Hello

We are about to change our 2001 1.4 skoda hatchback for either a fabia 1.2 tsi 105 hatchback or estate and are dithering! We know we prefer the petrol engine having tested both diesel and petrol, and we only do about 6000 miles a year.

Firstly, what is the 1.2 Tsi 105 engine like for towing? - we tow a fairly small folding caravan and our current car is OK for this, but could do with a bit more power.

Also, mostly the hatchback is perfect size for us, but for the odd camping or ikea trip an estate might be best. Does the estate drive much differently to the hatchback?

Would really appreciate replies as we only have a couple more days to take advantage of the no VAT offer!

Thanks

Quite a few people have had doubts about this engine in the much larger Yeti but have come away with nothing but praise. In the big blunt Yeti body the engine suffers from high fuel consumption when you do sustained high motorway speeds, or have the car fully loaded. But in general use it copes well and would I suspect be even better in the lighter Fabia. Remember this engine might be a 1,2 but really has the power and charcter of an old style 1,6. But this review here I think sums up the engine nicely (albeit in a Yeti):

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/156883-nice-review-of-the-12-tsi-at-autocarcouk/

Can't help re the Estate vs Hatch part. You might need to rather post your query in the relevant Fabia forum:

http://briskoda.net/forums/forum/113-skoda-fabia-ii/

Thanks for the reply. I re-posted this in the forum you suggest with some good replies there too. The review is really helpful too. I test drove the Fabia hatch with the 1.2 tsi 105 engine and it was great fun. Didn't test drive the estate, but if the engine copes well in a Yeti then it must be fine for this.

I hope you get your Yeti soon. We drove one of those too, and it was fantastic, just too large for what we need.

Pleasure Skodonian. I saw the other thread and the replies. I think you won't go wrong with either bodyshape, but personally I like scarcer cars (like the Yeti) and thus think!you should go for the quirky estate!