New member, a Fabia 1.2 110 and some questions

1.5 year report

The Fabia is continuing to do great service as our local urban runabout, being comfortable and practical in equal measure. I am still impressed by its 1.2 110hp engine and DSG drivetrain combination, which can make pretty rapid progress when needed.

I'm sure mature Briskodians appreciate the simple pleasures of a car so well-suited to its intended uses as this Fabia.

I took a few snaps today away from the packed urban street it lives on. I think it's a smart-looking little thing, albeit free from fussy design details and low on aggression.

Being the mid-range SE model, I am still finding it a reasonably-finished cabin (certainly when looking ahead) with an intuitive head unit that includes smartphone mirroring. The combination of compact proportions and well-sized rear accommodation have proven absolutely essential as this car gets used 3-4 times per week for sports and out-of-school activities.

It's been quite liberating to feel no worries as very muddy post-rugby kids have clambered into the back or indeed been sick in the car. The whole rear bench comes out quite easily and the fabrics repeatedly clean-up well. Not pictured is some driver's side bolster wear, which came with the car but isn't getting better with our use - the only thing not consistent with the car's 22,500 miles.

I debadged the rear bootlid after one of the letters came loose during a cleaning session. I'm not 100% sure about the resulting look but I suppose it goes with the simple vibe.

I mentioned before that I get a lot of satisfaction from maintaining my cars and so this one gets just as much love as its stablemates. Spend since the update has included:

- wiper blade (£16.25)
- replacement wheel centre caps (£6.99)
- replacement interior LED blubs (£2.56)
- interim service & MoT (£232.02)
- lower front suspension arm bearings replaced (£226.80)

I'm keeping the car clean and well-pampered by the standards of almost any other Fabia, though it's continuing to attract minor urban damage including what looks to be a fair whack to the rear bumper:

The paint is cracked and so I'm pricing up a repair for this one, which leads me to consider sorting a few other things. It's left me in a bit of a quandry...

On the one hand, I recently placed an order for a brand new Polo to arrive sometime next spring as a replacement for the Fabia. 2 years would seem like good going and the advantage of replacing with a new car is that this is the one car we need to always work.  It's the one we use most often and will likely be driven by our kids as they grow up. The Fabia also continues to be worth around 10-15% more than I paid for it, which means net-zero cost motoring if sold at this price.

On the other hand, spending a little time in the Fabia today made me appreciate it. It's going to be 6 years old soon and smells a bit inside thanks to all our activities, but it's in good nick. Its 110hp and drivetrain and tech are still pretty modern. 

Decisions, decisions.