Hi all,

I'm new to the site,the reason I've joined is I'm thinking about buying a Skoda Fabia SDI, possibly estate, for my next vehicle, and wanted to get some hints and tips about whether this would be a sound purchse.

I will mainly be using it for my daily commute to work, 30 miles each way on dual carrigeways and a bit of the M1, my current car is a Mk1 Focus 1.8 Zetec petrol, which has covered 160000 in the last 5 years doing this commute and I thought it's about time I got a slightly more economical car!

I'm certainly no speed freak so would the SDI be the logical choice? I'm thinking reliability more than anything.

Any advice would be stonking, ta

you will get mixed answers on this one but in my view if you want no nonsence no frills then go with the SDI plus theres no turbo to go wrong. It will just be a differnt type of driving over your Focus

Why not have a look at the 1.4tdi as well? More poke and similar mpg.

Well, they're supposed to be very reliable - someone on here got theirs to around 300,000m without anything serious going wrong (I think they needed a gearbox refurb, though). Some say they're rather slow (although having followed a Polo SDI, I don't think it was as slow as some say!), so I'd suggest giving one a thorough test drive first, just to make sure it fits your driving style.

The other options would be one of the TDi's, although with the DMF and turbo, there's more to go wrong. I had a brief go with a Mk II 1.4TDi (slightly different engine to the 1.4TDi in the MkI, I think), which personally I found somewhat gutless from stationary, and fuel economy on a run was slightly below what I'd expect from mine (but then, it had only done 15k). I've found my 1.9TDi to be economical - over 60mpg indicated on a run (having manually calculated the mpg on a brimmed tank, I think my trip computer is a little pessimistic by about 1.5mpg), and ~52mpg pootling to and from work (at least 50% across town, no faster than 40mph).

Dunno if that's any help..?

Why not have a look at the 1.4tdi as well? More poke and similar mpg.

And a turbo that can go wrong, and a dmf that can fail.

And a 3 cylinder engine that sounds funny,

You may have guessed...

I'm in the SDI camp. :p

You're unlikely to find a much more solid workhorse of an engine

with so little to go wrong on it.

Oh, and it'll take the fuel economy pepsi challenge with just about any

other Fabia variant out there and win hands down.

Our 54reg is on 107k and still a lovely car to drive.

It hasn't cost us hardly anything to keep it for 3 years

except for replacing the clutch (at 100k due to wear.)

and normal servicing costs. We've put about 40k on ours

since we have had it and it's never, ever, let us down.

And they are not as slow as people on here will make out.

I very recently drove ours from Romford to Bristol in 2 and a half hours door to door.

My record (in the vRS) is two hours 15minutes..

Another SDI fan. 2 hours from Leeds to Desborough 120 miles give or take. 03 plate, now at 131518 miles,73000 miles over 6 years mixed driving, average 59mpg. A very different way of driving to a TDI, anticipation is the thing for overtaking, town driving is a dream. On original clutch. From an engine point of view, bombproof unless you beat the hell out of it. I spend more on tyres than repairs.

Wow, thanks guys, I'm really keen on the SDI now :yes: And as far as the TDI's go, I'd love one for the extra poke, but as has been said, more to go wrong, and the only thing I'd want to over take is an Artic in the inside lane. Now where to find one - they are a bit like hen's teeth Having looked on Auto trader and ebay, do you think I should get a good one for less than £4k? Any other places to look?

Edited 24 June, 201115 yr by mattkipper1

You can pick up a decent one for around £2k

Edit: Found an estate with FSSH for £2,222 on Autotrader

Thanks again, that looks like a bargain, this is the first forum I've ever joined, and I'm really glad I did.

...this is the first forum I've ever joined, and I'm really glad I did.

You lucked it mate... Same as I did....

I joined because I had just bought our SDI and it was our first

diesel car and I had some questions I needed answers to .

been on here almost every single day since.

This is the bestest forum ever, welcome aboard.

We've a SDI (W reg) at 105K and a 1.4 TDI (04reg) at 140K. Both run really well. Both have needed the front suspension maintenance, but otherwise few problems. On a long journey there's no difference in journey times. The TDI is much faster from a standing start and higher top speed giving an average of 74mpg, but for normal driving and cruising at 65-70 the SDI has it being quiet and very economical at 78mpg. Generally I prefer the SDI whilst the wife prefers the TDI, but we're both happy with either.

Have fun

you will get mixed answers on this one but in my view if you want no nonsence no frills then go with the SDI plus theres no turbo to go wrong. It will just be a differnt type of driving over your Focus

This, and the Focus probably handles better than the Fabia round corners.

This, and the Focus probably handles better than the Fabia round corners.

Stick heavy duty springs on the back and VRS ones on the front and you might get a surprise.

Well I bought one, an 2001 SDI Comfort Combi, (didn't know the estates were called this). Metallic green Picking it up on Saturday.

This one? Looks good.Welcome to the SDi appreciation club. My link

Edited 3 July, 201115 yr by peter3197

Yep, that's the one.

Picking it up today, looking forward to some cheap motoring. Thanks for all your advice guys.