I have an early Rapid Tdi.  I am very close to convincing myself I should change to a Fabia Estate Tsi DSG.before its first "MOT" comes up and before the exhaust filter packs up.

My doubts are about the Fabia 1.2 engine.  Is it really powerful enough?   I've hired many cars over the years -always the smallest cheapest just to scurry around while in the UK. 

My experience has not been great at all. Nasty, noisy, needing constant gearbox stirring,  dangerously slow at getting off the mark and overtaking, and drinking fuel like a drain hole when asked to perform and keep up with the traffic.

But progress occurs and a modern 1.2 turbo might be fine.  I shall be glad to not think about cars for another four years to be honest.

Does anyone have experience of Rapid and Fabia.  Is the Fabia a better built and smoother car?  Just nicer to live with?

Any comments please.  I shall be very grateful. Thank you.

Hi, I have no experience of the Rapid, but have driven the 1.6 TDI engine in the Fabia's. It's a nice engine but now, in my opinion, superseded by the 1.2TSi 110ps engine which is more powerful, smoother, quieter, and almost as economical under most circumstances. 0.62mph is 9.6 on the estate version and 9.4secs on the Hatch. It has no intrinsic faults and is very nice to drive. I have the 1.2TSI 110ps DSG Hatch and it's wonderful. It is hugely flexible and much quicker than any of the 1.6TDI engines (I'm assuming yours in the 1.6TDI version). I've driven the estate version with the 1.2TSI 110ps DSG too, and it's just as good. If you get one you won't be sorry. It has an excess of power in most circumstances and will happily cruise at 90mph all day effortlessly (continental roads) without any stress whatsoever. It's a low revver and performs like a 2.0ltr car. Fuel economy on my car is fairly constant between 46 to 54mpg in a variety of conditions. If on a longer run it will go very near to 59mpg. Hope that helps!

Edited 29 March, 20179 yr by Estate Man

Estate Man--Excellent - Many thanks -really helpful.

The Rapid and the Fabia will soon have the 1.0TSI engine which has more torque than the 1.2TSI's so maybe worth checking those out.

To repear myself....the 1.2TSI 110 is a cracking engine and mating it with the DSG completes the package. It is ultra-smooth around town, gets away a lot quicker than the stats would suggest and will cruise at illegal numbers all day, allegedly of course. Combination suits the Fabia III. Would i buy another Fabia hatch? No. I would buy a Fabia Estate with the same engine and 'box. This is me coming from some years with a Volvo S60 D5 Geartonic which was no slouch. Just do it.

Currently have a 66plate 90hp 1.2 hatch

 

Been speaking to the dealer's about a 1.2 dsg  estate with plenty of  options 

 

Estimated build time is 20 weeks delayed just checking if it will be a 1.0 or not 

 

 

Edited 29 March, 20179 yr by malcster