Skoda Fabia - Monte Carlo or ??

[Mr. Dazzle]

My last few cars (multiple OEMs) have had the auto darkening rear and side mirrors, they work brilliantly (or, I suppose, the opposite )

Mrs Ds highly analogue Civic with the old school "flip" mirror really annoys me now

[MrLongbeard]

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

I bloody hate it, I use normal cruise for 90% of my driving but adaptive isn't quick enough and doesn't allow me to follow closely enough for my tastes

[Mr. Dazzle]

Have you also upgraded your headlights with dodgy eBay LEDs and badly aligned them?

[MrLongbeard]

Have you also upgraded your headlights with dodgy eBay LEDs and badly aligned them?

Fuck no, and a pox on those that do, in fact a pox on any LED / laser headlights oem or aftermarket

[Mr. Dazzle]

Laser headlights FTW. Mine are so good they light up the road in front of the car I'm following. I consider it a public service.

[Noggin]

Well, in looking for the number to book a test drive of the older one, I found this one. Same age, a smidge less kilometres and a different spec - in between the two other ones I think.



BUT - it's 3 grand less, so I think it's ok to lose the keyless entry and some of the driving aids (I'm not that bothered by the aids TBH, I so rarely use the cruise control/limiter even with work. Might get into it if it's on a car I actually own!!)

Also - no idea about the panoramic roof, but this pic in the description suggests it does have hot seats - and TBH, that really has been the main thing for me




I'm kind of moving away from "this will be a car that will last me 5 - 10 years" to thinking more "get something decent and that will hold it's value a bit and then if I want to upgrade in a few years, I'll have something reasonably decent to sell/part-ex"

So, this one is 20k - so yes, a ridiculous price, but a seriously good (hopefully!) car for the money in comparison to virtually all other makes I've looked at!!

(I did price up a Dacia Spring at one point before I realised it was electric and I have nowhere to park one to charge it!! LOL Weirdly it was a really good price!!)

But the other benefit is that the Kamiq should be big enough to tow a trailer with a bike (or two) if needed, whereas pretty much anything else in the same price range is much smaller


Here's crossing everything that it's a good second hand car and that I like it!!

[Noggin]

This is the spec list (on the computer now so can do it easier than the reams of photos!!)

Features
Brands: SKODA
Model: KAMIQ
Mileage: 39,347 km
Energy: Gasoline
Gearbox type: Automatic
Released: 06/05/2021
Power: 8 HP / 150 Ch DIN
Number of places: 5
Number of doors: 5
Reference: 297057
Police number: 210922
Warranty: Low'Caz 6 months
Color: Blue
Interior color: Gray
Crit'Air: Class 1
CO2: 137 g/Km
Category: 4x4 and SUV
Transmission: 2-wheel drive


Equipment
of this vehicle SKODA KAMIQ
Series

Jumbobox front central armrest
Hill start assist
Driver and front passenger front airbags (including deactivatable passenger airbags)
Front side airbags
Curtain airbags
Automatic lights with Coming Home / Leaving Home functions
Shark antenna
Emergency call - Ecall
Rear headrests (3)
24/7 assistance for 7 years
Purses on the back of the front passenger seats
Unfastened seat belt warning
Storage bins in the front and rear doors
2/3-1/3 folding rear bench seat
Blocking the fuel supply in the event of an accident
Illuminated glove box
Luggage cover
Chrome front grille
3-point front and rear seat belts with pretensioners
Height-adjustable front seat belts
Climatronic: dual-zone automatic air conditioning
Chrome air conditioning controls
Counters with chrome surround
Centre console with bottle holder and 12V socket
Electronic stability control ESC, incl. ABS, MSR, ASR, XDS+, HBA, DSR, MKB, EBV, EDL, RBS, ESBS, TSA
Hooks in the luggage compartment
Platinum grey AR diffuser
Electric power steering
Front/rear brake discs
Automatic door unlocking and activation of hazard lights in the event of an accident
Rain detector
LED rear license plate light
Luggage compartment lighting
Rear windshield wiper
Front windshield wiper "aero" type with intermittent control
LED rear fog lights
LED rear lights (indicators and halogen reversing lights)
ISOFIX attachment on front passenger seat including Top-Tether
ISOFIX attachments on rear bench seat including 2 Top-Tether
Mechanical parking brake
Front Assist: emergency braking assistance including pedestrian detection
2 year warranty / unlimited mileage
Integrated ice scraper in the fuel filler flap
Decorative inserts on dashboard Matte Black with glossy black edging
16" Castor silver alloy wheels
Single-tone horn
Additional reading lights for driver and passenger
Lane Assist: lane keeping assistance system
Front/rear courtesy light
Heated rear window
Maxi-Dot monochrome on-board computer
Umbrella integrated into the driver's door
Front bumper with platinum gray skid plate
Body color bumpers
Driver and passenger front sun visors with vanity mirrors
Opaque Energy Blue Paint
Dashboard made of foamed plastic
Body-colored door handles
Chrome interior door handles
Interior grab handles at the front and rear with hook at the rear
Leather gear knob and parking brake handle
Bottle holder (0.5L) in the rear doors
Bottle holder (1.5L) in the front doors
Safety vest holder
Glasses holder integrated into the ceiling light
Ticket holder on left side of windshield
Front headlights with LED daytime running lights, position lights, dipped beam and main beam (EcoLED)
Front headlights with halogen high beams and indicators
Preparation for towing device
Rear parking radar
Bolero glass design radio 8" (800 x 480) capacitive color touch screen, FM reception, 8 speakers, 2 Apple compatible USB ports
DAB (Digital Audio Broadcasting) digital radio
Matte black roof rails
Storage in the trunk behind the wheel arches
LED turn signal reminders integrated into the exterior mirrors
Temporary spare wheel
Manual lumbar adjustment of the front seats
Manual headlight site adjustment
Speed ​​regulator and limiter
Electrochromatic interior rearview mirror
Body-colored exterior mirrors
Electric and heated exterior mirrors
Platinum Grey Front and Rear Skid Plates
"Ambition" Fabric Upholstery
Proactive Services including e-call
Height-adjustable driver's seat
Height-adjustable front passenger seat
Front seats with lumbar adjustments
Comfort Seats
Smartlink + wired (compatible with Apple Car Play, Android Auto & MirrorLink) and wireless with navigation
Start/Stop system
Tire pressure monitoring system
Bluetooth mobile phone system
Front/rear floor mats
Textile floor mats front, rear
Central locking including 2 folding keys
Electric rear windows
Electric rear windows with impulse system
Electric front windows with impulse system
Tinted windows
2-spoke leather steering wheel
Multifunction steering wheel
Height and reach adjustable steering wheel

[Mr. Dazzle]

I don't think €20k is a ridiculous price or a 3 year old car like that ^ in 2024 (just ), that's about what they cost here.

Well, it's no more ridiculous than every other used car price now

[Buckaroo]

8HP? Gonna be slow!

[KungFooBob]

Looking at UK Autotrader, a 2021 Kamiq with up to 25,000 miles, automatic with the 1.5 motor... they're between £16-20k, depending on spec.

[Noggin]

I don't think €20k is a ridiculous price or a 3 year old car like that ^ in 2024 (just ), that's about what they cost here.

Well, it's no more ridiculous than every other used car price now

Looking at UK Autotrader, a 2021 Kamiq with up to 25,000 miles, automatic with the 1.5 motor... they're between £16-20k, depending on spec.

Thanx guys. All the brits I know here constantly tell me how expensive cars are here, but the Skodas don't seem to be as bad as some!!

8HP? Gonna be slow!

I know right!!

The French wording is - Puissance : 8 CV / 150 Ch DIN - but I don't really understand that anyway!! Except, I hope it's not 'too' slow!!

[KungFooBob]

I think Fronch cars in Fronch do cost silly money. In the UK once a Fronch car over five years old is considered disposable.

[Mr. Dazzle]

8HP? Gonna be slow!

That's just the horses which have to pay tax, innit?

[Sadlonelygit]

Just remember, amongst the various surprise taxes they will clobber you for, is malus.
This is a sliding scale tax up to 10yo vehicles, and can hurt the unwary.
There are several online calculators that you can pump in the details and it will give you a close estimate of the total admin costs of buying a new car.

[Noggin]

Just remember, amongst the various surprise taxes they will clobber you for, is malus.
This is a sliding scale tax up to 10yo vehicles, and can hurt the unwary.
There are several online calculators that you can pump in the details and it will give you a close estimate of the total admin costs of buying a new car.

Thank you - added to the list of questions for the dealer!! Along with - those are new winter tyres aren't they, and if not, they will be won't they?!!

If this one is ok, then it's at the bottom of the range of the budget (not that there was a big range!! ) so it's going to be easier with the costs/insurance!!

Hopefully

[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!

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.

Haven't had a car with a heated steering wheel yet but I am pretty sure I'd love one! And yes, adaptive cruise in traffic is so good ...

[Noggin]

So, I test drove it and it seems bloody lovely. Has heated seats, that aren't in the ad, AND a heated steering wheel

I'm sure there are more electronic stuffs, but I don't use them in other cars, so don't really know what to look for!

Luckily I tested it alone - put my foot down to pull into a gap and spun the wheels!! And the brakes are very very good!! Accidentally!! Going from a big vehicle with no pull cos of its weight or the baby fiat with half an engine, this feels like a blooming sports car!!

I drove it for a bit over an hour - half up and down a bit of mountain like road and some hairpins then on the motorway towards the airport and back.

It's 5 months from its first CT/MOT so I've asked them to do that for me - gives me two years before I have to do that.

Almost new winter tyres, so that's good as well.

It's not the colour I wanted, but TBF, with the price and the extras, I'll handle that ok!!

The umbrella from the door is missing but he said he has spares and will replace it!

One bonus is that the phone connected to Apple Car Play with no lead, that was nice!!

Full service history - well, two services!! But it's an ex lease car - probably not ideal, but the kilometerage is good at 39k in 3.5 years, well, not to a Fronch, but to me it's ok

The final price includes all the bits n bobs of paperwork that SLG mentioned, so that's good.

He's reserved it for me as I want to listen to it start from cold in the morning, and also listen as it's driven for a few metres as there was an odd noise when he drove it to the front of the showroom that I didn't hear again. Possibly something on a disc because it has been stood for a while in changing temperatures?

Anyway, crossing fingers all goes well tomorrow, I should have a car in a week or so!!

[Yorick]

I haven't read all of this, but get a good warranty.

Even take it to a lawyer to get it thoroughly checked.
It's a lot of money, so worth making sure.

[Noggin]

So I asked my Mr French to come with me this morning to give the car a second look and also talk with the dealer with me.

Turns out that I can get a 5 year Skoda warranty if I have some finance. Originally I said no as I didn't want finance and he didn't explain further.

Today Mr Fronch asked more questions and the guy we spoke to said the finance would be 6k minimum. Which I didn't want really. When the guy I'd spoken to yesterday was back, more French chat and he said it's possible to do finance for 3k.

It's not 'that' expensive but the benefit is that after one year and one day I can pay off all but about 500€, reducing the payments and the cost but keeping the warranty.

Just got to get my December payslip to send to them and hopefully all will be well!!

If it all goes to plan, I should be able to pick it up in about 10 days! (Where's the cross fingers smiley!!)


It's scary just how much a decent car costs here, but I'm also really happy (once it all goes through and works out!) cos I'll have a car of my own for the first time in about four and a half years!!


Can't wait!

[Felix]

Bugger. I was at least expecting another 5 pages. Congrats on the car