Well what a day!

I sold my wife's Fabia yesterday that we have owned for the past 8 years. Hand on Heart it was a fantastically reliable car with the 1.2 wheeze engine. Only hiccup was the fuse blowing in the ABS circuit, that no one could find. Thanks Skoda Briskoda.net

I was about to reserve a Fabia 1.4 TDi 4 years old, then i realised, hold on my wife had Disability Living Allowance, why not investigate Motability?

So, today we have 'bought' a 1.2TSi 86 Monte Carlo in Anthracite Grey (no extras) without driving or seeing one and will be in delivered in 2 weeks.

Hope we have done the right thing and hope the ride and seats are not too hard for her!

Any advice would be great

PS she did want a faster overtaking engine and reading the posts here, looks like we have made the right choice.I hope

Edited 16 September, 201114 yr by FabiaMan01

PS she did want a faster overtaking engine

Oh, it will be

The sport suspension is firmer, but nowhere near as stiff as some sporty cars, so it's still pretty comfortable to live with.

got my monte yesterday already done 150miles and i love it, great on motorways and around town,getting my mdi cable today from my dealer

Hey only got my monte on monday same colour you are getting looks very good and i think its the best colour for the monte

Aaron

Hey only got my monte on monday same colour you are getting looks very good and i think its the best colour for the monte

Aaron

nice motor looks good in that colour

I must admit, i saw your picture last night vrsadz, printed it and showed it to the wife.. wow she said, it that going to be the colour of my car She loved it :p Really looks a cool car. How many times have you washed it in a week ?

I know i shouldn't moan, but would have liked the 105 version. I'm sure the 86 will be just fine

Reading the standard spec, it seems crazy to me why they remove some essentials like the radio controls on the steering wheel, let alone the reversing sensors.

I had an Alfa Romeo Spider a few years ago, and i got some flashes and waves from fellow Alfa drivers . Is there this camaraderie with say the Monte Carlo or the VRS drivers?

Nige

got my monte yesterday already done 150miles and i love it, great on motorways and around town,getting my mdi cable today from my dealer

The 105CR engine is brilliant, can't believe how much torque it has.

Ps, love it in grey! I ended up getting White as I've kind of got a thing for White cars. Was very, very tempted with the grey but White was me in the end. Thinking about it fir the future though in think the grey will be a very desirable resale car.

Looks great in that colour

The big day arrived on Wednesday and i took the wife to collect her car. Usual salesman talk showing us the various leaflets and manual for the car. Wife was looking very apprehensive and the saleman looked edgy. Why? She didn't like the colour! .. Anyway got the keys, handshake as we were off. I was following her at 50 mph on the motorway, and all of a sudden she stopped. There was a strange bleeping sound coming from the car! Yes, you got it, she didn't fasten the seatbelt . Aparrantly she was struggling finding 5th and ''stirred'' the box a few times :S. Lets hope she gets the hang of it soon.

Let me get my hands on the Monte!

As i have commented on several other posts, i was apprehensive of the seats and suspension been too hard. I was worrying for nothing,as they are both perfect. The tyres give excellent cornering speeds / roadholding on the 17 inch rims. The engine is very responsive too, must more than I ever expected.

Maybe the only downside is the 'coalface' cabin. I think its too dark and could have some with a few more 'silver bits' to lighten it up. Just waiting for the dealer to send the correct MDI usb cable then get some real music played.

Already tried to change the standard dipped headlamp bulbs, but they are stubborn little bu**ers. Will be give them a bit more forece when i have time. Hope to have the replacement DRL bubls tomorrow, they look a lot earier to replace

Some pictures to follow as soon as we get a few dry hours! Hope to be flashing some other 'Monte' owners soon !

Like the Monte in Grey. It was our second choice after the red because I already own a grey car. Ours gets plenty of admiring looks and comments but so far only seen one other Monte in our area.

The big day arrived on Wednesday and i took the wife to collect her car. Usual salesman talk showing us the various leaflets and manual for the car. Wife was looking very apprehensive and the saleman looked edgy. Why? She didn't like the colour! .. Anyway got the keys, handshake as we were off. I was following her at 50 mph on the motorway, and all of a sudden she stopped. There was a strange bleeping sound coming from the car! Yes, you got it, she didn't fasten the seatbelt . Aparrantly she was struggling finding 5th and ''stirred'' the box a few times :S. Lets hope she gets the hang of it soon.

Let me get my hands on the Monte!

As i have commented on several other posts, i was apprehensive of the seats and suspension been too hard. I was worrying for nothing,as they are both perfect. The tyres give excellent cornering speeds / roadholding on the 17 inch rims. The engine is very responsive too, must more than I ever expected.

Maybe the only downside is the 'coalface' cabin. I think its too dark and could have some with a few more 'silver bits' to lighten it up. Just waiting for the dealer to send the correct MDI usb cable then get some real music played.

Already tried to change the standard dipped headlamp bulbs, but they are stubborn little bu**ers. Will be give them a bit more forece when i have time. Hope to have the replacement DRL bubls tomorrow, they look a lot earier to replace

Some pictures to follow as soon as we get a few dry hours! Hope to be flashing some other 'Monte' owners soon !

Grey is usually a neutral colour that's quite safe (if a little unimaginative for some :p). I'm sure she'll grow to like it though.

Cabin is typically VAG although as some have done, you can change it with some carbon matting or your own in-house mods.

Bulbs are quite difficult but they need to be done as they aren't the best and it'll show in the winter. Need small hands! Once you get at them, turn 90o and pull.

I usually flash/wave other vRS' or Briskoda drivers :yes:.....not many in the South West outside of Bristol though

I love the interior of mine. But the sunroof does help to brighten it up. I have her just a week now and I'm delighted with it. New DRL bulbs are on the way and then to tackle the headlights, ID lights and the interior lights. Mine is red BTW and it really catches people's eye. Well worth the 6 month wait!

The big day arrived on Wednesday and i took the wife to collect her car. Usual salesman talk showing us the various leaflets and manual for the car. Wife was looking very apprehensive and the saleman looked edgy. Why? She didn't like the colour! .. Anyway got the keys, handshake as we were off. I was following her at 50 mph on the motorway, and all of a sudden she stopped. There was a strange bleeping sound coming from the car! Yes, you got it, she didn't fasten the seatbelt . Aparrantly she was struggling finding 5th and ''stirred'' the box a few times :S. Lets hope she gets the hang of it soon.

Let me get my hands on the Monte!

As i have commented on several other posts, i was apprehensive of the seats and suspension been too hard. I was worrying for nothing,as they are both perfect. The tyres give excellent cornering speeds / roadholding on the 17 inch rims. The engine is very responsive too, must more than I ever expected.

Maybe the only downside is the 'coalface' cabin. I think its too dark and could have some with a few more 'silver bits' to lighten it up. Just waiting for the dealer to send the correct MDI usb cable then get some real music played.

Already tried to change the standard dipped headlamp bulbs, but they are stubborn little bu**ers. Will be give them a bit more forece when i have time. Hope to have the replacement DRL bubls tomorrow, they look a lot earier to replace

Some pictures to follow as soon as we get a few dry hours! Hope to be flashing some other 'Monte' owners soon !

Great to see the above.

I like the grey and would have seriously considered it for my vRS if it had been avialable as a colour. I also agree with you the interiors dark. I have a sunroof and red stiched seats but still think its quite a dark place to be and they could have put a bit of silver trim or something else to liven it up a bit.

Anyway great choice, hope it goes well and look forward to the piccys.

Definitely the best colour monte I've seen!

Agreed. That's the best looking colour combination I've seen on a Mk2 Fabia.

Thanks everyone for your replies, just gotta convince the wife now of the colour

Just got round to changing the DRL bulbs today with these http://tinyurl.com/6xw3uyf Ignition off, replaced bulbs, strange they didn't work. The DRL switch was on! They were working before on the normal bulbs. Lamps off again replace with the original bulbs again, still nothing. Got the handbook out and it says Fuse No17 is for these lights. That fuse is ok!!. Anyone got any ideas what could be the problem ?

Maybe i will have to check all the fuses.

Grrrrr.........

Nigel

Just a small update, I got a new fuse and the lights are working again . It looks like these bulbs are not compatable http://tinyurl.com/6xw3uyf Now to search the forum to see if any are.

All the best.

Nigel

Edited 11 October, 201114 yr by FabiaMan01

Just a small update, I got a new fuse and the lights are working again . It looks like these bulbs are not compatable http://tinyurl.com/6xw3uyf Now to search the forum to see if any are.

All the best.

Nigel

Had the same problem on my Monte with the drl leds I tried two sets with no joy , it appears that the led is + tip and - body, the Monte wiring for some reason is opposite.

looks really smart! i like it

I havent seen it in this colour before either

Hi Guys and Dizz3, yes your right about the polarity. I got this responce from the seller:

These canbus bulbs should can work in Skoda,

When you fitted them,did they could be pluged into the socket smoothly?

If both of them can not work,I think the polarity of bulbs is contrary to your car's .

Srange why Skoda swap the polarity.. ohh well...

Just got to tackle the headlamp bulbs now

All the best.

Nigel