And another daft question... How is the gearknob fixed on a Fabia and do any of the other VW group ones fit (Seat/Audi etc.)

I keep getting a numb hand from the square shape of the standard item so want to change it for a simple ball (say off an Ibiza) but it doesn't seem to screw off and searching the net has come up with little info.

I've tried Butts and nothing they do appeals, hence the though of going for another "in house" one.

Cheers

I aint got a clue mate...seems to be fixed....I have the version in the elegance...chrome effect....has never given my hand problems. They may be able to throw one of those on for you at the dealers...and it looks nice as well.

Yeah did have a look at one of those but figured the shape wasn't that much different from the one on our Comfort. Might have another look though if you reckon it's OK as I don't seem to be having much luck finding an alternative. I'm also struggling to get the old one off. It certainly doesn't screw off and feels like it's bolted on somewhere inside the gaitor. I reckon I'll have to strip the centre console and have a propor look as I may then be able to fit a nico Momo or Sparco alloy ball, like the one I have on my MX 5.

Cheers for the info anyway.

I had my local dealer change the standard plasticky one for a much nicer leather one from the options list.

I think it just unscrews from the gear stick shaft, but there is a clip holding it in place as well.

Newbie to this forum - anyone else with a fabia TDi :?:

--------

Fabia TDi

125bhp 220lbs/ft!

Looks like it's just you and me with TDi's... is your of the hatch or estate variety?

I am of the hatch variety - a comfort TDi no less.

Have you noticed the new Fabia usergroup?

Looks like it's just you and me with TDi's... is your of the hatch or estate variety?[/quote:49dc9d8aed]

I'd just like you say that I have a TDi Fabia Elegance Hatch, and that I think it is one hell of an underated car!

I would definitely agree with that one flying scot. After 21 months and 43000 miles I'm still seriously impressed with our TDI Comfort Estate. No glitches so far and it does 60 odd mpg! It's a lot better car than most people think, including our associates on here with the Octavias... but I guess they are basing thier views on the base models they get as courtesy cars from time to time.

Where's this Fabia usergroup then as I seem to be missing something but then I'm not a regular to this site as I concentrate on my other car.

Cheers

Click "usergroups" at the top of the forums....

..and I really like the Fabia, it feels "like a skoda" in that the controls are solid but the handling is nimble, quite chuckable.

..and yes, the only fabia I've driven was a 1.4mpi classic, base spec, but quite fun, if a little underpowered, but then it did have 26% of the bhp of my octy! The TDi is quite appealing tho!

Before I got my Octavia, I drove a Fabia TDi and was very impressed - to the point of nearly buying one.

I will definitely replace my Felicia with a Fabia 1.9TDi when funds allow. I've never owned a diesel, but the thought of all that torque in a Fabia-sized car makes me tingle all over. :oops:

Yep, I've had a Fabia TDi courtesycar, once -the only diesel car I've ever driven that needed ASR!

I actually looked at buying a Facia for Mrs C, but I can get good discounts on V*uxh*ll cars, so we went for an Astra instead.

Phil

Nice of you guys to pass such positive comment... I was beginning to wonder if it was an Octavia only site (particularly RS/vRS/4x4) but my faith has been restored!

And by the way... yes all that torque in a fabia sized car is pretty good fun and yes it does need the traction control!

Cheers

Just another quickie... Thanks for the Usergroups info Tavia4x4... as you can see i've sussed it!

I had a 1.4 (16v) fabia elegance as a courtousy car. This car has the same power (100bhp) but no where near the amount of torque that the Tdi has.

It felt very slow in comparison to the Tdi.

Put in a tuning chip/box and its bye bye golf gti (as one driver found out the hard way)

Come to think of it you cannot buy a quicker new car for under

FabiaTDi... Have you got a tuning box then as I note your power and torque is higher than standard. If so how much was it and is it worthwhile?

Cheers

I note your power and torque is higher than standard[/quote:ff456b3c46]

No kidding, he's only 11 lb ft of torque down on me, and with a lot less weight!!! :shock:

That has *got* to be fun! 8)

FabiaTDi... Have you got a tuning box then as I note your power and torque is higher than standard. If so how much was it and is it worthwhile?

Cheers[/quote:5fef0f6919]

Yes, i have a tuning box from Bromleys (www.bromleystuning.com)

There are simply loads on the market, but i chose this one as several had been tested in Dieselcar magazine.

Its easy to fit/remove in about 15mins. I think it was around

I note your power and torque is higher than standard[/quote:9cd256bd78]

No kidding, he's only 11 lb ft of torque down on me, and with a lot less weight!!! :shock:

That has *got* to be fun! 8)[/quote:9cd256bd78]

Well the Fabia Hatch values for BHP are 100BHP@4000RPM and Torque is 176lb ft @ 1900RPM!!! which gives a power to wright ratio of 80BHP per tonne.

The (Standard) Octavia RS has 180BHP@5500RPM and Torque is 173lb/ft @ 5000RPM and the power to weight ratio is 133

The 4x4 has 150bhp@5700RPM and Torque of 155@4600 and power to weight to ratio of 107

So a (Standard) Fabia has more torque than a (Standard) RS or a 4x4 and it's lower down on the rev-counter-sweet :twisted:

So Mr Clarkson why is it you don't like diesels again??:?:???

Well the Fabia Hatch values for BHP are 100BHP@4000RPM and Torque is 176lb ft @ 1900RPM!!! which gives a power to wright ratio of 80BHP per tonne.

The 4x4 has 150bhp@5700RPM and Torque of 155@4600 and power to weight to ratio of 107

So a (Standard) Fabia has more torque than a (Standard) RS or a 4x4 and it's lower down on the rev-counter-sweet :twisted: [/quote:f20275841d]

flyingscot

You are being a bit selective with those figures. My 4x4 develops maximum torque [b:f20275841d]between[/b:f20275841d] 1750 and 4600 rpm, not at 4600 rpm. And the max torque band for the RS is 1950 to 5000 rpm. That said, I am a bigger fan of torque than power since lots of the former makes a car far more driveable.

Well the Fabia Hatch values for BHP are 100BHP@4000RPM and Torque is 176lb ft @ 1900RPM!!! which gives a power to wright ratio of 80BHP per tonne.

The 4x4 has 150bhp@5700RPM and Torque of 155@4600 and power to weight to ratio of 107

So a (Standard) Fabia has more torque than a (Standard) RS or a 4x4 and it's lower down on the rev-counter-sweet :twisted: [/quote:1876aa09f6]

flyingscot

You are being a bit selective with those figures. My 4x4 develops maximum torque [b:1876aa09f6]between[/b:1876aa09f6] 1750 and 4600 rpm, not at 4600 rpm. And the max torque band for the RS is 1950 to 5000 rpm. That said, I am a bigger fan of torque than power since lots of the former makes a car far more driveable.[/quote:1876aa09f6]

I'm not really being selective I took the figures from the back of a magazine (if anybody wants to check it's Jan 2003 issue of What Car? and an issue of Top gear I can't see right now, which has a Fococ RS on it with the headline Boy's toys). I think what it means is that peak torque is developed at 4600rpm etc.

I took my figures from the Technical Data booklet supplied with my car. My point is that you should be comparing a torque figure of 176 lbs/ft lb at 1900 RPM for the Fabia with 155 lbs/ft at 1750 RPM for the 4x4 and 173 lbs/ft at 1950 RPM for the RS. The torque curve I have seen for the standard 4x4 is flat between 1750 and 4600 RPM, ie the 4x4 develops maximum torque throughout that rev band, not [b:440fa5fddb]at[/b:440fa5fddb] 4600 RPM.

Quoted power and torque figures for the TDi tend to be on the conservative side...

A quick look at the superchips web site shows a standard fabia TDi putting out 110bhp@3391rpm and 186lbs/ft@2475rpm.

Power with the chip rises to 131bhp@3758rpm and 219lbs/ft@2658rpm.

In a comfort TDi which weighs around 1200kg....

109bhp per tonne and 182lbs/ft per tonne with the chip.

Whats more Upsolute chips get 133bhp and 229lbs/ft from the Fabia!!

I dont fancy my chances against even a standard RS - unless its fifth gear 50-70!

wow, all this torque from just changing the gear knob

having owned a tuning box'd leon tdi, i'm a great fan of diesels and am sure that eventually at least one of my cars will be on the oily stuff. the real world abilities of these cars, especially those 'breathed upon', are pretty outstanding.

i've got a feeling that the next generation VAG diesel units will make at least a few of us here desert petrol. 180-190bhp and 250-260 torquey things out of the box, i reckon.

How on earth did we get from gear knobs to performance! Interesting, nevertheless, and if I had the money I would have a Fabia 1.9TDi like a shot. When I said I am a fan of torque, I like plenty of it low down in the rev band. That's what towing does to you...