So I have now had my car around 12 months and thought I would share with you my thoughts.

Well the first thing was, could I live with the colour YELLOW.. very loud I know but it was the only car within reach at the time that came with the DSG box and Elegance spec I was looking for. Got to say I have had more compliments ( of which some must have been genuine ) than I might have hoped for. It is a Marmite job I know but every time I clean and polish it I just have to stand back and admire as the lovely alloys, front fogs etc just set the whole thing off into a great banana bonanza!!.

 

I find the ride and handling are everything I could hope for in a car of this class. It's not a sports car but it suits my ageing years perfectly.My other half does not drive but worries because she knows what I've been like over the years, swapping and changing and she loves the car so much I am under orders to keep it!.

 

The engine is a joy. It's so nippy, great for overtakes and cruises effortlessly on faster roads. Cabin comfort too is right up there with the very best with little road or wind noise and the seats are comfy. Space is plentyful too. In fact I think the build quality generally is good. I'm lucky not to have the dash squeaks reported by some.

 

Economy is not something I check regularly but I know by the reduced visits to the petrol booth just how economical the car is.

 

The DSG box has been much maligned by some, usually with those who seem to have an axe to grind with VAG. I don't know why this is but personally I can't fault it. It is ultra smooth, selects gears at the right time, responds well to varying traffic conditions and is far and away the best box of it's type I have ever owned.

The roundabout symptoms used to degrade the car by scribes like Honest John and a few others are in my opinion again purely unfounded. Yes it is possible that a new owner may experience a slight hesitation at first but once the box's brain has learned the way the driver uses it and once the driver learns how the box reacts to the throttle, it's not difficult to jump from brake to accelerator

without the slightest pause.

 

I really have to mention the Elegance spec. It's the one to have with Cruise control Parking sensors, Arm rest, Maxidot, Fogs and DRL's etc, Well worth looking out for one if you're in the market.

 

There are a number of other cars with more modern design, if you like that sort of thing. The boxy shape of the Fabia not only looks nicer than say a Fiesta IMO with it's rounded bits and sloping shape but is as a result roomier and more practical. The clean lines of the interior are also more pleasing on the eye (well my eye) than the fussy dash of the Fiesta and many more with their emphasis on plasticy imitation chrome facias etc.

 

The negative points??  I find the dash needs to be polished with a non reflecting (low gloss) finish or it reflects in the windscreen,

Water from the roof gutter sometimes splashes onto the drivers seat  when opening the door on a really wet day. But little else has annoyed me in the first year I can think of.

 

Do I like the Fabia 1.2 TSI 105 DSG?? You bet

Click thumbnail for bigger pic.

Edited 7 May, 201412 yr by horkin

A possible solution for your dash problem. I find it useful for keeping heat, as well as glare, reflecting off the dash.

 

nice review and I agree with the DSG comments, I teach people to drive in mine, and I have never experianced any of the "classic" problems, like difficulty going slowly, inability to use hill holder, hesitation ect ect , its never come up! 50k in my old one, 21k in my new one so far

 

glad you are happy nice to see positive comments! lol...

Cheers Sharkrider,

 

Nice car to learn to drive in, passed my test in a Triumph Herald in 1962

 

Got to say I took a while with the hill start. It wasn't that I found it difficult to use, it was more that I didn't trust it at first but after people on here pointed me in the right direction I was fine. I don't even think about it these days.

 

Harry.

A possible solution for your dash problem. I find it useful for keeping heat, as well as glare, reflecting off the dash.

 

 

 

 

 

Hi OzFabia, 

 

I like that idea. Lived in Campbelltown near Sydney many years ago long before the population explosion!!!

 

I have seen how the insides of near new vehicles 'fry' in your climate.

 

That is a really great idea you have there. I take it you made it yourself? though it does look cool enough to be a factory product. The good thing about it, especially in pommy land is I wouldn't need to use it all the time but on longer summer journeys it would be great. Handy to keep in the boot for emergency and I could still have a shiny dash  .

 

Harry.

Nice one Horkin. Glad you are still pleased with it. Great cars!

Hi OzFabia, 

 

I like that idea. Lived in Campbelltown near Sydney many years ago long before the population explosion!!!

 

I have seen how the insides of near new vehicles 'fry' in your climate.

 

That is a really great idea you have there. I take it you made it yourself? though it does look cool enough to be a factory product. The good thing about it, especially in pommy land is I wouldn't need to use it all the time but on longer summer journeys it would be great. Handy to keep in the boot for emergency and I could still have a shiny dash  .

 

Harry.

 

No, that's a commercial product. They make them not far from me somewhere in Perth. There's a good size market for them because of the climate concerns over cracked dashes. It even has a little flap in it to let the dash airbag do its thing.

 

http://www.accessoriesonline.com.au/shop/product.php?productid=17319

Edited 8 May, 201412 yr by OzFabia

What about the little smooth area on the dash top in front of the driver,

that is covered over? 

 

george

Are you talking about the alleged solar sensor (or possibly screw cover)? If having that covered over affects the climate control, I haven't noticed any difference.

Edited 8 May, 201412 yr by OzFabia

neither have i & i have it covered,with  Black Rubber non slip matting.

i notice i always can see the Needles when going through dark places.

 & the A/C Auto is kept off, and i operate it manually,   so really no Wucking Furries with it covered.

No, that's a commercial product. They make them not far from me somewhere in Perth. There's a good size market for them because of the climate concerns over cracked dashes. It even has a little flap in it to let the dash airbag do its thing.

 

http://www.accessoriesonline.com.au/shop/product.php?productid=17319

 

Thanks for that, it's quite an elaborate piece of kit when seen on their web page. I can't see I've ever seen such a product in the UK.

 

Apparently they do ship world wide but the cost to the UK might just mean it's a bit expensive for the use , mainly anti glare, that I would get out of it. For that purpose I find using a non silicone low sheen natural look dash cleaner works quite well.

Nice one Horkin. Glad you are still pleased with it. Great cars!

Hi mate, yes I'm still in love with my car as you guessed!! It does all I want a car to do and does it well.

How are you getting on with the 1.6 Tiptronic? is it better than the 1.4 Tdi you had?

 

Harry.