We started the Skoda snowball with a CITIGO for Mrs Viv, then my new driver son bought a new CITIGO MC and I accidentally test drove a used 2012 Mk 2 Octavia VRS Est DSG and bought that. And then there were 3 Skodas in the family.

We've all enjoyed them so much that Mrs Viv's CITIGO replacement is due to land in October and I've been tempted, after a very exciting time in the VRS, by a new Fabia MC Estate 110 TSi manual.

I really wasn't sure about the 1.2 until I drove it but it's quite a pleasant surprise. Petrol will go further, VED is down to CITIGO levels but I was disappointed with the rough insurance quote for the Fabia being only £80 or so lower for the year. Insurance group must be a lot lower than the VRS but new car v used and the 20% hike in insurance that I've read about must play a part. Still going to be cheaper to insure than a VRS though.

I'm a bit sad about the VRS going, but pleased I got to drive one. I feel I've done that now. The Fabia boot accommodates our dog crate in the same easy way as the Octavia, which is outstanding and I'm looking forward to more modern phone connectivity with a smooth and more economical drive from the 1.2TSi.

Can I ask you if there is anything that I need to ask the dealer to do at PDI, function and feature wise please?

Any helpful comments will be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

You raise a very good question, I am now wondering about that as I wait for my new Monte Carlo.

I've started ordering Genuine accessories bits and bobs from my Local TPS as we get a nice little discount thanks to us running VW Vans at work.

Things like boot liner and nets. Mud flaps etcetc

Edited 14 September, 20169 yr by CRASH67

Crash67

 

I ordered some bits from TPS as well before mine turned up.

Ordered some car mats only to find the dealer gave me a set for free.

So I have a set of Skoda Fabia III car mats wanting a good home for free !

 

Thanks AG Falco

Well I know the Monte Comes with Mats so avoided that one.

I've start with Bootliner and nets as I hate stuff sliding and moving around in the boot, and with doing things like Football etc it doesn't take long with bit of grass and mud to find it way around lol.

Next thing will be sorting some mud flaps to help pretect the body work a little more

You could just get the dealer to make sure it's on the right service interval for the type of motoring/mileage you do. They come on variable (so I'm told) but if you do less than 9400 miles per year then it should be changed to fixing yearly service interval as recommended in the owners manual. 

Mine is on 18000 mile servicing!

Many know their own needs and wants, but i do wish that Skoda would clearly explain Service Regimes in the way that VW do.

& Dealership employees would explain and ask customers what they want at the time of purchase, or anytime after because the regime chosen can be changed to suit 

the customers changing needs.  Or Service Plan purchased etc.

http://volkswagen.co.uk/owners/servicing/regimes

I saw dog cage mentioned - with winter on the horizon, Rubber boot mat,  and if you have the dog jumping in and out,  it it is not on there, Bumper protector to stop scratches, when getting items out of the boot, or the dog jumping in and scratching it.

I saw dog cage mentioned - with winter on the horizon, Rubber boot mat,  and if you have the dog jumping in and out,  it it is not on there, Bumper protector to stop scratches, when getting items out of the boot, or the dog jumping in and scratching it.

Thanks for the suggestion but I have a rubber backed cloth rug that's too big for underneath the crate and my dog waits for me to pull out the tucked in excess, so it hangs over the bumper, before he gets in or out. It's saved me a lot of scratches.

I've got 3 years free servicing in the deal so I'll opt for yearly service interval. In terms of enabling options to configure later, I'm getting confused. Am I right in thinking that some things like hill assist are already fitted but only enabled if you pay? That's a bit mad.

It's not quite that clear cut in All cases but can be the case.

I.e Cornering Fogs. Most cars nowadays have controls units responsible for lighting etc (depending manufacturer etc)

So in this case it's quite possible not spec this, but change a setting after getting the car to activate them.

But something like cruise control you need a retrofit kit as you won't have the controls for it etc.

I would imagine it's possible to program hill assist but I'm not 100% on that.

If you haven't already seen it or looked. Check this post out.

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/353551-vcds-tweaks-for-mk3-fabia/

This topic with give you an idea to many tweaks and bits and bobs that can be to car with the right equipment.

Crash67

 

I ordered some bits from TPS as well before mine turned up.

Ordered some car mats only to find the dealer gave me a set for free.

So I have a set of Skoda Fabia III car mats wanting a good home for free !

 

Thanks AG Falco

Hi AG Falco,

 

I am in the opposite situation to myself where I have picked up my new Colour Edition and no mats were included.

Just wondered whether they were still available?

Thanks,

Tom

Hi TomMcNulty94,

 

Yes Car mats are still wanting a good home, but North Dorset is a long way from Bedford.

 

 

Thanks AG Falco.

Hi TomMcNulty94,

 

Could post/courier them?

Don't know the cost though.

 

Thanks AG Falco.

So we picked up the Mk III MC Est on Friday and have been driving it about since. The initial impression is very good and I like the manual 6 even though the DSG we had was very smooth. Having moved from Octy VRS Est, the sports suspension on the Fabia seems softer and still grips well. No adjustable lumbar support but the new seats are very supportive.

If she was honest, I don't think Mrs Viv cared for the DSG in the VRS and drove it only 3 times whilst we had it, but she seems to love driving the Fabia already, which is a huge bonus!

After trying it, I don't like the speed limiter and much prefer the cruise control even though it's caught me twice after changing down a cog to slow down and its tried to get back to the set speed before I've braked. I'll get used to that I'm sure.

Still waiting for Nav SD card to turn up, so I can use it but Smartlink on Apple Maps is ok if you have a data signal. It even told me where I'd parked the car!

Dealer didn't do any tweaking, so I'll have to find some kind soul on the VCDS map to ply with beer tokens to do a few bits for me. Chubbs is going to go over the car and prep it for winter next week.

Switched insurance mid term and got £170 back from original insurers, which more than covered 4 year gap with David. Cheaper insurance and RFL will save me about £600 each year compared to the VRS. Oh, and £500 worth of fuel too. Champion.

I shall try not to miss the VRS too much and mustn't look at what price the dealer tries to sell it for.