Hi

 

I had a Fabia for a few years but when it broke I swapped over to a BMW 3 Series 2L for a while. Now looking to go back to another Fabia.

 

My main concern is that the Fbia will not feel ascomfortable on motorways and obviously won't be as fast - but I will have to live with that and hope I save of fuel and maintenance.

 

The model I am looking at is 2010.

 

 

My questions for owners are

 

- what sort of MPG do you get? I am guessing the quoted figures are rarely achieved but I would want at least 40-45.

 

- Are the DSG gearboxes generally developing expensive problems or are they considered OK?

 

My mechanic was really pushing me away from VAG brands and particularly DSG gearboxes.

I have a 2011, 15000 miles so not representative maybe but no problems, nippy, get 40+ mpg on a good run, 25-30ish in town. I would argue at length with your mech, the DSG box is so smooth it's a treat.

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Thanks - to be fair I suppose he was looking at it from a cost point of view and has maybe seen a few cars go wrong? I think his poitn was that they are expensive if they go wrong.

 

As far as MPG goes, I calculate mine as a whole as I do all types of driving and was getting about 28 overall on my old BMW. I estimated that if I was getting 40mpg I would save over 450 a year.

You can buy a warranty from Skoda if you want peace of mind - the gearboxes are pretty robust but should one go pop I think it's about 4K for a new one!

The warranty is very reasonably priced.

2 more quetsions

 

I;ve been reading about problems with the 7 gear DSG

 

Does anyone know how I can fidn out what gearbox the car I am after has? Its a 2010 DSG Fabia Elegance - 105bhp.

 

Secondly can I phone up SKoda and ask about the vehicles history before I view the car - do you call your local dealer or Skoda central?

Skoda customer service 0333-003-7504.

The seven-speed DSG is only found in the vRS - other models have a six-speed box.

The vRS was never really designed as a luxury high speed tourer & if you are comparing it with a Beemer you will be disappointed, in terms of general comfort, high road noise, stiff suspension.

 

On the other hand, the 7 speed DSG gearbox is a masterpiece of engineering, - nothing else comes close (IMHO), 4 different ways of changing gears, - fully auto in D or S mode, manual via the flappy paddles, or a touch on the stick forward or backwards, or even a combination EG whilst in auto a quick flick of the paddle or stick to change down a gear or 2. The change is very rapid & hardly perceptible.

No problems with my gearbox after 28,000 miles. But I do find the wind & road noise a little oppressive on a long journey.

 

My overall MPG for 28,000 miles is slightly in excess of 40mpg.

 

Also be aware of the service recall on the DSG box  - well not actually a recall, but a necessary requirement of the oil change from synthetic to mineral oil. Their is a dedicated thread on this forum which will explain.

The vRS was never really designed as a luxury high speed tourer & if you are comparing it with a Beemer you will be disappointed, in terms of general comfort, high road noise, stiff suspension.

On the other hand, the 7 speed DSG gearbox is a masterpiece of engineering, - nothing else comes close (IMHO), 4 different ways of changing gears, - fully auto in D or S mode, manual via the flappy paddles, or a touch on the stick forward or backwards, or even a combination EG whilst in auto a quick flick of the paddle or stick to change down a gear or 2. The change is very rapid & hardly perceptible.

No problems with my gearbox after 28,000 miles. But I do find the wind & road noise a little oppressive on a long journey.

My overall MPG for 28,000 miles is slightly in excess of 40mpg.

Also be aware of the service recall on the DSG box - well not actually a recall, but a necessary requirement of the oil change from synthetic to mineral oil. Their is a dedicated thread on this forum which will explain.

But the OP is on about a 1.2TSI DSG 6 speed

With no paddles .

The 7 Speed DSG is not only in the vRS.,

It is in various models.  it is the DQ200 Twin Dry Clutch 7 speed box, and you get it in a 1.2TSI

 

This was the Service Campaign Vehicles.

NZ Link though. & it is DSG's 2009-2014,  not all though.

http://skoda.co.nz/news/dsg-service-campaign

Apologies - I thought the non vRS models used six-speed boxes .

Apologies - I thought the non vRS models used six-speed boxes .

So did i! .

But the OP is on about a 1.2TSI DSG 6 speed

With no paddles .

 

Apologies! I really should pay attention. Consider my knuckles well & truly rapped!

Most of what I said I stand by though; whether its 6 speed or 7 still a fantastic auto box, far better than anything else be it torque converter or CVT.

I get over 40mpg on a vRS so you would think a 1.2TSI should give even more. 

Maybe the comfort level on the 1.2TSI will be better than the vRS as I think most of the road noise comes from the low profile tyres. Still won't compare to a BMW though!

2 more quetsions

 

I;ve been reading about problems with the 7 gear DSG

 

Does anyone know how I can fidn out what gearbox the car I am after has? Its a 2010 DSG Fabia Elegance - 105bhp.

 

Secondly can I phone up SKoda and ask about the vehicles history before I view the car - do you call your local dealer or Skoda central?

your mechanic was pushing you away from DSG? really? the DSG by VAG is probably one of the most developed and most reliable DSG boxes out there.... the 7-speed box you would get with the fabia has no inherent issues, (of course there are failures and you will find the stories, there are on all boxes..) BUT its one of the most reliable twin clutch boxes out there ...... I have done over 110,000 miles in them, and never had an issue.

 

edit: I recently sold my vRS, with 53,000 miles on, and its new owner (whos wife can only drive auto, so have had loads of autos) says, and I quote "The DSG is a revelation"

Edited 29 February, 201610 yr by sharkrider

7-speed is definitely considered less reliable than the 6-speed VAG DCT over here (and even the 6-speed isn't thought to be particularly reliable for an automatic box).

I have confirmed with Skoda that its a 7 speed gearbox and had the oil change done under recall - therefore it doesn't need anymore oil changes at all ever........?

I have confirmed with Skoda that its a 7 speed gearbox and had the oil change done under recall - therefore it doesn't need anymore oil changes at all ever........?

I was going to confidently state 'no' (it's a sealed unit) but after my earlier faux pas I'll leave it to someone else to provide a definitive answer.

The Service Campaign was to change the Synthetic Oil filled at the factory to Mineral Oil and do a Software Update.

 

They were never supposed to have a Oil Change needed ever, 'Service Free with no Service Schedule'.

so we will see what the story is in the future, because VW have not told anyone that is that now, 

i would like to see in writing that the Mineral Oil is now in for ever.  It likely is, but then VW just never told us, 

and only Extended the DSG Warranty in other world regions, not the EU.

^^^

 

...and here's the man .

Thanks - I suppose I can take comfort i nthe fact that in theory the DSG 7 is in as good coniditon as it oculd be and there isn oting else I can do.

 

I presume its an advantage over the 6 speed DSG that I don't have to pay for maintenance every 40k?

ok one more

 

i have read that the clutch can fail on these - is there an average mileage? or some other way i coudl ty and forsee it?

If the clutch packs were to fail you would expect that to have happened well before now with a 2010 car.

The Service campaign has been done and all should be well with the software update done at the time.

 

If you are going to stress, it maybe is not the car for you.

The number of failures is not high though, and you should be fine.

Thanks, I've no idea on the technical ins and outs as to when it might go.

If you are concerned about the gearbox then take out an extended warranty with either Skoda or Warranty Direct. I found the Warranty Direct one to be far better than the Skoda warranty, covering more things and cheaper too. They even cover wear and tear items. But from my investigations I've found out the 7 spd DSG is a very good box and I'm soon to buy a new Fabia Estate with the 7 spd DSG box myself, and it's going to be a keeper for the next 10 years most likely so I have confidence in it. George (GoneOffski) knows what he is talking about and he says they are good. Most of the early failures of clutches were I believe down to the software for the box not being up to the job. Thats been updated and what with the oil change job they are good for years. I do think I have read somewhere the dino oil should be changed every 40k miles as it doesn't last as well as the synethetic stuff if you go over that mileage. But I may be wrong. If George hasn't heard about it then I probably am wrong. 

it wont need changing, because its a "dry" box..... it needs the service in the 6-speed because its a wet box.....

shark, I thought the new 7 spd DSG was just a twin dry clutch unit but of course with oil in the oily geary bits! The old wet clutch units...errrrr...were wet as you say!

Edited 1 March, 201610 yr by Estate Man