Greetings everyone from a new Fabia owner.

I recently bought the 1.9TDi in elegance trim and am generally well pleased with the way it goes, considering the engine is very tight.

I have a few tales of woe to pass on, one at a time.

According to the current spec, on the web and all the bumfh the elegance should have a seatbelt warning system fitted, (mine doesn't, build date 11/02). After two months of trying to get an answer from the company they finally tell me that the item was taken out of the build in late 2001. !! Any one else come across this problem ??

FWIW, the Octavia brochure dated 09/02 lists a seatbelt warning light in the list of interior equipment whereas the Fabia brochure dated 09/02 does not.

According the Octavia Owner's Manual, the seat belt warning light comes on to request the driver to fasten the seat belt. If the driver's belt is not fastened, an audible warning sounds for 6 seconds. I can't say I've particularly noticed that light so I have just had a look at how it works.

Got in the car, closed the door, left my seatbelt undone and turned the ignition switch to the position before Start. The instrument display lit up like a Christmas tree - lots of red lights, at least one orange one, and a loud bonging noise. Started the engine, the bonging stopped and all the lights went out bar that for the handbrake. I didn't bother to check to see if the seatbelt light would go out if I put my seatbelt on before starting the engine - there were more than enough other lights on to distract me! It doesn't look like you are missing much in not having the seatbelt warning system fitted.

I think there's only one light representing the seatbelt warning - a small

red one that looks like someone wearing a seatbelt. If you start the

engine without your seatbelt, there's an irritating bonging noise as

Denis described, which lasts for about 6 seconds. It then stops, but as

far as I can recall the light stays on.

You really aren't missing much - unless you are someone who always

forgets to put their seatbelt on, you'll just find it annoying. Especially

if, like me, you're used to trying to start your car before you put your

seatbelt on in case you need to go and call the AA

Rob.