SWIMO is thinking of purchasing a new fabia. Had a quick look around the options and thinking a 1.2tsi engine with the manual box possibly se plus trim level as she doesn't like the monte. Just wondering what are everyone opinions on them good and bad points about them and any issues that I would need to keep an eye out for

The 1.2tsi is a good engine, certainly more powerful that it's capacity would suggest.

We have one in our Yeti and after 18 months it's been completely fault free. We like is so much another is on order.

It really is an engine that you don't realise is so good until you drive one.

I like the tsi 86. It's not quite as economical as you might imagine and there's a bit of turbo lag, but it does go very well once its on song. The pull from 40 to 70 in 4th and 5th is particularly impressive.

Se plus trim is a good step up from the Se. Climate control works well and I like the darker windows at the back. Electric rear windows are handy if you have kids that like to fiddle (don't know why the Elegance drops these...). You don't get cruise control or curtain airbags though.

Sorry guys, but I recently had one of these while my vrs was in for some warranty work. I know it will not have the power of the vrs, but I found it awful. On start up it sounded like a bag of spanners, on the move especially the motorway it was the slowest car ive ever driven. No acceleration to fit into a gap in the next lane. Also at a constant 60mph it only achieved about 5 nog more than

Than my vrs driven at greater speeds.

All I can do is suggest a good test drive

to ensure its fast enough for you needs

I came to my Fabia from a 1.8 Mondeo and it is definitely quicker than that car was. I reckon it's quieter than the Mondeo as well: we certainly commented how quiet it was on the testdrive. I get a comfortable 50mpg on a motorway cruise, low 40s on sub-urban and mid 30s on stop-start urban driving.

+ 1 for the 1.2TSI 105 Bhp. Compared with the Octavia II 1.9TDI PD it pulls really nice. I am sometimes missing the brute force from the 1.9TDI PD, but I really enjoying the little engine.

on the move especially the motorway it was the slowest car ive ever driven.

you've not driven many old cars then?

Had one whilst my octavia was in at Allams for service and other work, for its size I found it very impressive. Pulls well up to motorway speed, pull in 3rd is very good. Yes slight lag on the turbo if your being really picky and off turbo you can tell its a smaller engine, more so when pulling away (though I've driven diesel for the last 10years).

Currently thinking about that or diesel, would be good to see more real world fuel consumption results.

I came to my Fabia from a 1.8 Mondeo and it is definitely quicker than that car was. I reckon it's quieter than the Mondeo as well: we certainly commented how quiet it was on the testdrive. I get a comfortable 50mpg on a motorway cruise, low 40s on sub-urban and mid 30s on stop-start urban driving.

If my 1.2 70bhp feels faster than a 1.8 petrol mondeo, then your tsi will be.

Sorry guys, but I recently had one of these while my vrs was in for some warranty work. I know it will not have the power of the vrs, but I found it awful. On start up it sounded like a bag of spanners, on the move especially the motorway it was the slowest car ive ever driven. No acceleration to fit into a gap in the next lane. Also at a constant 60mph it only achieved about 5 nog more than

Are you sure they gave you a TSI? The other 1.2 is the HTP, which is what you have described.

The TSI is a great engine, but a word of warning. It can be very economical, BUT only if you are disciplined and drive it right. If you make use of its power too much it will drink the juice It does seem to prefer 98RON fuel, but a good quality 95RON will be fine. DON'T feed it supermarket 95RON, mine runs like a dog on it. I use either Shell 95 or Tesco 99.

Otherwise the Fabia has very few glaring issues TBH, it drives well, doesn't have too much body roll, decent visibility, big boot, good stereo, comfortable and well screwed together. The ventilation fans could be quieter, and I am struggling to think of anything else.

After nearly 14K miles mine has been faultless and a pleasure to own.

apologies, think you're right Mike they gave me a HTP estate!!

The 105ps 1.2 tsi is a great little engine, quite nippy for it's capacity with decent midrange power. In many respects it reminds me a bit of my old 8 valve mk2 Golf Gti.

I agree the 105 Tsi is a great little engine and for enthusiastic drivers its fantastic, but I honestly feel its a bit overpowered at times. If there is any sort of damp on the road surface you have to set off gently, and if you put too many revs down to the road wheels the tyres just spin and you go nowhere. Very annoying. Oh yes and best not to go out in the dark, the headlights are useless ...and as Mike above said DONT feed it supermarket juice

Seriously though its a great value buy new or used :sun:

Thanks for the help chaps. Was considering the diesel but as she mainly does short journeys there's not much point as she'd only knacker the dpf. So if she could afford it would zenons be a good option? Also any other extras recommended ie maxidot?

I don't think the headlamps are 'useless' on the SE+ as it has a separate main beam lamp. Lower models make do with just the single projector lamp for dipped and main.

Maxidot looks good and is quote cheap as extras go. Bear in mind, though, that adding extras can add to the delivery time. I forego a couple of options to get a car in 2 weeks (it was built and already on the country) rather than 3 months.

So if she could afford it would zenons be a good option? Also any other extras recommended ie maxidot?

Xenons are not an option on the mkII Fabia.

I found the standard headlights acceptable, but they are not as good as most other cars I've driven.

we have a 12 htp and I can say the 12 tsi 85 bhp seems much faster  I had a 12tsi for a weekend a few weeks ago nice car.

I have a 1.2tsi 105bhp, and its fantastic, I recently drove to Belgium for the f1, on the motorways it drank. Quite alot of fuel but aside from that its great, I was filling up with 99 Ron and you could tell the difference when i got back and started to use our fuel.