Just had my dad on the phone. His 96 Felicia has just failed the MOT and he has decided it is time to change car. He has also decided that has he is 70 this might be his last car so he wants to buy something new and is interested in a Fabia.

He does not do a high mileage so I wondered what your feelings are about the pros nd cons of the most popular petrol engines, the 1.2 and the 2 1.4s?

Also should he just go for Classic or do you think the higher trim versions are worth the extra?

He wants me to go with him to the dealers tomorrow afternoon, so any advise would be welcome.

Just had a look at the Skoda website which has an advert for Silverline and Blueline special edition Fabias with the 1.2 engine. It says 64bhp in the specs for these models but the general Fabia section of the site says 54bhp????

If it is the lower figure I would be reluctant to recommend this to my dad as the 1.3 Felicia I had was 60 something bhp and always felt somewhat under powered.

He does not do a high mileage so I wondered what your feelings are about the pros nd cons of the most popular petrol engines' date=' the 1.2 and the 2 1.4s?

Also should he just go for Classic or do you think the higher trim versions are worth the extra?

[/quote']

Isn't there 2 1.2s too? A 6v and a 12v? The 1.2s are probably more efficient around town, but if he does any motorway driving the 1.4 is less strained at 70mph.

As for the trims levels...the basic ones are pretty basic, but if he doesn't think he'll want things like heated seats or remote central locking then it's not worth him paying for it...

Though personally out of the Fabia's the TDi Elegance will probably be the best!

Rob.

Looking at the Skoda site I see the 8v 1.4 is no more and there are indeed 2 1.2s (54 and 64 bhp). So I might encourage him to get the silverline, although knowing him he will go for the Classic (not has basic as his Felicia ).

There are 2 1.2 but I only thought Skoda had the least powerful one? Apparently the more power one, the 12v, is quite good.

I agree with Rob's comments and again with his final choice. I'm sure a good deal can be found on a 03 plate with minimal mileage.

The Silverline could be well worth getting if the price difference isn't much, as the interior will be nicer and the metallic paint will help resale...

Rob.

There is about

There is about

I had a 2003 1.4 8v silverline after my classic and found the extras like central locking and electric windows well worth it over the standard classic, I think they even stick in a CD player now and I always thought the alloys were pretty cool.

I had no problems with the engine/power it was great for cruising and acceleration wasn't bad either, certaintly not underpowered but I wouldn't want much less.

Ive traded in now for the Vrs and didn't get much for my 10 month old silverline (it didnt help that demand was high for the few remaining black vrs's in country!), so it might be worth checking out the nearly new ones and picking up a bargain.

Though personally out of the Fabia's the TDi Elegance will probably be the best!

Rob.

Now there is somebody who shares my thinking

Actually, if you are considering a Fabia try the SDi out. It might not be the quickest but it moves the car along fine. I have tried an SDi Polo and it wasn't quick but could keep up with traffic flow easily. Had a heavy clutch mind!

I've just borrowed a new Fabia 1.2. It's a great little car for the money. The 1.2 motor is a pearler and feels really torquey for it's capacity, making town driving fairly effortless.

I've currently got an Arosa with the 100 bhp 1.4 motor. This engine looks "on paper" like it should fly, but in reality and real driving conditions it's held back by it's power delivery. With peak torque @ 4400rpm and peak power @ 6000rpm, you never get anywhere near top performance unless you're revving the t*ts off it. This is great fun for a while, but soon becomes tiring in "stop start" situations. I would say the 1.2 feels quicker upto town speeds due to it's torquey low revs perfomance.

I would go for a either a Diesel model or the 1.2 petrol, although the 3 cylinder pd Diesel is now available and that was great fun in the Diesel Arosa, giving nearly 70+mpg on a long run.

Hope this helps with your choice.

Both 1.2 engines are 3 cylinder engines which seem crude compared to a 4 pot engine, if your dad does high mileage it might be wise to go for a 1.4 16v unit, Avoid the 1.4 16v 75BHP unit when coupled to the Automatic at all costs!

Thanks for the advice. Knowing my Dad he will be strongley influenced by what the dealer has in stock as his current car is no longer legal to drive (just failed MoT and tax ran out at end of january).

Both 1.2 engines are 3 cylinder engines which seem crude compared to a 4 pot engine, if your dad does high mileage it might be wise to go for a 1.4 16v unit, Avoid the 1.4 16v 75BHP unit when coupled to the Automatic at all costs!

Ditto that. The 1.4 16v is very economical. Regarding the auto, ask Andy Ellis (if you dare ) or my mum.

Just reading through this thread, didn't see anyone answer the silverline question:

Its the 1.2 12v 64bhp engine (the 1.4 is 68 bhp) and is in the group A tax band so it'll only cost

Willaim

In total agreement with msoames21 with respect to the value of the Silverline. We bought a 1.2 12valve in November of last year.

The car has definitely enough power for what the wife needs to do (mainly round town with the occasional motorway run).

The car now has loosened up and we can achieve 40 -42 mpg regularly.

The choice is yours, but like i said i can definitely recommend it.

Good Luck

Mark..

I am taking my Dad along to the Skoda dealer this afternoon. I phoned him yesterday and he has a blueline Fabia hatch in stock, so we will see what the old man thinks of it. He likes my wifes 1.6 Octy but says it is to big and hard on the juice for his uses.

Myself i dont like the 1.2 engines in the Fabia probably due to my style of driving and motorway miles . I found that the 1.4 8v has poorer fuel economy than my 1.6 octy (28-30 MPG round town 39-42MPG on the motorway)

JM2PW

You must have thrashed the Furby, I used to get 42mpg out of the 1.3 8V Felicia engine in the larger Felicia Estate.

You must have thrashed the Furby.

**Flashbacks to September 2003 National Meet.... "Ahem, yep!"

William

Let us know how you go on William.

Mark

I am just back from RK Olivers. My father quite liked the Blueline Fabia, but thought that the engine did not perform well enough for him. I was surprised as his Felicia was less powerful. He went through the various options with the sales person and in the end settled for 2003 Fabia 1.9TDI Elegance hatchback that the senior sales man had been using (

:jawsmall:

That's a cracking good bargain, and no mistake!

Rob.

Good choice in car, and heck of a bargain too. I'd expect to pay more like 10K but a 53 ref TDI elegance, considering their 12K new.

(ship him over the Irish Sea and over to Jabba now. )

:jawsmall:

That's a cracking good bargain' date=' and no mistake!

Rob.[/quote']

It has 8000K on the clock

Not with that mileage!! ;)