Now I do understand the sdi isn't meant to be a sporty lump.... but - a mate of mine has the same car (2 years newer and 30k less but still as similar as can be really) and can pull up a big hill nearby in 5th right through to 80mph. I however can't, I'm having to cog down the 4th and managing 65 at a push! 5th just won't have the umph and we'll be loosing revs all the way up.

Any ideas where to start looking?

Doesn't mean they got the same HP or torque. Check your log book to see what power you got and check your mates.

Didn't know it had power listed on logbook. ahh just checked, doesn't on mine. Would there be that much of a power difference between the sdi's two years apart?

To be fair mine is an early one... 2000 or something so i guess they may have found that it's power/torque was diabolical and increased it to be usable on later one's, would seem logical.

I will look into this but, if it turns out they should have the same power, anybody got any clues on where to start looking?

The SDI has always had the same rated power in the Fabia. Assuming your car has been serviced properly and doesn't have binding brakes, the first thing you need to do is to have the car hooked up to vagcom and get the codes read.

hmm, binding brakes.... will make sure this isn't an issue tomorrow.