Skoda Fabia - Monte Carlo or ??

[Noggin]

So, Looks like I can finally sort out a car in the next month or so.

I've kind of set me hat to the Fabia - mostly because Dazzle (I think) said the auto boxes were among the best on the Skoda!! And a mate has a Fabia of about 15 years old thats done 200+k MILES so far (although it does now need some expensive work, so she'll be changing soon!)

I've driven my mates Fabia and liked it. I know I should go and try one, so will try and get to the dealer soon with a friend (I am happy to go alone but having been stitched up massively in the past, even though this is a main dealer, I'm not so keen anymore to be the solo female foreigner in a garage!!)

Anyway. I've found a couple at the local dealer, one is a 2024 pre reg (1km!!!) -

Fabia 1.0 TSI 116 hp EVO 2 DSG7 Selection

The other is also a 2024 and I guess a pre reg but it's got almost 19000kms -

Fabia 1.5 TSI 150 hp DSG7 Monte-Carlo

And a 4.5k difference in price (the 1.5 is the more expensive, I think because it's got fancy stuff like trim n alloys ).


One has a much smaller engine but apart from that it seems that it's just fancy doodah stuff (trim, alloys, upholstery) on the Monte-Carlo that's different


For these modern automatics, is a 1.0 engine stupidly small? Would a 1.5 be a better buy? (I'm really not interested in the fancy stuff - ok, if it had heated seats and a heated steering wheel, that'd be nice, but neither seems to and I've never had them before!! )


Most of the driving will be up and down the mountain, which is about 25 mins, to the depot/shopping. Some 2 - 3 hours journeys to see friends and possibly once a year a big journey to the uk. I really don't need extra speed, the limits here are so low and I need to be kind to my licence (I'll have a moto to be stupid with!!)

There's also a likelihood that I will get a light/folding trailer for a bike


So - wise ones of this madly weird section of the interweb - help a girl out with some advice!!


Bigger engine or not? Bigger kilometerage or not? (the second probably isn't really that important, its 20k kms right, basically nothing for a modern car?)

I'd prefer to spend less, but need to get a car that works for the area and driving and I have zero knowledge of autos! Or modern cars!! I remember the 1 litres being tiny and slow. But I suspect that is no longer the case!! LOL

[Sadlonelygit]

Recently changed out the fiesta 1.0 after 5 years of ownership.
When I went to test drive it, I was (stupidly) expecting a gutless pos.
After 5 mins I realised we were buying this car.
So don't be put off by a lack off cc's.
Its not how big it is, it's what you do with it that counts........so the missus says!

[Ditchfinder]

Check the towing capacity of the Fabia, it might not be enough for a trailer and a big bike.

Seat Ibiza will be similar price and size with same engines so you can widen your search

(VW polo's too but they will usually be more expensive cos of badge snobbery)

[Pirahna]

Take them for a spin then decide.

[KungFooBob]

To get that power out of a litre (car) engine requires a lot of technology. The more tech, the more that can go wrong.

What's you want is something with an air cooled pushrod engine and no more than two valves per cylinder

[Taipan]

To get that power out of a litre (car) engine requires a lot of technology. The more tech, the more that can go wrong.

What's you want is something with an air cooled pushrod engine and no more than two valves per cylinder

What if she doesn't like Volvos?

[mangocrazy]

I'm sure I read somewhere that Skoda auto gearboxes (and probably other makes as well) need more frequent oil changes than their manual counterparts. Failure to observe oil change intervals will lead to err.... failure. Allegedly.

[KungFooBob]

I'm sure I read somewhere that Skoda auto gearboxes (and probably other makes as well) need more frequent oil changes than their manual counterparts. Failure to observe oil change intervals will lead to err.... failure. Allegedly.

A lot of auto boxes including the DSGs were 'sealed for life' and there's no manufacturer service interval.

Lots of them are fucked by 100,000 miles.

Not specifically the DSGs, but they can usually be serviced, but most of them don't have drain plugs so the service includes a new oil pan.

[Noggin]

Recently changed out the fiesta 1.0 after 5 years of ownership.
When I went to test drive it, I was (stupidly) expecting a gutless pos.
After 5 mins I realised we were buying this car.
So don't be put off by a lack off cc's.
Its not how big it is, it's what you do with it that counts........so the missus says!

I am pretty sure I've used that phrase to fluff an ego once!

I don't mind the small engine (the most fun bike I've ever had was the 390 Duke after litre+ ownership!) just need to be sure it's going to be ok on the mountain as well - and I doubt they'll let me test drive it this far away!!

Check the towing capacity of the Fabia, it might not be enough for a trailer and a big bike.

Seat Ibiza will be similar price and size with same engines so you can widen your search

(VW polo's too but they will usually be more expensive cos of badge snobbery)

I do so hate VW! All the minibuses are set up so I can't sit straight!! But the Skoda is the cheapest car of the sort I'm looking for that I've found out here. I did look at the Seats, but the price wasn't that good. Might have another quick look, don't want something 'too' small. Pretty sure the dealer does them as well.

Will check the towing. I won't have a heavy big bike and tbf would probably ride a big bike - unless to the UK. But I'll check

Take them for a spin then decide.

Going to try and get there next week to check them out. But really it's the specs I"m interested in. I doubt they'll differently enough to warrant spending so much more. Just want to be sure the 1 litre will be ok where I live!

To get that power out of a litre (car) engine requires a lot of technology. The more tech, the more that can go wrong.

What's you want is something with an air cooled pushrod engine and no more than two valves per cylinder

LOL I have no idea what that means!

To get that power out of a litre (car) engine requires a lot of technology. The more tech, the more that can go wrong.

What's you want is something with an air cooled pushrod engine and no more than two valves per cylinder

What if she doesn't like Volvos?

LOL I do quite like them but the dealers here are very few and far between, so I'm not keen (and the price )

I'm sure I read somewhere that Skoda auto gearboxes (and probably other makes as well) need more frequent oil changes than their manual counterparts. Failure to observe oil change intervals will lead to err.... failure. Allegedly.

I'll have a look at that. Wasn't mentioned by whoever said they were the best autos. But TBF, I'll be doing dealer services at the right times etc, so I'll keep up on the kms etc

[Noggin]

I'm sure I read somewhere that Skoda auto gearboxes (and probably other makes as well) need more frequent oil changes than their manual counterparts. Failure to observe oil change intervals will lead to err.... failure. Allegedly.

A lot of auto boxes including the DSGs were 'sealed for life' and there's no manufacturer service interval.

Lots of them are fucked by 100,000 miles.

Not specifically the DSGs, but they can usually be serviced, but most of them don't have drain plugs so the service includes a new oil pan.

I can see me doing around 20,000 kms a year - I would guess I'd be on two wheels most of the summer, so maybe less. So that life is ok until resale!!

Gonna have to look at this more Dammit!! (But thank you, need to know these things!)

[MrLongbeard]

Check they don't have a wet belt (cam belt) if they do walk away quickly.

[Felix]

I almost bought a Diesel one but got offered the 1.6 diesel DS3. Cracking wee car and glad oi never bought a Fabia.

[Noggin]

Check they don't have a wet belt (cam belt) if they do walk away quickly.

Apparently not a wet belt

I almost bought a Diesel one but got offered the 1.6 diesel DS3. Cracking wee car and glad oi never bought a Fabia.

Those are quite a bit more expensive here !


But talk of others cars did get me looking and before, the Suzuki Swift was too expensive, but now it seems to be a comparable price, dammit!! I've always liked those!

Just need to find out more about the two gear boxes then go test drive

[MrLongbeard]

Check they don't have a wet belt (cam belt) if they do walk away quickly.

Apparently not a wet belt

I've only had a quick skim of the internet (hey I'm supposed to be working here) and some Skoda engines have a wet oil pump belt, OK so it doesn't do the timing but if that breaks down and clogs the oil pick up you're screwed either way.

[DefTrap]

You get to try a lot of (virtually new) 1 litre cars as rentals if you hire at the cheaper end. I have to say I mainly hate them.
I still can hardly comprehend buying a car in France as they're such appalling value compared to the UK market.

[Noggin]

Check they don't have a wet belt (cam belt) if they do walk away quickly.

Apparently not a wet belt

I've only had a quick skim of the internet (hey I'm supposed to be working here) and some Skoda engines have a wet oil pump belt, OK so it doesn't do the timing but if that breaks down and clogs the oil pick up you're screwed either way.

I searched for the year and engine size so hopefully the info was correct. But I'll ask when I go and talk to them

You get to try a lot of (virtually new) 1 litre cars as rentals if you hire at the cheaper end. I have to say I mainly hate them.
I still can hardly comprehend buying a car in France as they're such appalling value compared to the UK market.

Thing is that they seriously hold their value too. Equally I got so badly stung when buying a second hand vehicle (admittedly by myself, so that didn't help) that I really don't want to risk that again.

The plan is for whatever I get to last a good 8-10 years. Hence asking loads of questions. I suspect Skoda is more likely to than Suzuki just cos they are based on VW/Audi (annoying since I do so hate VW!! But I need to check that the driving position in a Fabia is 'square' and not offset!). I know the VW engines in general are good and some friends in the UK have and have had various Skodas, so at some point I'll just have to bite the bullet and go get something.

I have rented a Fiat 500 (so 800cc?) for quite a while and done the mountain road a lot and some 2-3 hour journeys and I really liked it. Have to adjust for the fact that when you floor it up a mountain to pass a loaded truck, you still need more room for the overtake than you expect cos, it's only little!! But I did really like the Fiat. If it wasn't so very tiny I'd be looking at those!!

[Sadlonelygit]

Check the towing capacity of the Fabia, it might not be enough for a trailer and a big bike.

560kg, which is handy as France has silly laws re: remorques

[Sadlonelygit]

Fluff an ego......
I thought fluffers specialised in another part of the body?

[Nordboy]

We run a few of the 1.5Tsi engines and DSG boxes in our fleet of driving school cars. They seem solid engines and actually drive nicely. We have them in the Superb estates so quite a bit bigger car.

Obviously ours can get quite a bit of abuse due to the way in which they're used, and no real problems so far, in fact we've ordered more of that spec, just in the Octavia instead of the Superb.

The issues with the DSG boxes were years ago. We run the DSG in our high performance school cars and our RPU (traffic) dept runs a load in the Cupra, Octavia and Superb vehicles they run. And they get some serious abuse and run to well over 100k miles.

I wouldn't hesitate in buying one tbh.

[Noggin]

Check the towing capacity of the Fabia, it might not be enough for a trailer and a big bike.

560kg, which is handy as France has silly laws re: remorques

Does that include the weight of the trailer? In which case, one of the folding/lightweight bike trailers plus a bike should be ok?

Fluff an ego......
I thought fluffers specialised in another part of the body?

They do??!! I always used that phrase when I met men that needed their egos fluffing cos they thought I was too 'something'!! Obviously none of them sutck around/were invited to stick around

We run a few of the 1.5Tsi engines and DSG boxes in our fleet of driving school cars. They seem solid engines and actually drive nicely. We have them in the Superb estates so quite a bit bigger car.

Obviously ours can get quite a bit of abuse due to the way in which they're used, and no real problems so far, in fact we've ordered more of that spec, just in the Octavia instead of the Superb.

The issues with the DSG boxes were years ago. We run the DSG in our high performance school cars and our RPU (traffic) dept runs a load in the Cupra, Octavia and Superb vehicles they run. And they get some serious abuse and run to well over 100k miles.

I wouldn't hesitate in buying one tbh.

Thank you. A really good mate back in the uk ran a Superb for a long time, but her's and the girl here's were both manual. But it's good to hear your experience cos I guess the auto box is essentially the same in all Skodas!!