I was at the dealers earlier today & was offered a test drive in a MKII Fabia 3 1.4 TDi, in black. I currently own a MKI Fabia 1.9 TDi Elegance on an 03 plate. Here's what I thought:

Was pleasantly suprised with the performance. didn't feel that much slower than mine. Engine is noisier though & the noise never really died away, even at 60 mph.

Brakes definitely didn't reposnd as well as mine, probably due to the rear drums (mine has all round discs).

Cabin is much smarter & I particulary liked the maxi-dot display & the digital Climatronic air-conditioning. The maxi dot is white-on-black and is below a white-on-black digital odo / trip meter.

Some nice touches in the boot: pop-out hooks for hanging shopping bags e.t.c on, and you can lower the (quite sturdy) parcel shelf down so it's, in effect ,splitting the boot level in half.

You do feel higher up in the driver seat, even though it is adjustable, also I found I had to move the front center arm rest back out of the way so I could operate the handbrake.

In conclusion I really quite liked it. I still don't think the exterior looks as nice as the MkI, but all things considered it's a better car.

Tempted!

Rear drums?

That's a bit of a let down tbh.

The 1.4 TDI engine is a cracker though.

Rear drums?

That's a bit of a let down tbh.

The 1.4 TDI engine is a cracker though.

You only get rear discs when you opt for the ESP+ASR package ,

You only get rear discs when you opt for the ESP+ASR package ,

well at least they wont moo in reverse like the vrs

MKII Fabia 3? Am I going mad?

MKII Fabia 3? Am I going mad?

Possibly, want another beer?

Took one out last week, liked it alot. But as already said needs rear disks. Swmbo said she would need a 1.9tdi, as the 1.4tdi felt to slow compaired with her mk1 2.0i Fabia.

Took one out last week, liked it alot. But as already said needs rear disks. Swmbo said she would need a 1.9tdi, as the 1.4tdi felt to slow compaired with her mk1 2.0i Fabia.

Worth considering the 1.4 16V? It is also a petrol, but probably not with the pull at low revs as the 2.0i or 1.9tdi.

Worth considering the 1.4 16V?

Don't think she would go down to a small engine

as she like to keep in front of the traffic

MKII Fabia 3? Am I going mad?

No!

koda UK - The New Škoda Fabia

Forgot to mention, the wing mirrors are much bigger also.

Worth considering the 1.4 16V? It is also a petrol, but probably not with the pull at low revs as the 2.0i or 1.9tdi.

1.4 16v seems the most pointless engine in the range, performance is not much better than the 1.2 12v and it's also less economical, less clean and less characterful than the 1.2 and more expensive. 1.6 might be worth a look though as that is much cheaper than the diesels but offers good performance (similar to the 2.0 in the old Fab)

1.4 16v seems the most pointless engine in the range, performance is not much better than the 1.2 12v and it's also less economical, less clean and less characterful than the 1.2 and more expensive. 1.6 might be worth a look though as that is much cheaper than the diesels but offers good performance (similar to the 2.0 in the old Fab)

Oops! That's the one I meant - the 1.6 16v. I shouldn't post when I am only half awake!

The stats from the brochure are:

1.6 16V petrol 105 BHP , 0-62 in 10.1 secs , max 118 MPH

1.9 TDI diesel 105BHP , 0-62 10.8 secs , max 118 MPH

...so not a lot in it as far as outright performance goes , but torque is 153NM @ 3800RPM for the petrol and 240NM@ only 1800RPM for the diesel , so your in gear performance will be better in the TDi! The petrol unit just scrapes into band D for road tax (

just ordered a black fabia 3 1.4tdi and pick it up in week

Was it the 1.4 TDI 70 or TDI 80 that you tried?

Was it the 1.4 TDI 70 or TDI 80 that you tried?

The 1.4TDI 80 is only available in 3 spec I think

and only

The 1.4TDI 80 is only available in 3 spec I think

According to

Think that might be a change in the line up...was pretty sure when I looked into it about 6 weeks ago the 1 wasn't available with the 80bhp version... :rubchin:

Still, is a good move on Skoda's part!

Rob.