Inside the mk2 fabia and the latest ibiza the quality and look of the plastics is a real let down.

I just couldnt face looking at it every day. Also seem to scratch easier!

Hopefully the quality improves

Edited 11 January, 201511 yr by BigJase88

Thanks for that . Do you remember if the armrest on the door card was padded or hard plastic?

I think there's a little bit of padding on the door armrest.. I'll confirm next weekend.. there's also a centre armrest near the handbrake on the SEL model, but no idea if that's padded or not as I was just in the SE model..

Thanks for that . Do you remember if the armrest on the door card was padded or hard plastic?

 

Just to confirm the armrest on the door is padded on the car I test drove today.. it was a cushioned material.. wouldn't be too happy if it got wet, but there we go. 

 

Other things to note.. no visible little pull up and push down door locks any more.. all gone. 

 

Something else I found out.. Daylight running lights are going to be legal on all new cars from April 2015 onwards.. new EU law apparantly.  You can switch them off though on the Fabia.. unlike most Volvos..

Had a sit in a new Fabia III yesterday at my local Dealers, SE spec in race Race Blue or Denim blue ( cant remember the colour ) white wheels, roof and wing mirrors.

 

Very nice inside 1.2 110 bhp ( I think )

I sat inside a 1.4 TDi (90) se I think and it was quite nice but I didn't fancy the white bit on the dash looked odd as the car was race blue with black roof, mirrors and wheels

DRL's have been required on all new Type Approved Cars since February 2011.

The All New 3rd Generation Fabia did not require New Type Approval so does not require DRL's as Standard fit.

Popped in to see my local dealer yesterday and had a brief look at a mk3 hatch. Wasn't overly impressed to be honest. Hopefully the estate will look abit better.

Just to confirm the armrest on the door is padded on the car I test drove today.. it was a cushioned material.. wouldn't be too happy if it got wet, but there we go. 

 

Other things to note.. no visible little pull up and push down door locks any more.. all gone. 

 

Something else I found out.. Daylight running lights are going to be legal on all new cars from April 2015 onwards.. new EU law apparantly.  You can switch them off though on the Fabia.. unlike most Volvos..

Whats the problem with it getting wet? Who told you about the new EU law , does this mean that all fabias have DRL's  , according to the brochure only the SE L has them as standard?

Just to confirm the armrest on the door is padded on the car I test drove today.. it was a cushioned material.. wouldn't be too happy if it got wet, but there we go.

Other things to note.. no visible little pull up and push down door locks any more.. all gone.

Something else I found out.. Daylight running lights are going to be legal on all new cars from April 2015 onwards.. new EU law apparantly. You can switch them off though on the Fabia.. unlike most Volvos..

My Monte doesn't have 'visible little pull up locks', are you referring to the MkI, did these have them as this isn't a new thing.

Edited 18 January, 201511 yr by Gazbull17

Mk2 vRS has no pop ups either.

 

There were lots of Road Testers that compared the Ride of the All New 3rd Generation Fabia to the old Fabias,

but were not very open in which they had driven.

 

So a Mk2 Fabia Face Lift Owner Driving a MK3 Fabia of a similar Model, Suspension Standard or Sport, Tyre Type etc might be able to compare ride for ride quality & give their opinions.

the fabia feels better built than the rapid which also has the hard dash, but somehow the fabia doesent feel cheap for having it, probably because the rapid was touted as being a golf equivelent so more was expected

Rapid's aren't selling very well apparently.. if you've got an old car for part-ex, they'll give you £3000 for it.. and give you 0% finance.  Dealer told me about this when I asked how come they get 0% finance.  Rapid may be on its way out before it gets settled.. hmm..

 

Re: pop-ups.. yes I'm comparing to my Mk1 - it's been 12 years for christ sake - so I'm behind the times!!!!  :zzz:   Although.. I  do prefer them being there.  Old fashioned is where I am.. but there we go.  At least the Daylight Running LEDs can be switched off on the Fabia..   

Whats the problem with it getting wet? Who told you about the new EU law , does this mean that all fabias have DRL's  , according to the brochure only the SE L has them as standard?

 

if it got too wet, it may be a problem.. it's a soft fabric.. 

 

the dealer told me about the new EU law.. all new cars have to have DRLs.. anything registered before the EU law came into effect doesn't have to be retrofitted.  there have been long debates on the DRL saga.. that's why most of them are using LEDs to reduce load on the alternator.

 

However, dealer got his dates wrong.. seems it was first drafted in 2008.. and was introduced on cars in 2011, then onto HGVs and buses in 2012.. have a look at this: http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/safety/daytime-running-lights.html

Good that the DRL's can be Inhibited on the newest generation Fabia, because they could on Mk2 vRS until the past year or so when the Off switch was no longer fitted to the cars.

 

Still no need for Manufacturers to fit DRL's to cars that have not been Type Approved after Feb 2011, 

As it says in the Box about Type Approval and Face Lifts,

Skoda obviously considered that the car has not had that much of a Face Lift if DRL's are not Standard on all cars.

Edited 18 January, 201511 yr by goneoffSKi

Good that the DRL's can be Inhibited on the newest generation Fabia, because they could on Mk2 vRS until the past year or so when the Off switch was no longer fitted to the cars.

 

Still no need for Manufacturers to fit DRL's to cars that have not been Type Approved after Feb 2011, 

As it says in the Box about Type Approval and Face Lifts,

Skoda obviously considered that the car has not had that much of a Face Lift if DRL's are not Standard on all cars.

What part exactly needs to be new to require this type approval

No idea really,

because basically they are the same Platform since 2008 in the Mk4 Seat Ibiza, and various VWG Parts & Systems already

used on other models, so until they are any major changes in Platforms, Brake & Steering,

no new EU Type Approval will be required until proper 'All New Models' are launched.

seems a loophole and a half really.. New Fabia has had a new chasis and yet its optional on the SE.. hmm.. I'd have thought chasis was a main driver in terms of a new model..

It's a shame that this new Fabia isn't entirely new beneath the skin. More of a major facelift really.

Maybe they have put the normal bulb type DRL on the S and SE  like on the Rapid , its not mentioned in the brochure though.

seems a loophole and a half really.. New Fabia has had a new chasis and yet its optional on the SE.. hmm.. I'd have thought chasis was a main driver in terms of a new model..

yes.. if you want H7 bulbs + LED DRLs then it's extra on an SE model.. standard on SEL..

Well looked at a 1.2TSi DSG SEL with a few options.

 

As good as he interior of the new Fabia is it doesn't sit well with a near £18k list price.

 

Won't be having one without a 20% discount.

 

Soft touch plastics are not needed but they are expected if you are charging a premium price.

 

Lee

As said, I don't think feel matters to much other than the bits you do use. However solid buttons etc. do matter to me, and so do looks.

IMO the MKII fabias dash plastic LOOKED cheap when compared to the MKI. The MKI didn't look fantastic granted, but it was rugged functional rather than cheap!

Got my invite for the Fabia III and new showroom launch at my dealer today so will be going on Saturday to have a look around and a have a bit touchy feely with the interior, see if it's any good or not.

Hoping they have an estate to look at but having read Auto Express today, I'm intrigued to see what the new Polo/Skoda/Seat SUV will look like which are going to be built to take on the Juke, I might hold off til then.