hi guys just thinking iam on my secound fabia sport my fisrt one was from nottingham and this one from bilston westmidlands mite go for the estate next time

but do all skoda oweners think the same as me ive look at other cars like suzukis fords vaxhalls mmm audis then back to skodas for is price

good dealer. local and most of all realiabilty i don't like having to much on the old nock whot does everbody else think or is it just me thanks pete

hi guys just thinking iam on my secound fabia sport my fisrt one was from nottingham and this one from bilston westmidlands mite go for the estate next time

but do all skoda oweners think the same as me ive look at other cars like suzukis fords vaxhalls mmm audis then back to skodas for is price

good dealer. local and most of all realiabilty i don't like having to much on the old nock whot does everbody else think or is it just me thanks pete

Hi Pete, it all depends what you are looking for. As Far as small 'super mini' cars go my view is that the little Skoda is right up there when you consider value for money but obviously as it's been around in Mk 11 form since 2007 there are more 'modern' cars out there. Personally I like the way the Skoda is put together and remains 'simple' yet adequate in every sense. Price and reliability are indeed it's strong point and although there are much cheaper options like the proton Savvy, believe me you don't want to go there. It's usually the badge snobs who discount the Skoda, to their cost!!

Hi Pete, it all depends what you are looking for. As Far as small 'super mini' cars go my view is that the little Skoda is right up there when you consider value for money but obviously as it's been around in Mk 11 form since 2007 there are more 'modern' cars out there. Personally I like the way the Skoda is put together and remains 'simple' yet adequate in every sense. Price and reliability are indeed it's strong point and although there are much cheaper options like the proton Savvy, believe me you don't want to go there. It's usually the badge snobs who discount the Skoda, to their cost!!

Never buy the 1st of a new range of cars, the MKII Fabia being out for three years has had most problems ironed out. I've waited and waited, the Yeti came out but went upmarket with it's pricing with the extras, so went for another Fabia.

Price with extras, reliablity, nothing came close and a test drive sealed the deal for me.

No I am in the same position as you, did very little thinking when we changed from our Fabia II hatch to estate. Didn't look at any rival makes at all.

The Mk2 Fabia has been a 'Which Best Buy'...and gotta agree it's build and reliability are second to none. Skoda came second from top by the smallest of margins imagineable to Lexus in the JD Power 2008 Manufacturers Survey. That and the fact that almost every other survey and mag at the time was saying it's cars are brilliant said it all. They seem to be continuing that 'doing well' theme now too.

Having had two Renaults, a brilliant "MK1" Scenic and an awful Modus, I cant remember the reason I decided on an Octavia. I guess it was the solid dependable engineering of a VAGroup car without the cost of a VW

After nearly 40k of nearly reliable motoring, I decided I no longer needed the space of the Octavia, but needed the boot space for the dog. The VAT Free offer was the big swinging factor in the decision on a new, rather than secondhand car.

I did briefly consider a Kia Cee`d, then started reading about "build quality" issues and thats very important to me, so decided on a Fabia Estate which I paid £12k for.

And thats a bargain for a car with the same engine as a Golf or A3!! So no, I didnt really consider another make. However if I had the money, Id buy a Merc.....

Regards

Grahame

And thats a bargain for a car with the same engine as a Golf or A3!! So no, I didnt really consider another make. However if I had the money, Id buy a Merc.....

Regards

Grahame

Well you would need the money to run a Merc, their service costs are very high, & dealer customer service is shocking.( ask any Smart owner who tries to get their cars serviced, Merc & Smart are same dealer / service locations)

Mercs!! Been there done that...Brand new SEC500 with the V8. Lovely but very very poor build quality, leaked water all the time and was unreliable. BMW!! Been there, new 5 series...build quality better but not up to much with loads of poor quality fittings and electrical problems aplenty and of all things loads of corrosion coming through the paint. Got fed up with it. You'd think by paying the sort of money Merc and BMW ask you'd get a decent car...but not necessarily!

Three years ago I was recommended by my brother in law to purchase a Fabia vRS (as a Ford fan through and through it took a lot to part with my focus but glad I did) then when we wanted a bigger car for the bikes I considered a roomster but in the end bought a C-Max which broke 11 months later, needless to say I was back in a Skoda within the week, there is something about the Skoda Brand which appeals to me it's price and their friendly dealers and the fact that I can't fault my Skoda either, looking forward to at least 3 years motoring with this Fabia then who knows which model of Skoda I will get next.

Davy

Yup, im now on my 5th Skoda and working at my second Skoda dealer

hi guys just thinking iam on my secound fabia sport my fisrt one was from nottingham and this one from bilston westmidlands mite go for the estate next time

but do all skoda oweners think the same as me ive look at other cars like suzukis fords vaxhalls mmm audis then back to skodas for is price

good dealer. local and most of all realiabilty i don't like having to much on the old nock whot does everbody else think or is it just me thanks pete

You are bang on mate, Ive owned a mk1 Fab estate then a Roomster Scout, and after a brief affair with a C3 Picasso returned to Skoda with a Fabia Hatch.

I could not really fault the Citroen, it had all the toys but I just wasn't happy in it. I've not stopped smiling since buying the Fabia, its great to be back!

Interesting to hear about the Mercs reliability......Seriously Id only buy a Merc if id won the lottery or can into a serious amount of cash and then only buy new or nearly new.....Or a 1968 300SEL 6.3 Convertable....

Ive never consider spending new Fabia money on a secondhand Merc because I know I couldnt afford to run it!

Regards

Grahame

Interesting to hear about the Mercs reliability......Seriously Id only buy a Merc if id won the lottery or can into a serious amount of cash and then only buy new or nearly new.....Or a 1968 300SEL 6.3 Convertable....

Ive never consider spending new Fabia money on a secondhand Merc because I know I couldnt afford to run it!

Regards

Grahame

Mercs and BMW's are in a different league but as Estate Man says, the build quality is sometimes not what you'd expect. My last car was a BMW E39 5 series. Absolutely fantastic car and when new these were hailed the best car in the world. Whilst I had no issues with mine, the BMW forums are littered with people having problems with Radiators, Waterpumps, Thermostats Head gaskets, instrument panel, sensors etc., and all expensive items to replace. Yes, they are a pleasure to drive, second to none IMHO but they are definitely more suited to Lottery winners.I used to find myself considering the fuel cost before every journey. Had a Merc 190E 2.6 also and they were the last 'true' Mercs to be built. When the C class was taken to South Africa to be built it all went downhill in the quality stakes.I enjoyed the experience but am glad to be back to my sensible little Fabia!!

Edited 2 January, 201115 yr by horkin

Well I have to say my Fabia is my second Skoda, the first being a clapped out Estelle many years ago now.

Why Skoda, ah well it really is a Toyota Prius, the wife an I were quite keen on the Toyota but a bit concerned over the boot space. Reading reviews etc lead me to the Honda Insight, Golf Bluemotion and in the review of the Golf it said take a look at the Skoda Fabia. The Fabia ticked all the correct boxes and was £5000 less than the Golf a bargain.

My second experience has been a bit mixed, my local dealer tried to give me a stupid trade in price and told me they were doing me a good deal.

Got the car ordered from someone else and delivered i 12 weeks - my local dealer did not get a Greenline II in until mid December 5-6 months from delivery. Then ah I have a problem and have to take the car to my local dealer,

the service department are very good, after nearly a month of driving a Zafira I got my Fabia back with a new engine.

Will I get another? Probably

This is my 5th Skoda, and after a time away it was very easy to get back into one.

I've had:

Mk1 Octavia 1.6 - brilliant, if thirstier than I expected, ran for 2.5 years and 59K miles, no problems.

Mk1 Octavia 1.9 TDI - just as good as the first one, but better economy. Rear-ended after 1 year. Subsequently repaired (excellent job!) and traded in, last I heard it was living in the North East and does a trip to the south of France each year.

Mk1 Fabia vRS - really loved this car, should have kept it far longer than I did.

Mk1 Fabia 1.2 Sport - bit of a mistake really, too slow and I just couldn't love it.

Mk2 Fabia 1.2 TSI - I'm loving this one as much as the vRS.

In between the Sport and the TSI I had:

Suzuki Swift 1.5 - fun to drive if not as refined. No problems.

Suzuki Swift Sport - LOTS of fun to drive, but electrical issues.

Hyundai Coupe SIII - Best car I've owned to date, gutted to have to give it up due to running costs.

Right now I see no reason not to stay with Skoda for my next car too, it will take quite something to tempt me away again.