Hi,

I'm Bill, 70 next month, retired May 2001 and bought my Fabia 1.4 Comfort 68 bhp hatchback, new, a month later. So, coming up to it's 5th birthday and my wife and I have nothing but good things to say about her.

Our annual mileage is maximum 6000 miles (which includes our annual holiday visits to friends, old work colleagues etc in Holland with the occasional extra trips to visit friends in Germany, Switzerland and Belgium thrown in.

Because of my wife's neuropathy (loss of feeling) in her feet and ankles, she cannot walk without someone's supporting arm. She now has a wheeled rollator with calliper breaks and a seat to rest on when necessary, which is a great help.

Unfortunately, the rollator does not fit in the Fabia's boot and has to be carried, folded, on the back seat, so no passengers possible in the rear.

We are contemplating trading in the Fabia for a used Octavia later this year after we have moved into a bungalow so my wife can get about without climbing stairs. The purchase of the Octavia will happen once we've moved.

I am considering a 1.6 FSI Ambiente Estate or a 1.9 TDI PD Ambiente Estate but is it correct to assume that with a low annual mileage such as mine, a petrol engine is a better choice than a diesel ? Our sons are suggesting we opt for an automatic rather than manual gearchange (I've never driven either a diesel or an automatic before).

I don't regard a high top speed as a priority. The most I've done is 80 - 85 mph on a German autobahn, once or twice.

I do like driving in the Lake District, Yorkshire Dales etc so the need for sufficient reserve power to cope with 1 in 3 hills without struggling is a must.

Your thoughts and suggestions would be most welcome.

Thanks in advance

Bill

Hi there and welcome.

You'll certainly find the boot of an octavia more than up to the job.

Personally I find diesel engines much nicer to drive than petrol so I'd prefer one even if I wasn't doing the 30k miles a year I do at the moment.

The extra torque makes everything so much more relaxed and I'd expect you to notice this on 1 in 3 hills.

Still there's only one way to tell which is right for you and thats to get a test drive in both of them

Hello Bill and welcome

Are you thinking of exchanging for a new car?

Regards

Mo

Could the Fabia estate be an option? The boot is that bit larger, and loading it is easy as (if I recall correctly) it doesn't have the high "lip" that the hatches do.

There's not much to choose on price between diesel and petrol - petrol will be cheaper to buy usually, but doesn't hold it's value quite so well. Diesel fuel is more expensive, but you'll get through less of it. Overall there's probably not a lot in it, especially for low mileage.

Rob.

Welcome. As fuel economy is not a big issue with the amount of miles you do I would suggest you ask your dealer for a test drive in both to see what you prefer.

The 1.6 (Petrol) Ambiente has won What Car "Best Small Family Car" two years running and the diesel engine is great too. Enjoy whatever you decide to get.

I would consider a 1.9 PD (diesel) with either the auto or the DSG gearbox. both very nice indeed.

Welcome to the forum Bill.

Welcome to the forum Bill.

Like robmawer I would think that the Fabia estate maybe an option for you.

A diesel one would be a great all rounder!

Fabia estate maybe, but if your after an auto maybe not.

Thanks folks for all your comments. The (used) replacement has to have an Octavia size boot to accommodate my semi-invalid wife's rollator (wheeled walking aid). Its too big for the boot of both Fabia hatch and Fabia estate, however I've checked the Octavia boot and it goes in with space to spare !

billanddink 27.4.06

Hi again

Please let us know what you decide

It's always a huge amount of hard work weighing up the various advantages of a car change (well, it certainly is to me) so I'm glad you're well on the way

Best regards

Mo

Welcome Bill. :wavey:

Shame the rollator doesn't fit the Fabia estate, I would have said that it matched your requirements nicely.

I'd go for the Octavia estate, due to the easier loading of your wife's aid. Go for a nice little 110 TDI, you need no bigger or more powerful than that. You may get an older L&K model with all the extras you could possibly need.

Diesel fuel is more expensive

Really?

It's strange to read...

I don't know anything about the british fuel-market, but here (Hungary) and in the neighboring countries the diesel oil is less expensive...

Really?

It's strange to read...

I don't know anything about the british fuel-market' date=' but here (Hungary) and in the neighboring countries the diesel oil is less expensive...[/quote']

Certainly hasn't always been the case here, but demand for diesel has increased considerably over the past few years, so now it's typically about 5p more per litre than unleaded!

Apparently it's cheaper to refine too...

Rob.

Welcome to the site, Bill and Dink!

Welcome.

I would wait for the Roomster being launched later this year.Will have the usual engine options and sounds like a very versatile car