GOOD vs BAD

[jasc1988]

Thought i would make a thread where people can post up the things they think are good and bad about their Fabia's, not owned mines long but have made a few observations

the

GOOD

Image

Power

MPG readout

Cruise Control

Cup Holders - (last car never had any)

Heated seats

the

BAD

Windscreen wash resevoir needs filled up almost every trip in this weather

Annoying beeping when its near freezing

Hard and uncomfy seats

Drving comfort - little harsh i feel, it is a VRS though so i supose i should expect it

Handling (doesnt take corners like a french hot hatch)

Please add your own

[Adam K]

you put the image under good?

it still has a skoda badge you know.

[BoilingPoint]

The Good

Image

Comfort

Road-Holding

Noise (or lack of)

The look on peoples faces when they realize they've been trying to keep up with a Skoda (A-Road dash between Cardiff and Llantrisant, beautiful piece of tarmac when it's not busy)

The Bad

Suspect quality of some components

Badge stigma

Odd Electrics

Fuel consumption

Euro Throttle

[yegnold]

Windscreen wash resevoir needs filled up almost every trip in this weather

I'm sure you're well aware of it, but you can fit a 5 litre washer bottle instead of the 2 litre one... there's a thread in the Technical Guides forum detailing what you need to do...

It's something I have planned if ever it ties in with a repair that needs to be made...

[KTP]

Good:

Its fun to drive and never gets boring

Fuel Consumption if driven sensibly

Looks

Seats in comfort (i find them nice)

Performance

Bad:

Stopping power: the standard brakes are gash.

Handling: whilst not the worse its certainly not the best

Seats: a f**ker to keep clean!

Dashboard: most boring design ever?

[yegnold]

Oh, the one bad thing I really have to say about all Fabias I have ever owned (three) is occasionally (and not consistently), the interior will decide that it is going to rattle.

In my first X Reg 1.9SDI Classic, it was the bit of dash just above the hazard lights button.

In the 2003/53 reg 1.9SDI Classic, it was the window winder handles and mechanisms, as well as the door trim in general...

In the VRS, I am yet to identify where it comes from, but it is in the passenger footwell/glovebox kind of area.. I've checked to see if it is a loose fitting dashboard door, or the dashboard latch mechanism, and it is neither... regardless, the rattle is still there.

Despite this, I'd still say I rate the build quality of the interior very highly (switches feel well made, nothing is ever going to fall off...). I think it's safe to say that with patience and care it would be possible to stop the rattles.

[CarnivalClown]

GOOD:

Its fun, pure and simple

Being pushed into the back of your seat

Image, most people see past the Skoda badge now

Insurance group

BAD:

Bumpy handling

The *its too cold* pansy beep

The fact that when I look to my right to pull out of junctions, im actually looking through the backseat passenger window

Mine mists up and takes ages to unmist

[ultra_joel88]

Good:

Power

Interior (well built and love the seats myself, along with sporty touches e.g. gearknob, pedals)

MPG

Looks (when clean)

General feel of components, feel well put together

Large boot

Bad:

Leaky doors

Handling is wallowy

The fact that CC and Xenons were optional

[teedeeye]

Good:

Long term reliability

Build quality

Superb economy for the performance

Non mainstream image

Comfortable for my 6'3" frame

Easily moddified to improve handling/performance

Cheap to buy and insure

Bad:

Dealer network and customer care

Depreciation

Soggy handling as std

Water leaks

Dealer network and customer care

Dealer network and customer care

Dealer network and customer care

Dealer network and customer care........

[jasc1988]

I'm sure you're well aware of it, but you can fit a 5 litre washer bottle instead of the 2 litre one... there's a thread in the Technical Guides forum detailing what you need to do...

It's something I have planned if ever it ties in with a repair that needs to be made...

yeah but it looks like a bit of a ball ache :thumbdwn:

[yegnold]

yeah but it looks like a bit of a ball ache :thumbdwn:

True, which is why I'm not taking the whole front bumper of my VRS off, at the risk of fitting it back on incorrectly, just for the sake of doing it... I carry around a 5 litre bottle of screenwash in the back of the car at all times anyway (I think it's damn dangerous, especially at this time of year, to not have a means of getting your windscreen so that you can actually see clearly through it).

I do agree though, as it is possible to fit a 5 litre one in, it makes no sense whatsoever as to why Skoda decided to put the 2 litre in instead... unless someone can come up with a reason?

[jasc1988]

2l is plainly just rediculous

It usually lasts me one tank of diesel which usually equates to one week! its a joke

[yegnold]

Bad:

Dealer network and customer care

Dealer network and customer care

Dealer network and customer care

Dealer network and customer care........

This is something I find really odd. My parents have purchased two cars (one new, one used) from a Skoda Garage in Bridgnorth (Faintree Garage), and have not had a bad word to say about them...

There's also the small fact that Skoda came near-top of the customer satisfaction surveys for consecutive years.. surely the car itself can't have been so good it cancelled out the poor customer service?!

I know, though, that you are not alone with the problems with the customer care provided by Skoda UK. Perhaps the feedback and care you and your car receive is somewhat of a postcode lottery?!

[teedeeye]

This is something I find really odd. My parents have purchased two cars (one new, one used) from a Skoda Garage in Bridgnorth (Faintree Garage), and have not had a bad word to say about them...

There's also the small fact that Skoda came near-top of the customer satisfaction surveys for consecutive years.. surely the car itself can't have been so good it cancelled out the poor customer service?!

I know, though, that you are not alone with the problems with the customer care provided by Skoda UK. Perhaps the feedback and care you and your car receive is somewhat of a postcode lottery?!

You maybe right about a postcode lottery, but the above is not purely based on my experiences with an older Skoda. A close family member suffered equally poor care when buying a new Octavia. I truly envy anyone that lives close to a 'good' dealer.

[yegnold]

.. we don't live close.. Dad didn't buy a car off Startin Skoda (who are 1/3 of the distance away) purely because of a pushy salesman... I don't know what they're like post-sale. They took out my radio out for me free of charge when we asked, though, no problem...

[Mossman]

Good

Stealth - total Q car

In gear performance when mapped - a total transformation!

Handling - after springs and Jabba ARB - again, a transformation!

Economy over long distances / motorway driving

Surprise on people's faces when you destroy them in the 40+ mph zone

Comfort - I really like the seats

Insurance - £300 !

Bad

Keeping seats clean

Diesel start up clanking when used to Lotus rasp

I miss the boot hooks which were in the Superb

[oilburninnut]

attracts gay men apparntly

[KTP]

attracts gay men apparntly

[akz]

good

leaving people standing in a "skoda"

low insurance for a young person (me!)

good mpg and performance at the same time

plenty of mods available

no many of them about (compared to other cars on the road)

limited colours available

bad

door seals!!!!!!

no 3 door option

diesel start up!

skoda stigma

sum others but a cant mind lol

[ric04vrs]

good ,

VRS with xenons has 5 litre washer bottle

easily tuneable diesel engine with a remap

easily upgradeable handling with rear ARB

reliability of the diesel

MPG of the diesel

takes abuse around a track

puts to shame some quicker cars on the track

i get PD oil for free

bad,

grubby seats

trim rattles

suspension bush failures

suspension bush knocks

paint peeling on my tailgate spoiler :(

VRS starting to become a Ch@V motor

[Mossman]

Ch@v motor? Do you think so? I suppose it can go down hill quite quickly if they are "pimped" too much.

[LegoVRS]

Good :

When the turbo kicks in... ;o)

Good performance, makes journeys effortless.

Leather Seats on the VRS SE

Looking out for other briskoda members on the motorway!!

Bad:

White Seats on the Non SE VRS

Rattles

"Soft" paint and stone chips

Lack of MP3 support on symphony radio

Ice on the inside of the windscreen when its cold!!

a few little "Niggly" issues like washer pipes coming off, door seals, heater fan problems etc.

The fact i have listed more faults than positive doesn't mean i think the VRS is a bad car. i am always trying to get my friends to buy one! and i'm on my second so they can't be that bad!!

[jasc1988]

yeah thats another! the paint on the Fabias is aweful does seem really 'soft'

[wac]

Good:

That wonderful "yes, you've been done by a Skoda" torque

The overall feel of the car; solidly built with a nice interior

Six gears with a wonderful-feeling gear stick

Exclusivity - it's not that common around my parts at least

Looks - I love the look of my vRS

Fuel economy - 60MPG on weekdays. Only dips to 50 on weekends.

Hardly uses any oil

Bad:

Rattles that change every week

Stuttering of the engine; though this is common with TDI PD's

People will always cling to the "cheap vw" image

Default head unit and speakers are lacking for the vRS's powerful image

No slide-out cupholder like my Polo had

Not enough driver-side storage under steering wheel

The paint is rather soft; I agree with others here about this.

Default wiper blades are rubbish - but obviously this can be fixed easily

[Adam K]

attracts gay men apparntly

you never mentioned if that was a plus or a negative point for you