one is an improvement, possibly the looks aren't as resolved but beauty is in the eye of the beholder. True it won't handle anywhere near as well as a Fiesta as it can roll about a bit if you push on, but at least it doesn't have a gimicky interior which will look dated in a few years I think. Level 3 should be good with the extra goodies like climatic and maxidot, I also think that bright colours really suit the shape. Take it for a test drive and see what you think if your going from a vrs to a 1.4 you will notice the power difference although the 1.4 is supposed to be very refined.

I've got the 1.2 level 2 Fabia. Which I think is a great car for the money, its very spacious and comfy. It also feels really well built. Had two Mk1 Fabia's and in nearly all respects the new one is an improvement, possibly the looks aren't as resolved but beauty is in the eye of the beholder. True it won't handle anywhere near as well as a Fiesta as it can roll about a bit if you push on, but at least it doesn't have a gimicky interior which will look dated in a few years I think. Level 3 should be good with the extra goodies like climatic and maxidot, I also think that bright colours really suit the shape. Take it for a test drive and see what you think if your going from a vrs to a 1.4 you will notice the power difference although the 1.4 is supposed to be very refined.

Whats maxidot? Yeh im ready for the power drop but priorities have changed. Fiesta interior i quite like but i like the idea of heated seats again and climate control. Fiesta has quickclear though which is a bonus.

Maxidot is the oblong panel inbetween the clocks on the dash , in the Fabia mk1 it just has warning lights there , but in the Fabia Mk2 level 3 this is LCD screen that gives you time , outside temp , mpg ect.

As Dmac says its just the screen for info but you also get a dial for coolant temp and fuel rather than a light or lcd version, doesn't bother me but I know it does to some people. It just depends on which you like better, Fiesta would be more for style and drive. But Fabia for comfort and practicality. The other thing is cost the Fiesta looks really expensive even base models are approaching top spec Fabia moeny which is just silly, think the list price is starting from £11.5k, rofl. Quickclear has its appeals but be warned on a rainny night or if you wear glasses it can be a bit of a pain. Agree with the heated seats, wish I had them but bought mine as an ex-demo. Might be worth waiting until some of the facelift fabia's arrive and see if you could get a good deal on a 1.2 TSi which shouldn't be quite such a drop in performance.

Ben, the Fiesta is a good car. I had the new Fiesta for our business and as has been said, for what they are they are expensive. However, the quality of the Fiesta compared to the Skoda is also a bit of a mute point for me. The Fiesta had lots of problems including paint, electrics, water leaks, and gearbox trouble. Compare it to my Skoda from new...problems zero! (well, just a slightly discoloured boot badge and an 'A' pillar cosmetic seal replaced). We used to buy Fiats for our business and they were just dreadful with much the same problems as the Fords. I find the Skoda (mine's the estate), handles just fine.

As Dmac says its just the screen for info but you also get a dial for coolant temp and fuel rather than a light or lcd version, doesn't bother me but I know it does to some people. It just depends on which you like better, Fiesta would be more for style and drive. But Fabia for comfort and practicality. The other thing is cost the Fiesta looks really expensive even base models are approaching top spec Fabia moeny which is just silly, think the list price is starting from £11.5k, rofl. Quickclear has its appeals but be warned on a rainny night or if you wear glasses it can be a bit of a pain. Agree with the heated seats, wish I had them but bought mine as an ex-demo. Might be worth waiting until some of the facelift fabia's arrive and see if you could get a good deal on a 1.2 TSi which shouldn't be quite such a drop in performance.

Ahh yes I forgot that , when you order Maxidot on a Mk2 fabia , you get a proper coolant temp gauge insted of just a temp warning light.

I was concerned that the 1.2 fabia might be a bit slow..I needent have worried ! we got the 70hp bigblock version and its amazingly quick for what it is. and being a three cylinder i was very worried it might sound like those dreadfull corsa's.

I'd reccomend one having a go in the 70hp version..its good.

I looked at a new fiesta, there nice, cars but! I perfer my skoda, and thats why I own one

Looked at the Fabia, looked at a Clio, Looked again at the Fabia, looked at a Fiesta, looked AGAIN at the Fabia, looked at a Hiundia(?) i10, looked again at the Fabia. looked at a Mitsubish Colt, again, looked at the Fabia. Everytime I looked at something else, I came back to the Fabia. This was for giving driving instruction in and occasonal personal use. in the end, I got a Fabia Greenline.... not regretted it yet!

Looked at the Fabia, looked at a Clio, Looked again at the Fabia, looked at a Fiesta, looked AGAIN at the Fabia, looked at a Hiundia(?) i10, looked again at the Fabia. looked at a Mitsubish Colt, again, looked at the Fabia. Everytime I looked at something else, I came back to the Fabia.

Pretty much the same here. The Fabia beats the lot. (Although if a new Mk.1 were still available with the 1.2tsi engine, I would still go for that.)