It's a shame the Ibiza ST has effectively been replaced by the Arona. I don't get this whole crossover thing. Peugeot did the same with the 207 SW, replacing it with the 2008. 

 

Still, as crossovers go, it's a good looking thing. I'd still rather save the cash and get a regular supermini, or try and stretch to something like a Leon. 

Looking beyond sticker price, a Fabia SE is much cheaper to finance. Deals at 2.9% with up to £500 down, have monthly payments of around £150-180/month depending on mileage. This makes the Fabia a lot cheaper than a Polo SE which would be roughly £210/month at 5.9% APR with a £1,500-2,000 deposit.

 

Some people simply don't have that money to put down or don't want to "overpay" for a car. Therefore the Fabia will not be cannibalized by the new Polo.

Or this http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/suzuki/swift/101938/new-suzuki-swift-sport-2018-review

Surely the Fabia is just a polo for people who aren't badge snobs?

 

Well, I'd say that the Polo is the nicer car, but I'd say the Fabia is the better value car.

Really I don't get this "only badge snobs buy the other VW Group marques" - you pays your money and that is that, many/most people that are annoyed by others buying a different car to them, still feel justified in buying some other consumer product that has a badge that others might avoid in the interests of cost.  Just buy what you can afford and allow others to buy what they can afford - or chose to use their money on!

 

I used to have a boss who's boss sent his one and only child to an expensive private school, so needed to cut spending elsewhere - so he bought a Skoda Octavia VRS and could not stop going on about how this was the only car in that class to buy - instead of just admitting that he had chosen, or had been told, to give his child a privileged upbringing over spending more cash on other items, which is okay by me!

58 minutes ago, rum4mo said:

Really I don't get this "only badge snobs buy the other VW Group marques" - you pays your money and that is that, many/most people that are annoyed by others buying a different car to them, still feel justified in buying some other consumer product that has a badge that others might avoid in the interests of cost.  Just buy what you can afford and allow others to buy what they can afford - or chose to use their money on!

 

I agree.

 

While I love my Fabia and consider it one of the best purchases I've ever made, there are areas where my X3 make me feel looked after.

 

Air quality: The X3 close exterior vents when it detects polluting air.

Door closing: Shutting the doors on the Fabia sounds more metallic or rattly 

Windows: No one touch window opening or closing on the Fabia.

Materials: There are no soft touch materials in the Fabia.

Handling: The X3's handling and grip levels are leaps and bounds above the Fabia. Regardless or how fast I'm going over wet, broken roads with manhole covers, the X3 never lose traction.

 

I love both cars and couldn't live without either. However if you can only afford one car, A VW is a brilliant middle ground between the affordability of Skoda and the sensory experience of an Audi/Mercedes/BMW. One thing is certain though, Skoda have taken a massive leap in desirability. VW and Audi will soon be under increasing pressure to give customers more compelling reasons to buy their cars over a Skoda. The Skoda Superb especially, is the biggest cannibal in the VW Group.