My wife has a 2006 Mk1 1.9TDI Fabia Elegance with 46,000 miles on it.

 

We have been thinking of selling it as she only works 3 miles away, we had been considering a 1.0 Citigo 5 door Elegance but then a dealer has said for the price we would pay for that spec of Citigo we could get a ' Reaction ' Fabia...... the Fabia is the 1.2 engine and not the 1.0 litre.

 

She does not really need a car as big as a Fabia for her 6 mile round trip ! But is it silly to pay more for a smaller car which is lower down the pecking order of Skoda ?

I would opt for the Fabia just because you get more room for your money and when you're driving it feels like a bigger car than it is. I know that there are deals on the Fabia because the model will be replaced in the next couple of years, but why not take advantage of such a good price? The 1.2 engine on offer is not as modern as the newer TSI ones but it's tried and tested, as is the car, having been in production since 2007. There are people who actively go for models that are towards the end of their production run, because all the niggles have all been sorted. And if you're only doing 3 miles each way, it would hardly matter that you don't have a more fuel efficient engine. I'd opt for space and comfort - Fabia for me. 

My son has a Citigo 5 door Elegance Greentech and it's running costs are minimal with £0 Road tax 60'ish mpg and Group 1 Insurance.Good to drive too.

The Fabia is based on a very old design,and just about to be replaced.

In a few years time I think The Citigo will have proved to be much better value.

Had a Citigo as a loan car.  Unfortunately it was an 'automatic'!  The car was nice enough but the auto box was dreadful.  Even the dealership staff agreed!  So, if you go for a Citigo I would avoid the auto!

Edited 30 July, 201312 yr by lp24

depends what you want to use it for

 

if you just want something for a short commute, the occasional bit of small shopping I would got citigo

 

if you want more boot space and longer runs then probably the fabia

 

citigo internally for passengers seems little difference to the fabia except slightly less rear leg room, compromise is boot space and less bonnet

 

lower purchase price, insurance, road tax, fuel costs point to citigo, but the compromise is size and functionality, only you know how you will likely use the vehicle and what you want from it

 

go test drive the two and then make your mind up

Edited 30 July, 201312 yr by bluecar1

I traded my old Fabia Mk11 1.2 HTP for newer Fabia. I considered a Citigo, lovely car to drive but the Fabias size was better for me.

 

I don't agree with previous post that the Fabia is based on a very old design. That is not true, it was a new design in 2007 and as is VW policy (BMW and Merc too) they kept some of the parts from the previous model which were tried and tested and is good practice.

 

Best is to test drive both, consider your requirements of space mainly, and make your decision. Either way you won't be disappointed I'm sure.

I'd say it depends where you are a couple of years down the road. Will the wife still be working only 3 miles from home? Will you need space for kids? It would be a waste of money to buy a Citigo now, just to realize in two or three years time that the Fabia would have been a better option.

 

Speaking abou buying a car that is too big, I have a Fabia Estate now, and while it is obviously too big for many occasions, more often than not I'm glad we went for the Estate and not the Hatch. I would try to have both for an extended test drive over a weekend or so (i.e. more than just a few miles round the neighbourhood) and really see and feel the difference in driving, handling, parking, engine, space and comfort.

 

One final argument may be which car/version that may be easier to sell in the future, the Citigo Elegance or the Fabia Reaction? From glancing at the specs I'd say the Reaction, but that's me and the kind of car I would want ot buy.

 

Besides the extended test drive, I would sit down and compare the specs of the cars side by side and think about what you really need as opposed to just fancy and then decide which one is the better option.

I traded my old Fabia Mk11 1.2 HTP for newer Fabia. I considered a Citigo, lovely car to drive but the Fabias size was better for me.

 

I don't agree with previous post that the Fabia is based on a very old design. That is not true, it was a new design in 2007 and as is VW policy (BMW and Merc too) they kept some of the parts from the previous model which were tried and tested and is good practice.

 

Best is to test drive both, consider your requirements of space mainly, and make your decision. Either way you won't be disappointed I'm sure.

 

 

The 2007 Fabia was a major facelift, it still sat on the Mk1 Fabia's PQ24 Chassis that was introduced in 1999.

 

It's one of the oldest chassis in VAG's line up

 

Cheers

Lee

The 1.2 engine in the Fabia Reaction is a real 'bargain-basement' option -there's nothing wrong with it, but it is rather dated and uneconomical and underpowered, although is simple and should be cheap to fix if anything goes wrong with it in the future. The Citigo engine is a thoroughly modern engine that is faster and more economical despite the smaller capacity -if going for a Fabia -I'd be looking for a TSI Monte Carlo if you like the style or an SE if something plainer. You probably can get a larger discount on a Fabia than on a Citigo, There's also some cracking deals on Rapids if there's any left.

Thanks for all that, the kid side of things is all over and done with so no bigger car will be needed in the future, we also have a newer shape 1.6CR Elegance Fabia so i know how the Mk2 cars drive, the older engine in the Reaction is a bit of a shock, i had not thought it was that out of date, i have driven a Citigo and did like it, i agree it felt a lot faster than on paper and was very refined for a 1.0 litre...... i think i may go for the citigo. Thanks

Also remember the Citigo is a current model while the Fabia is entering it's run out phase with the model line up being slimmed down and specials being introduced.

 

May only have a small effect on residuals when the new model comes out but it if you want the current model a bit longer you need a Citigo.

The 2007 Fabia was a major facelift, it still sat on the Mk1 Fabia's PQ24 Chassis that was introduced in 1999.

 

It's one of the oldest chassis in VAG's line up

 

Cheers

Lee

 

The 2007 Fabia was a major facelift, it still sat on the Mk1 Fabia's PQ24 Chassis that was introduced in 1999.

 

It's one of the oldest chassis in VAG's line up

 

Cheers

Lee

It was actually a "modified version of the PQ24 retaining the same wheel base but was both longer and slightly narrower. With the new range of engines, suspension and totally new body and interior, it's hardly a "facelift".

It was actually a "modified version of the PQ24 retaining the same wheel base but was both longer and slightly narrower. With the new range of engines, suspension and totally new body and interior, it's hardly a "facelift".

 

The majority of VAG platforms are flexible to some degree. Doesn't change the fact that the Mk2 wasn't an all new car or design though, just a rework of the Mk1.

 

Cheers

Lee

Which always means proven design.   Or should.

 

We know how they are at 7 years old, no surprises come MOT time. Anything like leaks, squeaks, wear and tear items are all known and do not come as a surprise. Even the engines are tried and tested.

You might think by the time a model comes to the end of their run they would be at their best, tried and tested, perfected.

(Strange that the cars do not come with standard 5 year Warranties, or even better 7 year ones.)

 

Citigo,UP!,Mii will no doubt be fine with no major surprises to hit them once they are 6/7 years old, 

The first build 3 cylinder engines in the Citigo, Up!,Mii will no doubt be fine by 90,000 miles and beyond.

Pity then that Skoda/VW/Seat are not so confident, so do not put 5 or 7 year warranties on the cars they sell from the off.

 

george

If purely based on the current commute, then i'd say the Citigo wins on paper on running costs (and the fact it warms up so quickly).  As I've said in a previous post (and has been sort of backed up on here), my wife was looking at a Fabia but finds the Citigo a much better drive - car feels more solid, less crashy and wallowy (her words).

 

The ASG is "marmite" - certainly not in the same league as the DSG, but does a pretty good job for a car having 2 pedals.

 

Another thing to consider is the resale value - the Citigo (being the "new boy") will almost certainly hold its value better; also helped by the low tax and high mpg figures compared to the Fabia you mention.

 

The one thing you will never get written down on paper is how someone "feels" with the car; there may be some of the compromises of the Citigo that SWMBO can't live with (parcel shelf, boot size, window switches etc) or even something as daft as the seats.

 

I was surprised to find the Citigo is actually wider (only mm though) than the Fabia.  Either way, its a dream due to small overhangs to park in car parks.

The Citigo is a modern design, that's fun to drive, free to tax and efficient.

The only downside in my opinion is it's not tried and tested long term.  But for around £250 you can get a five year warranty.

 

The Fabia Reaction is based on the bargain spec Fabia, is old tech and features an old tech engine (poor economy and co2 figures) that is not only not as good, but will be pulling a couple of hundred extra kg about.  It does have a bigger boot though.

 

If it's just an A-B box with wheels you need and more space for the money sounds good, go for the Fabia.

But I would go for the Citigo every time.

 

There are some good Fabia models, but in my opinion a run out special edition based on the lowest spec and engine is not the one to get unless, as I said, you just want a cheap box to get about in.

I think the reaction models are all primer grey too, with a bit of black detailing.

You have it exactly, it really is just an A-B box, boot size and the size of the rear seat footwell etc is not important, for about 95% of the time there will only be one person in it. The lack of RFL payable and the high MPG coupled with very cheap insurance is what makes a city car sell by the bucket load, and thinking about it i can see cars like the Citigo keep a decent amount of what they cost because of fuel prices and insurance prices only ever going up.

 

Just need to get the best deal i can now on a 5 door elegance.... shame they don't do it in Cappachino beige !

I watched the Citygo going through homologation and EuroNcap testing. By heck it takes a hell of a beating without any problem. Strong little car and very nice to drive. Nearly bought one myself.

Citigo, it's far nicer to sit in and drive.

Silver Leaf has a slight "cream" tint to it - which is what drew SWMBO to that colour as it's not the normal start, bright silver.

I've just put a deposit down on an SE Citigo Greentech in this very colour today for my daughter at Mitchells Skoda, near Chester. Their salesman, Ross, just gave us the keys to their demonstrator and let my daughter and me take it away for a spin. She was impressed enough to for me to do a PCP deal that will cost me, after putting up the maximum deposit, £76 a month for the next 3 years. It really is a solid little car that feels confident on the road and not at all noisy. And in Silver Leaf, it looks a treat.

citgo would be my choice.

She was impressed enough to for me to do a PCP deal that will cost me, after putting up the maximum deposit, £76 a month for the next 3 years.

With no mention of the deposit amount, quoting a monthly cost is a bit pointless, as the actual cost is hidden.

Very nice of you to supply your daughter with a new car for three years though.

Under PCP you can put up to 30% of the price down as a deposit. The Greentech with metallic paint was £9600, so I could put £2880 as a maximum deposit. Taking advantage of the 0% APR offer, the monthly payment came out at £76 for 35 months. At end of the 3 years, you can either hand back the keys, pay off the optional final payment so you own the car or put the car in as part exchange against another car. I hope this helps.

Cabin for cabin, I'd have the Citigo every time. Other posters have commented on most things worth thinking about, all I can is that it feels like a much bigger car to drive, and I have a 34 mile round trip daily communte encompassing fast B roads and dual carriageways and the Citigo is simply brilliant at all times and is great fun to drive. Fabia is great for space, but their are better models than the Reaction.