Looking at buying a Fabia next month, post 2007 so a Fabia 2 seems the one to go for.

Having looked at other makes, Ford, Vx etc it seems nothing is without their faults so that's why I've ended up back here.

I say back here as I once owned a Felicia and loved it apart from it needing a few jobs doing, so I parted with it.

So my question is which Fabia to go for, petrol or diesel and which engine in each case?

I do around 9k a year but that will be decreasing next year to vitually half that figure maybe. I will be doing mainly short journeys with a few longer motorway type trips thrown inbetween. So is a petrol maybe the way to go, thinking about fuel prices etc?

I know the diesels driven correctly can give good economy but I'm more focused on what the real figures the petrol engined models can achieve, and which engine is best for my needs. I don't want something thats lacking when I come to use it on a motorway journey though, so 1.2 or 1.4 engine? What's the real mpg figures like?

Sorry for asking this if it's been asked before. I've trawled through some of the posts but can't really decide on what to go for engine wise. BTW I own a diesel, a Vx Signum so know the pitfalls of owning a diesel, blocked EGR valves, inlet manifold failures, DMF and DPF issues etc, but on the other hand brilliant mpg. I just need a smaller car now, so the Fabia fits the bill, I think!

Mick

No point in diesel for that milege. It'll cost more to buy in the first place don't forget.

Fabia Estate is way more practical than you think. Check them out too.

Hi Mick, what's your budget - can then see if you want a new one or slightly older and that'll alter what engine we can suggest!

New, the best small engines are the 1.2TSI petrol and 1.6 CR diesel, both with 105bhp. Both return good MPG, the petrol 45mpg combined and the diesel 55mpg combined.

Diesel will suffer on short journeys, hence why I went for the 1.4TSI vRS, it has lots of grunt when you need it but can be civilized too, averages 35mpg round town - 45mpg+ on a run.

Depends if you want more power and fun, or less power and bit more mpg

ardandy.....yep that's what I thought, why diesel as I may not be doing the mileage to warranty the extra costs.

Ad Lav ....Want to buy secondhand so a budget of around £7500 max really for say a petrol engined. As said will be using it for mainly short around town type jaunts but also want it to have a bit of power for those motorway journeys. So I believe there are different BHP engines in the 1.2 and 1.4's, which is ideal for what I want? Don't think I can afford vRS but want at least air con electric windows/mirrors and alloys, the rest a bonus and maybe 2-3 year old. So what coud I get, year/spec for my money?

I must confess I am a little out of touch with some of these models and engine specs, hence the questions. I've been busy of late tinkering and driving an MX-5. The Fabia will be my daily driver, once I've decided which one to go for or even avoid!

Mick

Edited 4 May, 201214 yr by MickA

go to skoda.co.uk web site used cars look for cars near you or nationwide you can click engine size colour and so on

Hi MickA I love the car . My 1.2 HTP ( apart from a water leak I'm trying to solve!) is really great for my low mileage driving. As has been said though the little 3 pot engine suffers in economy terms at speeds of 70mph and above and needs to be kept just under 70 to get around 50 mpg. You can quickly drop to 35 mpg at speeds approaching 80. I reckon the 1.2 TSI sounds a good bet for your purpose.

Try a 1.2 12V HTP 70. They have bags of charachter, not massively fast off the line but would leave your Felicia. On the move there's always good pick up even at 60-70mph, but it's the off beat 3 cylinder soundtrack and the light front end that makes it so good to drive.

Expect 40mpg average upto 50mpg on a run out. 70+ on a motorway hurts economy as the revs are quite high. If I use it on my commute (18mile motorway @70mph, 6 mile A road, 3 mile urban) I get 45mpg 1.2htp, 50mpg 1.2tsi dsg, 55mpg Passat TDi.

The other cars I have are great but I have a soft spot for the htp 70, it's just so good at what it does.

Cheers

Lee

Edited 4 May, 201214 yr by logiclee

Thanks for the replies so far.

So would this Fabia have the TSI engine http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201215463465368/sort/default/usedcars/model/fabia/make/skoda/dealer/72918/postcode/de243as/page/1/advert-type/dealer-stock?logcode=dsp

Looks like something I'm after. Can't find a 1.4 petrol engine were they the earlier Fabias. Estates seem to be 1.6 although I've seen a 1.2.

I'm learning, a bit.

Mick

Thanks for the replies so far.

So would this Fabia have the TSI engine http://www.autotrade...ock?logcode=dsp

Looks like something I'm after. Can't find a 1.4 petrol engine were they the earlier Fabias. Estates seem to be 1.6 although I've seen a 1.2.

I'm learning, a bit.

Mick

That's a 1.2 12v htp 3 cylinder 70. you wont get a low mileage tsi for £7.5k, cheapest on trader £8k

Edited 4 May, 201214 yr by logiclee

You could get a 1.6 Sport - 105bhp petrol, a bit more go than the 1.2htp you've found and similar price. The sport has a/c and alloys, elec windows etc.

Thanks for replies.

Going to take a closer look at the weekend at some Fabias. Luckily we have a dealer only 5 miles away, Gordan Lamb, Derby and a couple over in Notts, so not far away. Seems around £8k will get me a decent not too old petrol or even diesel, which I've not ruled out yet.

Mick

Brain picking time again, for all of you experts. Sorry another Fabia question. Looked at a selection today and saw a nice 1.2 TSi says turbo so I assume all TSi are turbo. Now what's the real fuel comsumption like on these? It says urban just over 40mpg but I never believe those quoted figures. I believe they are 4 cylinder and this one a 85bhp is it a reliable engine choice? Yes it was over my budget but on an '11' plate seemed a good deal.

Mick

Edited 6 May, 201214 yr by MickA

Yep, all TSI's are 4cyl turbos.

My usual commuting economy, which is only a 6 mile trip, gets to about 40-42mpg. In town with a fair bit of stop-start, you'll probably see 35mpg. On a longer run it's pretty impressive, 45mpg+ depending on hills and wind conditions. Only one thing to be aware of - they prefer super unleaded fuel. Mine runs on Tesco 99 most of the time. If your mileage is as low as you say, it's not going to be a concern.

Here is my new record. Done it last week, Carlisle to Swindon on the motorway, light wind conditions and cruise set to an indicated 67mph. The return trip had some very strong winds and it was knocked back to 46mpg.

2012-04-27 18.35.17 by Entropy1971, on Flickr

No issues at all with mine so far, very happy with it. The 85bhp one goes very well too and should manage a little more mpg.

Edited 6 May, 201214 yr by Mike Wrightson

i have 1.2 (85) (86)ps tsi get around 45 arond town 48 50+ on motorway Skoda Fabia 1.2 TSI (85 BHP) SE 5-Dr Hatchback Jul 2011 £8,279

Silver Metallic 7,955 miles * Manual Petrol

Edited 6 May, 201214 yr by skoda1982

We have a 1.2 TSI 85bhp. Trip computer average for the last 1000 miles is about 45mpg but it can get over 50 easily. The TSI is a great engine with really good power delivery, even in 85 bhp form it is plently fast enough for most use. We ran a Passat 2.0 TDI Estate at the same time and ended up selling it because we found we were using the Fabia more as the family car.

Also reliability over 20k miles has been great. The best thing to do is to drive one.

Hi MickA,

I recently bought the Fabia 1.4 16v MPI SE, Skoda were doing the 25% off offer (ie. offer price was £8995; incidentally they are doing the 1.2 HTP 12v SE for £8950, again 25% off).

However, on Autotrader you'll find a few 2009 09 1.4 16v models from £6500 (and also some 1.6 16v models). Our 1.4 16v is not a hot hatch but it goes very nicely around town and is more than adequate on the motorway. Get a little loud over 70 but is happy cruising at 80 - it will apparently just about manage 100 but I could imagine it will take a while to get there.

However, the car makes me smile... it is just so so easy to drive, so light yet nippy if required. Consumption is 35-40mpg but if cruising at 65-70 it will return 45 quite easily. Not brilliant but its just covered 1000 this week and comments elsewhere indicate it'll need about 10,000miles to be properly run in, and I must admit consumption is improving with every tank full.

If you possibly can, I'd go for a new one, 3 years warranty, RAC cover/Skoda assist... why pay the same for a 1-2 year old one???

Hope that helps, good luck.

Stef

Hi

I purchased a new Feb 61 plate 1.2TSI 85 Candy White from Ingrams Ayr cost £10k with mats .mud flaps and full size spare wheel .

I have done approx 2k miles so far if you drive around 60/70 limit average 47 if you sit 70/80+ you drop to 42 It is a nice wee car once in second it is no slouch ,very light steering and so quite especialy when stationary can hardly hear the engine tick over

.I find the seats a bit firm you sit on them rather than sit in them

.When it is raining hard the vision from the mirrors can be a bit unclear to do with the A pillers i have been told .Also my pet hate when raining the inside of the car around the bottom of the doors and rear wheel arches on the inside get filthy as does the rear boot area .We bought it as a run around as now retired and do not need apowerfull car .I have an other car for that .

I used to own a 02 Octavia L&K 2.0 Diesel estate in fact my son now has it for commuting ,ihave to say it has been the most reliable car i have owned and i have had had over 120 in my driving years .I just hope this one will live up to my exspectations .

Brian

.When it is raining hard the vision from the mirrors can be a bit unclear to do with the A pillers i have been told .

Apply some RainX or other water repellent to the windscreen and side windows. So far I am finding that it helps massively with this problem. As a side benefit, you don't need to use the wipers anywhere near as much!