Hail all,

We are going to replace our very battered old Fabia with another one which hopefully will last as long. The old dear has offered sterling service but has done over 145,000 hard miles and is knackered (Locks gone etc - windows don't wind - old clutch and all that)

I'm rather worried about the complexity of the modern engines/transmissions on offer.

Just want a newer car - with AC and an auto box. Is there a 'normal' auto option on the new car - with diesel - or just with petrol (Not that it matters that much with the tiny miles we do these days - though the kids live much further away now!) Also - would I be better off with a Roomster? Anybody know how they compare?

Honest Johns seems to favour the Roomster.

As to prices - this seem about right - http://www.usedcarex...ia/price-guide/

Anyway - any advice as to which to buy and what to look out for would be very welcome.

Thanks

David

Edited 11 September, 201213 yr by Dave Again

The cheapest Fabia with A/C and an auto box is the SE model,1.2 petrol(105ps),7speed dsg gearbox.

An excellent engine and auto box box,by all accounts.

Current price about £11265 under the VAt free offer,dealer would probably take £11000.

IMHO the Roomster is only better than the Fabia if you need the extra room!!!

If you ever need to carry anything, consider the estate as a serious option, the boot is massive for such a small car

Don't be afraid of the DSG box, one of the best autos out there

DSG is not an auto, it's an automated, twin-clutch manual...rant over.

I was looking at used Fabia 2s before I went nuts and got a Monte Carlo - there were Autos out there (slush box type), I think 1.6s. That was used though - I am unsure if they still do one new, or if the DSG revolution is complete.

Most autos have clutches but that doesnt make them a manual so for all intents and purposes the DSG is an automatic gearbox

Why does anyone rant over what a the gearbox in cars, with only 2 pedals is called?

Automatic, Automated, Robotised, Durashift, Servo Clutched, CVT,

(I loved old Citroens & Porcshes where you had a gearchange which you changed manually, you pressed to shifter for the servo clutch)

As long as you can drive them when you need or want to have an automatic, or have an 'automatic only' licence,

that suits most people.

george

Not to get off thread too far - it is just a product of VAG's marketing I guess. Having been told in inumerable magazine reviews that a DSG is a manual gearbox, with twin clutches, automated to allow the use of paddles, or an automatic function.

Different to an "automatic" as most know it - stick a lever in D and let the slush box churn.

No real difference, although I guess the OP specifically wants an auto box, NOT a DSG.

I should add - no real difference to driving a DSG or an auto, just better manual operation in a DSG.

Wow - hasn't this got a few feathers rattled!

Its all interpretation - "conventional" automatic gearboxes for the last 60 years or so have generally had a torque converter and an epicyclic gearset. More recently, they have the same geaset as a manual box with an automation system on the selection method and of the clutch, or a CVT system. As neither requires the driver to do any gearchanging manually, they are, by definition an "automatic" gearbox.

Semi-automatic ones are a slightly different kettle of fish - although generally a robotised/automated gearbox without the full automation enabled (think Smart).

The DSG is an automatic gearbox with manual override although based on the same mechanisms and principles as "manual" gearboxes. Why have robotised "manual" gearboxes now displaced automatic ones? Efficiency - plain and simple. To most drivers, they appear the same in there's a "D" setting on a gearlever, and two pedals (stop and go) and will behave in much the same way. Most drivers who choose the Auto/DSG option will probably never use "S" or "manual" (partial override) mode, so its a moot point. If you want an automatic gearbox-equipped VAG vehicle, its called DSG/S-tronic in most cases.

Simply they still do not need you to do manual changes, what ever they are called.

& just as simply,

all the way back to the 1950's & before when the boxes were as much CVT as Torque Converter,

there have been Automatics that you could choose to change manually with.

Nice column change boxes with all different numbers of gears.

Many Automatic drivers chose to change manually with 'conventional automatics', Winter driving, towing etc.

Some Automatics for many years now have provided nice automatic driving or manual changes if you want.

Plenty Conventual AutoBoxes available now with Paddle shifts like in the GT86/BRZ

The Fiat Speedgear was a good Automatic box, 'CVT that gave you a sequential manual' type change before some of the fancier boxes arrived.

(You had 2 types of Smart boxes to choose from)

george

Thanks all

I had forgotten the estate totally! Cheers for that - I want an conventional auto. Driven a couple of cars with DSG and I genuinely don't think they are anywhere near as smooth low down as 'normal' autobox.

I once delivered a Mercedes A' class with a semi auto box - I.E. a stick but no clutch (Clutchless manual) - I forgot and went to change gear - floored the brake on the M40 - how a I failed to cause a crash I've no idea! Still makes me shudder that does.

Any thaoughts on what to avoid on the Fabia - any faults to check for? - obvious ones that is...

Many thanks for all your answers!

Dave

I'd agree with the smoothness on a DSG6, or an earlier software version of the DSG7 (I've just come a Scirocco 1.4/DSG) - but IMHO the Fabia is almost as good as slush boxes (and better than the Scirocco was). I've also got a Jeep Cherokee (4.0 Auto) and that is smoother, but its only got 4 gears so you hang onto them a lot longer - yet it has the same bhp as the Fabia (and not much more torque). It won't do 40mpg though!

Please try another DSG before making any decision, they are or should be so smooth that there any question over them being as smooth as other Autoboxes, low down should be just fine...

I have only driven Autoboxes for 36 years and still have normal 4 speeds and drive them regularly,

they are fine but no comparison to the DSG.

george

I would certainly look at the Estate, sound advice. You sound as though, like me, you are getting on a bit (sorry) and if thats the case you just need a really nice easy to drive Auto. I always drove Autos but have had my 1.2 HTP for over two years now and find the manual box and light clutch a delight.Prior I had a Mk1 1.9Tdi estate and it was massive!. Not sure whether all the Mk2 fabias are DSG but any auto married to one of the bigger diesels would be great. As for issues, we all niggle about little things but I seriously don't know of any issues with the Mk 2 model, its a nice well built easy to live with car. I do hope you find one to suit, good luck and keep us informed.

Go for a Roomster 1,2 TSI , 105bhp with DSG ( SE is a good speck but if you want roof rails go for the SE+ ) the manual box is very good , test drive both the Fabia and the Roomster , I bet the Roomster will come out on top , great cars to drive , we tryed the Fabia hatchback , Fabia Estate and the Roomster , the Roomster won hands up , out of the three the Roomster felt the safest whilst driven

Go for a Roomster 1,2 TSI , 105bhp with DSG ( SE is a good speck but if you want roof rails go for the SE+ ) the manual box is very good , test drive both the Fabia and the Roomster , I bet the Roomster will come out on top , great cars to drive , we tryed the Fabia hatchback , Fabia Estate and the Roomster , the Roomster won hands up , out of the three the Roomster felt the safest whilst driven

I have driven all three and the Roomster is certainly no safer or better to drive IMHO. I would say try them all and make up your own mind. Personally I couldn't live with the Roomsters styling as I just don't like it. If I needed the room it would be the estate every time for me as I had one for three years (mk 1) and it's car like but huge without comprimising on style.

I beg to differ , try the 2012 models , the Roomster will always come out on top , I have had, 2 x Octavia's estates , Mk1 and Mk2 , 2x Roomsters , pre-face lift and face lift (2012 model ) also a Mk1 Fabia estate , out of all these cars the only one that came anyway near the 2012 Roomster was the Mk1 Octavia , try the 2012 Roomster on twisty roads with your foot down , 2012 Roomster any-day ( the rear wheels of the Roomster are wider than those of the Fabia ,( the engineering comes from the Octavia ) the stance is more squat on the Roomster therefore better road holding )

Thanks all

I had forgotten the estate totally! Cheers for that - I want an conventional auto. Driven a couple of cars with DSG and I genuinely don't think they are anywhere near as smooth low down as 'normal' autobox.

I once delivered a Mercedes A' class with a semi auto box - I.E. a stick but no clutch (Clutchless manual) - I forgot and went to change gear - floored the brake on the M40 - how a I failed to cause a crash I've no idea! Still makes me shudder that does.

Any thaoughts on what to avoid on the Fabia - any faults to check for? - obvious ones that is...

Many thanks for all your answers!

Dave

Direct Shift Gearboxes are the ways things are going and the fluid coupling and even belt gearboxes all seem to be on there way out due to the much better power effeciency of DSGs.

The trick, I find, and I have had several DSGs, 6 and 7 speed as well as fliud coupling boxes in 3.5 and 2.6 litre Rovers, is to actually occasional tell the DSG box to change in to Sports or Tiptronic mode. This way it does not get muddled or jerk and you can get even better economy.

The 7 speed box is better as it is both more fuel effecient and does not need the 40K oil changes as it is dty clutch not wet multi plate.

Mark 2 Fabia, even in the VRS, body rolls too much, Mark I VRS felt better IMO but I am reluctant to alter from standard unless I get Skoda to do it and fully tell insurance company.

Skoda only do the auto/DSG on the petrols for some reason. Great on the 1.2 TSI or 1.4 Twin charge VRS and new biulds are now available as variable servicing options.

Bargain with the VAT offer, big with the estate version ie nealy 500 litre boot. Got to be a good buy in m osy people's book.

All complex unfortuantely, even the 1.2 HTP we also have. Just the nature of 21st engines to get emissions etc.

Edited 14 September, 201213 yr by lol

Haha! Thanks for all the excellent advice! Really appreciated!

Sorry not got back. Been away for a very long and very overdue holiday but, once more into the breach... Horkin - I am most definately 'getting on a bit' - getting on a lot would be more accurate!

Might buy a secondhand Roomster with the 1.6 engine and torque converter box - but will try the Fabia estate, I do prefer the styling.

Found a useful review of the Roomster here - anything else anybody wants to add would be great...

http://www.usedcarexpert.co.uk/cars/skoda/roomster/fault-guides/#fault768

Many, many thanks

Dave

Sorry for the massive gap between the posts. Another Grandchild has appeared! everything has come to an enforced halt. And the Fabia is an it's absolute last legs...

Thinking that, with all the gubbins of the extra kid, a Roomster might be the way forward. I reckon a petrol Roomster with the 6 speed auto is the clever choice.

http://www.usedcarexpert.co.uk/buy/skoda/roomster/d-72652/id-9174243/

What say you all - going to do this pretty soon - this type of car - they seem very cheap compared to a diesel Fabia with DSG...

Cheers

Dave

Where are you seeing prices for Fabia Diesels with DSG?

http://www.broadspeed.com/new_cars/Skoda/Fabia

george

Used Roomsters are usually cheaper than the equivalent Fabia.

The style of a Roomster is personal choice - do you want a car to be useful for your needs or to look at?

Love my Fabia2 ( 3 years, no real problems), my nephew with small child likes the extra room in his Fabia Estate. One son has 1.2 Fabia 1 with 125,000 miles and is delighted - only console bushes, coil pack, replacement brakes and rad/sensor changed.

I have Yeti on order as the secondhand ones were nearly as much as a new one.

Skoda is the way to go......

Enough already, Lets help the OP here and just tell them that they will not be disappointed if they buy a DSG. The 1.2 is amazing and has lots of grunt when needed. Its a good long distance traveller too and even with the 45 profile wheels its still a very comfortable ride. As others have mentioned if you don't mind a longer car then choose the estate as the boot really is good and if your not too bothered with spec the SE if perfect for anyone who wants AC and Auto box. I don't like the Roomster as much as I find less good looking than the Fabia.

Go for it we got ours 14 months old and saved 6,000 quid to buying new and got a great little car with loads of personality. We love our DSG. We both agree its wins on every front compared to our old Merc.

The OP was Sept 2012,

are we now helping Dave Again from yesterdays question?

Best go try a Roomster with DSG and see if its to your liking.

george