Czech out my FIRST CAR!

Czech out my FIRST CAR!

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TorqueR

Original Poster:

1,767 posts

131 months

Saturday 19th October 2013
quotequote all
The time has finally come to tell you what I think of my new car. Its my daily/weekend car/pride and joy and my FIRST CAR!

Going back to when I was on the hunt for my first car, I had considered the usual options like the Vauxhall Corsa C, Mk6 Ford Fiesta and Citroen C2 but found the all important insurance quotes higher than the more obscure and different cars. I even considered going down the classic route with a Porsche 924 but after a discussion with Adrian Flux, we decided the criteria wouldn't suit my circumstances.

Having passed my test earlier this year I was getting irritable. I wanted my first car but I also wanted my first car to be something in which you wouldn't normally associate a seventeen year old with. The opportunity to get my first car finally appeared in the shape of a new job!

The Skoda was not initially on my radar but I saw that a young PH'er got a little Fabia as his first car and that prompted me to dig a bit deeper. When I learnt that Skoda would no longer be producing the vRS model it only seemed logical to buy my own pocket rocket to retain the honour.....and here it is; My 2001 Skoda Fabia 1.4 8v Classic




Thoughts?

I have covered 1,600 miles in it and my initial thoughts are positive. It is a car that is often overlooked or mocked, due to the badge. That is a shame because it shares many components with the VW Polo of similar vintage. Having said that though, due to it being overlooked, you can pick up a tidier and well cared for example for not a lot of money which is a bonus.

As I mentioned earlier, my example is a 2001 Skoda Fabia 1.4 8v Classic which was specc’d by the previous (and only owner) in a lovely, rare Cayenne Orange – it brought a smile to my face when I found the name of the official colour but I am quite a nerd for those finer details. The actual colour is a pain to photograph but looks great at sunset. It now has 61,700 miles on it and it looks to have been serviced at only Skoda garages. Should I continue that trend? I believe (but happy to be corrected) that the Classic was the mid-range trim level because my example has electric windows and remote locking, which are things that have gone amiss on a colleagues 55-plate Fabia.

Now, onto the driving: Initial impressions are not bad. The steering has a nice weight to it but doesn’t give much feedback; I would imagine the Ford Fiesta would be better in that regard. In greasy/wet conditions I did experience a bit of understeer but it only happened on the budget brand tyres it came with. I have since changed the budget tyres for four, matching mid-range tyres and haven’t experienced anything similar yet.

Speed, that is what all teenagers seek in their first car, isn’t it? Well, if you care about speed, my little Fabia wouldn’t be your first choice if I am honest. As you look around at the rivals, they are some that will be faster off the line….but my Skoda isn’t bad. It can be gear dependant and the strength is the acceleration from 30mph. When I say gear dependant, it notices if you are carrying extra passengers in the back and you have to be aware of hills if you haven’t got the momentum. The latter becomes more of a problem because I drive around Yorkshire and the Peak District daily. You soon get used to it and use the gears accordingly. Planning ahead and keeping momentum is key and rewards you with a good feeling when you get it right.

How does it cope on the motorway? I am pleased to say that it will cruise at motorway and Audi speeds with ease. I just resort to a 65mph cruise so I can listen to the radio/iPod, without the drone of the road/tyres interrupting. I would like cruise control but it isn’t essential. The seats are comfortable and after a run to the Silverstone Sunday Service, I was fine and didn’t feel like I had done a 250 mile round trip.

I hesitated talking about economy because it isn’t a fun topic and something that I have yet to work out because in these past two months, I rarely look at the price of petrol let alone working out the economy. I always try to fill up with Shell VPower Nitro+ and I filled the tank yesterday and will do the calculations when it is empty mainly out of curiosity but also to help any potential future owners reading this. If you fill up with Shell and own a Skoda, prepare for some strange looks from other drivers. hehe

My future plans are purely cosmetic and will be keeping this thread (aling with the Blog feature in My Garage) updated with any changes throughout my ownership. Nothing major, just subtle things here and there.

Thank you for reading.


Edited by TorqueR on Saturday 9th November 10:52

Andy665

3,599 posts

227 months

Saturday 19th October 2013
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Great little car - long gone are the days of laughing at Skodas

Any plans for it?

Geekman

2,863 posts

145 months

Saturday 19th October 2013
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Looks very tidy - have you considered putting some OEM alloys on it? I think they'd make a big difference

Chim

7,259 posts

176 months

Saturday 19th October 2013
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Wow, thats a pile of st if I have ever seen one, turn it upside down and you can use it for it's normal job

y2blade

56,029 posts

214 months

Saturday 19th October 2013
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Thank fk you didn't buy a stty Vauxhall Corsa!

Chunkymonkey71

13,015 posts

197 months

Saturday 19th October 2013
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MX5.

y2blade

56,029 posts

214 months

Saturday 19th October 2013
quotequote all
Chunkymonkey71 said:
MX5.
Yeah ......just Like all the other sheep?

Great car you have there OP.

Chunkymonkey71

13,015 posts

197 months

Sunday 20th October 2013
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y2blade said:
Chunkymonkey71 said:
MX5.
Yeah ......just Like all the other sheep?

Great car you have there OP.
Private joke between me and the OP.

Neck. Wind. In.

y2blade

56,029 posts

214 months

Sunday 20th October 2013
quotequote all
Chunkymonkey71 said:
y2blade said:
Chunkymonkey71 said:
MX5.
Yeah ......just Like all the other sheep?

Great car you have there OP.
Private joke between me and the OP.

Neck. Wind. In.
Come on then Chunky, why MX5? surely the better car (of that type) is the MR2?

I'd take an MR2 over an MX5 any day.

Chunkymonkey71

13,015 posts

197 months

Sunday 20th October 2013
quotequote all
Aye right, Y2Bawz!

Next you'll be telling me that losing the front end in a corner makes you quicker!

y2blade

56,029 posts

214 months

Sunday 20th October 2013
quotequote all
Chunkymonkey71 said:
Aye right, Y2Bawz!

Next you'll be telling me that losing the front end in a corner makes you quicker!
erm....Random...but hey ho!
As in understeer? How can losing the front-end be the quicker way around the corner? confused

Petrolhead95

7,043 posts

153 months

Sunday 20th October 2013
quotequote all
That's a very witty title and a nice little run around as a first car. Enjoy thumbup

We haven't spoke for a while, I'm slightly disappointed that you didn't let me know that you bought something though!

smile

TheDoggingFather

17,089 posts

205 months

Sunday 20th October 2013
quotequote all
Petrolhead95 said:
That's a very witty title and a nice little run around as a first car. Enjoy thumbup

We haven't spoke for a while, I'm slightly disappointed that you didn't let me know that you bought something though!

smile

What? How can you be disappointed? This grandiose gesture, this epic tome, it's all for you.

Six Fiend

6,067 posts

214 months

Sunday 20th October 2013
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Good work OP, great 1st car driving

TorqueR

Original Poster:

1,767 posts

131 months

Sunday 20th October 2013
quotequote all
Andy665 said:
Great little car - long gone are the days of laughing at Skodas

Any plans for it?
Thank you.

No major plans for it, just some subtle cosmetic tweaks here and there. I shall of course, update the thread with any progress. smile

Geekman said:
Looks very tidy - have you considered putting some OEM alloys on it? I think they'd make a big difference
Again, thank you. I will be getting alloys when funds allow. I am still undecided though as to which to go for - I feel that the vRS alloys would be default, obvious choice.

What do you suggest?

Chunkymonkey71 said:
Private joke between me and the OP.

Neck. Wind. In.
Exactly.

It is a private joke between me and you. If you decide to change your car for a proper one, I would love to hear your experiences of the Toyota.

Let us keep this thread on topic and about my mighty Skoda.

Petrolhead95 said:
That's a very witty title and a nice little run around as a first car. Enjoy thumbup

We haven't spoke for a while, I'm slightly disappointed that you didn't let me know that you bought something though!

smile
Sorry that you feel disappointed mate. I thought I had told the people on here but it appears that you have slipped through the net.

At least you noticed the clever title. smile

Chunkymonkey71

13,015 posts

197 months

Sunday 20th October 2013
quotequote all
Oh. My. Lord.

The irony is dripping from the walls.

I'm oot!

Edited by Chunkymonkey71 on Sunday 20th October 10:27


Edited by Chunkymonkey71 on Sunday 20th October 10:35

VinceFox

20,566 posts

171 months

Sunday 20th October 2013
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First cars have come a long way. I had 100 quids worth of austin 1300 that i put through a wall.

Enjoy!

Geekman

2,863 posts

145 months

Sunday 20th October 2013
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TorqueR said:
Geekman said:
Looks very tidy - have you considered putting some OEM alloys on it? I think they'd make a big difference
Again, thank you. I will be getting alloys when funds allow. I am still undecided though as to which to go for - I feel that the vRS alloys would be default, obvious choice.

What do you suggest?
I was going to suggest VRS alloys as well. Definitely stick to OEM - so many people go down the route of putting tacky aftermarket wheels on small hatchbacks and it looks awful.

Something like this would look good


iva cosworth

44,044 posts

162 months

Sunday 20th October 2013
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Nice ....biggrin

Why did i think you had a Favorit or Felicia ?.....confused

Much better than my first car but that's not saying much...getmecoat

Chim

7,259 posts

176 months

Sunday 20th October 2013
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Would people please stop posting pictures of upside down skips, this is not a builders merchants bloopers page its a fking motoring forum