As we all know the current Fabia Sport is a bit of a waste of space and not very appealing.

It will be replaced with the 1.2 64bhp Fabia Sport, it will gain tinted rear windows, and a new gear stick, and will keep all the old Sport extra's including the 6cd autochanger.

The price will also be dropped the

You're right it's not much cop. Good in the twistys mind, but can't beat a TDi.

That sounds like a good move. The 1.2 is not much slower than the 75BHP 1.4 16v in the Sport and that change makes it a lot more affordable. Should use less fuel and cost less to insure too. It should come with proper front electric windows as standard though!

The seats are decent enough, the rest of the car looks nice too. With the small engine it would never really be a racer, but I'm guessing a little tweaking could be done

The one thing that REALLY made me not want to buy it though wasnt the performance (that was kinda known beforehand), it was the rubbish looking switches in the console. Seem to remember they are to control the electric windows. Dunno what other switch gear it had.

Either way - they make the car look rubbish IMHO. How about putting in proper switches, looks decent that way, and it's a standard part too (yeah more expensive no doubt), so it's not totally custom or anything.

Strange :-)

The one thing that REALLY made me not want to buy it though wasnt the performance (that was kinda known beforehand)' date=' it was the rubbish looking switches in the console. Seem to remember they are to control the electric windows. Dunno what other switch gear it had.

Either way - they make the car look rubbish IMHO. How about putting in proper switches, looks decent that way, and it's a standard part too (yeah more expensive no doubt), so it's not totally custom or anything.[/quote']

Think Lummox said that electric windows were added as an afterthought on the early ones, but the current ones now have proper factory fitted electric windows, using the normal Skoda switchgear

Chris

Its a good move by Skoda in my opinion.

The 1.4 16v didnt really have a place, it wasnt fast but also wasnt cheap. Now its a 1.2 12v its bang up against the Corsa SXi and the Fiesta 1.25 Zetec both of which are very popular with young drivers. Group 3-4 insurance will also appeal.

Its come from Skoda actually listening to the response from dealers on the 1.4 version.

It will be replaced with the 1.2 64bhp Fabia Sport, it will gain tinted rear windows, and a new gear stick

Is the gearstick like the one in the Czech Fabia Sportline?

BTW, I like those red seatbelts

http://www.skoda-auto.com/cze/model/actions/2005_02_fabiasportline.htm

Red seatbelts are confirmed as a new addition to the spec.

And the electric windows and remote CDL will be factory fitted and not the rather dubious aftermarket ones as fitted to the demo I was in yesterday.

Good - as they would prevent me from buying one

The red seatbelts remind me of the MG metros. It's a bit tacky when put against the rest of the car. I hope it does not get the go faster stripes either

Still too expensive.As are most of the skoda models now.Think skoda must be trying to move away from the 'cheap' image.It's not a bad thing,just don't think they deserve the tags like 'bargain' or 'cheap' or phrases like "for those shopping on a budget"Cheeky buggers!!!!

C2 is pretty nice - must admit I kinda like the grille on the latest Citroens.

Ah, so the Fabia sport has become even less sporty!

I didnt think that was possible.

Maybe they should call it the Fabia couchpotato instead.

At that money you're in Ignis Sport territory, which is actually pretty good - faster than the Mini Cooper etc too.

I drove one and it was ok.

I'd definitely pick one over a Fabia Sport, and I dont even like the Ignis that much. However, apart from the Lupo GTI, I believe its the only brand new sub 1000 kg hot hatch on the market.

But at least it's better than the 1.4 Sport, and a lot cheaper!

1.2 is confirmed group 3 insurance now, as someone else has said to compete with Corsa, C2 etc

And youngsters who's mummys are looking at buying something for their kid and them to drive may well hit a compromise with the looks against badge snobbery !!

For the intended customer base it seems like a good vehicle, and the low insurance ratings will help. Insurance cost is a real killer when you are starting out on the motoring front, and a low group there should make a nice difference

I want those seats!!!

How can they call a car sport with a puny little engine.

How can they call a car sport with a puny little engine.

To sell cars. The Corsa SXI is less sporty and is marketed as a sport trim.

You could say the same thing about the Fabia Elegance with no electric rear windows and cloth seats, the Scenic Dynamique and it's a people carrier, any Citroen with the badge 'Exclusiv', with those money off offers???? And few Mercedes built in the last 10 years have had the build quality that it's reputation deserved.