Skoda has long had a presence in the UKs small family car market but it was the arrival of the Fabia supermini in 2000 that really showed it had arrived.
The range was replaced early in 2007 - the award-winning ad for the car created out of sponge cake was all about the new Fabia - and then in February this year along came the new Fabia estate.
I spent eight months In one of those estate cars and seriously considered buying it, but life as a freelance motoring writer looks a little too precarious these days to commit big money to any car, even a small and economical one like the Fabia 3 1.9 diesel I was running.
Having said that, I could have saved big time through buying a 1.2 petrol engined car Instead and the temptation is still there. Fact is that I love these little Skodas. They are great value, well built, superbly engineered, and will outlast many other mainstream cars.
The Fabia is based on the Volkswagen Polo platform. The five door hatch makes a great family choice, or if you want more load space the estate model is ideal. Im a bit more cool about the four door saloon as I dont reckon it to be as versatile as the other two but there are still those around who prefer conventional three box models and this is just the small car for them.
Ive driven a lot of Fabias over the years and have yet to find one I dont like. There's a super fast vRS, which comes with a 130 bhp turbodiesel, or Sport variants that are petrol powered. The last Sport I tried was a 1.2 litre three cylinder job - three cylinder engines always give off a hearty roar which appeals to me.
Most people will find this small Skoda lives up to their expectations. True, it doesnt have quite the same build quality as a VW Polo but its within spitting distance and costs a lot less money. There's a saying you get what you pay for, but I reckon Fabia owners get a bit extra, too.
As superminis go, the Fabia is good on space. Tall people can get comfortable in the front but are slightly cramped in the back. Theres also a decent boot, which means the car copes well with the demands of family life. It makes an ideal second car but would also fulfill the role of main family transport for those who can only afford one car and have a tight budget, too.
The estates have a really good load area and I Loaned my long termer to my accountant, a real cricket fan. He could get four burly players into the car, along with their kit bags, which all disappeared below the parcel shelf - It's a feat his own Mercedes C Class estate could never achieve. What's more, he was getting 55 mpg, too.
The 1.2 petrol engine gives almost 40 mpg but the Fabia comes with a great choice of petrol and diesel engines. Among the diesels, I would avoid the normally aspirated 1.9 litre SDi. Go instead for the 1.4 TDi, which is a much better choice, or the 1.9 TD. These may not be quite so economical as the SDI but have better performance and will be more enjoyable to drive every day.
Fabias also come in a variety of trim levels but all have fairly firm seats that hold you well and are just right for long journeys. Soft seats soon become uncomfortable in a car because they don't keep your body in the right position. Far better to let the suspension iron out the bumps, which the Fabias does well.
Running costs on this Skoda, along with purchase costs, need not be high. The cars have been around since 2000 so the older ones are very affordable and its unlikely that any will be worn out. Service intervals on petrol cars are 10,000 miles, the diesels have variable requirements. Insurance starts at Group 1, which makes this an ideal car for young or newly qualified drivers.
The 1.4 litre cars can be found for no more than £1,675 on an 00W plate, while the first of the 1.2s, on a 53, is £2,700. My personal favourite would be one of the 1.4 diesel estates, which start at £3,625 for an 03 plate Classic five door hatch. The new range is available at £5,900 for a base 1 trim five door 1.2 and even on an 08 it's only £6,475.
Maurice Hardy
