Fabia Greenline Diesel - Any Good?

[Hearny]

These figures are excellent. I starting to wonder on the quality of the diesel we get in the UK.

[Hik]

Originally Posted by Hearny

These figures are excellent. I starting to wonder on the quality of the diesel we get in the UK.

I don’t know much about fuel. But the diesel in Sweden is ultra clean which is good – but is only made at five refinerys in the world and it is expensive. Critics say that the euro-diesel is clean enough and it is cheaper and the access is not affected by problems at a single refinery.

However – the euro-diesel, which I guess you have got in the UK, has a higher energy content and if it makes any difference the consumption should be lower (about 3%?) with your diesel.

My figures are based on the computer alone – I will compare it when having filled the tank up with diesel a couple of times. There is no doubt that the car is frugal though.

[Chris GB]

Originally Posted by Hearny

These figures are excellent. I starting to wonder on the quality of the diesel we get in the UK.

Diesel quality seems a bit variable here. Sometimes you find that the diesel gives less MPG. Sainsburys down the road from here used to consistently give 7% less miles per gallon than the local BP or Shell. In the last couple of years, the difference seems to have gone.

Those MPG figures for the Greenline are very impressive.

Chris

[waynef]

I've driven my Fabia vRS 04-reg from new. It's covered over 90,000 miles now and is stunning.

All that's gone wrong so far mechanically is that brake pedal switch broke a week ago leading to the ESP, ABS and glow-plug lights coming on. Oh, and I had to replace a tail-light blub, once. I've bought 2-sets of tyres (8-tyres) and had it serviced at Autosales (Bilston). Stunning, chuffed, happy driver

As you can see from my records, it does an average of 49.6246 MPG (confirmed by the dashboard trip computer too, or thereabouts), and I don't drive it like a granny either.

[Ruddster]

I have recently purchased a Fabia Greenline Estate and have been very impressed so far.

The torque details printed in the brochure are incorrect and are actually the same as the standard 1.4tdi.

I have never had to change down to fourth on the motorway as there always plenty of pull and the car cruises very happily at 80-85 mph.

I am currently averaging 58mpg according to the onboard trip computer.

[The PM]

High Rud - I have the mk1 TDi 80 estate and whilst its fine all round its not as good as the old 1.9TDi I had when on long motorway runs - the main problem is that the gearing in 5th is too short - I recon its about 25mph/1000rpm compared with 29/1000 on the 1.9.

I wondered if they'd made the 5th a bit higher on the Greenline - what does the rev counter show at an indicated 70mph? Also do you know if the speedo is accurate? - mine is about 10% over compared with my satnav!

Also, you mentioned the torque figures - is that compared with the 1.4TDi 70 or 80?

Cheers m8!

[Estate Man]

Originally Posted by Latino

However, based on prior experience with an estate car and an 80bhp engine (my father used to have an Astra estate with such engine), long motorway journeys were usually painful. Any small hills and the car suffered (I often switched the aircon off to get a little extra power), and often came down to 60/55mph and would refuse to go up to 70mph until we were on flat terrain again.

Don't forget the Astra 80 bhp engine was petrol and was making much much less torque at much much higher revs (around 120nm at 3500rpm if memory serves me correctly!) than the diesel Skoda. The Skoda 1.4 TDI 80 PD is putting out nearly 200nm of torque at just 2250rpm...that's more than the 115bhp VW 2.0ltr petrol engine which puts out 170nm at 3500rpm.

[Ruddster]

Hi PM

Not sure about the speedo, I will check my satnav over the next couple of days.

At 70mph the rev counter reads just over 2000rpm and the torque figures are the same as the 1.4TDI 80

[jaxx007]

I am aware that the greenline has longer ratios than the standard tdi 80, but does anyone know what revs the standard tdi 80 is pulling at 70. My estate is due in 8 weeks or so but I would love to know now rather than waiting to get it and then run it in gently for a few weeks etc etc!!! Thank you. Oh and also, out of curiosity, under the boot floor I assume is where the sealant is, but is there actually a hole or space for a spare wheel or is the under boot floor flat and no chance of getting a spare in???

[The PM]

Thanks for that Rud - sounds like the Greenline has the 1.9 gearing - which would be much better on motorway work - the Mk1 standard 1.4TDi80 is pulling 2500 at an indicated 70mph, which in reality is about 63mph! At a real 85mph it was around 3250 - in the 1.9 at that speed I was doing nearer 100mph!

With regard to a 80bhp petrol I would expect to have to change down - thats the main difference between the fuels - I've just come back from 2500 miles in Germany and Belgium and never had to change down on motorways, despite the steepness and length of the hills you get on the Autobahns - and that was with three people and full load of luggage!

[Estate Man]

Jaxx, I confirm the Mk2 Fabia Estate pulls 2500rpm at 70mph...just the same as the Mk1 quoted by PM. I agree with PM, the 1.4TDI 80 engine doesn't lack power at motorway speeds at all. It's a lovely engine and will cover 100's of thousands of miles with no spannering other than normal routine stuff! That is...as long as you get it serviced properly and use the right spec oil.

I drove the Greenline but didn't look under the boot floor to see what space was available. I decided to get the standard Mk 2 Fabia estate because I liked the standard gearing better for my type of driving. The Greenline is however a brilliant motorway beast! She was revving at just 2000rpm at 70 mile per hour, and yet seemed to have endless power to accellerate in 5 gear. Amazing!

[Ruddster]

Also worth mentioning is that if you run a business, you can claim the total expense back in the first year (100% FYA) as its below the maximum 110g/km govemerment requirement for this tax incentive.

Combined with the fact that you can get the car on 0% finance, it's more spacious than any other car in the sub 110g/km bracket and averages 60mpg.

It makes great pratical and financial sense for many a small business.

[jaxx007]

From july - september, only the sport and fabia 1 were on 0% finance. the 2, 3, and greenline were all 6.9% APR, but with 3 yrs free servicing or 1 year free insurance. I ordered my fab 2 tdi 80 estate a few weeks ago. The rate they gave me was 6% APR though. Or did you mean business users can get 0%. Mine was for personal use but if 0% is for business only I'll stand corrected.

[Skoda_Family]

I considered the Greenline Estate carefully but have decided to go for a 2 or 3 spec instead.

(Probably a 3 as it will be a company car and there's not a lot of difference in tax and leasing cost for me).

The main reasons I didn't go for the Greenline are the miserly spec (compared to 2), lack of options and the comments on the forum on real world mpg.

I think the standard Furby's will be almost as Economical and better value for what you get as standard.

Sure all of them are fine to drive though - my test drive in a 2 was superb.

Deciding on colour and options this week (well wife will be telling me which colour!).

Cheers

[larryblag]

My other-half has recently taken delivery of a 1.4 Greenline estate and she loves it! All the stuff about "noise/rattle" etc has some truth but on a recent motorway trip (approx 150miles) she was averaging 65mpg (indicated) and at 70mph in top (5th) gear, an indicated 2000rpm means that even fully loaded with stuff there is plenty of torque making overtaking easy. With less than 1000 miles on the clock this is very encouraging

G

[Estate Man]

Larry, glad you and your wife are pleased with the Greenline. I thought it was a great car, although I bought the 'standard' version for various reasons. Keep us all informed on how it performs in the coming weeks/months.

[andyandlinda]

We love our Greenline estate it is a great car lovely to drive we have had her since the 1st sept and we have done 1700 miles now computer is showing 73.2mpg average.

Before this we had a Freelander 2 costing twice as much but had no need for it so decided to get something smaller and have never regreted it at all.