Friends,

 

                  thank you for your kind comments.

 

I'm really looking forward to collecting the car on Friday.  It's new, so I'll really enjoy it.

 

My aim was to go for an Octavia, but since I'm supposed to be saving for a new house - no chance!

 

I also admire the VW range, who wouldn't?  The new VW Passat really looks beautiful, but so will my new car, with black wheels!

 

 

 

Frank.

Don't forget to post pictures when you get it! Has anyone created a "Post your Fabia Mk3 photos" thread yet?

My dear friends,

 

I cannot believe the negativity on this thread - just what is the problem?

 

Frank.

 

As much as I have been waiting for this car since it's announcement (SWMBO drives a Citigo sport, I drive a MK3 vRS TDi Estate)... The new Fabia is currently not an option for her because of the following:

 

- Skoda killed of the vRS version of this at the very beginning (saying that it was only around 1-2% of sales)

- The price is *very* close to the Polo, and the Fabia is carrying on Skoda's tradition of having "not quite as nice" interiors as their VW brethren.

- No decent offers on the car at the moment, at least any that match the Polo's current offers.

- Depreciation, if it follows in the steps of the MK2, will be better on the Polo. (Fairly or unfairly)

 

For those barking on about "long lead times"..... this is usually because of high demand. Octavia owners were quoted times of 2-4wks for their vRS models - reality was more like 3mths!

Don't get me wrong, I'm a Skoda fan but with this car they are going head-to-head with the Polo and the VW marque as the sensible choice - but there currently is no compelling reason to go for the Fabia over the Polo (apart from maybe the estate version)

?  Is there a 'High Demand', leading to long lead times,  or some other reason for the cars not being available after they fired up the Production line.

Did they just Produce Demonstrators and Press Vehicles and left hand drives and not build up a Stock of Right Hand Drives 

for the UK Market where up to now the Fabia was the biggest seller annually for Skoda UK?

Here in continental Denmark, the delivery time is aprx. 5 months.

 

Think I am a arcehtype Skoda afficionado, meaning I dont like the complicated 'Rokoko' design of recent car styling.

I think the Fabia III with its simple and straight lines is the future of design. (In 5 years time we will know).

 

So the good old ugly Fabia II 1.9PD will be replaced with a 1.2tsi DSG this summer.

 

Understand that those having troubles with Skoda VRS and tuned 'boy racers', is disappointed with the new Fabia generation.

But they have alternatives - at least so I think Skoda have decided.

 

HOWEVER if it turns out that I have troubles with the 1.2TSI and/or DSG - then I will join the chorus

 

Don't get me wrong, I'm a Skoda fan but with this car they are going head-to-head with the Polo and the VW marque as the sensible choice - but there currently is no compelling reason to go for the Fabia over the Polo (apart from maybe the estate version)

 

 

 

It may not be a particularly up to date comparison, but my experience of Mk 1 Fabia SDi v 2004 Polo SDi was that the Skoda was better built than the South African built Polo, both engine and body wise.  There wasn't a lot to choose between them but the Polo quality was definitely less.  For me, there would be no compelling reason to go for the Polo now that the Mk3 Fabia is replacing the Mk2.  You pays your money and takes your choice.

 

I doubt that I will be going for a Mk3 Fabia either, even though I really like the looks.  Having got used to extra rear legroom and sheer practicality of the Roomster it will be difficult to take the step back.  As to what any replacement might be it's difficult to say.  We'll cross that bridge when we get to it.

Hello friends,

picked up my new car Friday morning and zipped up the M4 to visit my son in Cardiff. I love the car, no CD is a curse, but the DAB radio is a joy, the new sound system very good. Also very good is the heating system, a lot quicker than in my previous MK2 estate, as is the total driving experience.

All doors close just like a Golf! And why not?

I've got the very capable 90bhp 1.2 petrol, which is very sufficient for my needs. Even my son liked it, especially at speeds of up to 90mph, not with my encouragement I might add.

I simply love the car. I don't care about more power, or VRS - I want to keep my licence thank you very much. In my opinion, it's a whole lot better than the MK2 estate, which I enjoyed for 3 years.

Frank.

That's great to hear, frankman. My Fabia estate is due to be built in three weeks. I've also opted for the 1.2 90PS engine.

Any niggles yet, Frankman?

Hello Prog,

 

I've been busy at work past few days.   Yes!  No CD player!!!   Well, today I bought a 32GB SD card - now I got to learn how to use it!  

 

I've got a white model, nice when clean,but if it rains, or road is wet, the back end gets dirty.

 

Another niggle, which I'm sure my previous MK2 didn't have, is the fact that underneath each door while driving in wet conditions, all the door sills collect water.   So well done Skoda!  Baby wipes are for babies - not Fabias!  

 

Apart from that, I'm loving my new car.  I like the DAB radio system, it probably makes up for lack of CDs.

 

 

 

Frank.

Nothing major then.

Mine will be red, purely because it's the only colour of car I've yet to own. As for the CD player, it's been a long time since I've played a CD in my car as I've used Bluetooth streaming for a while.

The watery door sill issue is 'interesting' though.

Nothing major then.

Mine will be red, purely because it's the only colour of car I've yet to own. As for the CD player, it's been a long time since I've played a CD in my car as I've used Bluetooth streaming for a while.

The watery door sill issue is 'interesting' though.

 

seems like the Mk1 issue has returned.. not that I've had any leaks into the cabin though in my Mk1.. would sill guards help roll the water off and back outside the car again?

Edited 21 February, 201511 yr by skodaTDI

Hello friends,

picked up my new car Friday morning and zipped up the M4 to visit my son in Cardiff. I love the car, no CD is a curse, but the DAB radio is a joy, the new sound system very good. Also very good is the heating system, a lot quicker than in my previous MK2 estate, as is the total driving experience.

All doors close just like a Golf! And why not?

I've got the very capable 90bhp 1.2 petrol, which is very sufficient for my needs. Even my son liked it, especially at speeds of up to 90mph, not with my encouragement I might add.

I simply love the car. I don't care about more power, or VRS - I want to keep my licence thank you very much. In my opinion, it's a whole lot better than the MK2 estate, which I enjoyed for 3 years.

Frank.

 

Frank - so what about the license plate? not 15 plate on it already surely?  I didn't think that was allowed officially until March?

Had a good mooch around a mk3 hatch today at the dealers. A fair bit of the dash has had a small increase in quality over the Mk2 but it's not exactly what you'd call a quantum leap forward. Some of the plastics look like they'd mark/scratch a lot easier than those on our Mk2 as well.

The biggest surprise was rear passenger leg room, which feels to have decreased somewhat.

Exterior is definitely better looking than it's predecessor, allowing for the fact that sadly no vRS model.

Had a good mooch around a mk3 hatch today at the dealers. A fair bit of the dash has had a small increase in quality over the Mk2 but it's not exactly what you'd call a quantum leap forward. Some of the plastics look like they'd mark/scratch a lot easier than those on our Mk2 as well.

The biggest surprise was rear passenger leg room, which feels to have decreased somewhat.

Exterior is definitely better looking than it's predecessor, allowing for the fact that sadly no vRS model.

Totally agree Furbytom.

I was in the market for a MK3 going from a MK1, I liked the MK3 shape, dash was obviously a world of difference over the MK1 (no surprise there) but the rear passenger leg room totally dropped the car off my radar, I ended up going for a bargain reduced MK2 instead.  A real shame as in every other way I loved the MK3 but it wouldn't have been doable to put my parents in the back of the MK3.  If by the time i'm buying again the MK4 is here I'll reconsider else I'll be hoping the spaceback has become sufficiently refined to take my interest.  I got to look at a MK3 estate in crewe, all that nice boot space...  pains me 3 inches of it couldn't be spared to the rear passengers.