New Fabia 1 road tested!

[VRSBUZZ]

Been road testing a new Fabia1 1.2 for four days now whilst my 2001 Fabia 1.9Tdi has some bodywork done to some dodgy paint blisters on the boot lid. So I thought I would put my views on the new Fabia into Briskoda for any potential buyers. I will bullet point them to try and keep it short.

Dislikes:
1. I dont like the new gear **** but then I am used to a shiny silver one in my Elegance,
2. Skoda have dropped the little red lights in the front doors to warn on coming motorists, I like those in mine,
3. The dash plastics are not soft anymore they feel cheap and brittle in comparison to the outgoing Fabia.
4. The Fabia 1 has no glovebox, I know the 2 and 3 have but all of the old shape Fabias had a glovebox!
5. The heater controls feel brittle and weak also.
6. The wingmirrors feel chunky and seem to get in the way.
7. The bonnet does not open very high and all I do is bang my head constantly on the release catch.
8. I dont like the dash layout and it lacks the cubby holes and storage spaces my old Fabia has.
9. Im still not so sure on the Roomster dash and front end looks either.
10. When you go from dip to full beam the car turns off the dip altgether just leaving the main beam on. My Fabia has both on at the same time and the lights are much brighter.
11. There is no multi function computer anymore with outside temperature and fuel tank range etc. I like this on mine and I use it all the time.
12. There is no engine temperature guage anymore which I also miss (not sure if the 2 and 3 have one though).
13. I dont like the black A-posts and thin top door edges coupled with the BMW Mini side view looks.
14. In the car I had I didnt like the garish blue seats either (the sport fabric is much better).
15. I did not feel like the car was as chunky and safe as my old one, the doors felt thinner.
16. When driving using accelerator sense there was about a 3 second delay before the engine actually started to slow the vehicle making me use the brakes constantly which was annoying particularly as I am an advanced driver and using accelerator sense instead of the brakes is common at slower driving speeds. This may have been due to the 1.2 having a small and light flywheel and it is also a 3 cylinder. I am sure a bigger 4 pot would not behave like this.
17. On the Fabia 1 it was annoying to keep using the key in the locks but then I am used to using a remote key fob and the 2 and 3 have remote locking.

I could go on with a few more but in general it lacked the sparkle of the old Fabia, lacked the finishing touches of the old car and felt cheap in comparison to it.

Likes:

1. The new car felt light and nimble which was good and it changed direction well.
2. The 1.3 3 cylinder engine was actually quite lively especially in town for its size.
3. I always get comfy in Skodas and the new Fabia was no exeption and I found the seats nice to sit in as long as you dont have the bright blue coloured ones blinding you!
4. There is always plenty of seat / wheel adjustment just as in the old car.
5. You can turn the passenger airbag off unlike my car which is good if you have kids.
6. The 3.5mm jack plug for things like I-pods was a nice touch.
7. For a 3 cylinder the engine was actually surprisingly smooth but I would rather have 4 pots.
8. The 3 cylinder also had a nice growl to it when revved and to be revved it liked.
9. Everything felt well screwed together all be it with cheap looking / feel plastics.


In summary I felt that the new Fabia was a step backwards from the old one. It felt cheaper, lacked the finishing touches, lacked the good looks and I could not wait to take it back and get my 2001 plate 1.9 Tdi Elegance back again! It just did not seem to have the sparkle of the old Fabia and I feel that Skoda have taken a step back rather than foreward. My advice to Skoda when designing a replacement for the current model - get the plans out for the old one again for inspiration and ignore the current model!

Of course these are only my views so go and road test it yourself! I dont profess to know everything about cars but having spent my life working on and with cars and having spent all my time since I was old enough to walk fixing them I think that I have forgotten more than half the population has ever known about cars so I hope that this helps any potential buyers. But please test it and make up your own mind. What I like / dislike isnt necessarily what others might but if I had the choice of a brand new old shape Fabia and a brand new current model I would hands down choose the old one everytime!!

[rkenny]

Was the model you tested the 60bhp (£8090 o.t.r.) or 70bhp (£8810 o.t.r.)? While some of your comments are general in nature, I think you are not comparing like with like here! A 1.9TDi Elegance cost about £12000 according to my old price list. So it is likely that you would not get the same experience, especially with your own car being diesel and so much more powerful.

However I do agree that the dash instruments are lacking on the Fabia 1 and 2. I ordered a Fabia 2 70bhp petrol for my wife and specified Maxidot which gave the proper dials etc.
Also:
The base Fabia 1 never had the computer.
Don't think Fabia1 base model had puddle lights.

You think that the Fabia mark 2 is a step backwards - perhaps you should try a Fabia 3 1.9TDi and come back and tell us if you still feel the same!

70

[OctaviaT81]

I agree with rkenny, I think a higher spec model would sort out many of your dislikes there but interesting review nonetheless.

[sweepthecat]

Having had my Fabia 1.2 now for six months, I have yet to find any major fault with the car. We went for the 2 trim level option with all the extras that brings. ( air con, alloys, remote c/l etc) As this was to be a long time investment we thought all these were worth it in the long run.
The car is lively when pushed, though not quite up to the Ford 1.25 Zetec in my old Fiesta. Nevertheless it zips along nicely in its hilly Yorkshire home. Economy is not the best, but that's probably down to the driver!
Comfort and accomodation space has again been well received by all. Boot space is good for a small car, and with rear seats down can shift some large items.

Radio/CD gets some hammer especilly as it can play MP3 CDs with over 200 tracks per CD, with this who needs a multichanger? Even at full volume the speakers (and car) cope without creating rattles and distortion.

Overall the car has been a good buy, and I recommend it to all who ask what I think of it. Been back to dealer only once since purchased with a minor parcel shelf problem, and due to be sorted in due course.

Well pleased!!

[jiggad23]

I think the new car is far better inside the old just had a piece of plastic with cheap vw bits attached and that was a vrs ! The only thing wrong with the new car is the outside not the back or side just that cutsie front end and the vast expanse from alloy to arch . Oh and i miss the 6th gear

[oilburninnut]

Originally Posted by jiggad23

I think the new car is far better inside the old just had a piece of plastic with cheap vw bits attached and that was a vrs ! The only thing wrong with the new car is the outside not the back or side just that cutsie front end and the vast expanse from alloy to arch . Oh and i miss the 6th gear

there is far more hard cheap plastic in the mk 2 fabia than there ever was in the mk 1,its the way skoda have gone,the roomster is the same and my mk 2 octy was the biggest waste of 20k ever,again full of hard shiney plastic,had to get rid after 3 months,it was just dire,imho the mk 1 fabia is the only decent car skoda have made in recent years.I am now on my third

[Little Jo]

Well, I'm awaiting a new Fabia 3 estate and looked at other makes/models in the run-up to chosing Skoda. I currently have a 2001 Astra 1.4.

The plastics in my old Astra are very soft touch, almost to the extent that they mark easily. Look at the newer Astra and the type of plastic has changed to something more akin to the sort in the Fabia. Some of the latest Fords have a plasticky dash.

Of the cars we looked at, Skoda offered us better value for money, a better thought out and more practical vehicle and a dealer who was interested in selling us the car we wanted rather than what suited him to shift. Ford, despite the fact we wanted something reasonably economical with a good sized boot, tried to sell us a Focus 1.8i.

Cars have lost some of their curvy styling in favour of sharper angles and taller roofline. Ten years ago, Vauxhall were the only range of cars that petite me and my 6'3" husband could both drive. Today are choices are much better.

Jo

[Skodaboy1983]

The new fabia is a protential purchase for me in three years time but I'm guessing by then it would be the estate and a diesel at that.

Many thanks for the write up on this.

I do think IMHO the quality is not as good as the mark 1 fabia and it's not a looker compared to the mark 1 fabia.

[Octygone]

There is a world of difference between the "base" 1 model and the 2 and 3 and as said already most if not all the dislikes would vanish if you tried one

[youngsyd]

All the dash boards were the same in the mk1, so thats a bloody good comparison to me!

[Fabia_TDI]

Originally Posted by VRSBUZZ

Been road testing a new Fabia1 1.2 for four days now whilst my 2001 Fabia 1.9Tdi has some bodywork done to some dodgy paint blisters on the boot lid.

I've got a mk 1 1.9 TDi Elegance too. Being something of a Skoda fan I guess I'll be in the market for the equivalent '3' in a couple of years time. If the road tests I have read are anything to go by the driving position, the ride and the steering are all very good. Obviously the 1.2 you drove had a much lighter engine than a 1.9 TDi which may have helped the poise a bit. The new Fabia looks very tall to me - do you feel it suffered from body roll more than your mk 1?

[Octygone]

Originally Posted by Fabia_TDI

I've got a mk 1 1.9 TDi Elegance too. Being something of a Skoda fan I guess I'll be in the market for the equivalent '3' in a couple of years time. If the road tests I have read are anything to go by the driving position, the ride and the steering are all very good. Obviously the 1.2 you drove had a much lighter engine than a 1.9 TDi which may have helped the poise a bit. The new Fabia looks very tall to me - do you feel it suffered from body roll more than your mk 1?

If you put a mk1 and mk11 together there is very little difference in height ....and I am looking at both right now

[cjb]

Originally Posted by Octygone

If you put a mk1 and mk11 together there is very little difference in height ....and I am looking at both right now

Really?

I had a mk2 courtesy car recently and I'm sure it was a good bit taller.

For the record, comparing my 05 vRS to a new Fabia 1.4TDI:

I didn't like the styling, or the MPV-like feel- high seating. The trim seemed a little cheaper.

The 1.4 TDI was good enough. All the controls worked nicely, everything in the right place, nicely weighted. It drove very well.

It really wasn't a bad car, but I don't like the styling.

[Octygone]

Originally Posted by cjb

Really?

I had a mk2 courtesy car recently and I'm sure it was a good bit taller.

For the record, comparing my 05 vRS to a new Fabia 1.4TDI:

I didn't like the styling, or the MPV-like feel- high seating. The trim seemed a little cheaper.

The 1.4 TDI was good enough. All the controls worked nicely, everything in the right place, nicely weighted. It drove very well.

It really wasn't a bad car, but I don't like the styling.

My sons Vrs and my daughters fabia2 are in a line outside the window

[cjb]

Originally Posted by Octygone

My sons Vrs and my daughters fabia2 are in a line outside the window

I didn't have them side by side. The new fabia felt taller though.

[Dmac1969]

Remember the vRS Mk1 is lower (IIRC 25mm) that the 'Normal' Fabias to begin with.....

[Babs]

I had a 1.4 16v "3" as a courtesy car a few weeks ago, and it was brilliant.

I really do love the new Fabia

[Octygone]

Originally Posted by cjb

I didn't have them side by side. The new fabia felt taller though.

Here you go .......I think the reason it feels taller is that you are sat more upright in the new one

[VRSBUZZ]

Originally Posted by Fabia_TDI

I've got a mk 1 1.9 TDi Elegance too. Being something of a Skoda fan I guess I'll be in the market for the equivalent '3' in a couple of years time. If the road tests I have read are anything to go by the driving position, the ride and the steering are all very good. Obviously the 1.2 you drove had a much lighter engine than a 1.9 TDi which may have helped the poise a bit. The new Fabia looks very tall to me - do you feel it suffered from body roll more than your mk 1?

Body roll was a bit more than my MK1 but to be fair neither are sports cars and I think it was reasonably well controlled for normal driving.

[JMK2]

Well I have had several MK1's in Classic, Comfort, Ambiente and VRS forms. I now have a Mk 2 fabia 1 and best compare is the classic

My feelings

1. Seat trim - the new 1 is slightly better than the classic BUT shows muck more. colours are more aimed at the youth market (more in the 2).

2. Comfort - IMHO the Mk2 Beats the Mk1 - reasons Easier access and slightly bigger seats.

3. Also on trim - when will skoda realise the fabia 2 trim is mind awful. The Ambiente Mk 1 had better trim by miles. The fabia 3 is better than the elegance but... such a shame really.

4. Build - The Fabia Mk 2 is vastly better built - well mine feels very solid. I had an elegance mk 1 fro a short while (one of the last) and it was shocking.

5. Handling - The Mk 2 is better - sits on the road so well. the Mk 1 was good but the Mk 2 just beats it.

6. Dash. why no temperature gauge - also why no glovebox in the fabia 1 (penny scrimping)

7. Looks - yes they are awful IMHO but somehow I'm getting used to it now. give it a year.

[OctaviaT81]

Originally Posted by JMK2

3. Also on trim - when will skoda realise the fabia 2 trim is mind awful. The Ambiente Mk 1 had better trim by miles. The fabia 3 is better than the elegance but... such a shame really.

This is Skoda UK's fault as there are plenty of different and more attractive trims available in Europe.

At least you can now get the Fabia2 with a black dash but the seat trims are not very nice. The Fabia3 and Sport are so much better.

[fredw]

Originally Posted by oilburninnut

...........my mk 2 octy was the biggest waste of 20k ever,again full of hard shiney plastic,had to get rid after 3 months,it was just dire,............

Interesting. I traded my Mk I Ocky 1.9tdi SLX for a MK II 1.9tdi Elegance in 2004. I love the Mk II despite it having a number of faults fixed under guarantee. The ride is incredibly stable and performance is quite good enough for me.

I test drove a MK II Fabia and was totally disappointed with it. It felt unstable even though it did hold the road well when driven hard.

Different people; different views of the same cars.

[peterco]

Received this from Skoda UK;
Fabia 1 has a glove box cover available as an optional extra, it costs £35 RRP and can be added at point of order.
As I was looking at the base model and put off by it ,by not having a glove box.