Hi all,

Well back in Febuary I ordered a 1.2TSi DSG Elegance Estate with a few options for my Dad with expected delivery date of May/June. When the unconfirmed delivery date slipped into 2012 we deciced to cancel and contacted What Car. After a few emails Skoda UK offered my Dad a 1.2TSi DSG SE Hatch which he accepted as well as a compensation package. He's had the car a few weeks now and is really pleased with it, the ease of performance and the smoothness of the DSG means my Mum is always moaning he's driving too fast.

During our issues with the delivery of the TSi we had a loaned 1.2 12v 70PS for a while and I was really impressed. I've driven 1.2 Corsa's and other small engined petrol cars and never been impressed but the three cylinder twin cam unit in the Fabia is a ball of fun to drive.

So my wife's Fabia 1.9TDi is 8 and a half years old now and is starting to look a bit used although it's been totally reliable for all those years. As she is used to the torque and the surge of the big diesel I was struggling to talk her into a small petrol so earlier this week we drove a 1.2 12V and a 1.4TDCi.

First we tried the 1.2 12V 70PS and straight away my wife was suprised how effortless it was to drive, so light and nimble with plenty of urge to keep up with traffic. Next she tried a 1.4TDCi and straight away she wasn't impressed "I can't believe it's the same car" was her exact comment. She felt the TDCi felt heavy and sluggish off the line in comparison although the torque she likes was still there at higher speeds.

Overall she liked the three cylinder petrol but felt if we were to go diesel again it would have to be a 1.9 or perhaps a newer 1.6.

So some soul searching and pricing up followed, one issue is she only does short trips (2 to 5 miles) and about 4000miles a year. Last winter the diesel never had chance to warm up and she complained about the heater just getting warm when she had arrived at her destination. I'm suspecting the petrol will be quicker to warm up and better suited to her driving. For longer trips we always use my Passat.

So we decided on Petrol and have picked up a 3 year old approved Skoda Used Car, Fabia 1.2 12V 2 in Candy White. It was actually the salesmans Mother car and she has only done 9000 miles in it. Comes with a few options including parking sensors so my wife is very happy.

So here's the car and we pick it up on Monday 10th October.

I'm looking forward to driving it around town too but I'm not looking forward to the cleaning schedule.

I now have two Candy White cars to clean. :'(

Cheers

Lee

Edited 28 September, 201114 yr by logiclee

Well done Lee, you just can't go wrong with the 3cyl 1.2 engine. Totally reliable and bullet proof. Nice to drive as you say. Yours' looks a treat in white. Nice one!

For the trips the car normally does petrol was the right choice despite your increased fuel consumption. Now with DPF's such short journeys without a 20+ mile run on open roads at least every 200 miles is likely to trigger the DPF indicator requiring a long fairly fast drive for an active regen to occur.

Not really given the DPF to much thought to be honest. I've never had an issue with my 2.0 CR TDi Passat although it does get decent runs. If you switch off the Passat during an active regen both rad fans continue to run at full speed to move air through the engine bay and you get a very hot smell from the car. Can be a bit frightening when the car is put away in the garage but it's quite normal for the 2.0CR to do that.

One other thing I'm considering is the coming winter. The old 1.9TDi had 185/60 all weather Uniroyals fitted as well as ASR and EDL and an extra 200kg on the front end, the new Fabia will have 195/55 Conti's fitted, less weight and no traction control.

Last winter I couldn't even get my Passat on Conti's with ESP anywhere near my house but the Fabia drove through without to much of a problem.

I ended up buying winter tyres on steel wheels for the Passat and the transformation was night and day, unbelievable really.

So I'm now thinking I'll need some winter tyres for the Fabia. Any thoughts from any Mk2 owners without ESP?

Cheers

Lee

Edited 29 September, 201114 yr by logiclee

Hi Logiclee - try mytyres.co.uk. They do an excellent selection of winter tyres. Your local dealer should be able to supply steel wheels for around £42 each inc vat.

Edited 29 September, 201114 yr by rkenny

Do you mean TDCi or TDI? And if the TDI (TDCi) was so gutless, do you know which version it was? (70PS? 80PS?). I would be surprised by anyone calling a TDI 80PS gutless...

Edited 29 September, 201114 yr by Adrianh1

I agree Adrianh. I think people need a nice long drive in the 1422cc PD TDI to get used to it. Even the 70ps version is brillilant but slightly less fast. You can't quite drive it like a petrol or the 1.9 PD diesel version either. But once you get used to it, it's great and it goes like no other small diesel I know.

Hi Logiclee - try mytyres.co.uk. They do an excellent selection of winter tyres. Your local dealer should be able to supply steel wheels for around £42 each inc vat.

mytyres also sell winter tyres already mounted and balanced on steel wheels. I bought a set for my Passat from them last year. Paid over £700 for the Passat but should get the Fabia's for under £400 if I go for 185/60x14.

Just not sure how much my wife will miss ASR and EDL. I will probably get a set just to ensure she's ok. The Conti's really are summer tyres they have little grip even on frosty roads.

Cheers

Lee

I agree Adrianh. I think people need a nice long drive in the 1422cc PD TDI to get used to it. Even the 70ps version is brillilant but slightly less fast. You can't quite drive it like a petrol or the 1.9 PD diesel version either. But once you get used to it, it's great and it goes like no other small diesel I know.

I think that's the issue, if you have a bit of a commute the 1.4 tdi would make a fine economical car. But it does take a bit of work to keep it in the sweet spot.

That's not what my wife wanted though, the htp she thought offered a more jump and nip to the shops or school yet still has enough go for the odd longer trip. Drive the htp or tsi then jump straight into a 1.4tdi or 1.9 tdi it's suprising how much heavier the diesels feel. Never driven a 1.6 tdi though.

I'm sure she has made the right choice for her.

For others i'm sure the 1.4tdi would be great.

Cheers

Lee

Hi Lee I've got both the 1.4 & 1.6 diesel and I agree you've got too get the little 1.4 to the sweet spot but once there is an amazing engine doesn't like going over 70 but fine as it's just a work commuter for me 11 mile trip on B roads 55/60 mph so the 70 bhp flies along nicely until a cretin pulls out of a junction and slows you down