Some of the press releases I have seen about the the Fabia 2 mentioned bluetooth phone connectivity and Ipod/MP3 connection as options. Looking at the Skoda UK website I can find no mention of these as a standard or optional extra. Does anyone know if these are going to be available in the UK?

Bluetooth has been an option on the Octy II in Europe for some time. I really can't see why it's not an option here, it doesn't answer your question but in short don't believe everything you read on the manufacturers website.

Fabia 2 has an aux in connector on the centre console same as the Roomster, works pretty well.

Web site does say bluetooth kit will be available approx spring/summer 07.

If you are quick Carphone warehouse are doing Parrot ck3200 with colour screen for

Thanks for that. I missed the bit about bluetooth available spring/summer 07. I already have a parrot ck3200 in my vRS (which works well), but was hoping that the next generation would have it integrated so that I don't have to spend a week switching all of the gear over and finding somewhere to mount it neatly.

What I really want (in any new car) is integrated bluetooth phone compatability and a stereo that can directly control either an Ipod or any USB harddrive MP3 player. Ideally I also want steering wheel controls (or a stalk) to control all of these.

On that subject does anyone know exactly what this

On that subject does anyone know exactly what this

Thanks for the pic OctaviaT81. Looks good to me and is clearly set up for phone use once Bluetooth becomes available. I actually prefer a stalk like that to steering wheel controls. I currently use a Sony Stalk in my vRS to control my Blaupunkt stereo (long story - don't ask!!). It looks very similar to one SWMBO had in a Peugeot 206 and that worked well.

Geoff

I have a bluetooth stereo in the fiat, its a fantastic piece of kit, I would reccommend! I dont even take my phone out of my pocket, just press the windows button on the steering wheel and talk to the car! it copies your phone book, puts info on the cars screen on your dash, has two USB ports,(for memory sticks hard drives ipods ect) and voice control to operate MP3 playing ect ect... will even use your phone to access updates and software via the web if you want! (freaked me out the first time my car tried to connect itself to the net! lol..)

best hands free I've ever used....

Yes, I've read about Fiat's "Blue and Me" or whatever it's called. It seems excellent and exactly what I want in a car. I'm fed up of having to change the car stereo to get MP3 playback and add a Parrot kit to get bluetooth. Reckon in a couple of years this type of kit will be virtually standard. Well done to Fiat for being the first.

My brother picked up a Toyota aygo blue today, with bult in bluetooth as standard not checked out yet as he forgot to take his phone with him

Yes, I've read about Fiat's "Blue and Me" or whatever it's called. It seems excellent and exactly what I want in a car. I'm fed up of having to change the car stereo to get MP3 playback and add a Parrot kit to get bluetooth. Reckon in a couple of years this type of kit will be virtually standard. Well done to Fiat for being the first.

re blue & me:

it is pretty cool, I'm playing MP3 discs, as well as having memory sticks in too, you use voice commands to sort your music, you can do it by genre, in order , randomly ect ect and have 10 gig of files in there if you wish! the detail display can be on your dash too, instead of your stereo if you wish, all to make life easier

I have one of the USB ports charging my satnav, if your satnav has MP3 capability, it will even take tracks from that to play through your speakers...

Sharkrider.

All sounds very good. What about the Punto itself - how are you getting on with that? How does it compare with the vRS with regard to comfort, build quality, performance?

going very well thanks... 7,000 miles in 8 weeks, and only problem I've had is a sqeeky noise from the engine bay, which was tracked to a loose connecter in the gear linkages, took dealer an hour to find it, but was fixed in about 8 seconds! lol...

build quality is suprisingly good, not like fiats of old...

comfort is good,(good supportive seats) but it has harder suspension than the vRS, however this does give you better handling, no bad pitching and rolling...

performance was the only letdown after the vRS, deffo felt slower in most circumstances even though its still 130 bhp! however, I had a chat to my very understanding dealer, and had it remapped by Angel tuning.... now 170bhp, and a complete world of difference! now quicker than my old vRS, so I'm happy...

as long as it doesn't give me problems I'll be happy, may even look at a fiat 500 for my next car..

re blue & me:

it is pretty cool, I'm playing MP3 discs, as well as having memory sticks in too, you use voice commands to sort your music, you can do it by genre, in order , randomly ect ect and have 10 gig of files in there if you wish! the detail display can be on your dash too, instead of your stereo if you wish, all to make life easier

I have one of the USB ports charging my satnav, if your satnav has MP3 capability, it will even take tracks from that to play through your speakers...

Great spec ,and all for under