New Fabia advice please

[Julian Thompson]

Our ancient clio is chewing through fuel at the rate of £150 a month, and so I’ve been looking at changing it for a new car.

The Fabia looks good. Has more room and seems to come with a 65ish hp engine or a 95 hp one.

I’ve noticed that I can get one of the lower powered ones for about ten grand, or spend an extra grand and get a 95.

Does anyone have experience of the Fabia or any insight into these two engine choices? In the real world would there be a notable economy difference assuming a sensible driver doing local school runs, shopping etc?

Also, any advice on whether those prices seem ok? I used autotrader and carwow.

Happy to buy the car using any means except lease as I want to keep it 10 years minimum. Only TCO matters to me, on that basis.

Thanks for any help.

[ZX10R NIN]

Go for the 95bhp version you'll be working the 65 bhp one harder.

Also take a look at the Clio GT Line

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/202...

[tallstevef]

Get the 95hp version, goes v.well for a relatively low output - we have the older 1.2, with similar output and that averaging 45mpg on mainly short (<10 mile) daily runs. Good comfort levels, seems well built over the nearly 50k miles with nothing more than consumables and servicing over 5 years. Actually quite good fun to punt about!

Resist the 16" wheels if possible - they cost a fair bit more for tyres. I'd also go manual over DSG, saves a bit of cash and the clutch is v.light.

[Trevor555]

For under ten grand have a look at the slightly older versions.

You could get a 109bhp Monte Carlo with the 1.2cc four pot engine, around 2016.

They are also £20 annual tax.

The new ones are only a very mild facelift of the 2015 to 2018 models.

[Pica-Pica]

We have the previous shape Fabia (mk 2) version in 1.2Tsi 4 pot, at 89 ps. It was a new 13 plate now on about 55k miles. Great car. We bought this when my wife retired so she could ferry her friends around. Takes 4 adults easily. Good visibility for parking, 5 speed manual is enough for town and motorway work, and the gearbox is very light and easy to use. Small enough to park easily in town or in country lanes. Cheap to service, no other repairs. We have fitted 195/55-R15 Vredestein Quatrac 5 tyres for all-season capability (they are asymmetric, so in my opinion better than directional, so any wheel/tyre combo fits any corner).
We get about 45-48 mpg. On a motorway run, when the fuel light came on, I turned off the air con, drove with the trucks and got 60mpg. Ours has plain air con, OK, but try and get auto air con.

It is a great car.

If I were looking for a slightly larger replacement, I would go for the Scala, very roomy.

[Julian Thompson]

Excellent advice people, many thanks.

Also, those Clio’s look like a heck of a lot of car for £8995!!! Absolutely unbelievable!

Noted about the earlier model and cheap tax. Will take a quick look.

Thanks

[ZX10R NIN]

The Clio is overlooked but for that money I'd say they're worth a look.

[Julian Thompson]

What about a Nissan Micra Diesel or a Fiat Tipo Diesel?

They are £9k for Tipo (!!) or about £11k for a Micra.

Nobody seems to like Diesel now though do they, and for short trips I guess the DPF thing is a problem?

[ZX10R NIN]

Julian Thompson said:

What about a Nissan Micra Diesel or a Fiat Tipo Diesel?

They are £9k for Tipo (!!) or about £11k for a Micra.

Nobody seems to like Diesel now though do they, and for short trips I guess the DPF thing is a problem?

Basically yes if you're doing lots of short trips you should buy a petrol

[Julian Thompson]

Ok. Thanks.

Fabia it is, then. Need to start a Pcp/cash/hp thread now. Wish me luck hahaha.

[ZX10R NIN]

If you have the cash then take the finance as you'll get a better deal (especially when there are dealer contributions on the table) & they'll be offering service packs, then just settle the finance a month down the line.

Saved you a thread & the need for a flame suit

[Julian Thompson]

Thanks for that. Indeed.

It’s an interesting one because Skoda have thrown the 0% curve ball - meaning that even if I settle it right away it’s not any better.

So basically I can have:

A pre registered one for £11500 for cash

Or

An unregistered one for 48x£150 + final payment of £5800 = £13000.

So it’s £1500 more to do the PCP, with the comfort of a hand back if we don’t like it after 4 years and we are the first owner. (Not really an issue on a cheaper car I guess but there we are.)

I’m not so good at working out interest but my savings earn 2% at the moment so I reckon that’s probably £600 or so saved in interest, meaning the PCP cost is about £700 more.

So cash wins but not quite apples vs apples and with us shouldering the risk if we chose to change after 48 months if the car is worth less than £5800.

I don’t, therefore, see the PCP as a way to flush money down the toilet on this one, despite what I’ve read on here many times.

What do you think?

Edited to add that the deal above now looks like it’s not actually available... plot thickens!

Edited by Julian Thompson on Wednesday 12th February 18:29