@DavidY

Tesla have batteries under the floor with models of cars that have not high roofs or Nissan Leaf's, the Peugeot e-208 / e-Corsa have batteries under the seats and are not as high as a Fabia, 

but have not that great a range. 

A Mk4 Fabia hatch or estate EV would have been a perfect size of EV for many and could have had a 200 mile range.  Maybe not with 4 adults and luggage in the boot, 

but then many of the Crossover EV's are no better.

EV MG Estates are a good value vehicle and now the long range will suit many.

 

As it is VW Group are meeting their Average Emissions and saving from paying for not meeting them with the assistance of MG Motors registering enough EV's.

 

Edited 10 November, 20214 yr by roottoot

2 minutes ago, roottoot said:

the Peugeot e-208 / e-Corsa have batteries under the seats and are not as high as a Fabia,

 

Can confirm, my Gran has a petrol Corsa of the same MY as yours IIRC.

17 minutes ago, roottoot said:

@DavidY

Tesla have batteries under the floor with models of cars that have not high roofs or Nissan Leaf's, the Peugeot e-208 / e-Corsa have batteries under the seats and are not as high as a Fabia, 

but have not that great a range. 

A Mk4 Fabia hatch or estate EV would have been a perfect size of EV for many and could have had a 200 mile range.  Maybe not with 4 adults and luggage in the boot, 

but then many of the Crossover EV's are no better.

EV MG Estates are a good value vehicle and now the long range will suit many.

 

As it is VW Group are meeting their Average Emissions and saving from paying for not meeting them with the assistance of MG Motors registering enough EV's.

 

 

Having a small car doesn't necessarily mean you usually make short journeys (I usually made long ones) and one reason I liked the old Mk1 Fabia was you could get nice long range from it - 500+miles from a tank of diesel would be fairly easy.

So Fabia Estate EV with a claimed 200 mile range (remembering that EV range is much more variable due to temperamental/ temperature sensitive batteries) would be hopeless for me. Crossover EVs are just as bad, as you say, though.

This video reckons that cheap small cars won't exist soon - with Euro 7 regulations (as mentioned in the AutoExpress article on the Fabia) being part of the problem.

 

I'm not convinced by the idea of an estate car with batteries under the floor though- from what I've seen, the MG 5 estate for instance doesn't let rear passengers stick their feet under the front seats, which means you effectively have less comfortable legroom even if the distance from the back seat backrest to back of front seat doesn't look too bad.

2 minutes ago, DavidY said:

I'm not convinced by the idea of an estate car with batteries under the floor though- from what I've seen, the MG 5 estate for instance doesn't let rear passengers stick their feet under the front seats, which means you effectively have less comfortable legroom even if the distance from the back seat backrest to back of front seat doesn't look too bad.

 

This may be an inconvenience actually. I'm quite taken on by the MG 5 estate as it looks pretty nice IMHO.

 

2 minutes ago, DavidY said:

Having a small car doesn't necessarily mean you usually make short journeys (I usually made long ones) and one reason I liked the old Mk1 Fabia was you could get nice long range from it - 500+miles from a tank of diesel would be fairly easy.

 

There's a good thread on this, see here

Edited 10 November, 20214 yr by AnnoyingPentium

@DavidYMG Estate EV's are getting to be rather popular as Taxis and plated to carry 4 so they are just fine for rear feet space.

 

Having a small EV does not stop me doing the same long journeys that i did in a Fabia, the difference is that i have to allow time to charge on the journey and can spend the money i never spent on petrol while on that journey.

Allowing up to an hour for every 150 miles done can be a PITA though, but when you have all  the time in the world it is not an issue.

When in a hurry then a small EV is not that good a choice when doing 450 miles or more.

 

 

 

Edited 10 November, 20214 yr by roottoot

4 minutes ago, roottoot said:

@DavidYMG Estate EV's are getting to be rather popular as Taxis and plated to carry 4 so they are just fine for rear feet space.

 

I've found that Skoda still remains king down my way, Superb IV's and Mk3 Octys seem to be the most popular. Couple of older Rapids too. Anything for more people is usually 6-9 seat Peugeot or Citroen taxicabs.

Edited 10 November, 20214 yr by AnnoyingPentium

 

 

That is Because of the Deals they got on Skodas and the pathetic charging setup but that will change.

It is the same around here with Skoda but then people are changing.  The EV Taxi Fleet & Courier & Carry Out deliveries in Dundee are as it is because of the ease of charging. 

 

Not many doing Airport Transfers unless Teslas though.

 

There are not many Superb IV's about as Taxis are there?,  Mk 3 Superbs, but not Plug In's.

Edited 10 November, 20214 yr by roottoot

2 minutes ago, roottoot said:

There are not many Superb IV's about as Taxis are there?,  Mk 3 Superbs, but not Plug In's.

 

Not as many IV's, but a decent enough amount for a start. Definitely a lot of Mk3 Superbs, especially in Ayr these days. It used to be the newest (some 08 reg IIRC) Mk1 Octavias up until a few years back, funnily enough

22 hours ago, roottoot said:

@DavidYMG Estate EV's are getting to be rather popular as Taxis and plated to carry 4 so they are just fine for rear feet space.

Thanks for the video link - I think it does demonstrate that the underseat space for feet is limited - for a short journey (eg many journeys you'd make in a taxi) I think it wouldn't be a problem, but for a long journey I think it would be annoying and perhaps start to feel cramped.

 

However I did come across this Skoda event from June in which they strongly hinted they are planning to make an Octavia EV estate - which has to be a strong contender for "just take my money now" although I do note that folks over in the Mk4 Octavia forum are finding more problems with the tech than I'd like to see.

https://youtu.be/lcGRnpWdxog?t=1294

 

Also - it may not exist until at least 2025 so it's a bit long to wait and plenty of time for plans to change - the aforementioned Fabia Estate was supposed to be a future model not so long ago.

 

Off topic- what is the best way to paste Youtube links into posts in the forum? I spent more time on Briskoda when it was on some earlier forum software (vBulletin??) but not figured out how to do it here?

Edited 11 November, 20214 yr by DavidY

4 minutes ago, DavidY said:

Off topic- what is the best way to paste Youtube links into posts in the forum? I spent more time on Briskoda when it was on some earlier forum software (vBulletin??) but not figured out how to do it here?

 

I usually paste it and then click somewhere else in the post and it embeds it. If that's what you're looking for

14 minutes ago, AnnoyingPentium said:

 

I usually paste it and then click somewhere else in the post and it embeds it. If that's what you're looking for

Ah interesting - thanks for that.
I was trying to be too clever and look for one of the options on the formatting bar at the top (and was using the Link option from up there). 🙃
I didn't think to just paste it in and see what happens...
 

 

 

@DavidYMk1,2 or 3 Fabia Estates used as Taxis are rare because they are not really a vehicle that can carry 4 or 5 adult people in comfort for that long.

Useful cars they are and will continue to be and often it might be smaller people like children that spend time behind a driver.

Many are only getting occasional use of rear seats by 1, 2 or 3 people or the rear seats are never used as with lots of 4/5 seaters.

Personally a grand child in a Child seat could not have their legs / feet comfortably out behind me when i have the seat right back.

They can be Dog carriers, bike car & carriers of all sorts and and not that long a vehicle.

 

There is a reason that Octavia and Superbs are used as taxis / private hire cars and airport transport and that is carrying people as well as luggage ect. 

Then they are a Family size car and adult carrying size car with all seats occupied.

 

The loss of a Fabia size estate as a choice for those wanting this class of vehicle is a real shame IMO. 

There are reasons that people have not gone for a Fabia over an Octavia Estate over the past 2 decades and that is because they wanted something a bit shorter but still an estate car.

Many do move on from a Fabia to an Octavia as their needs change over time, many just stick with a Fabia as that does all they need of a car size / space wise.

 

Estate cars can be handy as a works / Light Commercial Vehicle or for use by trades people and there will be a few available for awhile as new cars and then there are enough on the roads new that there are used ones available for a good few years yet. 

 

People might well use Octavia estates as their works vehicle / van or camper etc, as people do with Superbs, Roomsters or even Yeti's.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited 12 November, 20214 yr by roottoot

20 minutes ago, roottoot said:

The loss of a Fabia size estate as a choice for those wanting this class of vehicle is a real shame IMO. 

 

These Fabia estates are just excellent load luggers, or handy if you have a dog or dogs. I believe the only true alternative is the Dacia Logan, which is also a lot cheaper than the Fabia estate. Sure, levels of equipment are lower, but they still offer a decent package for the price, you can easily spec a model with air conditioning and other luxuries for less than the base price of a Fabia estate. In the household, we have a 2019 Duster 4x2 Comfort 1.0 TCE 100 and a 2014 Sandero Ambiance 0.9 TCE 90, the latter of which is basically a Logan without a backside. The Sandero can seat five comfortably enough.

 

In terms of size, the Logan has these dimensions:

 

 

And the Mk3 Fabia estate has these dimensions:

 

 

The Logan is a longer car, but it's also a narrower car with a bigger fuel tank at 55L IIRC. It's probably also lighter than a Mk3 Fabia estate too. I reckon this is where buyers of Fabia estates will go if the Scala doesn't suit their tastes. The Logan was also offering a diesel option for a lot longer, with a ~110hp 1.5 DCI engine from Renault. Renault being their parent company of course.

@AnnoyingPentium

I have been toying with getting a Logan for a couple of years because i know people with them as load luggers.

I might well get one in the near future as i am planning and getting shot of my EV as getting to be a PITA and also might get rid of my diesel van.

I still need a bike carrier and the estate will do that job.

I had an Alhambra previously for that.

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/391938-is-dacia-the-new-skoda/page/6

 

 

 

 

 

3 minutes ago, roottoot said:

I still need a bike carrier and the estate will do that job.

 

Our Duster is classed as an estate on the V5 and can carry two bikes comfortably, or a large shrub. It has an insanely small turning circle too, comparable, if not less than my Fabia. The 1.0 TCe engine is fairly spritely too since the car is pretty light. We came from a 2010 Toyota Auris TR 1.6, so even with slightly less power, it is enough for us with often five and a dog in the car. 

Edited 12 November, 20214 yr by AnnoyingPentium

The issue for me was the seating position in a Duster Automatic, it just did not suit me. 

I looked at one when i got rid of my last Jimny after having driven them for 18 years. 

4 minutes ago, roottoot said:

The issue for me was the seating position in a Duster Automatic, it just did not suit me. 

I looked at one when i got rid of my last Jimny after having driven them for 18 years. 

 

The Duster is my Mum's. I've driven it a couple of times but really didn't like it due to the same seating position. I felt as if I was too high even in an already high car. It's the reason the Fabia was bought for me to learn in. However, I may need to drive it on Sunday again because of the crack on the windscreen on my Fabia. 

Height was not an issue as I have a Shogun van.  High, high seat & tall windscreen to see out.  Lots of cars have too low a screen if the seat is set high or even at it,s lowest.  I have only a left leg and use standard pedals so that i can drive any auto, never used pedal conversions for decades now. That does not suit a Duster, not a Octavia or many other cars.  Fine with a Fabia and various cars though.  Even a Yeti is not great because of the inner sill. People get to know what suits their needs for different times of a week or year or whenever for what ever. Easy in and out is not the whole story.   Lower roofs can suit carrying stuff on racks while loading a SUV / crossover / talk 4x4 can be less handy. 

Edited 12 November, 20214 yr by roottoot

Small estates are being wiped out....

 

MKI & MKIII  Fabia were good designs....

 

I bought my MKI Fabia Hatch in Jan/Feb 2001...hardly any estates in the country...then I saw one at the dealers two months later & almost swapped my new hatch! Almost bought a MKI Octavia estate at the time..just to big for 80% of my driving.. 

 

I almost bought an AWD Yeti when we had the first bad UK winter in 2009/2010...until I realised the advantages of proper winter tyres!!

 

Saved up for a replacement car (when mine got over 12yrs old)...which was then going to be a Roomster Scout with all the options (expect pano roof which causes problems)

 

Then there was supposed to be a replacement for the Roomster in 2015, basically a rebadged VW Caddy SWB Highlife...(& that still hasn't happened)

 

Then with the MKIII Fabia I knew there was going to be an estate..but no mention of the 140/150PS engines...(vRS spec) which is what I wanted. (& still hasn't happened).

 

Had a look at the MkIII Octavia estate..too long for what I needed & torsion beam rear suspension unless I got VRS or L&K spec...(the car is longer than the Mk7 Golf estate which gets multilink rear in more lower powered engines).

 

Looked at the Golf SV, more expensive to insure, worse mpg/aero as bigger frontal cross sectional area, than the MK7 Golf estate.

 

Ended up with a MK7 Golf estate...multi-link rear with 140PS petrol..nice light weight nose, good handling & power/weight, 4inches shorter than the Octavia, (2inches in the wheelbase), cheaper to insure & good mpg....

 

(My Mk7 Golf GT estate was insurance group 15E, the same hatch was 17E, & the MkIII Octavia estate L&K was 19E, can't find the info on the Golf SV)

 

The new MK8 Golf estate is even longer than mine as its not based 100% on the MK8 hatch as it has a longer wheelbase & is more a reskin/rebadge of the MK4 Octavia!..

 

Edited 1 January, 20224 yr by fabdavrav
clarity