Well after some umm’s and ahh’s I managed to get her indoors to make a decision about her 10 year old Fabia 1.4 16v. Basically she had to make her mind up between either selling it or keeping her fingers crossed and running it until it drops. (She has previous form on that – the previous car she had was a Passat estate she ran 17 years from new before it was p/exd!).

So with a copy of What Car to hand we make a short list. Only 18 cars on it! Few too many I think. So, by a process close to alchemy (and probably just as reliable) it comes down to a Hyundai i20, VW Polo or Skoda Fabia.

Had high hopes of the Polo and it is What Car Supermini of 2010. But their own road test is critical of the basic 1.2 engines as noisy and underpowered, and a test drive confirms this. The Polo 1.2 TSI seemed a better bet but the prices start at nearly £15K, and the Drive the Deal price is almost £14K. Too expensive I felt.

The Hyundai i20 was very good. Aggressive pricing and 5 year warranty is attractive. Additionally a £2k minimum trade in deal is available up to end of July. Engine is quite good (but not as good as the TSI) but the gearbox change is a little vague. You also have to kmake sure you can live with the front seat head restraints - some owners can't seem to get comfortable with them due to their shape (they are active head restraints). The cabin is a bit spartan and plasticky particularly compared to the VW, but then it is almost £5K cheaper. Problem is getting one at the moment unless it is the really basic Classic spec. Dealer says the higher spec ones (the Comfort) are walking out of the door at present, and I can readily understand why.

So back to good old Skoda. Off we trot to our local dealer. As I suspected - big mistake. Salesman ignores us. Admittedly he was trying to explain (badly) what a common rail engine was to a prospect buyer of a Roomster when we arrived. But when he took the guy out for a test drive he totally blanked us and left the showroom. The showroom was then left empty – not a person in sight. After waiting for 5 minutes for somebody to arrive we also left. There was a very nice Superb Estate in the showroom so I thought about having a hunt for the keys and having it away, but my wife told me that isn’t done in respectable circles. So I didn’t.

After yesterdays fiasco its almost back to the Hyundai man but this morning off we went to a different Skoda dealer who supplied my Octavia last year. I’m personally not 100% sure about the looks of thre Fabia, but it’s not my car, and the build quality appears nearly as good as her old Fabia. They offered a good discount and p/ex price straight off so we bought a 1.2 TSI (85) SE. The only minor downside is that she couldn’t get the colour she wanted (white) ex stock, and the dealer was quoting 16-22 weeks delivery at the moment depending upon spec. The one we got is on the boat that arrives shortly (or has already arrived?) at Grimsby. So should be here in about 2 weeks.

So the deed is done. I just hope she enjoys her TSI when it arrives and that it lasts as long as her last car. It better had – otherwise I will be the one in trouble!

One other point. Whilst browsing the ships and depot manifests for unsold Fabias I noticed that a very high percentage of them are already fitted with the spare wheel option. I was expecting the same charade I had with my Octavia last year (which was also supplied ex stock) which did not come with a spare and where I had a right old job to get one. Could it be that Skoda might, at last, be half listening to their customers over this issue?

It's a great little car as we pick ours up on Saturday and love it already, we too had a Mk1 1.4 16v as yourselfs and i prefer this new one, especially when the turbo kicks in.

We wanted a white one and told 12 week wait so we got a black one.

You won't be dissapointed in it believe me.

22 week wait? Ffs! What colour did you end up going for then?

The longest delivery times are for the 1.2 TSI DSG it seems.

But even requiring something simple like a White one takes about 12 weeks at the moment - others on this forum have reported similar.

She got a metallic silver one which was on the boat in the end.

Difficult to believe there is a recession on isn't it ?

Edited 13 July, 201015 yr by Minimoke

It sure is , I would want White , Corrida Red with White roof or Sprint Yellow if I was ordering , seems a waste of tim eto order now tho as the whole summer will be away before I get it , I hope the VAT free offer continues next year! Having said that , im still considering a Mk1 vRS SE Fabia , a Mk 2 pre FL Octy vRS , or I could keep my Mk1 Fabia for a while...I havent got a clue what to do , as The Sweet once said!

Funnily enough there was an unallocated Red TSi 85 SE with White roof on the same boat.

Sure is a difficult decision over whether to change or not, but ours is 10 years old and getting to that age........

But she is in good condition, recently had a cam belt change and new tyres, and has an MOT to June next year so I think it will make a cracking little motor for somebody as long as nothing major breaks. At least she has avoided being scrapped!

The longest delivery times are for the 1.2 TSI DSG it seems.

But even requiring something simple like a White one takes about 12 weeks at the moment - others on this forum have reported similar.

She got a metallic silver one which was on the boat in the end.

Difficult to believe there is a recession on isn't it ?

Congrats on the new purchase.

Guess what we have on order? A 1.2TSI DSG....... Mid-May ordered and fingers crossed for September so that will be in the region of 14-16 weeks.

Funnily enough there was an unallocated Red TSi 85 SE with White roof on the same boat.

Sure is a difficult decision over whether to change or not, but ours is 10 years old and getting to that age........

But she is in good condition, recently had a cam belt change and new tyres, and has an MOT to June next year so I think it will make a cracking little motor for somebody as long as nothing major breaks. At least she has avoided being scrapped!

Shame its not a 105 LOL..... My Fabia is 10 years old too , only 50K on it tho and its not got a cambelt (mpi so chain) , it still cleans up really well and everyone says it cant be 10 years old! Thats why Im in a but of a dilemma , I reckon with a bit of TLC I could get another 5 years out of her , but I really like the FL Elegance.....

from a tsi elegance owner i can promise you guys you'll love it !

As another Elegance owner may I second the above Brilliant little car best of luck with yours

Are there any noticeable performance differences in terms of torque between 105 and 85 tsi engines?

Edited 14 July, 201015 yr by theone23

I've not tried the 105 but on paper it has a 9% better max torque figure than the 85. How this translates onto the road I cannot say.

I found the really telling difference is with the 1.2 12V 70. The 85TSi produces over 40% more max torque than the 12V, whilst the 105TSi produces over 50% more. And the torque curve also seems flatter on the TSi engines.

The 12V engines I test drove on the Polo certainly seemed flat to me compared to both 85 amd 105 TSi versions. But I was doing the test drive on behalf of my wife, and I usually drive a 2.0 PD 140 so maybe my torque "expectations" are somewhat distorted!

Edited 14 July, 201015 yr by Minimoke

I find the TSI's drive more like a diesel than a petrol! It starts off a little flat, then you get a big slug of torque that just goes on and on, it's great!

Elegance spec = WIN