Hi,

I've recently got a 2018 Mark 3 1.0Tsi Estate (manual).

 

I'm enjoying the car and excellent value but not sure about how it drives around the town, particular at junctions and entering roundabouts.

 

Previously driving a Corsa 1.2, I'd come up to a junction or a roundabout entrance in 3rd, check the traffic, maybe drop to second & if there was traffic maybe even dip the clutch while still rolling. They'd still be reasonable revs and on my way I'd go.

 

In the Fabia, I'm finding the revs drop of a heck of a lot quicker and if I've had to change to second, at which point I might dip the clutch slightly, then the revs are so low that there's no torque (or power) and I'm forced to change to first.

 

Torque is not a problem a couple of seconds later but it's off putting to suddenly have to down change where normally I'd 'coast' across the junction in second without issue.

 

Anyone else experience this?

 

Cheers

Welcome Alby, good choice of motor.

 

Two things really. One, the car is probably still very tight at the moment (low mileage, still running in maybe) and will be down on power due to increased friction from the new engine. This is often most noticeable at low revs. And two, you are still learning how best to drive her. The technique for driving different cars has to be learned. Takes time and it's an evolving situation for both of you. You will find she will get more powerful, and you will find the best way to adapt your driving to her. It sounds as if you need to prepare yourself going into roundabouts a bit earlier. Get into the gear you need either earlier, or take a more advanced approach and stay in the gear you are in upto the roundaboutr and then select the 'Go' gear at the time you need it, as per the Advanced Motorist Manual'. Take a step back and look hard at what you are doing and re-assess. I've driven lots of Fabia 1.0TSI manuals and never found any issues. It maybe, and please forgive me for saying this, that you have gotten into bad habits with coasting, semi coasting into situations such as you describe in the Corsa and need to alter what you are doing. Good luck and enjoy you new car. 

I've got a 1.2 TSI (currently at the dealers waiting for a part, but that's another story) and had a 1.0 TSI Fabia manual as a loaner for 2 days and I totally agree with OP.

 

1.2 TSI is so much better in town. When for example going over road bumps, the 1.0 TSI struggles to cope with the second gear almost stalling (95hp so 5 speed manual). 1.2 TSI has no problems whatsoever while in the same situations. Actually, I've had a 1.0 without the turbo as well as a loaner, and there was really not much difference between turbo or not while in town.

 

Happy with my 1.2 TSI and lucky it was still available when I ordered mine back in April 2017.

Yes, but it only struggles until you get used to the car and know how to deal with the different driving situtaions. As the driver, you must adapt to how the car behaves. The 1.2TSI is a different kettle of fish altogether, is much more forgiving, and in my opinion a better engined car. That four cylinder engine makes quite a difference as does the extra 200cc. I drove the 1.0TSI 110ps dsg to Wales and back and it was very similar to my 1.2TSI dsg but with less low down grunt than my 1.2 engine. The manual version I found the same, but I just adapted the way I drove it and all was fine. I had a heavy 1200cc 3 cylinder motorcycle engine and gearbox unit in the back (it was the estate car) and had no issues even up the very steep Welsh hills. Hill starts under those conditions were fine. But the 1.0TSI does love to rev. It produces it max torque at 2000rpm. It's not a low revver, it needs revs and once you have that in your head, you'll understand how to drive it, in town, or on the open road. The 1.2TSI is completley different and much more flexible at low revs with lots of low down torque with max torque at just 1400rpm. Plus the extra cylinder makes a huge difference at low revs. 

4 minutes ago, Estate Man said:

Yes, but it only struggles until you get used to the car and know how to deal with the different driving situtaions. As the driver, you must adapt to how the car behaves. The 1.2TSI is a different kettle of fish altogether, is much more forgiving, and in my opinion a better engined car. That four cylinder engine makes quite a difference as does the extra 200cc. I drove the 1.0TSI 110ps dsg to Wales and back and it was very similar to my 1.2TSI dsg but with less low down grunt than my 1.2 engine. The manual version I found the same, but I just adapted the way I drove it and all was fine. I had a heavy 1200cc 3 cylinder motorcycle engine and gearbox unit in the back (it was the estate car) and had no issues even up the very steep Welsh hills. Hill starts under those conditions were fine. But the 1.0TSI does love to rev. It produces it max torque at 2000rpm. It's not a low revver, it needs revs and once you have that in your head, you'll understand how to drive it, in town, or on the open road. The 1.2TSI is completley different and much more flexible at low revs with lots of low down torque with max torque at just 1400rpm. Plus the extra cylinder makes a huge difference at low revs. 

Thanks for your feedback, good points you got there.

 

Many times I found it almost impossible to select the right gear for each situation, meaning 1st was too low and jerky but 2nd couldn't keep the engine running nice. Same thing with 2nd and 3rd but the biggest problem was with the 2 lowest gears.

 

Based on my highly professional and scientific 2 days 200 kilometers test ( ), I've come to the conclusion that 1.2 TSI is a better engine in town with it's better lower revs characteristics. Once you get to speeds more than 40km/h both engines are brilliant. DSG supposedly solves the problems with 1.0 TSI, my dad has a Ibiza with that combo and has never had any complaints about it.

I tend to agree with Estate Man here. My previous 1.2tsi Roomster Scout which I owned for around 4½ years was both quiet and easy to drive all round although it was still a bit of a learning curve having driven diesels for nearly 30 years. Fuel consumption was not brilliant however but given my much lower annual mileage these days did not unduly bother me. The Fabia 1.0tsi 5sp estate I now drive certainly needs careful gear selection but mpg is outstanding even given the much more frequent use of the AC this summer!

It's your engine trying to tell you not to apply power at such low revs and refusing to let you 'lug' it. If you've had to dip the clutch to stop the rev from becoming lower than idle, you probably should have come to a stop instead or have been traveling a little faster towards the roundabout.
 

 

I do find the revs drop a lot on my 1.0 TSI  starting off in first but going from first to second isn't to bad (but it still new only 1500 mile on the clock)  it's getting better all the time i can't fault the thing for a little 3 cyl its great

Yes, Rsrob...the 1.0TSI is a brillaint engine.

1 minute ago, Estate Man said:

Yes, Rsrob...the 1.0TSI is a brillaint engine.

 

yes it is and i only got the 95 BHP one  the 110/115 BHP ones must be stunning to drive 

As I mentioned in an earlier post above, I took the 1.0TSI 110 ps manual and dsg versions on a 600 mile run each. One of the cars had a very heavy 1200cc engine and gearbox unit in the back (the estate car). We had protected the car with 15mm ply in the back with lots of padding also so no damage could result. It was a motorcycle engine unit and was within the cars weight carrying axle limits. The car handled it perfectly. I haven't driven the 95ps unit but I'm told by everyone that has one that they go so well. I reckon it should be on everyones list to take a look at if they are in the market for a new motor in that class.