Hi,

i have just ordered my very first Skoda,a 1.6 crdi 75 Fabia hatchback.However,after reading some of the letters in this forum,I am beginning to wonder if i have made a mistake.I mainly use my car for short journeys around town,and the occasional long journey at weekends,and my current car,a Ford Fiesta 1.4 hdi,drives perfectly,around town,as did my last car,a Renault Modus 1.5 diesel.People in this forum seem to be suggesting that the Fabia diesel does not like short, stop start journey's,and is more suitable for longer motorway driving.Also,there seems to be a few people moaning about the mpg from the 1.6 diesel engine.In the Ford,Im not getting anyway near the advertised mpg,but i do average around 52 in town,and my Renault returned similar figures too,but people on here are saying that are only getting in the low 40's.If that is the case,then i might reconsider the Skoda,and go back to Renault,although I was very impressed with the Skoda.Is there anyone on here who owns a Fabia 1.6 diesel,75bps,who can tell me of their experiences with this car please?

If you are using it for shory journeys around town then you could be in trouble. The new diesels all have DPFs fitted which dont like short journeys at all. I know several peeps at work whove been finding this out to their cost with various makes and models of car.

Dont dismiss the Fabia though, just change your order to a 1.2 HTP 70hp, thats perfect for what you want and even round town youll be getting mid to high 40s.

Hi,

i have just ordered my very first Skoda,a 1.6 crdi 75 Fabia hatchback.However,after reading some of the letters in this forum,I am beginning to wonder if i have made a mistake.I mainly use my car for short journeys around town,and the occasional long journey at weekends,and my current car,a Ford Fiesta 1.4 hdi,drives perfectly,around town,as did my last car,a Renault Modus 1.5 diesel.People in this forum seem to be suggesting that the Fabia diesel does not like short, stop start journey's,and is more suitable for longer motorway driving.Also,there seems to be a few people moaning about the mpg from the 1.6 diesel engine.In the Ford,Im not getting anyway near the advertised mpg,but i do average around 52 in town,and my Renault returned similar figures too,but people on here are saying that are only getting in the low 40's.If that is the case,then i might reconsider the Skoda,and go back to Renault,although I was very impressed with the Skoda.Is there anyone on here who owns a Fabia 1.6 diesel,75bps,who can tell me of their experiences with this car please?

I thought the 75 BHP was the Greenline engine ? The 1.6 has 105 BHP doesnt it ?

Whether you get problems or not depends just how short your journeys actually are. Provided the engine gets up to temperature plus a few miles you will be ok. I have a friend who works at a Skoda dealership. They really dont get problems with the 1.6 CR other than the normal amount of niggles or issues you get with any car.

The bigger issue is why you are buying a new diesel when you do mostly town journeys. Your not going to benefit from any extra mpg as diesels need to warm up properly to start returning decent figures. The dealer really should have steered you towards a new TSI or HTP petrol engine.

Regardless of the manufacturer, ALL new diesels sold will have a particulate filter. If you really are doing very short journeys a lot then yes, it would be wise to reconsider. My Fabia has a particulate filter and its no issue whatsoever, but I do 100 miles a day so I dont expect to have problems.

In the past anybody who wanted a diesel could choose to buy one no problem. New emissions regs means you really have to think a bit if your going to be just pootling around town in a diesel. You may come unstuck. A decent dealer would have ensured the car was fit for the purpose you intend to use it for. Did they talk to you about owning a car with a DPF ?

My dealer was excellent and asked the right questions of me before recommending the Greenline.

The 75bhp engine is a good engine, I've driven this version and it went pretty well. To answer your question about the DPF, all I can say is I agree with Raisbeck. There are no problems with them if the car gets the chance to have a good run at the weekends. I have a friend who has the 90bhp version, she is a housewife. Her car is 11 months old. Each day she drives it around town doing 3.5 miles there and 3.5miles back (really not far enough for it to warm up properly). Most weekends she does a 30 mile drive in it and once a month goes 80miles to her parents home and 80miles back. She has never had the DPF light come on to tell her the filter is clogged. Most of the time the car is doing 51-53mpg around the town but she gets 62-65mpg on the weekend runs fully loaded. The oil seems to be staying in good condition too with no oil rise. So if your usage is similar I would not expect you to have a problem. As Raisbeck says, all diesels have the filters now so whatever car make of diesel you buy there is the same potential problem.

Is it okay to have a DPF removed? and if not why not.

Is it okay to have a DPF removed? and if not why not.

Legally............no. At least not any new Euro V classified car. You will be breaking EU emissions laws regarding particulate emissions. Would you ever get caught ? Who knows.

Mechanically......yes. Various companys will remove it and remap the car to run without it perfectly well. Might even go faster and get more mpg. DPF is purely an emission control thing. Jurys out on how much it reduces performance but any car is bound to run better without it.

Just do a web search. Loads of people have a 'DPF delete'. Provided the car is of a year that doesnt require a DPF as mandatory your probably even legal. The MOT test will only do a cloud check on the exhaust, so provided the cars running okay it will pass without a DPF even if its meant to have one.

The 75bhp engine is a good engine, I've driven this version and it went pretty well. To answer your question about the DPF, all I can say is I agree with Raisbeck. There are no problems with them if the car gets the chance to have a good run at the weekends. I have a friend who has the 90bhp version, she is a housewife. Her car is 11 months old. Each day she drives it around town doing 3.5 miles there and 3.5miles back (really not far enough for it to warm up properly). Most weekends she does a 30 mile drive in it and once a month goes 80miles to her parents home and 80miles back. She has never had the DPF light come on to tell her the filter is clogged. Most of the time the car is doing 51-53mpg around the town but she gets 62-65mpg on the weekend runs fully loaded. The oil seems to be staying in good condition too with no oil rise. So if your usage is similar I would not expect you to have a problem. As Raisbeck says, all diesels have the filters now so whatever car make of diesel you buy there is the same potential problem.

Thanks Estate Man,thats what I was hoping to hear.I am buying this car as a retirement present for myself,as Im taking early retirement,and during the weekdays will only be doing very short town journeys,but at weekends would be taking longer journeys.I have had diesel cars for the past 25 years,with no problems at all,must confess I had never heard of dpf until I found this site,and it got me thinking I had made a big mistake,with so many people complaining about them.I have read people on here saying that they have had to do a regen more than once a week,obviously,that would be a concern for me,because it would mean an unnecessary trip just to complete it,but if your friend is ok,with the small mileage that she does,then it should be ok for me too.thanks for you help

I have this car myself, done 9000 miles in it, 3 days a week i do 24 miles each way to work on dual carrigeway, the rest is about 5 miles a day in town driving, once a fortnight sixty miles each way to my parents. If i fill it with shell v power i just about get 420 miles to the tank

I have a Fabia CR 105 Tdi Estate and my car has now done over 4200 miles and getting fuel comsumption in the late 50-early 60`s is easy peesy now!! I used my car are fairly mixed runs and it regens fairly frequently! The slight smell of rubber is just a hint but it never lasts for long and isnt intrusive.

I say go for the car you have ordered! I have had diesels for the past 18 years and could never go back to a petrol car even if I won the lottery and could afford a Ferrari!! I guess I love the fuel comsumption, big torque and driving characteristics of a diesel engine. The new VAG 1.6 engine is stunningly refined on a run and that wont disappoint. Its amazing that the engine is going in such a big car as the Passat Bluemotion!!

Incidentally, I saw that you owned a Renault Modus. Oh dear. Worse car Ive owned in recent times....Chopped it in for an Octavia over 3 years ago. Now got a Fabia, would never buy French again.....The Fabia CR diesel wont disappoint if your a diesel man at heart. Buy with confidence.

Regards

Grahame.

Edited 7 February, 201115 yr by threadbear

It's all down to personal preference but I would forget the 1.6 CR and go for a 1.2 TSi in either 85 or 105bhp form. Ultimately it wont be quite as fuel efficient but it will be sweeter, a bit quicker and you'll never have to worry about DPF problems occuring. I drove the 85bhp one and was very impressed. Driven sensibly you'd get good MPG out of one.

In the CR's defense however I do not think you'll experience DPF problems with it so long as it has an occasional good run. The early DPF equiped cars with the PD diesel engines were very problematic, but since the move to CR I'm not aware of big issues.

I've had a PD (Golf Bluemotion Mk5) and currently have a CR car (Golf mk6 2.0 TDi 140) and have never had DPF issues with either, but I do average between 20 and 25K miles PA. Reason I prefer the petrol engine is that i'm not overly enamoured with how the new CR engines deliver their power, they are a bit too linear and could be considered a bit boring. The PD engines may have been noisy but they made fore a more enjoyable drive with their much stronger low end grunt. The TSi's feel much stronger than their 1.2 capacity would suggest and the power delivery is great. 85bhp model felt much quicker than my wifes 1.4 80hp Polo when extended.

In the CR's defense however I do not think you'll experience DPF problems with it so long as it has an occasional good run. The early DPF equiped cars with the PD diesel engines were very problematic, but since the move to CR I'm not aware of big issues.

Just leaping to the defence of my PD 1.4TDI 'DPF' . Never had a problem with it. I did do some research and it appears a lot of the issues were with the more powerful Golfs. I tried to find reports of issues with the 1.4 PD cars that had a DPF and didnt find any.......which was encouraging. Current mileage 19000

I do around 24-26 thousand miles a year and have yet to 'see the light' No thats not a religious reference.

If the CR was available when I needed a new car then I would have bought one. That said I like the punch of my PD and even like the tractorish rattle it makes at low revs. I also cant complain about the 70 mpg I get in the summer. Currently I am getting around 65.

It's all down to personal preference but I would forget the 1.6 CR and go for a 1.2 TSi in either 85 or 105bhp form. Ultimately it wont be quite as fuel efficient but it will be sweeter, a bit quicker and you'll never have to worry about DPF problems occuring. I drove the 85bhp one and was very impressed. Driven sensibly you'd get good MPG out of one.

In the CR's defense however I do not think you'll experience DPF problems with it so long as it has an occasional good run. The early DPF equiped cars with the PD diesel engines were very problematic, but since the move to CR I'm not aware of big issues.

I've had a PD (Golf Bluemotion Mk5) and currently have a CR car (Golf mk6 2.0 TDi 140) and have never had DPF issues with either, but I do average between 20 and 25K miles PA. Reason I prefer the petrol engine is that i'm not overly enamoured with how the new CR engines deliver their power, they are a bit too linear and could be considered a bit boring. The PD engines may have been noisy but they made fore a more enjoyable drive with their much stronger low end grunt. The TSi's feel much stronger than their 1.2 capacity would suggest and the power delivery is great. 85bhp model felt much quicker than my wifes 1.4 80hp Polo when extended.

Hi ive got both the 1.4tdi 3cylinder which is fantastic and the crtdi 105bhp which is quieter and far more refined(boring)but its a cracker

Just leaping to the defence of my PD 1.4TDI 'DPF' . Never had a problem with it. I did do some research and it appears a lot of the issues were with the more powerful Golfs. I tried to find reports of issues with the 1.4 PD cars that had a DPF and didnt find any.......which was encouraging. Current mileage 19000

I do around 24-26 thousand miles a year and have yet to 'see the light' No thats not a religious reference.

If the CR was available when I needed a new car then I would have bought one. That said I like the punch of my PD and even like the tractorish rattle it makes at low revs. I also cant complain about the 70 mpg I get in the summer. Currently I am getting around 65.

Fair shout. I was aware that the MK5 Golf Bluemotions and GT Sport 170's experienced the most issues. I had a Bluemotion for approx 26K and didnt have a single issue with the DPF....in fact the light didnt come on once. I did consider buying a used 170 but thought it would be a mistake to do so.

I have a Fabia CR 105 Tdi Estate and my car has now done over 4200 miles and getting fuel comsumption in the late 50-early 60`s is easy peesy now!! I used my car are fairly mixed runs and it regens fairly frequently! The slight smell of rubber is just a hint but it never lasts for long and isnt intrusive.

I say go for the car you have ordered! I have had diesels for the past 18 years and could never go back to a petrol car even if I won the lottery and could afford a Ferrari!! I guess I love the fuel comsumption, big torque and driving characteristics of a diesel engine. The new VAG 1.6 engine is stunningly refined on a run and that wont disappoint. Its amazing that the engine is going in such a big car as the Passat Bluemotion!!

Incidentally, I saw that you owned a Renault Modus. Oh dear. Worse car Ive owned in recent times....Chopped it in for an Octavia over 3 years ago. Now got a Fabia, would never buy French again.....The Fabia CR diesel wont disappoint if your a diesel man at heart. Buy with confidence.

Regards

Grahame.

Hi

I spoke to the dealer today,and he assured me that as long as I gave the car a run once a week I would have no problems,and that he had not experienced any problems at all with the cr diesel engine,and that the problems he had heard about occured with the older engines,so I am going ahead.I told him that I would come back and remind him what he said,if I did have any problems!I got a really good deal,a brand new hatchback in metallic arctic green,with an Ipod connection,centre armrest,and a proper spare wheel,for £10,700 on the road.Incidentally,the Renault Modus was the most reliable car I have ever owned,I had it for 4 years from new,and it never let me down,or cost me a penny,apart from servicing costs.If the Skoda behaves like the Modus did,I would be really happy.I have had diesels for the last 20 years or so,and I dont really want to go back petrol cars,I just prefer driving a diesel.So ill go ahead and keep my fingers crossed!

Hi

I spoke to the dealer today,and he assured me that as long as I gave the car a run once a week I would have no problems,and that he had not experienced any problems at all with the cr diesel engine,and that the problems he had heard about occured with the older engines,so I am going ahead.I told him that I would come back and remind him what he said,if I did have any problems!I got a really good deal,a brand new hatchback in metallic arctic green,with an Ipod connection,centre armrest,and a proper spare wheel,for £10,700 on the road.Incidentally,the Renault Modus was the most reliable car I have ever owned,I had it for 4 years from new,and it never let me down,or cost me a penny,apart from servicing costs.If the Skoda behaves like the Modus did,I would be really happy.I have had diesels for the last 20 years or so,and I dont really want to go back petrol cars,I just prefer driving a diesel.So ill go ahead and keep my fingers crossed!

If diesel is your thing I dont think you'll be unduely disappointed. Refinement wise I havent been in another marque of car with a quieter diesel engine, the new VAG CR engines are truely in another league at the moment. What you might find disappointing is the way they produce their power. There is none of the "all then nothing" power delivery of older diesels, they are much more linear and petrol-like. However power still tails off past 4K rpm so I dont really see the benefit in evening out the power delivery. I personally prefer the all or nothing delivery of old as its this that makes most diesels quicker and easier to drive quickly than their petrol counterparts.

Taking my own 2.0 TDI CR 140 into account, compared to a PD 140 it is considerably more lethargic of the mark, second gear pull-aways are almost impossible without slipping the hell out of the clutch and if you're in the wrong gear you get terrific turbo lag which on occasions can prove dangerous. Dont get me wrong, it isnt a slow car not remotely but you have to totally change your driving style to suit it. In fact in order to really make it shift you have to drive it like you've stolen it which lets face it is not going to do wonders for it's MPG. I havent personally driven the 1.6 but I imagine its character is just the same.

I've never been a lover of small NA petrol engines in medium size cars, VAG's 1.4 & 1.6 FSi engines are pups and needed replacing. However there is nothing quite like a turbocharged petrol. Let's face it a 1.2 with the power of a 1.6 and torque of a 1.8/2.0 with promises of 50mpg is quite something. I would recommend driving a TSi, even if its just to make sure you're totally happy with the CR. The money you'd save on getting the TSi would somewhat make up for the increased cost and fuel costs of running a diesel.

Edited 8 February, 201115 yr by pipsyp

If diesel is your thing I dont think you'll be unduely disappointed. Refinement wise I havent been in another marque of car with a quieter diesel engine, the new VAG CR engines are truely in another league at the moment. What you might find disappointing is the way they produce their power. There is none of the "all then nothing" power delivery of older diesels, they are much more linear and petrol-like. However power still tails off past 4K rpm so I dont really see the benefit in evening out the power delivery. I personally prefer the all or nothing delivery of old as its this that makes most diesels quicker and easier to drive quickly than their petrol counterparts.

Taking my own 2.0 TDI CR 140 into account, compared to a PD 140 it is considerably more lethargic of the mark, second gear pull-aways are almost impossible without slipping the hell out of the clutch and if you're in the wrong gear you get terrific turbo lag which on occasions can prove dangerous. Dont get me wrong, it isnt a slow car not remotely but you have to totally change your driving style to suit it. In fact in order to really make it shift you have to drive it like you've stolen it which lets face it is not going to do wonders for it's MPG. I havent personally driven the 1.6 but I imagine its character is just the same.

I've never been a lover of small NA petrol engines in medium size cars, VAG's 1.4 & 1.6 FSi engines are pups and needed replacing. However there is nothing quite like a turbocharged petrol. Let's face it a 1.2 with the power of a 1.6 and torque of a 1.8/2.0 with promises of 50mpg is quite something. I would recommend driving a TSi, even if its just to make sure you're totally happy with the CR. The money you'd save on getting the TSi would somewhat make up for the increased cost and fuel costs of running a diesel.

I have the 105 bhp 1.6crtdi and I understand what you say that its a little linear but ive had the pd engine in the superb,octavia and seat and personally I think the cr engine is way way better does not sound like a bag of nails,I took mine up towards 80 ish today and its so bloody fast getting there scalded cat it aint but my god thankful I did not purchase the vrs because they would be putting me in a hole in the ground by now

I have the 105 bhp 1.6crtdi and I understand what you say that its a little linear but ive had the pd engine in the superb,octavia and seat and personally I think the cr engine is way way better does not sound like a bag of nails,I took mine up towards 80 ish today and its so bloody fast getting there scalded cat it aint but my god thankful I did not purchase the vrs because they would be putting me in a hole in the ground by now

Hi Seboni, agree regarding the refinement 100%....i still think there is something inherrently wrong with the way the CR engines put down their power. They have lost that low end thump and ability to pull high gears at low speeds which made the PD engines (certainly the 130 and above) quite intoxicating to drive.

Our Ibiza 1.9 130 PD Sport used to absolutely thump along. You could pull away in second, short shift the gears....same for the Mk5 Golf GT Sport PD 140 we had.....you just cant do this in a CR...if you're in the wrong gear you are well and truely buggered....they are just so unforgiving and I find that i'm forever stiring the gears to keep the thing on the boil. It's actually annoying unless you want to drive everywhere at 10/10ths which most diesel owners being MPG conscious dont want to do.

I largely think the state of tune of the CR engines accounts somewhat for their not-so-great real world MPG returns. My car rarely hits more than 43 mpg, my last £65 tank of diesel only took me 440 miles before the light was about to come on which isnt what I call great for a car that should do 600 easily.

I cant grumble too much as my Golf is a company car and I guess I'm fairly privileged to have a GT spec Golf free and gratis (well aside from tax etc) but if I was parting with my own money I would have gotten the 1.4 TSi and put up with the poorer fuel economy.....exactly what we've done by ordering a vRS estate

Hi Seboni, agree regarding the refinement 100%....i still think there is something inherrently wrong with the way the CR engines put down their power. They have lost that low end thump and ability to pull high gears at low speeds which made the PD engines (certainly the 130 and above) quite intoxicating to drive.

Our Ibiza 1.9 130 PD Sport used to absolutely thump along. You could pull away in second, short shift the gears....same for the Mk5 Golf GT Sport PD 140 we had.....you just cant do this in a CR...if you're in the wrong gear you are well and truely buggered....they are just so unforgiving and I find that i'm forever stiring the gears to keep the thing on the boil. It's actually annoying unless you want to drive everywhere at 10/10ths which most diesel owners being MPG conscious dont want to do.

I largely think the state of tune of the CR engines accounts somewhat for their not-so-great real world MPG returns. My car rarely hits more than 43 mpg, my last £65 tank of diesel only took me 440 miles before the light was about to come on which isnt what I call great for a car that should do 600 easily.

I cant grumble too much as my Golf is a company car and I guess I'm fairly privileged to have a GT spec Golf free and gratis (well aside from tax etc) but if I was parting with my own money I would have gotten the 1.4 TSi and put up with the poorer fuel economy.....exactly what we've done by ordering a vRS estate

I agree the cr does not have the low grunt of the pd but pay's of later in the excelleration

I agree the cr does not have the low grunt of the pd but pay's of later in the excelleration

I honestly dont agree with the latter rev acceleration. Certainly with my car whilst it revs to 5K its not particularly willing and power tails off in just the same way as it does with the PD's.....after 4K you're best of shifting up. If it provided strong power up to the redline - like a petrol - it would be great. A controversial statement perhaps but I honestly think the days of VAG diesels being hugely better than their petrol counterparts are all but gone.

I didnt think diesels revved much beyond 4500 revs anyway? Most of my experience with diesels has shown the peak torque range is between 1800 and 2500 revs. Ive never thrashed the nuts out of my diesels!! Only time Ive taken any of mine to max revs is before the smoke test at the MOT to clear the cack out!

I didnt think diesels revved much beyond 4500 revs anyway? Most of my experience with diesels has shown the peak torque range is between 1800 and 2500 revs. Ive never thrashed the nuts out of my diesels!! Only time Ive taken any of mine to max revs is before the smoke test at the MOT to clear the cack out!

Hi Threadbear,

Point i'm trying to make here is that VAG in my opinion havent been wholly successful in making the CR engines more linear in their power delivery without significant power tailoff at higher revs. One of the supposed benefits of the more linear power delivery was stronger top end go which I dont think is the case. I think ultimately they've made them less punchy at lower revs (which is what made the PD units nice to drive) without any noticable benefit at the top end.

I dont know why they've put a 5k red line on these cars if they are not capable of pulling at all at those sorts of engine speeds. Would make much more sense if they red-lined at 4.5Kish RPM like most diesels.

My 1.9 CDTi 150 Astra was exactly the same, 5k red line but gutless at anything over 4K. Was like a scalded cat off the mark (would wheelspin in 3rd in the wet) but was terrible when you ran out of revs. Point is you didnt need to rev it hard to make it go, where as you have to rev the CR's to 3.5/4K in every gear to really get them to shift. I would imagine anyone comming from a more traditional diesel wouldnt be overly impressed with one of these, other than the noise refinement which is superb and I cannot deny that.

Thanks Estate Man,thats what I was hoping to hear.I am buying this car as a retirement present for myself,as Im taking early retirement,and during the weekdays will only be doing very short town journeys,but at weekends would be taking longer journeys.I have had diesel cars for the past 25 years,with no problems at all,must confess I had never heard of dpf until I found this site,and it got me thinking I had made a big mistake,with so many people complaining about them.I have read people on here saying that they have had to do a regen more than once a week,obviously,that would be a concern for me,because it would mean an unnecessary trip just to complete it,but if your friend is ok,with the small mileage that she does,then it should be ok for me too.thanks for you help

For me if you want a diesel for short town trips I would have ordered the Greenline II 1.2 not the 1.6, the smaller diesel should warm up quicker and start to produce better mpg earlier - then again I have a greenline II.

Now for the serious stuff, my work run is 5 miles (actually 4.7) each way and then later in the day a short (1/2 a mile) trip each way to collect my disabled daughter and rest of the family. Usually at least once a month we go out for a run of more than 20 miles. I have had the car since October last year and have never (probably the kiss of death) seen the DPF warning light come on.

For me if you want a diesel for short town trips I would have ordered the Greenline II 1.2 not the 1.6, the smaller diesel should warm up quicker and start to produce better mpg earlier - then again I have a greenline II.

Now for the serious stuff, my work run is 5 miles (actually 4.7) each way and then later in the day a short (1/2 a mile) trip each way to collect my disabled daughter and rest of the family. Usually at least once a month we go out for a run of more than 20 miles. I have had the car since October last year and have never (probably the kiss of death) seen the DPF warning light come on.

Desrable as the Greenline is, I can't agree that it would have been a better choice for the OP. It seems his mileage is quite low, and the Greenline is around a £1000 more than the similarly specced SE 1.6 75bhp. I suspect it would be a very long time before the superior economy of the Greenline covered the price difference.

Edited 11 February, 201115 yr by helix