Polo Mk5 or Fabia Mk3 at ~£8-10k?

[The Cardinal]

After deliberating for some months and working my way through the alternatives, I'm pretty settled on a Polo Mk5 or Fabia Mk3.

I know the market timing isn't great, but this car is more needed than ever and I'll be buying in the next few days. We run a 2013 VW Transporter (soon retiring to storage) and a 2018 Audi S3, so VAG familiarity and local maintenance has won out with my wife and me, respectively.

This is being bought with 5-10 years in mind due to low annual mileage. A 1.0 or 1.2 TFSI and possibly DSG gearbox would be ideal, as would a decent spec including parking sensors. Both Polo and Fabia hit the mark with SE and SEL specs.

My wife is indifferent to the choice, but learnt to drive a Polo many years ago and so it's her go-to car. She's dismissed an Up as too small, and 5 doors are a must.

I'm looking at 2015-17 Mk5 Polos under £10k as I think we'd benefit from the better spec than by going for an early MQB-based Mk6. But these Polos are older than a Fabia for the price and often need tyres, cambelt and brakes doing in my view - which I've taken into account to get up to my standards. These will need doing on any car over the time that the car would be with us anyway.

Fabias seem better value and would probably be 2 years newer. Fewer service items would be due, although this isn't important as mentioned above. Quite a few in the price bracket look like ex-rentals. I'm less fond of the styling than a Polo.

Does anyone here have any experience or insight to offer into the choice between these two?

[defblade]

Just to throw a spanner in, have you also considered the Rapid? Stretched Polo platform I believe, same engines and toys, more room than either of the others especially for rear seat passengers in the Spaceback (you did say 5 door is a must, so I'm assuming).

[The Cardinal]

Yes, I considered the Rapid Spaceback.

Its no-frills but comprehensive package looks good, but its main difference over a Fabia / Polo is the extra size, which isn't needed. Plus, it's at least as expensive!

[SAS Tom]

I had a Fabia 1.2tsi manual in SEL spec. It was a great car. Completely reliable over the 3 years I had it. I think the difference you will find in the polo is slight spec differences. The cost cutting on the Skoda was in weird areas I found. The grab handles in the roof weren’t damped in the Skoda but were in the polo. Also rear electric windows were an option. Auto drivers window only came with rear electric windows.

It was really good on fuel, 50-60 mph was easy enough.

Forgot to add when I had mine on the forums there were people talking about problems with the dsg boxes. I’m not sure what the issue was but worth researching.

Edited by SAS Tom on Sunday 25th July 20:13

[The Cardinal]

Thanks for that.

The S3 has DSG and my wife seems to get on well with an auto, so having a similar transmission would help even more with the familiar VAG feel. However, that comment about DSG 'boxes rings a bell (likely to be 7-speed PQ200?) and they're a bit thin on the ground anyway.

Unfortunately, my funds transfer doesn't clear until tomorrow morning and all these Fabias & Polos seem to be moving quickly... I had my eye on a very keenly-priced 2019 Fabia 1.0 TSI SEL, but it's gone today. Ditto several others over the last few days.

So, I may not be able to be too fussy anyway!!

[georgeyboy12345]

Have you had a look at equivalent Seat Ibizas? They should be essentially the same cars

[The Cardinal]

I've considered the equivalent Ibizas. I like the most recent shape (2018-), though I'm not fond of the previous generation. They seem to be the same price but with fewer around generally.

[The Cardinal]

Well, I said I was pretty close to buying something didn't I?

Just did a deal on a grey 2017 Fabia 1.2 110 with DSG in SE spec for a smidge over £9k. It's hardly the most exciting purchase I've ever made and it seems I'm taking a risk on the 7-speed DSG, but my wife has done her ankle in again and so that pushed me towards this car.

First job will be replacing the mix of new Landsail (front) and mixed budget (rear) tyres!

[Trevor555]

The Cardinal said:

Well, I said I was pretty close to buying something didn't I?

Just did a deal on a grey 2017 Fabia 1.2 110 with DSG in SE spec for a smidge over £9k. It's hardly the most exciting purchase I've ever made and it seems I'm taking a risk on the 7-speed DSG, but my wife has done her ankle in again and so that pushed me towards this car.

First job will be replacing the mix of new Landsail (front) and mixed budget (rear) tyres!

Budgets on the rears? Presuming not the originals then?

How many miles has the car done?

I've sold a few of these cars and the rears have still been 6mm on around 30k to 45k, originals.. Dunlops from memory..

Unless the previous owner has been hugely unlucky and got several punctures.

Great cars, I've had a few and they've all been faultless.

The 110bhp 1.2 four pot engine is the sweet one.

[ZX10R NIN]

Have you considered a 1.0T Kia Rio First Edition these great little cars that come fully loaded & the best part is you'll still have 3-4 years warranty left:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202008242...

[ZX10R NIN]

Just saw you've bought a car OP, glad you got sorted.

[The Cardinal]

Trevor555 said:

Budgets on the rears? Presuming not the originals then?

How many miles has the car done?

I've sold a few of these cars and the rears have still been 6mm on around 30k to 45k, originals.. Dunlops from memory..

Unless the previous owner has been hugely unlucky and got several punctures.

Great cars, I've had a few and they've all been faultless.

The 110bhp 1.2 four pot engine is the sweet one.

Thanks for this ^^ and ZX's suggestion.

One rear tyre is a Nexen (OEM), the other is an Arrowspeed and the fronts are Landsails. I am guessing that one rear was a puncture and that the fronts have just been fitted, following advisories on a recent MoT. All four will be changed to something I'm happy with, as I really feel the difference with tyres and this car will be with us a long time.

The car's done 19,500 miles and it is indeed a 1.2 110hp 4-pot.

I've investigated its digital service history via Erwin and, rather incredibly, the last services have been carried out by my local VAG specialist - who maintain my Transporter and S3! I trust them more than anyone else, so this is a good start. I just need to do brake fluid by the look of things.