Skoda Fabia - Monte Carlo or ??

[Wossname]

Is it? I can’t argue as I’d just be guessing. Performance figures are much the same, but it’s now achieved by a 1 litre turbo instead of a 1.6/1.8 NA and is a lot more
economical (45 cf low 30s). And it’s got brakes now.

[Bigjawa]

Of the top of my head, the Citigo, Skoda's version of the Up, weighed around 980kg and the original Golf was around 850?

We had a Citigo Monte Carlo and it looked pretty enough, but a bog standard 1.1 Pug 106 would have left it for dead.

[Noggin]

Well, I went to look at the Fabia yesterday in a dealer in Chambéry. It is very lovely. But I'd looked online and there was a slightly bigger Skoda which, with 2 years older and 20k kms was a similar price - but also a 1.5. And when I sat in it, it was easier to get in and out of, and also had seat warmers!! (Well, the one I was in did! Need to see if it's standard but not always listed, or if I have to find a better model!! )


Anyway, all the sales guys were busy and I felt bad taking up their time as I won't be buying in Chambéry. So I am trawled the local dealer sit and they have some Kamiq models (cheaper than the other dealer for some reason?!) so I'll be going to see them next week and line up a test drive

I think I should test drive both but I suspect that the slightly bigger one will win - although I need to find out the actual sizes of both to see just how different they are. But I really did NOT enjoy driving the little Fiat 500 down the potentially icy mountain in the dark yesterday morning and for the first time could really see a 'need' for a bigger vehicle!! (I love the 500 in the summer, but on icy roads, having a big car tailgate you and blind me with their badly adjusted lights was just unpleasant!!! And actually a bit scary!!)


So - Fabia 1.0 vs Kamiq 1.5l!!

[Noggin]

It’s getting close to decision time. I did briefly add an Audi to the list, since the Superb is essentially an Audi A6 I figured Audis were ok, but apparently not!!

I have brought it down to a Skoda Scala or a Kamiq. Basically because the auto boxes on Skodas are supposed to be really good


Not going new and even the demo Fabia has gone up in price but that was only a one litre and I’m thinking 1.5 is better as most of my daily driving with be mountain to valley and back - the odd couple or three hour journeys thrown in too. And in summer I suspect I’ll mostly be on two wheels

So, off to the local Skoda dealer tomorrow to chat about those models and see what’s around (that isn’t on their website). sadly no e of the options I’ve seen online are at the local dealer but hopefully they’ll help sort that out

Both models are between 2 & 4 years old and anything from 20k to 40k kms on them (the three year old has the 40k)
So I figure none are exactly high mileage

[Bigjawa]

The Missus loves her Scala, its the 1.5 Tsi DSG.

Fun fact, if it's cruising at low throttle opening, it cuts off two cylinders, on downhills it'll disengage the clutch packs and freewheel.

One thing to check is the back discs, they blister and start to break up, I've never seen it until her Scala failed it's test, but It's not an isolated case.

[Noggin]

The Missus loves her Scala, its the 1.5 Tsi DSG.

Fun fact, if it's cruising at low throttle opening, it cuts off two cylinders, on downhills it'll disengage the clutch packs and freewheel.

One thing to check is the back discs, they blister and start to break up, I've never seen it until her Scala failed it's test, but It's not an isolated case.

Thank you. Not sure now that it'll be today but soon!! It would be that model but an auto. It does look nice

[Noggin]

Well, the local dealer has been silent, so much for the "I'll let you know within 24 hours when we can get a car here for you to test" promise

A bit further away (other side of Annecy, but not far if I'm going to Chambery on Thursday!) there is this -



And a bit more further away, this one -



There's about 600€ difference in price with the first being more expensive, and older and higher kilometerage, but it has a higher spec (heated seats and skylight roof are the main differences I think)

Cosmetically, I prefer the colour of the younger one

My French friends would be having kittens about buying a car with 45,000kms on it, but that's only 15 thousand a year. The younger one is two years old versus three, and it only has 15 thousand!!!


What say you, my learned friends?? I'm ok to lose the hot seats and skylight if it really is much better to go younger (twice as far from Chambery, but thats only 1.5 hours, so not the end of the world!).

I'm guessing the answer is that yes, I should get the younger one. Logistically the older one is simpler, but I think that maybe the younger one would be better (just a hassle to see, test and collect!!)

[Mr. Dazzle]

45,000km? That's nothing.

It's probably only had one oil change! . I used to drive that much every year.

Similarly the difference between 2022 and 2021 means very little.

[Count Steer]

€600 and 30km more for a sun roof and heated seats?

I'll take the low 'miler' thanks.

(But I'd wonder why a) the low miler is cheaper or vv b) why is the 45km one more expensive. The difference can't be just the extras, surely).

[Mr. Dazzle]

Could be more spec difference than that, digging around on Google would tell you what "Style" and "Business" originally came with in France.

I'm guessing €600 is also fairly in the noise price wise here?

[Nordboy]

Looks like the style is the lowest spec you can get, UK "L" spec, business is the UK SE equivalent? It gets cruise control, sunroof, sat nav, heated seats, xenon headlights I think, doing a quick googley search.

But not sure that another 30k km's, even though that's nothing when it comes to a used car for me can justify spending pretty much the same price?

I do like a higher spec car though, and the older I get, the more I enjoy my heated seats. I would have to see the actual spec of the 'style'. The Kamiq is a tidt small suv though, and the 1.5 tsi and dsg is a great combo, as previously said.

[Noggin]

Can’t see an easier way to do this and am avoiding posting the links as you’ll all have heart failure at the prices . But this seems a cheaper car than all the others I’ve looked at !!

Full details of the older one. Honestly the difference is hot seats, skylight, lots of chrome and alloys. All I actually want is hot seats, so I could buy those from Aldi or similar and plug them in!!

TBF I don’t know what half the stuff is or I don’t care - like the chrome and alloys!!













Cheaper lower spec to follow !

[Noggin]

Cheaper one -

[Horse]

Looks like ...

... The 'single tone horn' is no use to you

[Mr. Dazzle]

Looks like the more expensive one also has keyless entry (I never thought that was a big deal, I wouldn't want to go back now ), a fancier sat nav/infotainment system and automatic dimming side mirrors (they tint themselves dark when someone is following you at night) by the looks of it, among other things.

Both come with the Skoda umbrella-in-the-door

[Zimbo]

Heated seats would be a must for me, adaptive cruise control is also a must, once you have it it's hard to go back to standard cruise!

[KungFooBob]

Heated seats would be a must for me, adaptive cruise control is also a must, once you have it it's hard to go back to standard cruise!

Amen brother, I don't know how I ever managed without adaptive cruise.

I use cruise a lot to stick to speed limits, when I drive the wife's car get to almost touching the car in front before remembering I have to brake.

It's amazing in traffic jams too, no sore legs for me and I don't even have to steer. If I'm stopped too long and the engine stops, I just press a button on the steering wheel and it sets off.

Now I've had one, I'd find it quite difficult to live without a heated steering wheel too.

[Mr. Dazzle]

I love auto speed limit recognition too.

I tend to drive on the limiter rather than cruise, but that's just preference. Having a button you press which just sets the limiter to whatever the speed limit is, is great. You do have to take responsibility for the limiter reading the signs and sat nav correctly though

[Noggin]

Thanx guys.

The more expensive one (and older!) is the easiest to see, so I will go look and hope the colour is t as awful as it looks in the photo!!

I hadn’t really thought about all the other ‘bits’ but the keyless bit I do like (from work vehicles) and I’m sure I’ll get to like the electronic aid stuffs!

The darkening mirrors sound totally awesome!!

Will try and get in touch with the dealer this afternoon (about to try and catch up on some sleep now and it’s too close to lunch to call a French business!!!)

Here’s hoping I can go drive it on Thursday

[Rockburner]

Thanx guys.

The more expensive one (and older!) is the easiest to see, so I will go look and hope the colour is t as awful as it looks in the photo!!

I hadn’t really thought about all the other ‘bits’ but the keyless bit I do like (from work vehicles) and I’m sure I’ll get to like the electronic aid stuffs!

The darkening mirrors sound totally awesome!!

Will try and get in touch with the dealer this afternoon (about to try and catch up on some sleep now and it’s too close to lunch to call a French business!!!)

Here’s hoping I can go drive it on Thursday

I've got an earlier version of the auto-darken rear view mirror on my VW Eos. I hope they've improved it, because it's utterly useless.