Hi Skoda owners,

Owned Fabias over 11 years (previously a Opel (Astra) 2.0 litre 16v GSI (GTE). I have always been a sucker for the Mk1 Fabia’s look (very well done the designer (Belgium guy wasn’t he?)), it is a plain but a timeless attractive design albeit the lack of wrap around headlights of the modern era. In Vrs form looks quite striking without all the boy racer embellishments (reminds me of a Manx cat, long nose short arse) I hate plastic wheel arch trims etc. i.e. Honda Civic diesel variants.

The Mk II Fabia I think is a ugly and too tall. It may give more legroom and a little extra space, but who designed this car? In house design no doubt? From the rounded corporate nose of the time and the tall body does not lend itself to a sporty hatchback. The MK II Vrs engine I have no experience of, but some horrifying fuel consumption figures on the web have convinced me that I would put up with this if the Mk III Fabia was a LOT better looking! Particle filters bring in another worry for us low mileage old farts. Should we now be looking once again for petrol driven cars? The 1.9PD TDi engine I think has proved more reliable then the 2.0 common rail TDi with it’s Siemens fuel injectors. A little tighter handling would be good on the Mk1, maybe a rear anti roll bar would be good, any thoughts? Red x2 is the best colour!

Hi and welcome aboard.

That vRS looks super clean, why not buy a rear anti roll bar for it? It's a brilliant upgrade and makes a huge difference to the behaviour of the car.

As my Mk1 Fabia Vrs is nearly nine years old it was time to consider a trade-in while it was still worth reasonable money and went to the launch of the Fabia 3 at our not so near dealer after an invite dropped through the letterbox (That is how it starts). Test drove a manual 5 speed TSI 90 bhp and a TSI 110 DSG auto version, both were impressive especially the DSG but at a £1,000 premium resisted. In the end did a deal for a race blue TSI 110 SE L 6 speed manual with Clubber 17 inch wheels. Would have loved the Savio wheels but the price £200 each Ouch! Extras included rear electric windows (detest window winders), heated seats, skinny spare wheel, simply clever package, front and rear parking sensors, To be fitted by dealer, front mudflaps, sill protectors, AutoGlym LifeShine paint protection, Apple cable (waiting hopefully for June when Mirrorlink should be compatible following a download and upgrade with the iPhone 5 and above I think.). This totalled just short of £17,000 enough I think for a Fabia, yes they are creeping in price much closer to their VW Polo cousins only £650 short if you exclude the difference in extras, so I read. It is in the UK now and should able to collect it in about two weeks. Will give an update regarding fuel consumption etc later. Jabba Sport have no intentions in making an anti roll bar for the Fabia 3 at present so I will try and get my Mk1  rollbar modified at some later date.