Hi all,

I'm thinking of getting a Fabia Estate. Finding cars with the MaxiDot seems a bit tricky. Which trim levels have the MaxiDot as standard (if any!)? I was thinking about getting a 1.4 TDI, if possible a Greenline as fuel economy is kind of important! The reason is that I'd like proper Bluetooth, and I've heard that they need the MaxiDot cluster rather than the basic one (and having a temp gauge is nice too). If not, can they be easily retrofitted? I know they can in the (basically identical) Polo.

not sure about other models , but its standard in the vRS

Its not standard in an s, se or monte either. I dont know about the greenline.

I was under the impression you didnt need maxidot though? Just an expensive bt module and routing the wire for the mic? I may well be wrong though.

There are plenty of kits around (belkin, parrot etc) if you really cant get one.

I wish i had maxidot :(.

Maybe someone could confirm if the 'Monte Carlo Tech Black Edition 1.6 TDI CR Estate' has Maxidot as standard.

 

Or is it a only a Used Diesel Estate that you are looking at?

May e configure a few cars on the skoda website and see?

All Techs come with Maxidot as standard and I'm sure you don't need Maxidot for the Bluetooth as the numbers are displayed on the head unit.

The bluetooth control on the Fabia/Rapid is a bit cack, with a long winded stalk affair.  Not a multi function steering wheel like the Octy/Yeti.

Trying to press various buttons on the stalk while driving I found awkward, frustrating and too distracting.

 

So I wouldn't get hung up on it really if that's the only reason you want Maxi-Dot.

 

Just find a decent car and fit an aftermarket kit.

With the Amundsen you can use the touchscreen to browse contacts, call logs, last number redial, make/answer calls etc or you can use voice control, I've never used the stalk buttons for the phone.

There's other aftermarket Bluetooth handsfree systems out there from cheap and cheerful cigarette lighter ones to the Parrot unit which is more expensive but fully intergrated like an OEM system and comes with a screen to show numbers etc.

True, but I suspect finding a Greenline with maxi-dot, Bluetooth and Asmundsen is going to be almost impossible, rather than a bit tricky.

Yeah I should have said- I'm looking used! As much as I'd love a brand new car on that great 0% finance thing (my parents have just ordered a Superb), there's absolutely no chance of that. Even a second-hand Mk.1 vRS would be too much insurance-wise, hence looking at Greenlines and the regular 1.4 TDI (I'm a 22-year-old medical student, need a car to get to placements in something safe, reliable, and cheap).

 

I'd rather not have one of those ugly bolt-on things (they're 'standard fit' in the Polo- ick!). From my understanding, you need either a touchscreen head unit, MaxiDot, or MFSW to operate the 'proper' VW-Group Bluetooth. The standard 'Swing' headunit can't answer or make calls- I'm thinking it's a re-skinned RCD310 like in the VWs? Is this right? I know that a MFSW is available on the Fabia now. Bluetooth wouldn't be the only reason to get a MaxiDot- the basic clusters with digital fuel gauges an no temp gauge annoy me (I've rented Polos and Ibizas with those clusters). There seems to have been a changeover with the mild facelift the car got around 2010- does this equate to the change between 'red' and 'white' clusters in VWs? Can the older clusters do Bluetooth?

True, but I suspect finding a Greenline with maxi-dot, Bluetooth and Asmundsen is going to be almost impossible, rather than a bit tricky.

Doesn't mean you can't make it :-)

The MaxiDot is the hardest bit- Bluetooth and a new head unit is easy enough

The Fabia Multi Function Steering Wheel only has buttons on one side.

It doesn't control all the phone functions and you need to fiddle with a few buttons on the right hand stalk.

It's not the same MFSW as the Octy, Yeti and Superb that have buttons on both sides and give you full control without taking a hand off the wheel.

Off topic, but try a quote on the smaller petrol engines if insurance is a problem. On my 2013 fabia with the 70hp 1.2 htp is £660 fully comp. i was pleasantly surprised .

Oh and im 21 first year insurance in my name on a car but 2 years on mums polo named driver n 4 years on motorbikes in my own name.

Edited 6 January, 201412 yr by Otaylor38

Can the older clusters do Bluetooth?

My 2008 Fabia Estate has MaxiDot but no Bluetooth functionality. Doesn't look like the cluster for pre-facelift Fabias is compatible with Bluetooth - I have a 2008 and a 2009 Fabia brochure here and can't see any Bluetooth control options. You'd probably need to be looking at a higher spec post-facelift Fabia.

My Elegance has Maxidot.

Getting a Greenline that you're describing, with the kit you want might be tricky - I think at that age, they were available in one trim level - above S, but below SE - our 09 plate Superb Greenline was like this.  In 2011 or 2012 they introduced the current thinking where you could order a Greenline in any spec level - I suspect for bluetooth/maxi-dot/VAG head-unit that handles calls etc, you would need uprgrades to about SE+ or higher trim level.

 

You may achieve almost as good economy without resorting to Greenline and get what you need in a 1.4 TDI/1.9 TDI model.

The Fabia Multi Function Steering Wheel only has buttons on one side.

It doesn't control all the phone functions and you need to fiddle with a few buttons on the right hand stalk.

It's not the same MFSW as the Octy, Yeti and Superb that have buttons on both sides and give you full control without taking a hand off the wheel.

 

Ah. That's a pain. Does it not do voice control? 

 

Off topic, but try a quote on the smaller petrol engines if insurance is a problem. On my 2013 fabia with the 70hp 1.2 htp is £660 fully comp. i was pleasantly surprised  .

Oh and im 21 first year insurance in my name on a car but 2 years on mums polo named driver n 4 years on motorbikes in my own name.

 

 

Yup I've been driving a 1.2 Polo since I was 18, but my brother's passed his test so he's getting that. I've heard that the TDI lumps (especially the older engines) are bulletproof (my parents have a T-Plate Mk.3 Golf Estate TDI, done 165k, never gone wrong), and I'll be doing a fair bit of motorway miles as I've got placements all over the place. Or are the TSI engines good with motorway fuel economy?

 

My 2008 Fabia Estate has MaxiDot but no Bluetooth functionality. Doesn't look like the cluster for pre-facelift Fabias is compatible with Bluetooth - I have a 2008 and a 2009 Fabia brochure here and can't see any Bluetooth control options. You'd probably need to be looking at a higher spec post-facelift Fabia.

 

That would be a bummer. Would the Kufatec system not work? I'd assume that the 2007-2010 Fabia is fairly similar to the other VAG cars from around 2004-2010 like the earlier Octy IIs, Golf 5s etc. In VWs the DIS changed from red to white around 2010, with the Fabia gaining Polo-style clusters at that point (I think!) with a slightly different layout (1 big screen for MaxiDot, not 2). If the early Fabias are effectively the same as the VW 'Red' systems, then this should work http://www.kufatec.co.uk/shop/en/fiscon-bluetooth-solution/fiscon-bluetooth-handsfree-basic-vw-skoda

 

 

Anyway, mum's going in to the Skoda dealer today to sign some paperwork for her Superb (she's so excited- hasn't had a new car since I came along and ruined everything financially!) so will try and have a play with a Fabia or Rapid.

That would be a bummer. Would the Kufatec system not work? I'd assume that the 2007-2010 Fabia is fairly similar to the other VAG cars from around 2004-2010 like the earlier Octy IIs, Golf 5s etc. In VWs the DIS changed from red to white around 2010, with the Fabia gaining Polo-style clusters at that point (I think!) with a slightly different layout (1 big screen for MaxiDot, not 2). If the early Fabias are effectively the same as the VW 'Red' systems, then this should work http://www.kufatec.co.uk/shop/en/fiscon-bluetooth-solution/fiscon-bluetooth-handsfree-basic-vw-skoda

I think the 2007-2010 Fabia received the most basic MaxiDot system available in the VAG parts bin at the time (MaxiDot was only standard on level '3' trim - equivalent to Elegance which became the new designation for the highest spec level in conjunction with the 2010 facelift). My guess would be that the pre-2010 mk 2 Fabias with level 3 trim have the 'Red' system, meaning that the Kufatec system should work.

Getting a Greenline that you're describing, with the kit you want might be tricky - I think at that age, they were available in one trim level - above S, but below SE - our 09 plate Superb Greenline was like this.  In 2011 or 2012 they introduced the current thinking where you could order a Greenline in any spec level - I suspect for bluetooth/maxi-dot/VAG head-unit that handles calls etc, you would need uprgrades to about SE+ or higher trim level.

 

You may achieve almost as good economy without resorting to Greenline and get what you need in a 1.4 TDI/1.9 TDI model.

Greenline was only an ideal, not a requirement. I've seen a few '3' spec cars on Autotrader and they seem great- climate control, MaxiDot, cruise control, front arm rest etc. I'm also considering the Polo 5 (Cabin seems nicer, but fewer toys), Fiesta (drives great bus is FUGLY), and Ibiza (better styling, nastier cabin). It might all be elementary though- I might be inheriting an old Golf which, being free, is infinitely better than anything else! 

 

Incidentally, we went into the Skoda dealership in Bath for mum to sign some paperwork, and I had a play around with a brand-new Rapid Spaceback. It had the 'proper' MFSW, with buttons on both sides. It was quite high spec car, maybe they've just changed it with the introduction of the Spaceback.