Audi A1 or Skoda Fabia? How can this be?
Discussion
Help me get my head around this.
On the auto trader:
Audi A1 1.2 TSI. 86 hp engine. Around 1000 miles on the clock - around £16,000 to you sir.
Skoda Fabia 1.2 TSI. 86 hp engine. Around 1000 miles on the clock - around £8000 to you sir.
Are they not the same car?
How many fools are there among the car buying public?
If Heinz offered normal baked beans at 50p a tin, or the same bins in a polished tin for £1, how many people would buy the polished tin? How many people would feel that Heinz were having a laugh?
How is this different?
You have to hand it to Audi. Clever chaps. I hope their marketing agency gets paid well. They deserve it.
On the auto trader:
Audi A1 1.2 TSI. 86 hp engine. Around 1000 miles on the clock - around £16,000 to you sir.
Skoda Fabia 1.2 TSI. 86 hp engine. Around 1000 miles on the clock - around £8000 to you sir.
Are they not the same car?
How many fools are there among the car buying public?
If Heinz offered normal baked beans at 50p a tin, or the same bins in a polished tin for £1, how many people would buy the polished tin? How many people would feel that Heinz were having a laugh?
How is this different?
You have to hand it to Audi. Clever chaps. I hope their marketing agency gets paid well. They deserve it.
The imagine though.
Seriously they are different vehicles with the same underpinnings, I assume the badge etc do mean that much to some people though as the A1 seems to be selling well.
I currently drive a Skoda Superb Elegance Estate, it has huge interior space, loads of kit and I think looks a smart vehicle. I cannot see why anyone would buy and A4 or even A6 estate over it, but there are those would not be seen dead in the Skoda.
VAG win either way though don't they? And then there's VW in the middle for the rest of the car buying public.
Seriously they are different vehicles with the same underpinnings, I assume the badge etc do mean that much to some people though as the A1 seems to be selling well.
I currently drive a Skoda Superb Elegance Estate, it has huge interior space, loads of kit and I think looks a smart vehicle. I cannot see why anyone would buy and A4 or even A6 estate over it, but there are those would not be seen dead in the Skoda.
VAG win either way though don't they? And then there's VW in the middle for the rest of the car buying public.
There is a hint of badge snobbery in the residuals still (I've still had people smirk at me when I tell them I drive a Skoda.. morons), but I'd also expect the A1 is generally much nicer interior wise.
And I don't say that as a slight against Skoda - I have a 2006 Octavia VRS and I think it's an utterly fantastic car I had a recent trip in a slightly newer Audi A3 and found it had more interior cabin noise, rode more harshly and didn't find the interior to be any nicer than mine.. I'd have the Octavia every time!
And I don't say that as a slight against Skoda - I have a 2006 Octavia VRS and I think it's an utterly fantastic car
I had a recent trip in a slightly newer Audi A3 and found it had more interior cabin noise, rode more harshly and didn't find the interior to be any nicer than mine.. I'd have the Octavia every time! Yep mostly marketing, however then are not on the same platform. I believe the Fabia has the older platform, and the A1/Polo/Ibiza a newer one.
The Fabia also cuts costs on things like sound deadening, rear drum brakes instead of discs etc.
The thing is, Audi has built up this reputation through marketing that it's a prestigious band, and people want them, which keeps residuals up. That's why my company car A1 costs the same to lease as the Fabia with the same engine despite a higher list price, the residuals are stronger. That Fabia is great value at £8k though compared to the A1.
The Fabia also cuts costs on things like sound deadening, rear drum brakes instead of discs etc.
The thing is, Audi has built up this reputation through marketing that it's a prestigious band, and people want them, which keeps residuals up. That's why my company car A1 costs the same to lease as the Fabia with the same engine despite a higher list price, the residuals are stronger. That Fabia is great value at £8k though compared to the A1.
I know it dosnt justify the big price difference but the A1 does feel very top end compared to the Fabia. I had one for a weekend and it felt like i was driving a bigger premium Audi, didnt feel small to drive at all. Hard to explain over a forum but the A1 felt pricer were as the Fabia feels a little cheaper. OK shoot me down!!
They aren't the same car though.
They might share a few components, but there will be a lot of differences.
Now, I haven't checked, so this is a guesslist of differences in basic model.
Quality of leather and springs/foam in seats.
Quality of wherls and tyres.
Stereo and speakers.
Dashboard materials.
Quality of paintwork.
Number of airbags.
Numbers of sensors and things in the abs and traction control.
Different shock absorbers.
Difference in chrome vs plastic trim.
Leather steering wheel with buttons vs plain wheel.
Interior carpet quality.
One (simplified) way to think of it is that the Audi is the Skoda with lots of options ticked.
They might share a few components, but there will be a lot of differences.
Now, I haven't checked, so this is a guesslist of differences in basic model.
Quality of leather and springs/foam in seats.
Quality of wherls and tyres.
Stereo and speakers.
Dashboard materials.
Quality of paintwork.
Number of airbags.
Numbers of sensors and things in the abs and traction control.
Different shock absorbers.
Difference in chrome vs plastic trim.
Leather steering wheel with buttons vs plain wheel.
Interior carpet quality.
One (simplified) way to think of it is that the Audi is the Skoda with lots of options ticked.
The A1 is a better car. Not twice as good, though, IMO. I'm equally confused. I saw an Aston Martin DB9 for sale and it was loads more than a Mondeo yet apparently there are certain shared engine components. 
In fact, it had a Volvo sat nav system, yet it was dearer than a Volvo too.
And that's not all, I saw a Lamborghini with Audi air con controls, yet that's dearer than an Audi.
And what about Bentley Continental GT and the VW Phaeton, baffling that they're not the same price.
OP, if you can't tell the difference between a Skoda and an Audi, then buy the Skoda. Seems fairly straight forward to me.
In fact, it had a Volvo sat nav system, yet it was dearer than a Volvo too.
And that's not all, I saw a Lamborghini with Audi air con controls, yet that's dearer than an Audi.
And what about Bentley Continental GT and the VW Phaeton, baffling that they're not the same price.
OP, if you can't tell the difference between a Skoda and an Audi, then buy the Skoda. Seems fairly straight forward to me.
Horse Pop said:
Ironically I think I'd probably prefer the Skoda on the basis of the badge.
I have to agree - I'd rather drive a Skoda and have people think I was skint, than drive an Audi and have people think that I only bought it for the badge kudos. Having said that, I'd happily drive either brand if the car was right for me.I drive a 2012 Skoda Fabia and I agree the Audi should have a premium on it, of course. Much nicer / flashier interior and exterior etc, but double the money is absurd. But the people attracted to them are the kind who don't think rationally about their choice, and/or have the money to indulge in a brand fetish. I'm sort of glad they exist, as it gives even more feeling of excellent value for those happy to settle for a Skoda Fabia/VW Polo.
Snowboy said:
One (simplified) way to think of it is that the Audi is the Skoda with lots of options ticked.
Yes, but mostly extra luxury aesthetic options that can't be ticked on a Skoda.Fair enough the little touches do go a long way in making a feel car more like a premium product, which seems to be Audi's USP at the moment and fair play to them as it seems to fit the current public trend. I haven't seen a particularly strong or memorable marketing campaign for the A1, so the demand seems to fit in with something in a chunk of the public's consciousness.
If I was the ubiquitous PH company director who wanted a small runaround for the mrs, and money wasn't in the equation, I'd probably be more than happy to look at A1s. It's more the people who over-finance above their realistic means just to have the badge on the drive that is laughable.
Chicane-UK said:
There is a hint of badge snobbery in the residuals still (I've still had people smirk at me when I tell them I drive a Skoda.. morons), but I'd also expect the A1 is generally much nicer interior wise.
And I don't say that as a slight against Skoda - I have a 2006 Octavia VRS and I think it's an utterly fantastic car I had a recent trip in a slightly newer Audi A3 and found it had more interior cabin noise, rode more harshly and didn't find the interior to be any nicer than mine.. I'd have the Octavia every time!
Yeah I agree there. My Octavia VRS TDI was a LOT quieter in terms of engine and road noise compared to my dad's Audi A3. Smoother ride too. I didn't like his A3 at all. And I don't say that as a slight against Skoda - I have a 2006 Octavia VRS and I think it's an utterly fantastic car
I had a recent trip in a slightly newer Audi A3 and found it had more interior cabin noise, rode more harshly and didn't find the interior to be any nicer than mine.. I'd have the Octavia every time! DrTre said:
Is 2013 Year of Audi Hatred or something?
I have gone off Audi recently for some reason. Can't really put my finger on it. And I used to love Audis. I had two S4s. Maybe it's the dire fairy lights they have on the front or the fact they're all white and just a bit common now. I don't know.
Also, in terms of engine spec, they seem to be quite a long way behind now. We were looking at the A4 vs the new 3 series 2.0 diesel the other day. The Audi didn't have a patch on the BMW 2.0 litre diesel engine with the 8 speed 'box. Much better performance, economy and emissions!
LongLiveTazio said:
I have a Skoda Citigo but the A1 is quite patently very different from a Fabia and drives as such. Too expensive for my tastes but there we go, they seem to have no trouble selling them as it doesn't really have any direct competitors.
Are the MINI, Citroen DS3 and Alfa Mito not seen as competitors?Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff