what model to go for - 1.2 or 1.4

1.9 vrs!!

Welcome to Briskoda, not up to scratch on the Fabia's, but someone will be along soon to help you out.

Personally i'd take the 1.2 over the 1.4

It depends on what 1.2 you are looking at. There are 2 , a 6 valve and a 12 valve. The 6v only has around 55BHP , and the Fabia isnt exactly light , so I would give that a miss. If its a 1.2 you want , go for the 12V 64BHP version. As for the 1.4s , again there are 2 versions , the 8V (MPI) and the 16V , the 8V has 68 BHP , the 16V has 100ish BHP IIRC. The 8V is basically a Skoda unit that has been used in various forms in the last few Skoda cars , the 16V is VW. The 8v has had some head gasket trouble , but all of these cars should now have the modified gasket fitted , the 16V has had a few problems too , pistons , cam belt tensioners to name two off the top of my head.

The 1.4 8V was dropped from the range in about 2003 , so if its a new-ish Fabia you are looking at , you will only have the 1.2s and the 1.4 16V to chose from. Personally I'd go for the 1.2 12V (red 'HTP' badge on the boot).

HTH

There is also a 75bhp 1.4 16v.

mine is 1.4 8v pros.....excellent on petrol and good run about quite a lot of speed for a tiny engine. Looks same as all other models and easy to look after.

Cons

Thermostat is liable to problems but not too difficult to repair, seems similar to 16 v in all other respects but odd times lacks power.

Where are you from? NW here

1.9 vrs!!

thanks but we don't think we do enough mileage for the vrs

mine is 1.4 8v pros.....excellent on petrol and good run about quite a lot of speed for a tiny engine. Looks same as all other models and easy to look after.

Cons

Thermostat is liable to problems but not too difficult to repair, seems similar to 16 v in all other respects but odd times lacks power.

Where are you from? NW here

From the S.E - not sure what to buy at the moment

1.2 12v is a cracking little engine, the wife and my mother both have them and they even make a decent motorway cruiser, very quiet and refined on long runs

It depends on what 1.2 you are looking at. There are 2 , a 6 valve and a 12 valve. The 6v only has around 55BHP , and the Fabia isnt exactly light , so I would give that a miss. If its a 1.2 you want , go for the 12V 64BHP version. As for the 1.4s , again there are 2 versions , the 8V (MPI) and the 16V , the 8V has 68 BHP , the 16V has 100ish BHP IIRC. The 8V is basically a Skoda unit that has been used in various forms in the last few Skoda cars , the 16V is VW. The 8v has had some head gasket trouble , but all of these cars should now have the modified gasket fitted , the 16V has had a few problems too , pistons , cam belt tensioners to name two off the top of my head.

The 1.4 8V was dropped from the range in about 2003 , so if its a new-ish Fabia you are looking at , you will only have the 1.2s and the 1.4 16V to chose from. Personally I'd go for the 1.2 12V (red 'HTP' badge on the boot).

HTH

Thanks for your detailed advice. I will be looking at the 1.2

My 1.2 12v does everything I want - takes me from A to B and occasionally to C and back. The engine is economical, and the VED is

My 1.2 12v does everything I want - takes me from A to B and occasionally to C and back. The engine is economical, and the VED is

Personally i'd take the 1.2 over the 1.4

It seems the 1.2 is favourite with you guys.

It seems the 1.2 is favourite with you guys.

Have you driven a 1.2 Ajax???, where are you located, someone local or a dealer might be able to give you a test drive...

I have a 1.4 16V 100bhp, (as someone mentioned earlier it's basically a VW engine). I gotta say it packs a lot of punch for a 1.4. The mpg seems pretty good too! I would definately recommend this!!

Have you driven a 1.2 Ajax???, where are you located, someone local or a dealer might be able to give you a test drive...

Yes, but only the new 2007 model, which was a pleasure to drive but I still prefer the size and shape of the previous model !! i also (perhaps wrongly, thought the 100bhp 1.4 might be better on the motorways? One of the reasons I am looking at the Fabia is because all the reviews - thus fare read - say that the Fabia is a smooth ride all round and has a big car feel to it! Perhaps I should explain that my wife has a slight paranoia about motorways [not that we travel on them much] and where we live parking is tight, so a larger car is not an option. Our local dealer [JCB, Basildon] has no 1.2s or 1.4s that we can try [old shape] , however, if I want the new shape, 1,2, or 3, I can have one to-morrow!!!

Thank you for your reply, Ajax:)

Have you driven a 1.2 Ajax???, where are you located, someone local or a dealer might be able to give you a test drive...

Yes, but only the new 2007 model, which was a pleasure to drive but I still prefer the size and shape of the previous model !! i also (perhaps wrongly, thought the 100bhp 1.4 might be better on the motorways? One of the reasons I am looking at the Fabia is because all the reviews - thus fare read - say that the Fabia is a smooth ride all round and has a big car feel to it! Perhaps I should explain that my wife has a slight paranoia about motorways [not that we travel on them much] and where we live parking is tight, so a larger car is not an option. Our local dealer [JCB, Basildon] has no 1.2s or 1.4s that we can try [old shape] , however, if I want the new shape, 1,2, or 3, I can have one to-morrow!!!

Thank you for your reply, Ajax:)