The Motor Forum

DarthBalls · Posted: Mon Oct 05, 2009 7:25 pm Post subject: Fabias: New -v- Old

I finally got the go-ahead to get our MX5's bodywork sorted and was pleasantly surprised to get a brand new Fabia 1 1.2HTP as a courtesy car as I'd expected an old shape Fiesta. This was a good chance to compare the new model with our 2001 vintage Fabia 1.4 Comfort. Unfortunately the comparison was not a direct one as ours was the mid-range model and this is the most basic. The Fabia 1 had no lid on the glove compartment, no remote locking, no remote fuel filler, no aircon, hard plastics on the dash and trim and manual mirror adjustment. Pretty basic for a modern car but it is very well made.

My first impression was of how much taller everything is in the new car: the ride height, roof height, seat height, the bottom of the window line and the dashboard were all raised above that of the older car. This gave the new one a more MPV like driving experience both in terms of the impression from sitting behind the wheel and the amount of additional roll when cornering.

All of the controls of the new car are lighter in their action than the old one. Mrs DB preferred the lighter clutch but I didn't and we both thought the steering was too light and the brakes too abrupt. I did like the new dashboard, quite 'Golf-like' as opposed to the more 'Audi-esque' Mk1 Fabia dash. The new speedo graphics are harder to read though.

The gear change was pretty slick, especially given that the car only had 39 miles on it when I picked it up. The ride isn't as good in the newer car either, even compared to ours with 8 year old suspension. It felt like the extra height served to magnify small imperfections in the road surface, although it dealt with potholes, etc very well and very quietly too. Again our older car was better in terms of noise and a more relaxed place to be on the motorway.

The 3 cylinder 1.2 engine (the 60bhp one I think) felt livelier than I'd expected but was very low geared: 3500rpm at 70mph and very loud on the motorway. The engine did rev like mad though and would become even more so when it loosened up a bit.

Strangely I think that the new Fabia has lost a lot of the 'big car feel' that many of the reviews said was a major strength of the Mk1 Fabia. The new one feels more like a small MPV. I much preferred the base model Mazda 2 to this equivalent Fabia. Mrs DB still prefers the Mk1 too. I'd still try a new shape vRS if they ever do one.
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It's so cold right now that I'm thinking of catching gonorrhoea just for the burning sensation.

Boxer6 · Posted: Mon Oct 05, 2009 9:16 pm Post subject:

Sounds to me like you've scrubbed that off your list! You'll need to think of something else now!!!
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Just keepin' on keeping on.

Matt · Posted: Mon Oct 05, 2009 11:58 pm Post subject: Re: Fabias: New -v- Old

Blarno · Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 6:46 am Post subject: Re: Fabias: New -v- Old

PG · Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 8:37 am Post subject:

Sounds like they have lost all the things that attracted people to the Mk 1 Fabia then?

JohnC · Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 8:42 am Post subject:

My brother has a VRS which must be about 3 years old now and he says he will never change it. It does 50+ mpg and goes like stink.
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Every man is the architect of his own future.

the other ct · Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2009 11:23 am Post subject:

DarthBalls · Posted: Sat Oct 10, 2009 10:17 am Post subject: Re: Fabias: New -v- Old

DarthBalls · Posted: Sat Oct 10, 2009 10:18 am Post subject: Re: Fabias: New -v- Old

Boxer6 · Posted: Sat Oct 10, 2009 12:24 pm Post subject: Re: Fabias: New -v- Old

Blarno · Posted: Sat Oct 10, 2009 7:12 pm Post subject:

I'll be yer best mate if you do that!
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Arms held out, in the Jesus Christ Pose.

scamper · Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 10:07 am Post subject:

We will be shortly off loading our boggo mark 1 fabia to auction. Its done circa 115k, and in the 20k we've done in it over 18 months i've not added any oil, let alone serviced it - thankfully it had an impeccable service history up to when we bought it! Its needed new discs and pads, but that's about it I think.

DarthBalls · Posted: Fri Oct 16, 2009 6:03 pm Post subject:

I shouldn't have mentioned my idea for a Fabia 1.8 turbo!

Argh - the pressure's on.
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It's so cold right now that I'm thinking of catching gonorrhoea just for the burning sensation.